The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05

tas. az vet. The strikers from West Vir-
ginia mines propose TO have pubic meet
ing here Sunday. J cannot forescc the
result y am fearful OF trouble. VIII
wire you again II anything transpires.
tSigned)
"JNO. w. CROCKETT Dep. Sheriff.
Later the same day. the same officer
wired me from Pocahontas In these
words: West Virginia mircrs propose
TO hold mass-mecting here Sunday. IL
violence attempted my force would pe
wholly inadequate. Answer. AFTER ma
ture consideration / came TO the conclu-
sion that several thousand idle and ex-
cited men, with free access TO liquor.
meeting I'm Pocahontas for the purpose or
coercing by force or threats the virginia
miners. who were satisfied and ala not
desire to strike. 10 quit work, wouid GER
tainly result in breach OF the peace
and serious troubles, and as the shefhI
had informed me that I'm case OF violence
his force would be wholly Inadequate anu
there being no troops In that secuoh "i
the State, / determined that the rights
Of Virginia citizens, the safety or the
community. and the protection OF lie anu
property demanded that soldiers be placed
sufficiently near TO Pocahontas 10 enable
the sheriff TO call them quickly to the
scene in the event they were hecueu.
had vivid in my memory the loss OF life
and destruction Of property In mining re-
eions In other States on similar occasions,
because OF the hardness IN supporting
the civil authority with the Miiltar!'
While executives were hating, blood was
flowing and the flames playing. | recall
ed the proverb: Better TO be censured
by some for anxious apprehension tnah
ruined by too confident security. nc
cordlngly. ] ordered Major William r..
Simons OF the Virginia volunteer miltia,
to proceed at once 10 Graham, distant
about five miles from Pocahontas' ana on
the line OF the Norfolk and western ran
road. with force which hOped Wouin
be sufficient TO overawe the lawless' II
not strong enough 10 cope successfully
with any outbreak, with orders 10 report
10 the sheriff Of Tazewell county. and
obey his command. At the same time |
wired the sheriff that the commander had
been ordered 10 report to him. me troops
reached Graham on Saturday, May 4th,
about 2 O'Clock In the afternoon. ana
were then halted. subject 10 the command
Of the sheriff. on the 9Th day OF May.
Major Simons was ordered by the sheriff
10 proceed TO Pocahontas, which he did,
reaching there on the evening OF that
dav ana was placed in command Of the
town by the sheriff. thus showing how
dangerous were the conditions in the
opinion Of he sheriff. The presence or
the troops at Graham prevented the pro-
posed meeting from being held IN Poca-
hontas. and instead thereof it was he'd
lust across the line, in West virginia,
about three-quarters of a mile from 10
cahontas. al which violent ana denuh-
ciatory speeches. were made by the read
ers of the strikers.
For three months tho peace OF the min
ers at Pocahontas and the safety Of life
and property were threatened. Meetings
were held almost daily at the point Just
mentioned and threatening speeches
made against the working miners. the
military and Virginia officials A militia
~ force which was gradually reduced.
was maintained at Pocahontas from the
9th day Of May until the 2d day Of Au-
gust when, In the opinion OF the shellif
Of Tazewel county. all danger had passed.
am convinced that the close proAim-
ity Of troops on Sunday, the 9Th day of
Nav. prevented not only the coercion Of
satisfied working men 20 stop work. but
violent breaches OF the peace and Trost
Trobahly loss Of life and destruction Ot
property. IL cannot be conceived that
such meeting for the purpose avowed
could have been held in town with
feeble police and wea6 sherihalty force.
without causing personal collisions and
serious troubles and placing the town at
the mercy OF 4 mob which is always
monster. with the hands IF Briareus. but
the head Of Polyphenus-strong TO exc
cute. but blind 10 perceive
/ am further equally convinced that If
the troops had been ordered away at a
date much anterior 10 the time of their
withdrawal. the Virginia miners would
have been driven cut of the mines, and
the mines closed. This was the case IN
West Virginia where there were no
troops TO protect those who desired TO
work I'm mines at which there had been
no cut i'm wages. There. when persua-
sion tailed. force was used and for near
IS three months terror reigned.
PREVENTED BLOODSHED.
70 summarize, the presence of troops at
Pocahontas prevented probable blood
shed and destruction of property. pre-
served the peace. kept the mines in oper-
alton gave employment 10 hundreds Of
miners-the number increasing daily until
il had run Up from l,1oO when the strike
commenced TO about 300 when the mill
tary was Withdrawn. Ii enabled many
Virginia enterprises. dependent upon the
mines for coal, to continue operations.
furnishing labor TO thousands Of their en-
plOyes protected the Norfolk and West
ern railroad against threatened danger,
his daily work without mOlestation. and
infringed upon no right Of person or prop
erty
The entire cost of supporting the troops
at Pocahontas was less than six sents on
the thousand dollars Of the value Of the
real and personal property of the State
Considering the dangers ayerted and the
results accomplished. who Will complain
of this paltry expenditure?
A great fundamental principle of gov
eminent was involved.
i maintain that ii is the duty of Vir-
ginia TO preserve personal liberty. No
man should be compelled TO work unless
il be for penal punishment. If he is not
satisfied with his wages. he has the right
20 stop work. and whosoeVer forces him
TO continue is law-breaker and aDriIg-
or of PEI sonal liberty. on the other
hand. no man should be compelled by
menace, threats. or force. TO withdraw
from his wcik. When that is done. he is
no longer free man, and whatsoever thus
deprives him Of his right to labor and
TO earn 4 livelihood robs him or that
which is guaranteed TO every man i'm this
land Of equai rights and freedom
1 maintain. further. that it IL the duty
Of Virginia TO protect alike all property.
] egardlcss OF its character Much capital
has come within our borders: we are in
viting more. We have railroads, factor
les. mines, ana innumerable industrial
enterprises giving employment 10 our
skilled workmen, artisans. and mechanics.
as well as our humble laborcrs; we are
encouraging the building and opening of
mora VIII mere capital come and NOR
industrial enterprises spring from IT, If
the capital and enterprises now here are
subject 10 the fury OF lawlesS men, No.