Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-12


Acconplished-Last N g n S
Meeting at FairmOnt - Other
Strike News.
Special to the Register.
Fairmont. w. Va, August lit
has been known for some days that
deputy marshals Of the West Virginia
United States District Court had in
their possession papers TO be served
upon certain leaders Of the strike
movement. in pursuance of the in
junction granted by Judge Jackson, at
Parkersburg, last month, upon the
prayer Of foreign stockholders and
bondholders Of the Monongah Coal &
Coke Co.
1t was known that w. d. Mahon and
Eugene V. Debs were to be arrested if
they appeared at Wheeling on Miners
Day. and it was supposed by labor
leaders that this fact had been COM
municated to them. ald that on this
account both made it convenient to be
absent from the meeting and beyond
the easy reach Of the marshals.
It has been hinted that the reason
J. W. Rae and his assistants who
have been conducting the strike in
this region were not arrested is that
they are not meeting with great sue
cess. and that the prosecutors do not
care to make a case till there is some
show Of disorder. or a disposition TO
tresspass upon the property Of the
coal company.
" Be things the leaders have been
Y lreful to avoid. and as was stat
be Register a few days ago. Rae
ised BY wire every day as TO
VIM is safe for him to do by a
prom ent firm Of Chicago lawyers.
Acd fdingly. there was considerable
surprise when it was announced that
a meeting of the leaders Of all the
national labor organizations had been
called for Monongah for Friday Of
this week. MahOn, Debs and others
against whom the injunction is aimed
and whom the operators are anxious TO
get out of the field, Will be among the
men to be present, and II is generally
supposed that hey will be arrested as
soon as they set foot within the juris-
diction of the Federal Court Of this
district. to say nothing of coming into
the very community wherein they are
-. prohibited from making speeches and
conducting their business Of labor
agitators.(
James b'COnnor was asked this eve
ming II Ehe injunctions had not been
the cause Of the meeting and If that
was nok the question chiefly to be dis
cussedy
Mr.. (O'Connor replied that the in
junction was not TIE matter TO be dis
cuss9d. and that Tor the present no at
tenfon would be paid to it. The
leaders VIII conduct themselves and
advise the strikers to so conduct
themselves that there will be no pOssi-
bilitv of prosecution under criminal
charges. leaving the operators no loop
Mole through which TO pursue them
robedience Of an in junction which the
Headers, at least. consider an outrage
Aand a curtailment Of civil liberty.
Mr.. O'COnnOr was asked what would
Ybe done in case Mr.. GOmperS were ar
rested. as has been threatened. if he
came to MOnOngah TO speak at to-
morrow nights meeting.
He replied that he felt no alarm.
He did not believe Gompers or any
other labor leader would be arrested
Tin ne committed some criminal Of
fense. He said the courts and the peo-
ple who have been invoking their lille
gitimate aid had felt the pulse of pub
lie opinion. had seen what the news
papers of the country thought Of that
form of intimidation. and would be
slower 10 use il now than a few weeks
ago. The injunction against the labor
leaders granted in West Virginia has
caused more comment and has been the
means Of bringing that sort of law and
government more prominently home
10 the notice of the great body of
the American people than any similar
instance Of the use of that weapon.
When pressed for an expression as
10 what would be done in case Mr.
Gompers. Mr.. Debs or Mr. MahOn was
arrested. he finally stated that a line
of action had been mapped out The
labor organizations 10 a man are
against the curtailment of free speech
and free assemblage by any sort OF
5udicial legislative or executive in
lrumentality, nor are they willing TO
Zee grow up in this country any class
hat enjoys privileges under the law.
Whether the law be made or executed
or their special benefit. that are not
enjoyed by all others. The labor or
4 3ganizatiOns have been educated in the
matter. and they understand what is
coming if the tendency Of the times
toward Capitalization Of power in
courts and legislatures is not checked.
Ind they are ripe for a contest. They
getting into such shape that il
k rights are not soon defined. they
I'm become entirely subservient to the
S,terests which have thus far won all
corfests wherein free speech and free
! o.tion we're in controversy. II Mr..
gronners OF any other labor Neader
-bo may attend the MonongaA con-