Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-18


We will chcerfuiIy cooperate With you
In any possible way to preserve peace.
We have received no report az yet Of any
violence or disorder In this State. wiii
try to saswer your request by morning.
Commenting on Governor MacCorkles
telegram, Governor OFerrall said tnis
morning: Upon the reading Of this mes
sage, I felt that Governor MacCcrkie
had misapprehended my request, for !
made no reference whatever 10 meetings
such as were referred to by him Inc
provision OF the Constitution or West VIZ.
ginia. which he quoted, Is an inherent
law In our system of government naa
threatened the peace OF either State.
Two hours and a quarter after ! mao
been handed the above telegram re-
ceived second message from Governor
MacCorkle, in which he said that, aitei
most careful consideration. he regretteu
exceedingly that he could not consent 70
allow the Virginia troops to enter west
Virginia to exercise any military func-
lions In that State. Should II become
necessary for him to send troops ne
would cheerfully cooperate Win me
whenever he could consttutional'y 90 ~.
/ have had no further correspondence Win
ORDERED TO POCAHONTAS.
ION Monday. the 9th, the troops en-
camped at Graham were ordered by the
sheriff OF TazewelI county to Pocahontas,
and arrived there on the evening OF tnat
day. Upon their arrival at the latter
place, ! received the following telegram
from Major Simons:
"'sheriff Crockett has placed me In
command OF the town OF Pocahontas, WIFE
instructions to allow no man 10 leave or
enter without my permission. l have
every approach to the town strongly
pIcxeted, and the town itself well-posted
with guards. have my men under tho
rough control and am prepared
formed that the bridges between this
point and Graham may be destroyed to-
night. All kinds OF rumors are afioat
There are unmistakable evidences OF ac-
tjyity on the part of the striking miners
Two West Virginia brass bands are con-
stantly playing here, with view OF ex-
citing the miners. The granting Of per-
mits to leave and enter the town give
me much work. i have an efficient stan
and reliable line of officers. and feel able
to cope with the condition OF affairs.
have issued peremptory orders against the
use OF liquor in my command. IL,
cessary, will wire you at once"
HAD A SALUTARY EFFECT.
On May 7th Governor O'Ferrall received
the following from Major Smons:
"All quiet at present. / am satisfied
that the presence OF the military has. and
will continue to prevent any attempt
at violence. have Instructed my men
to avail themselves OF every opportunity
TO cultivate friendly feeling with these
miners. / am very careful In the exer-
else of my judgment having many ques-
tons to deal with"
A telegram. TO the Governor on the
night OF the 9th advised him that the
picket had been fired on ten times by
the strikers. On the night OF the 10Th
the Governor determined to go to Poca-
hontas and look at the situation, and
gather for himself all the information
| he could concerning the condition OF at
| fairs. He arrived there on Saturday. the
l1th. and remained until the following
| Tuesday. Many OF the Virginia miners
who had quit work talked with him
"They assured me-" said the Governor
that trey had no grievance whatever
against the Virginia mine operators; that
| they had always been treated fairly; there
| had been no cut In their wages, and that
| they desired to work, but had quit be-
cause they were afraid Of personal in
fury at the hands of the West Virginia
strikers. At the request or many OF
them. as well as Of citizens OF Pocahon-
tas, addressed large crowd on Mon
day night. They were all interested
| and stood for forty minutes In a heavy
rain listening to the speech" His FIX
| cellency asked them II there was a man
| In the crowd who had a grievance OF
| complaint to make against the
| Virginia operators, and there was mo-
| an affirmative response. but there were
| several responses OF no" The Governor
| told them this was free government
| that every man had right to quit wori
| II he desired, and he should be protected
| I'm his right: that every man who desired
| TO work had a right to do SO. and M
would also be protected: that when thu
principle OF free agency fg matter o.
| this kind was broken down the principle
| of our free Institutions would be gone
TOUCHING APPEAL FOR HELP.
The Governor on his way to take thu
| train In company with some gentlemen
| on Tuesday, was stopped by miner
| a good and reliable man, who said ina
| one of his children had just died; that M
| had been forced to quit work because o
| threats: that he had no money VIII
| which 10 bury his dead child. and asked
| the Governor to help him. Governor
| O'Ferrall gave him some money, and sac
| 10 him: After you have buried you
| child. 90 back to your work and support
| those whom God has left you, ana yo'
| shall be protected" The miner departe'
| with tears streaming down MS cneehs
| saving that he would return TO MS Id
| bors. oc
~ here state without hesitation, con
| Guided Governor O'Ferrall. that any rea
| sonabIe. sensible man VIII see tnat ou
| for the proximity of troops on SUNDAY
| the 5th instant, the meeting which wa
| advertised 10 be held in Pocahontas Woui'
| hardly have resulted otherwise than II
| riot. bloodshed. and destruction or pro
| perty. | desire to say. further. that IN
| opposition to the picketing OF the roaa
| by troops at Pocahontas is purely seiish
| II causes necessarily temporary deprrs
| sion In their business, but this mas pee'
| in the interest Of peace and TO prevent IN
| injury OF any one. Even the member
| of the Board Of Trade there, who aske.
| for the removal OF pickets, did not asi
| for the withdrawal Of the troops.
| at have felt from the beginning that
| great principle was involved In this mat
| ,er-the right of man TO Work wthou
| fear. intimidation, or molestation' anu
| have no apprehension as to the verde
| of the peace-lovIng and law-apiding CHI
| zens Of Virginia.
| Letter from Governor MacCorKie'
| MIR. A. B. McCullock. secretary OF IN
| Central Trades and Labor Council 0
| this city, has received the following let
| ter from Governor MacCorkle. In refer
| ence to the coallng troubles:
| ..Dear Sir,-I have your telegram OF 70
day. and in reply beg to thank you 10
YOUR kind expressions. l am glad Una
| YOUR organization sustalns my action
| Without knowing the situation In VIZ
| ginia. / do know that In the Flat Tol
| region OF West Virginia our workingmel
have been diligent. faithful. ana law
| abiding citizens. / have seen nothing II
the action OF the miners to change m
| original idea OF their peaceable inten
| lions. Their right to assemble In iawiu
| public convention for the purpose OF dis
| cussing their AFFAIR." Is guaranteed by on
| Constitution. and as long as am Cover
| nor Of this State their rights shall be pro
tected. / do not say this In any spirit
criticism"