The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-28
GILL AS PEACEMAKER.
Illinois Acting Governor Prevents
an Outbreak.
TIE INVADERS DESERT ToLUoA.

They Had Assembled to tho Number of
Nearly Five Thousand to Induce the
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, Laceyyille, Lentonville, La
Salle Peru and Oglesby reached Toluca
yesterday to urge the colored miners at
work hero to join the general strike. Act
ing Governor Gill was on hand when they
arrived, and addressed 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 Lenz,
and also the replies he had sent in answer
to them, giving it as 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
sentcd it to be, and further stated that he
had every confidence in the miners not
making n hostile demonstration. Contin-
uing he said:
''You are all we'll aware of my mission
Mere. | came here personally to view the
situation, and have found You, as
thought you were, peacefully assembled,
and not of 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. l have came here
today % declare peace and to plead with
you not to attempt any violence or de-
struction of property. When refused to
send the state troops, / had every con-
fidence 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
way that is acceptable to them. If you
persist in remaining here and make any
attempt at hostlities, 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. l came here to plead with you to
do SO and trust you will. l believe your
visit here Is based upon just grounds, and
/ 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. If they will help you, return
to your homes peaceably. Ii they will
not, return in the same manner anyway.
This Is your opportunity to prove to the
pdblic that you can peaceably march
through the country and assemble for
things that are most laudable and com
mendable, and ] 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 c motion was carried
requesting all the miners not residents
here to immediately depart from the city
and allow the TolueR 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 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 if the whites were.
Mr.. Devlin said that if the miners quit he
would import negroes from Florida to
work in the mines. IF the miners here do
not return to work, and any such attempt
| Is made trouble is sure to follow.