The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-15
TIE oovERsoK ON THE SITUATION
He Says 1t is an Operators Strike ana Not
n Miners,

He Says 1t is an Operators' Strike ana Not
Miners Strike.
Governor Charles Il. O'Ferrall and his
staff, Gen. A. L. Phillips, Col. VIM. M.
Evans and Adjutant General Charles j.
Anderson, were at Hotel Roanoke few
hours last night, while waiting for the
train for Richmond.
In speaking of the labor troubles in
the coal region al and near Pocahontas,
General Anderson told reporter of
THE TIMES that he considered the strike
on the Virginia side OF the State line
practically ended. New men, he said,
were being constantly taken on to fill
the places OF the strikers, and some of
the old men wers coming back to work.
In few days the mines would be run
ming full force.
The operations in che Flat Top region
on the West Virginia side, the general
thought, would aoon effect some hind of
a compromise with the miners and with
the railroad and the strike would soon
end. That the matter would 60 scon be
adjusted without riot or lawlessness
General Anderson believed to be alto.
gether due to Governor O'Ferrall's
promptness in calling out the State
troops to protect the property of the
operators and to guarantee safety to
those who desired to work in tho mines
Governor OFerrall talke d quite freely
to The TIMES representative on tho
situation st Pocahontas. He said the
situation on the Virginia side and in
the Virginia mines at Pocahontas was
improving, but ir would not be safe to
remove the troops now. Had it not
been for the presence Of the troops, there
would not BIO man at work in tho Vir-
rptv Nd
would be passing over the Norfolk and
Western railroad. The miners them
selves at Pocanontas had no grievance;
there had been no cut in their wages
and no complaint had been mado by
them. They were simply intimida.ed
by striking miners from West Virginia.
The strike, the governor thought, WAS
not q miners strike. 1t was an opera
tors strike.
The Flat Top operators had cut wages,
knowing when they did SO that the
miners would strike, and they were up.
holding them in 1t. They were now
giving the miners their house rent free
and their doctor bills free, making it
altogether funny sort of q miners
strike. Letters had been written by
West Virginia miners TO tho men at
Pocahontss making threats against
their lives II they did not go out. and
mon who had gone out had come to the
governor with tears in their eyes, say
ing they wanted to work. but were
afraid to do so.
The governor said his position was
that every man who wanted to work in
this State had o right TO do 30 and
Should be protected in that right, and
the troops would be keeps there as long
as It WAS necessary. No company
would be kept on the scene too long and
the system Of relief would be kept MP.
In regard to the accusation of West Vir-
ginians concerning his transporting
troops through that State, the governor
said he at first obtained permission from
Governor McCorkle and had violated no
law.
Some few Of tho Pocahontas people
ohjs cted TO the presence OF the troops,
BUTT was because it occasioned tenn
porary depression in trade. No law
abiding citizen should be afraid of
orderly troops composed OF young Vir-
GINA gentlemen. The West Virginia
people had no grounds for complaint,
because the continuation Of work in the
Pocahontas coal fields was directly in
favor OF their own interests.
Governor O'Ferrall said 300 men
went to work yesterday, sixty more
went on last night 200 additional will
begin to-day and 400 tomorrow, which
will nearly bring the mines up to their
former capacity. l don't intend" con-
tinuod he. ITO lot these mines be closed
If men want to work in the ~
He complimented the Roanoke troops
very highly and was especially warm in
his praises of Captain Perkins and the
Machine Works Guaads. II went to
Pocahontss to get knowledge of the
situation" said he, land think 1 got
1t. did not go to look after tho troops,
because knew they would do their
duty"
RARE CHANCE to buy three thous-
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