The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-27
AN ERUPTION IN LINTON.

Careful readers OF the Journal probably
noticed dispatch in yesterdays issue in
dicating that the town of Linton is in a
state of social eruption. Linton is sit
uated in the coal-mining region of Greene
county. and not having much TO get eS-
cited over 1t has TO make the most OF what
it has. In this instance the cause of ex-
element is the recent employment by the
Island Coal Company of some forty or
fifty colored miners. II does not seem to
have been the unusual increase of popuIa-
ton that disturbed the Lintonians as much
as the color of the new arrivals. They do
not object TO miners per Sc but they do
not like colored miners. Their feelings on
this subject eliminated in citizens meet
ing. at which speeches were made and a
preamble and resolutions adopted, as fol-
lows:
Whereas. The Island Coal Company has,
when no labor trouble was anticipated,
imported and colonized an undesirable class
OF pauper labor, whose presence Is men,
ace to the prosperity. peace and morality
or the community, and whose continued
presence would work injury to our public
Resolved. That we earnestly, respectfully.
but determinedly demand their immediate
removal.
Resolved. That as evidence of our sim
certify, We will furnish said negroes trans
pOrtation to such places as they wish to
consent to leave quietly, but Immediately.
The speakers were unanimously of the
opinion that 1.-THE objectionable element
should be removed. although, with an evil
dent understanding of the temper of Greene
county people they advised against re-
sorting to violence. 1t was the sense of
the meeting that, "as there was more white
labor in Linton now than could find steady
employment" and as the negroes would
be likely to intrude their children I'm the
public schools" they would have to go. A
committee was appointed to collect funds
to send the negroes and their families
away, and a considerable sum was raised
The dispatch concluded by saying: ut is
reported that the negroes are breaking up
and burning their furniture at Island City.
OF the thirty-seven now here, only two or
three object TO leaving and il is expected
they Will weaken when they see the others
going"
In order to appreciate the an.mus of this
social tempest in teapot, it is necessary
to state few facts as learned from Mr.
A. NJ. Ogle. of this city. president of the
Island Coal Company. The negroes did not
go to Greene county as miners but as COM
mon laborers. They were hired by him at
much less than miners wages to do COM
mon labor, preparatory to the opening of
new mine. They did not displace a single
white miner. They have not interfered with
anybody, nor made themselves offensive in
any way. When they were first employed
they did not belong to the union but after
going there they were organized and are
now in the union, and some Of them are
employed as miners at miners wages. So
far as known there is nothing objection
able about them except their color Since
the movement against them began Mr.. Ogle
has received anonymous letter from
company's property if the negroes are not
sent away. From this 1t would appear that
the Lintonians would rather not have their
coal mines worked at all than have them
worked by coIored miners. They do not
want any colored laborers earning and
spending money among them. They are
afraid of becoming contaminated by con-
tact with such an objectionable element"
and they do not want local business or
prosperity that has to be purchased at such
a cost.
No doubt the true animus of the move
ment is politics. One of the speakers at
the citizens meeting which adopted the
resolutions quoted above was Andrew Hum
phreys. of Sons of Liberty fame Hum
phreys was convicted of treason in 1864
and owes the fact that he is alive to-day
to the clemency of the authorities He
hates a negro as only a Greene county
Democrat can, and there are plenty Of
others there like him. They do not want
TO see the Republican vote of Greene coun-
ty increased. hence their deep solicitude
for the welfare Of the white miners. The
movement represents species of intoler-
ance that is very discreditable to the COM
nlunity where it exists. If the colored
men who are now in Greene county can
make living there they should refuse to