The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-05

ulhBt' As tHeae are guaranteed ny tHe
constitution, it follows that no decision
which prohibits them can be good law.
The publication broadcast OF Judge Ma
sons decision has accomplished ono
good thing, namely, created a great deal
of sympathy for the strikers, whose
common rights are annulled by It; and
knows these striking miners, who
are fighting hard battle for bare
livelihood for themselves and their fam
lies are entitled to all the sympathy
they can get. "-Wheelins Register.
The above is an editorial in the Wheel
ing Register of Monday and shows
how little information that Journal pos
sesses on the subject OF the Injunction
issued by Judge Mason. The Register
has had the fullest opportunity to OBJ
tain correct Information as TO the stu
alton OF affairs In the Fairmont region,
hut It shows, In discussing 1t, either the
grossest ignorance or the most pur-
poseless and shameful mendacity in
dealing with the attempted strike here.
The criticism Of Judge Mason's decls-
ion is In keeping with all Its other utter
ances on the subject. Let US examine
the facts connected with the issuing OF
this Injunction and see how far Judge
Mason has laid himself liable 20 just
criticism in his action.
We have no particular interest in
Judge Mason, especially political; but
we believe him TO be an honest, capable,
upright and conservative lawyer. who
would not knowingly violate the prin-
ciples Of the law In adJudicating any
question which might come before him
as q Judge. This Is as far as we care to
go in his defense. In fact he needs no
defense. He simply awarded q prelim-
mary Injunction on q case brought be-
fore him, and the mountain that has
thus been created out OF a mole hill
exists entirely In the Imagination Of
people who are buslly engaged in look.
ing for sensations. Up TO this time
Judge Mason has decided nothing. He
probably never will render any decision
upon the matter,as he only occupied the
position OF special judge during the
Germ when the case was brought be-
Iore court, but there has been such
persistent and mischievous effort to
magnify his order into an oppressive
legal edlct to strike down the rights OF
free speech, that II is time the people
should know Just what he did and the
legal effect OF hts action. The basis OF
that action was the allegations set up
by the operators In their application for
an Injunction. They say that efforts
have been made for nearly three weeks.
by persons and parties not residents VI
this state to induce the miners OF the
Fairmont region 10 go out on a strike
and thereby to interfere with their bus
mess OF mining and shipping coal; that
during the first two weeks OF that time
they claim, every avenue for the fullest
public discussion Of every question con-
hected with II. had been afforded the
organizers Theyy held open meetings In
Palatine, Monongah, Catawba, Willow
Tree. Worthlngton, New England and
on the court house square IN Fairmont.
Not voice was raised against them.
The best judgement OF the people OF
this section, Including the miners them
selves. was against them, but they were
accorded patient hearing. Five hun
bred people assembled at the court
house square and listened to Mahon,
Ratchford and Debs, and not murmur
Of dissent was heard against n word
they said, and we must do them the JUS
tice TO say that they spoke with con-
Bervatism and good sense; one OF them
stating In the course OF his remarks,
that so far Rs he could see the miners OF
Fairmont had no grievance against
their employers; that they were better
fed, better clothed and better housed
than the miners OF any other region OF
which he had any knowledge. and that
the only reason they were asked to quit
their employment and go on a strike
wns to aid their suffering brothers in
other fields. This argument did not i'm
press the Faismont miners. They saw
no reason why they should starve them
selves and families and forego employ
rnent when It was offered them in vain
effort to help the strikers In other re-
gions who had never exhibited any
sympathy or extended any aid to them.
Therefore, after n few of these meet
ings had been held. the majority Of the
miners ceased 10 attend them. Their
curiosity having been gratltied they had
no further motive In going to hear
Messrs. Dobs, &c, and they went about
their business, satisfied with their cm-
pioy1uent and their employers, and con-
tent with their lot, which. according TO
the agitators themselves, make them
the best clothed. best fed, and best
housed miners in the country. But the
aglthtors determined that they should
hear them. There is considerable dis
satisfaction. as Is alleged, among part
OF the men at Monongah, for variety
OF reasons unnecessary TO state here,
md those dissatisfied men, with few
others who were carried away By eH-
citement, rallied under the banners OF
the agltatorg. and pnrades were organ
lied and house TO house cdnvnsscs were
made to Induce or to force tho indus
trious, satisfied miners, who simply
wanted 10 be let alone, 10 Join the strike
movement.
Men under the lead Of the ugltators
mnrched to the mines owned by the
West Falrmont and other companies
assembled In tho roads leading TO the
mouth OF the pits, and by numbers, ana
in some oasos threats, attempted to
oyerawe, tNrrorl2c and frighten the
miners who sought work, from going
into their employment, II 10 said, per-
hapB alleged, in the bill praying FOR an
Injunction, that the miners houses
which nre the property OF the company
were visited by tho organizers aud their
nbettors, the women exhortod TO request
their husbands to dult work under var.
ious threats aud menaces ~ TO what
would happen n they refused TO do go
and generally terrorlzcd che men and
their families who were peacefully pur.
sulnR their employment In a legal and
lawful way Some Of the miners houses
at Monongah have been stoned on more
than one occasion, threats ~ penonhi
injury to the miners and operators arc
alleged to have been made, and n syato-
matte r1ign Of terror nmonR the em-
nlnYen Of tho mlnnn nLLnmnLnl 10 be In.