Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-05
rup p1cHwoND Observation-Disclosures. DECEMBER 5. 1895.

stcr. with the hands Of Briareus. but the
head OF Polyphemus-strong to execute
but blind TO perceive"
1 am further equally convinced that IL
the troops had been ordered. away NJ "
date much anterior 10 the time OF their
withdrawal the Virginia miners wouil
have been driven out of the mines ana
the mines closed. This was the case IN
West Virginia, where there were no
troops TO protect those who desired 10
work i'm mines at which there had been
no cut I'm wages There. when persuasion
failed force was used and Tor nearly
three months terror rcigned.
To summarize. the presence OF troopS
at Pocahontas prevented probable blood
shed and destruction of prop Pie-
served the peace kept the mines ~
operation. gave employment 10 nuhnItns
OF miners8,he number increasing daily
until IL had run 10 from i.ioo. when the
strike commenced. 10 about I'D Nn'n
the military was Withdrawn. ~ enanlei
many Virginia enterprises depenn'he
upon the mines for coal 20 continue
operations. furnishing labor TO thousands
OF their employees :. protected the Norioik
and Western railroad agains. tnreht'nsp
danger. secured every man IN MS ilent
TO pursue his daily work without molesta-
ton, and infringed upon no rlsht OF
person or property.
The entire coat OF supporting the troops
at POcahontas was less than D cents on
the thousand dollars Of the value or the
real and personal property OF me STATE.
Considering the dangers aNertcd ana inc
results accomplished who will complain
of this paltry exp ndture?
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES IN
NOLNED.
\ great fundamental principle Of gov
eminent was involved. | maintain that II
Is the duty of Virginia To preserve per-
sonaI liberty. No man should be COM
PEELED 10 work unless IL be for penal
punishment II he h not satisfied win
his wages he has the right 90 stop work.
and whosoever forces him To continue
is a law-breaker and abridger Of per
sOnal lib lrty on the other hand, no man
should be compelled by menace. threats
or force. TO withdraw from mis- work.
When that Is done he * no longer "A free
man. and whosoever thus deprivos him
of his right 10 labor and 20 earn lNell-
hood rObs him Of that which IS guaran-
teed TO every man in this land OF equal
rights and freedom
. OF Virginia TO protect alike all properly:
regardless Of IFS ch4racer. Much capital
has come within our bord rs. We are
inviting more We have railroads. I1c-
tories. mines, and innumerabie industrial
enterprises, giving employment 20 our
skilled workmen. artisans. and echanics'
as well as our humble laborers; We are
encouraging the building and opening or
more. VIII more capital come and more
industrial enterprises spring from II "
the capital and enterprises now here are
subject TO the fury of lawless mem NO.
Let iC once be ind arstOOd that property
rights are at the mercy of mobs, and That
investors have no security in virginia,
and capital will flee from us as from a
land Of plaques. and we VIII retrograde
more rapidly materially than We have
advanced
will state that. IN addition to the Sc
curity given to the laborers who desired
TO work at Pocahontas, the great virginia
mines. in which wages were not cut,
NFha min tHsIY 81 tGfA q n
abled, as already stated. TO continue their
operations. and double their output ana
give employment to thousands OF work
men, and the Norfolk and Western rail
road. with 9Si miles Of her system in
Virginia and paying SH.7351e safe taxes,
S92, i95 county taxes, and N)3B9.2 cor
poratiOn taxes. aggregating S200, 2Ol.lS this
year. and nearly as much last year. was
saved from probable serious injury.
COXEY's ARMY DRIVEN OUT
on still another occasion the military
was called into service. In the summer
OF 1884. a body. known as "CONey
army consisting OF from 600 TO LOO men,
who had been gathered principally from
the Pacific and Northwestern states,
reached the District Of Columbia, b. mt on
a fools mission" 20 direct congressional
legislation. After remaining In camp IN
the District for few days. they were
required 10 leave, whereuDOn they moved
across the Potomac into Virginia, ana
", near ROsslyn. They were a thriftless
lot, and became at once "A charge upon the
300 white taxpayers I'm that county
They refused 10 work when IL was Of
fered 10 chem. and prowled about for
miles around in gangs, gging, terror
iZing the women Of the section. who were
generally left during the daytime without
male protectors. They were yagrants,
and liable TO treatment under the vagrant
statute OF the safe. but their numbers
rendered the law imperative The citi-
Zens appealed 10 me for aid. and my mail
for weeks was filled almost daily with
letters from female residents praying for
relief There had. however. been no actual
breaches Of the peace nor threatened
violence. and 1 was powerless 10 act I'm
the absence Of a call from the civil
Sheriff and Board Of Supervisors, and
Immediately | ordered "A military force
20 proceed TO The locality and REQUIRE
the entire army" 10 leave the State.
county of Alexandria was relieved Of the
horde of Migrants. beggars, and cranks
that for weeks had been disturbing the
peace Of mind OF her defenceless women
and eating up the substance OF her peO-
.lc.
This ended "Coxeyism." and | do not
think Virginia will again be afflicted with
it, The cost OF the military on this Occa-
sion was about three tenths OF J cent
on the $1,000 Of the taxable property OF
the State.
USE OF THE MILITARY.
Ny report as to the military is now con-
cluded Ii has occupied much space, but
| have given you all the facts. - my duty
required. I'm every instance tnerc were
direct calls from the Sherins Of the va
riOus counties, except In the ease OF Poca-
hOntas, and In that the sheriff. while not
calling directly, communicated the facts
to me. leaving me 10 determine. indicating,
however. very ciear.y, that IN his opinion
~ hafa IrtFa
them almost instantly to the scene OF the
disturbance when they were placed In
his reach.
Before concluding this branch Of my
message | must in the strongest terms
commend the volunteer soldiers Of the
state officers and men. for 'their ready re-
Spouse TO every command, ana their laith-
full discharge Of every duty ~ the sacri-
flee OF their comfort and business in
terests.
HORSEBACK GAMBLING.
Gambling on horse-races has become a
shame and disgrace 10 Virginia IL has
been carried on the year round and has
attracted the gambling fraternity. in
GLIDING the worst element OF e. from
every section of the country and invited
the youths Of the State to the tracks 10
be corrupted.
The General Assembly, at its last ses-
sion finding that there was no statute
prohibiting DoOkmaking. &C. and that
this species Of gambling was being con-
Quoted constantly at Jackson CITY. in
Alexandra county, passed an act making
1t unlawful for any person or persons, or
association Of persons. corporation or
corporations, to sell OF make books pools.
or mCtuals upon the result OF any trial
OF speed or power OF endurance OF ami
mails or beasts. &c. anywhere within the
State. except upon the grounds owned ana
controlled by agricultural associations.
county or city fairs. driving parks OF
driving clubs heretofore chartered The
special object OF this act was to break up
the gambling dcns, where poOl-solling
&C. was done. AT Jackson city. aud
which had made that locality a veritablc
pest spot for years.