Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-07
Tha Miners' strike.

Al the outset OF the miners troubles
IN the F1at.Top coal region Governor
Mccorxie. of West Virginia, proposed 10
Governor O'Ferra!l that these two exc
cutives should act In unison In pre-
, venting loss of life ard the destruction
OF property. On Sunday. the situation
1ustifylng the inquiry. Governor oFer-
rail- asked Governor McCorkle II. In cnse
OF threatened violence. and In the ab-
sence Of West Virginia force. our troops
would be allowed to enter West. Virginia
for n distance OF two miles and for
period OF not exceeding three days.
There is precedent for the authorities
NJ one State or nation pursuing agrees
sors into nnothsr's territory without per-
mission. when the urgency Is very great,
hut Governor O'Ferrall preferred to an
ticIpate anything OF this sort and to con-
suit the West Virginia Executive. espe-
ctaIly as the latter had suggested united
action. Governor McCorkle. however.
declined to acede to TIE request though
IL was expressly stipulated in Governor
o'Ferralrs telegram that West Virginia
should have cinilar permission to enter
Virginia to suppress violence threa'eneu
from within our borders.
The nearness OF Pocahontes, Va. to
the West Virginia line makes II easy for
the people OF that town to be terrorized
from West Virginia. and could such an
Advancement as that proposed By Gov
ernor OFerralI have been made, the ef-
feet upon men who arc disposed 10 break
the law would no doubt have been good.
However, we cannot condemn Goverror
McCorkle for acting according TO his Ia
depreciation OF the law and facts. but
IL would seem that there is row very
serious obligation laid upon him to send
N Blueaeld. w. Va, near Pocahontasj
sufficient force TO maintain the peace.
and especially to see that the West Viz
ginia miners do not enter Virginia terri
tory to commit violence.
When Governor O'Ferrali's telegram
was sent II was the belief that Governor
McCorkle would either allow our troops
to act In case OF pressing necessity, or
would send West Virginia troops 10 the
scene. Having declined or proposition,
we hope that 1t is his purpose 10 pursue
the other course.
This proposition Of Governor OFer-
rails 10 analogous TO that OF our Le-
gislature made 10 Maryland as 10 pur-
suit by either State OF oystermen found
depredatins upon the territory OF the
other: but Maryland declined to enter
into that arrangement. as Governor Nc
Cortle has declined to enter into this.
So things stand. However. we hope that
there will be 10 occasion for US TO grieve
that Governor McCorkle has declined 10
act in unison with cur authorities to the
extent suggested in Governor O'Ferralrs
telegram Of Sunday.
The alacrity with which the military
all over Virginia responded to the call
of the Governor TO hold themselves In
readiness to so to Pocahontas shows that
the young men OF this generation are
not behind their fathers in respect for
the law.
Whether the military shall be called
upon to resort to harsh measures at
Pocahontas or not-and we sincerely
trust that they will not be-the next Le-
gislature should recognize their services in
the trouble by making more ample pro-
vision for the support OF the citizen SOL
d!ery