The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-04-28
GILL AS PEACENAKER.
Illinois Acting Governor Prevents
an Outbreak.
THE INVADERS DESERT ToLUOA.

They Had Assembled to the Number Of |
Nearly Five Thousand to Induce tho |
Miners There to Go out, but Left the |
Town Peacefully.
ToLUCA, his, April 2s.-An army of |
nearly 5000 coal miners from Spring Val |
ley, Ladd, Laceyville, Leutouville, La /
Sale, Peru and Oglesby reached Toluca /
yesterday TO urge the colored miners at
work here to join the general strike. Act |
ing Governor Gill was on hand when they |
arrived and addressed a mass meeting |
which was participated in by the Toluca !
miners, making an audience Of 1000 per !
sons.
When Governor Gill was introduced he
opened his address by reading the tele
grams he had received from Sheriff LEM,
and also the replies he had sent in answer
to them, giving 1t rs his opinion that the
ordering out Of the militia was unneces-
sary. He said he knew that the situation
was not as serious as the sheriff had rep
sented it to be, and further stated that he
had every confidence in the miners not
making a hostile demonstration. Contin
uing he said:
"You are all well aware of my mission
situation and have found you, as
thought you were, peacefully assembled,
and not of a disposition to destroy prop
erty or take life, as was informed by the
sheriff Of this county in dispatches last
night. / don't believe those kilograms
emanated from him originally, but he
was misinformed and the facts terribly
exaggerated to him. ] have came here
today % declare peace and to plead with
you not to attempt any violence or de-
structicn of property. When refused to
send the state troops, | had every con
fdence that you would not, and now
hope that you will reciprocate my friendly
feeling toward you by upholding the dig
nifty and institutions of the state by
quietly going home and allow the miners
of this place to settle their own affairs in
a way that is acceptable to them. II you
persist in remaining here and make any
attempt at hostilities, as acting executive
OF this state, | can do nothing but my
duty, and you all know what that is
81 ask you as American citizens to up
| hold the supremacy and dignity of the
state. / came here TO plead with you to
| do so and trust you will believe your
visit here is based upon just grounds, and
1 can see nothing you have done that will
| cast reflection upon you. Confer with
the Toluca men if you wish, and use
moral suasion to get their assistance to
your cause. II they will help you, return
to your homes peaceably. If they will
not, return in the same manner anyway.
This is your opportunity to prove 30 the
public that yeu can peaceably march
| through the country aud assemble for
things that are most laudable and com
mendable, and l sincerely hope you will
take advantage OF it."
| J. A Crawford, president Of the United
Mine Workers of Illinois, urged the To-
luca men TO join the strike, as did also
| Vice President James W. Murray.
After the speaking motion was carried
requesting all the miners not residents
here to Immediately depart from the city
and allow the Toluoa men TO settle among
themselves about joining the movement.
A special train was furnished by Cover
nor Gill and Mr.. Devlin, the mine owner,
and on this the invaders left for their
homes in q congenial mood.
The Toluca miners at once called meet
ing to decide upon the question Of return
ing to work. Some of the colored men
said on the streets that they were willing
to take out their tools II the whites were.
Mr.. Devlin said that if the miners quit he
would import negroes from Florida TO
work in the mines II the miners here do
not return to work, and any such attempt
IL made, trouble is sure to follow.