The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-31
THE RIOTING MUST CEASE
Judge Baker Prefers that the
State Officers Should Act.
Clay County Strikers Refuse to Permit
the Vandalia to Move a Train
Situation at Shelburn.


pressing riotous outbreaks. Copies of this
proclamation were sent to the sheriffs OF
the coal mining counties where there has
been trouble, with instructions for the
sheriffs to read the proclamation at once.
The full text of this document is as fol-
lows:
Whereas, ii has been made to appear to
me that large bodies of men, engaged in
the occupation of mining coal, have banded
themselves together in the counties OF Clay,
Parke, Nigo, Sullivan and Vermillion, and
at other points in the State, for the purpose
OF obstructing the passage of trains and
seriously interfering with the management
and operation of the railway property in
those sections and their duties under the
law as public carriers. and thereby putting
in danger not only the property, but the
lives of our citizens, and
Whereas, all citizens Of the State are
entitled to protection in respect to Their
property, and railroad companies in COM
expect protection in the conduct of their
lawful business, and in the shipment and
transportatio of the products of the coun-
try to market; and
Whereas, the acts herenbefore referred
to are in violation of the laws of the State.
and ii is imperative that those laws be
enforced to the end that violent and un-
lawful acts be stopped, peace and order
restored and the law vindicated.
Governor OF Indiana, call upon all who
have been and are connected with such un-
lawful proceedings TO disband and cease
interference with the management and
conduct of the business of the railways OF
the State AS citizens you cannot afford
to stand in the attitude of lawbreakers.
and public officers, and direct that they ex-
ert all the powers with which they are
invested to break up these combinations
and bring the vioiatorS of law to punish
ment. In maintaining the law and pre-
serving the public peace invoke the senti-
ment and the judgment of the people
against all combinations for unlawful pur-
poses"
A TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR.
In reference to the proclamation Governor
Matthews said last night to a Journal
porter that he hoped there would be no oc-
casion to do anything more than had been
done. IT am confident" said he. that
many Of the cooler-headed miners will be
glad that such a proclamation has been is
sued. There are, of course, among the
miners large number of foreigners who
are not only unfamiliar with our language
to large extent but who are also ig-
norant of the intent of a such has
been made by the railroad companies. They
are the first always to urge force, and it
will take little time, probably, for them
to realize that the stopping of these trains
must cease. While / have every sympathy
for the miners in their troubles, they should
confine themselves to lawful and legitimate
methods of strengthening their cause The
inducing of men to quit work by argument
is all right, but the stopping of trains the
breaking of cars and the delaying of traffic
are all unlawful proceedings, and the men
must realize this before the matter is al
lowed to go any further. In the proclama-
ton 1 have appealed to their reason and
their intelligence, and have said nothing
that can possibly arouse a feeling of anger
among them. and L hope that the reading
of ii by the sheriffs of the several counties
will have the desired effect. OF course,
they must have a short time in which tC,
meet and consider what is said, but / feel
that their good sense will prompt them 20
comply with official utterances contained In
the proclamation. 1t is addressed to the
sheriffs of the several counties from which
the more serious comGlaints come, and 1
hope il will soon reach all portions of the
State where troubles OF lesser character
are occurring.
Illinois people asked me to take such action
as / have now taken. but after a consulta-
tion with them 1 advised them to go to the
federal court for an Injunction, which they
did. / showed them that If l issued proc
lamation it might take a little time to move
their coal trains, even under the most ia
vorable conditions, whereas an injunction
from the federal court would in all prob
ability accomplish their object without any
delay whatever. Judge Baker did not feel
that he could go any further in the mat
ter than he had until the county and State
resources had been exhausted. These rail-
road companies are certainly entitled as
residents and taxpayers of this State to all
possible protection in the legitimate conduct
of their business. They have a right to
them The stopping of trains is a lawless
proceeding. which is no more to be con-
doned than as if a body of men were to
stop a farmer on his way to town with
load of corn, tell him he could not take
his produce into the town, and, upon his
attempting to do so, unhitch his team and
This coal that is being hauled is needed by
these companies for the actual traffic OF
their lines. The cutting off of their sup
ply in this way not only stops business,
but interferes with the delivery of
United States mail, which in itself
is a very grave. grave sd soifense. | do
that there will be any necessity for calling
out an armed force. OF course. if the proc
lamation should prove futile, which 1 do
not believe, then the local authorities would
have TO exhaust all their means Of protec-
ton before State troops called upon,
and the latter would have 10 be powerless
before the federal government Is asked for
further assistance. The situation is a seri-
one, but 1 am sanguine of prompt
compliance with the proclamation"
Representatives of the Evansville q Terre
Haute, Terre Haute 81 Logansport, Van
dalia, Peoria division Of the Big Four, In
diana & Illinois Southern and Terre Haute
with the Governor for some time yesterday
talking over the situation. The are hope
full of the outcome, and feel that they will
be given all possible aid in the moving of
trains The Governor had planned a quiet
day most of which he wanted 10 devote to
going over several pardon cases. He found
IL one OF the busiest Of the year, however
and said last night that he would have to
take his holiday some other time as he
couldn't regard yesterday as one.
BEFORE JUDGE BAKER.
Early yesterday morning j. E. Iglehart
general counsel for the Evansville & Terre
Haute railroad; John T. Hays. local coun-
sci at Sullivan; w. III. Corbett, OF Evans
ville superintendent OF the road; John G.
Williams, general manager of the Terre
Haute G. Indianapolis road and George w
knight, of Brazil, counsel for the same
road. came TO this city for the purpose or
securing an injunction against the inter-
ference by strikers with coal trains. Ar
torney Iglehart brought with him a COM
plant which il was Intended to file In the
federal court The complaint alleged that
the strikers had assembled a Shelburn, a
small town In Sullivan county, and refused
TO allow cars laden with coal 20 pass that
station. 1t averred that about three hun