The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-14
TIE WIDEN AFFAIR.

The conflict between the coal miners
and the coal companies at Virden. III,
is a very regrettable affair. Labor con-
hiets are always regrettable especially
! those in which lives are lost. 1t was
| about certain week or more ago that
| there would be serious trouble at Virden.
! The miners refused 40 accept the wages
! offered by the company and al the same
| time said that the company should not
employ non-union labor in the mines. The
company was as determined as the miners.
| It sent to Alabama for negro miners. Then
81 was certain that there would be blood
shed if the negro miners were brought
to the mines. The Governor was warned
Of the threatening condition of affairs.
but he proved himself to be what the
! Illinois papers have always said he is,
namely, a wholly selfish politician, who
has no idea Of The dignity and RESPONSE
bilities Of his great office and who is will
ing 20 do almost anything that promises
to make him popular with the mob
When he was assured that peace was
about to be broken by armed men he
should have taken steps at once to pre-
GtlNE Ot0tt- lLSAtHu OF uOlllg tldl he ulu
nothing, and after the affair was over he
gave out an interview 20 the effect that
the mine owners made themselves liable
to be prosecuted criminally by bringing
negro miners into the state-miners that
were probably ex-convicts. That inter
view was undoubtedly given out for the
purpose of creating prejudice against
the mining company and to excuse him
self for not complying with the demand
for troops 10 prevent a conflict between
the strikers and the miners brought into
the state by the coal company.
We don't know anything about the mer-
its of the trouble between the coal COM
pany and the strikers The company may
be composed of men who have no regard
whatever for the rights of labor, and who
regard a laboring man as deserving of no
more consideration than brute. of that
we know nothing. But we are sure that,
unless the laws of Illinois are very differ
ent from those of the other states, the
company has the right to employ negro
laborers in its mines and TO bring them
from Alabama or any other state, and
that IL Is the duty of the Governor to see
to ii that 1t Is protected in doing So
If the position taken by Gov Tanner
is right a mining or other company in
Illinois is at the mercy of its employees.
If they don't want to work for the wages
offered they can quit, and also prevent
other workmen from taking their places
without risking clash with the author
tiles, If the authorities have a prejudice
against those employed by the company
to take the places of the strikers.
Labor is entitled to a fair compensa-
ton, and it has a right to strike when
it believes that it Is not being accorded
fair treatment, but 1t has no right to use
force TO get its demands. The Governor
who encourages the belief that it has such
a right does both it and society a great
wrong.
The course pursued by Gov. Tanner in
the Vrden affair has not only lowered
him in the esteem of the people, but it
has made a precedent that will plague
the state for a long time. If the Governor
had acted with firmness and done his
duty fearlessly there would have been no
tragedy at Virden, and the striking min
ers would have been much better off as
far as their demands are concerned, than
they are now