The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-29
sneoInl pIspatch TO tho Intolllgenoer.

Special lllSpuNGll " Wv AANNAllhNhNNAf
CHARLESTON, w, Va, July 2s,-
Samuel Gompers, president OF the Fed
Grafton OF Labor, Grand Master Work
man j. r. Sovereign, of the Knights OF
Labor, and William Ratchford, presl-
dent OF the United Mine Workers. OF
America, arrived here at 4:l5 o'clock
this afternoon. They came as a COM
mittee appointed at the meeting In
Wheeling yesterday TO intercede with
Governor Atkinson for the right OF
holding meetings and for the privilege
OF making public utterances OF peace
able nature in the state relative to their
endeayor to bring about an organiZa-
tiOn Of the miners throughout West
Virginia.
Upon their arrival they repaired i'm
mcdiltely to the governors office, and
were Cos0ted with him for three hours.
They came TO the governor, they stated,
as the last resort, appealing from an In
junction granted by the circuit court
Of Marion county. It was claimed by
Gompers and Sovereign and Ratchford
that the injunction was 30 broad In Its
general character as to deprive the
miners and their representatives from
public discussions OF all kinds. even in
public places as well as upon the high
ways. They stated that they were not
themselves objecting to the possible re-
suits to the leaders and organizers so
much as to the moral effects upon the
general mining element.
The Fairmont Injunction.
Mr.. Sovereign claimed that the In
junction prevented any of the organ
izers from even discussing the strike
situation with any person in any public
place. They stated that their appeal to
the governor is based upon a desire TO
make peaceable effort to gain the
sympathy OF the West Virginia miners
in the general strike, It was their de-
sire to carry on their campaign In n law
abiding and peaceable manner, and
that according TO their conception of the
injunction, they were forced to violate
either the constitution OF the state or
the Injunction OF the Marion county
court. They had no alternative, they
stated. and II they do abide by the in
junction the right OF speech in the state
was denied them and they had no re-
course, as the injunction was OF such
character as to preclude any possibil-
lty OF their gaining sympathy from the
West Virginia miners by peaceable
methods.
Mr. Sovereign complained not so
much us TO the exact wording OF the
Injunction. but to It's broad nature and
the injury that would accrue through
its general construction. He claimed
that It's character was such as to lead
the miner in constituting II to believe
that he was prohibited from oil discus
sion upon this particular subject In all
public places This idea would prevent
the miners from assembling, thereby
preventing the strike leaders from pre-
sentlng their side OF the controversy to
the miners in this state.
Urged ObeuisHce TO Law.
All three Of the gentlemen stated to
the governor that they had all along
urged upon the miners OF this state the
necessity OF abiding by the laws and
avoiding all infractlon, as It was their
desire to carry on u peaceable cam
palgn. They affirmed that so far there
never had been n single arrest OF
miner In West Virginia because OF any
violation OF the particular laws relative
to the matters In question. They had
but one request. 30 they said, and that
was so long as they went about peacea-
bly, in their endeavor 10 organize the
miners In this state. and did not go be-
yond the rights granted citizen in the
constitution, that they be given the lib
critics granted to any other citizen.
They simply wanted to be allowed to
hold public meetings so long as they
were conducted In n peaceable and law
abiding manner
Governor Atkinson heard the argu-
mcnts Of McHHrs. Sovereign. Gdmpcrs
and Ratchford and told them that he
had never seen n copy OF the injunction
In question. The governor stated that
so far as he was concerned he was op-
posed to any attempt on the part Of any
person or persons to prevent citizens
from discussing, in pencoablc and law
abiding mhnncr, any subject OF general
Interest In any public or private man
Ger.
Tho Govtrnor's Position.
Governor Atkinson also stated that
the judiciary was mn independent
branch OF the state government over
which the executive had no control, but
that he believed the right to FREQ dis
Cusslon OF subjects of this character
should not be taken away from the cit
lien 80 long as the discussions were OF
penceablc and law abiding nature.
The governor Expressed Willingness
TO guarantee, 80 far ns II lny within his
power, to the citizens Of the state the
right Of free speech go long as the dis
CuHH.onH were NJ Il law abiding and
uuncenblo character
The conference with the governor ana
MuHgrH GomperB, Sovereign nnd Ratch-
ford was Of tho frfondlleBt nature, aud
the three labor leaders loft In good
spirits
Mr. Sovereign informed your rorrca-
pohlont that whatever might be the TO-
SUIT NJ the governors deliberations they
proposed 10 prosecute the nght IN the
state, aud that In q very few days
there would be- at least iiO men dlHlflb.
uiod at various places, whose work
would bo to induce the miners to come
out They feel confident NJ success. and
soy that the lnb1rng mans future do.
ponds upon The success of this strife
bpmnprR lcft Tonight Tor Washing
tan. Sovereign EuinH to Fort Wayne
aud lhlchiOrd to Columbus.
tounssi Tor The stfiEors,
cLhRltsBuRG. w. Va, July ga
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