The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-18
who severely condemned the frankness Of

] was lfti frlOTifIs iIf OoNtIUOf Wlifu ~
the shorn Of Tazewell county to advise
him Of the situation. The sheriff replied
| that the situation was critical, and ad-
| Nised the Governor TO hold one company
Of soldiers in readiness. Subsequently the
| Governor asked for further information
| on May 2d and IN the afternoon Of that
| day at o'clock ana at 2;f6. he received
J telegrams in which the sheriff said that
| a mass-mectlng Of strikers from West
/ Virginia was TO be held at Pocahontas
on the following Sunday, and that he
! was fearful Of trouble. III violence should
! De attempted" be concluded my force
1 would Doe wholly inadequate. Answer
Upon the receipt Of these two kilograms
the Governor decided 10 send troops in
sufficient numbers 10 make an effective
! appearance at the seat OF the trouble.
! The first detail Of the Richmond Howit-
zers left the same night for Graham,
Tazewen county. The Governor took this
| step upon the Information received from
| the sheriff of TazeWcll county, as well
/ as from other sources. He sent more
than one company for the reason. as has
been stated time and again. that he fear
| ed that a small force would incite rather
than alay trouble. his whole purpose
/ being TO prevent any breach of the peace.
Immediately after the departure Of the
| troops. the Governor telegraphed the
! sheriff Of Tazewell county this fact. and
| placed the troops under the sherin's or
/ ders. AT the same time. Major William
| n. Simons, who was in command of the
| military, was ordered to report TO the
sheriff Of Tazewell county for further or
ders. lie was also ordered TO maintain
order, and If necessary. arrest the strik-
ors or their leaders.
subsequently the sheriff Of Tazewen
| county ordered the troops to Pocahontas
The Governor has not the least desire TO
/ shirk any responsibility, and ne has
repeatedly stated that when he sent the
troops to that section OF the state he
acted upon his own responsibility, and
| upon the information received from the
sheriff and other people.
Some people. however. have tried to
| create the impression that without any
sort Of suggestion from the Tazewell au-
! thorities, the Governor put the town Of
Pocahontas under military rule. From the
| foregoing statement IL may be plainly
seen that the sheriff of Tazewell county
not only gave the Governor reason to
believe that riotng was threatened. but
advised him 10 hold the troops in readi-
ness, and afterwards on his own au-
thority. moved the troops from Graham
to Pocahontas.
HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
Late last evening. Governor OFerrall
/
TO the causes that led up to the sending
of military to the coal region in the south
west of this State
on May 1st | received my first inf0rma-
ton in reference 10 the PocahOntas trOu-
hles. This was TO the effect that there
was a general strike on the West Virginia
side. and that the striking miners would
| hold a mass-meeting that afternoon at
Keystone. Afterwards they proposed TO
g.. h.. a.. IL
gina mines from continuing al work.
The men in the Virginia mines were
represented 10 be perfectly satisfied. and
desired 10 remain at work. | was also
informed that the sheriff of Tazewell
county. and fifty deputies were on the
ground 10 resist such an attempt, but that
this force would be entirely inadequate
i'm case of any determined effort by the
striking miners Of West Virginia, who
numbered at least S.0JO. Things looked
serious to me, when the sheriff had felt
it necessary TO, swear i'm nifty deputies.
Immediately / wired the sheriff of Taze-
well county as follows
'Wire me fully condition Of affairs in
mining region. The law must be up
held at all hazards. Take no chances"
received the following telegram from
the sheriff on May lst filed at Pocahon-
ias at J., NJ.
now EIkhorn. West Virginia, still on
strike. Would advise that a company Of
troops be kept in readiness"
also received letters from private
citizens. stating that the situation was
very critical The same day / wired
Governor McCorkle stating that there
might be necessity for me to send troops
10 Pocahontas, and asking him for au-
thority 10 pass them through his State.
AZ ,t..44. 4.u fgll,
TO CROSS rHE BORDER
Authority is hereby given the State of
Virginia to move troops armed and
equipped through the state OF West Nir-
einia, until further orders
lie followed that with telegram ask
ing me for authority TO pass troops
through Virginia. in case he desired TO
send them. 1 replied as follows:
THE SITUATION WAS THREATSING.
"The state of West Virginia is hereby
authorized TO move troops armed and
equipped through the State Of Virginia
until further orders.
The same evening / received this fur-
ther telegram from Governor McCorkle:
Il Will consider it a very great cOur-
tesv. if YOU will send full information OF
affairs within the strike territory. and
1 will forward you promptly all infor-
nation / receive. II looks as though 1t
may be necessary for us to act in uni
SON.
1 wired the Governor of West Virginia
in reply the following;
"All quiet at POcahontas Men salts
fed Elkhorn region on strike and threats
TO force miners at Pocahontas to stop
work Meeting 10 be held this evening at
Key Stone. / have heard nothing from
il. VIII be glad to cooperate with you
as far as possible. Shall suppress yio-
lence and uphold law at all hazards in
Virginia. / will communicate freely with
you"
Information continued to reach me that
the situation was threatening and criti-
cal / communicated again with the
Sheriff. and on May 81 received the fol-
lowing telegram nom him:
Have just returned from Elkhorn.
Everything quiet there. also in Pocahon-
tas as yet. The strikers from West Vir-
ginia mines propose TO have public meet
ing here Sunday. l cannot forsee the
results at this time. l am fearful OF
trouble l will wire you again. If any
thing transpires.'
Upon the receipt OF this telegram. feel
ing satisfied from the information that
/ had that several thousand striking min
crs composed entirely of Hungarians,
Poles Italians and negroes. could not
meet In Pocahontas for the purpose that
had been Indicated of forcing the min