The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-20


Coke Company, or to interfere in any
way with the employees OF the company,
says that careful reading of the full
text OF the order does not bear out Debs'
Interpretation OF It. The Weekly is
clearly right. There has been a misun-
Outstanding OF the meaning OF the in
junction. and the comments on 1t have
shown that the Misunderstanding was
quite general, not only on the part OF the
strike leaders, but on the part of the
press.
Mr. Debs, says Harper's, asserted that
the injunction restrained him from
walking on the public highways, that 1t
enjoIned him off the face of the earth,
and the reports OF the intent and sub
stance OF Judge Jackson's order, as Il
was reported In the West Virginia news
papers, supported such an Interpretation
and deceived the unwary. Now II turns
out that the injunction simply restraints
the defendants from doing unlawful acts
This Is true, except that when Har-
per's Weekly refers to the misstatements
made by the West Virginia newspapers,
1t should except the Intelligencer, which
has all along been insisting upon the
proper construction OF the order and has
pointed out that simple notice of tres
pass is as much in restraint OF legal
rights OF individuals as the much
talked OF order The main point was
only as to how far the strikers could go
without violating 1t, which was a matter
that was yet to be decided by the courts,
as in the case before Judge Con yester-
day.
But Harpers Weekly goes farther, and
lntimates that the trouble with the whole
matter Is that the interference of the
courts has been suggested in cases OF
this class by the inability or unwilling
ness OF the executive and administrative
authorities to do their duty It says:
at Is not to be wondered at that the
method OF injunction is resorted to for
the protection OF rights and property at
tackled by mobs. In the
present instances, as we have said, the
applications for injunctlons are recog-
milton that the police force is unable or
unwilling to do it's duty" Harpers then
proceeds to say the coal company in
West Virginia was right in supposing
that Governor Atkinson was not man
who would have the courage to enforce
the law. or who had respect for the law,
and cites the governors recent remission
OF the fine of Kimes, who shot the man
who came between him and his wife,
and the letter he wrote In connection
with the action.
This comment Indicates that Harper's
Weekly Is not familiar with the cIrcum-
stances OF the granting of the West Viz
glnia lnjunctIons. nor with Governor At
kinson's attitude in the matter What
ever may have been the circumstances
Of the injunction In other states, in
West Virginia It was NIT due to any lack
OF confidence In Governor Atknsons
willingness or ability to enforce the
laws against the violation Of property
rights, for the governor himself, in reply
to the request Of labor leaders as to his
attitude, emphatcally laid down the pro-
visions of the law, and announced to
them that ne would administer It impair
TALLY and without fear Of any interest
Tho governor explained what his
duties were and what the rights of the
strikers were under our bin OF rights,
the constitution and the statutes. He
warned them against any disorder, or
the Invasion Of the rights Of others, and
declared that both sides Of the coal con-
troyersy would be protected In their
legal privileges. This declaration was
satisfactory to all parties concerned,
and Governor Atkinson has been COM
mendcd by both strIkera and operators
for his attitude. The Injunction proceed
lngs have had no connection with the
governors position. nor have they been
based upon any lack OF confidence in the
authorities Of the law.
In these respects HaFpcr'a Weekly does
the state Of West virginia an injustice
Az to Governor Atklnson's action In the
Klmcs case, while, az we have said here
tofore. it wnB n mistake, wc fail TO see
how 1t In any way IL connected with the
discussion Of the injunction proceedings
In the miners strike or that It Indicates
that the governor womb not have the
courage In enforce the law as be- Is sworn
to do. AZ the cases are In the hands Of
the federal authorities the state nuihorI.
ties have had no cause 70 far to take any
action. nor Ia II at all likely that there
win be my serious trouble In this state.
~, with rare exceptions, the strike IN
being conducted pcaccnbly
-
Tho lnlollIg1ncora Fuggo7llon that
Wheeling secure the meeting " the So
| clcly " the Army N West virginia next
year. having met with general and on.
lhmInetc favor nmong the citizens Of
tho city, the movement IN taking auoh
shape 90 viii ASSURE practical effort