Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-24
AT THE C0AL-MlNES.
10 Very Material Change in The
Situation.
WEST VA. STRIKERS ELATEp.
They Hold Large MectipR-PiantS
and Bridges ON the EIkhorn
Denied Under Oash-Mi,ttnry Notes.

Denied Under Oath-MIsitnry Notes.
PoCAHONTAs, VA, May 23-(special)
pccahontas was alive to-day with can
ddates and olection-workers. The strike
seemed TO haye been forgotten, and the
election was the all-absorbing topic.
Many Of the miners were on the streets
oil day and worked like beavers. The
municipal election was hotly contested.
Orders were issued by Major simons
that all the military remain IN and arounf
their headquarters so as not TO inter
fcre IN any way with the citizens in the
free exercises Of suffrage. The conse-
Quenco WAS that the streets were re-
markedly free from soldiers. The South
west company's ticket was elected.
There are many exciting rumors OF I'M
pending trouble on the Elkhorn. These
led the Grocer officials 20 engage a num-
Der OF armed watchmen 10 protect their
works. All other Elkhorn mines which
think OF starting up. together with ral-
way tunnels. bridges, and trestes' are
we'll guarded. 4 great deal Of talk OF
threatening character has been picked
An. and the company officials considered
Il best to place guards at the planta
On order 20 insure protection TO those
who are disposed TO work.
The strike aeitators are laboring zeal
ously among the men who are In the
mines. and they believe that all VIII be
out before the operators can secure re-
Inducements 10 80 iu. Houston and Pu-
laski have only a small force each. Gro
zer and Upland hope TO be able TO start
right away.
THINK THE VICTORY THEIRS
The strikers seem 90 think the victory
IS theirs. and are elated, as was evil
denced az a meeting held between the
tunnels this afternoon. The ~ attest en-
thuslasm prevailed. and about 400 men
were present--a much larger crowd than
usual. Iawless and webb were the
speakers. and the men were advised 10
remain firm IN their determination 10 win
and stay out 10 appears 20 be the
Judgment Of the leaders that the quickest
way 90 end the strike Is 20 make the
coal tonnage as small as possible, IN
order % force the railroad 10 accede
10 the demand Of the operators. There
are some advocates. also, OF the theoiy
that the best way 90 maintain wages
IS 20 man as fully as possible those
mines which did not reduce wages. Law
less and webb advocate the principle or
as complete q shut down as possible.
Iavvlcrs stated this afternoon that the
Southwest company had offered him S@Vo
10 COMPROMISE I'm their behalf, but thls
statement rs denied by Colonel a. j. May
counsel for the Southwest company III
arpcars % be q late hour for such pro-
uosition from the company. as they nave
practically gained their point ana nave
as many men working now as before INC
strike
SECURING PHOTOGRAPHS.
r,,t,i, n p Perkins and Lieutenant
" II Howell. % the Roanoke Machine-
works Guards. dressed thoms Ives TN cil-
cons clothes. and. armed with photo
,.r,rric ,titdt. visited the Elkhorn mining
recione. They pretended TO be representa-
tives % the press securing photoGiaphlc
scenes or the strike They conversed WIN
me strikers. attended Several meetings,
and learned many thlngs of interest Hes
also secured several good photographs or
10Th Iawless and webb. The strikers al
here fully 90 their determination TO hsh'
the matter 20 the bitter end
4 HOwITZFR DINNER
The Richmond Howitzers furnished a
suacial dinner to-day. at which were pres
ont Major Sim0ns. officers Of his stan, a
number 81 commissioned officers or the
post and representatives, Or the press
The rerast which was tastefuhy pre-
u4r-l hv Qyar'crmastcr-S rgeant l.. J.,
cornell with the assistance OF Corporal
PAGE. was 10 bountiful spread and greatly
.nioved nv an present Lieutenant
st7rlte who Is in command OF the Howit-
gers. proved himself 20 be- host OF hosts.
u is understood that the Howitzefs VIII
be relieved soon
The Petersburg Grays go home to-mor-
row. Private H. -. Fields was able to SIT
up to-day. but is very lame from the blow
received on the leg, and suffers CohsideI-
ably from th.. wound on the head
Tho outpoSS were unusually quiet last
MIGHT. Tho Portsmouth troops are having
their share OF duty, but they seem TO be
"a piucky set of boys and will not shirk.
The conference which was arranged Tor
between Lawless and other strike leaders
and the operators of the mines VINO nSGe
no reduction in wages failed 90 material
ize to-day. and 10 IS believed IL is declared
of. .. ~,
The following affidavit was made and
sworn 20 after tho statement made by
Tav,Iass that the Southwest company had
offered him $500 90 force a compromise:
Virginia. Tazcwcn County-to wit:
This day personally appeared before
the undersigned. ". j. Newenham, Mayor
Of the town OF Pocahontas, We. G. II.
Duvau. who being first duly sworn, states
unon his oath that the statement made by
lanes Lawlcss and W. c. webb to-day
that the Southwest Virginia Improve
mcnt Company had offered said LaWiess
and Webb through said Duvan, the sum
OF 5000 TO call off the strike Of miners
IN PocahOntas. Va, WAS absolutely iaiSc
I'm all particularS No such proposition
was ever made the said alnant by said
conpauv. or ANYBODY connected with said
company. and said afiaut never made
any such statement 10 said LaWless ana
said webb. or either OF them. lfnd sald
ahiant further states most emphatcally
that no offer was made TO him OF MONEY
ip any amount for said Lawless and
Webb. or either OF them That said am
ant had conference with Logan NJ. Bull
ma and Colonel May. In which they eN-
pressed a desire % have a formal deciafa-
ton declaring the strike of. so far as
me Southwest Virginia Improvement Com
panv was concerned. and were wiling
ID confer with said Lawlcss and Webb
for that purpose. hut each and all state-
ments that a money consideration would
he given said I.aWlees and Webb was
absolutely false, and said aiilant makes
This affidavit In justice 20 said company
lad Its representatives.
"Glyen under my hand, this Esd day Of
Nev. lN-
tsieue1 wv. J. NEWENHAM,
mayor Of Pocahontas.'
All Quiet on the Elkborn.
CHARLESTON. ". VA. May IA
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