The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-13
VOLLEYS THAT
CARRIED DEATH
Continued Firm First pagal

| and refused to go to work at Nirden,
| and who were sent home at the expense
| of the Miners union.
| INCEPTION OF THE TROUBLE.
| Strikers Asked For 40 Cents Ton
| Negroes Imported to Fill Their Places.
Chicago. Ills. Oct 12.-The difficulty
| at the Nirden mines originated April 1st,
| 1898. when the miners of the Fourth
| district Of Illinois went out on Il strike
| instituted by the United Mine Workers.
| Trouble followed at Pana, but the Viz
| den miners remained quiet throughout
| the summer. The strikers had asked for
| 10 cents n ton and were offered % cents.
| Actual disturbances at Nirden began
| September 25th. when the Chicago-Nir-
! den Company, the principal mine owners
| at that point, imported one hundred ne
| groes from Alabama.
| When the train arrived with them on
| board. it was met by Il large body Of
| armed union miners who threatened to
shoot the first negro that stepped from
| the cars. The negroes were finally pre-
vailed upon to return TO the South, and
the mines were not operated
President Il. c. Loucks, of the Chica-
go-Nirden Company. then proceeded to
make preparations to get other miners.
October 9th Sheriff Davenport notified
Governor Tanner that there would GER
tainly be trouble and that State troops
were needed to preserve the peace. Gov
ernor Tanner advised the >mine officials
against importing miners-that he was
opposed to the system-that while there
was no law to keep them out of Illinois.
he did not feel it to be his duty as Gov
ernor to use the arm of the State to
give protection to mine owners in operat-
ing their mines with this class of en-
ployees.
WORK AT BAYONET'S POINT.
superintendent Lukens, according to
Governor Tanner replied that the mines
would be run at all hazarGs-that the
company would employ such labor as
they saw fit-that they would import
this labor. and operate the mines with
it. even if they had to do it at the point
of the hayonet and the muzzle Of the
Winchester.
No troops were sent. The next day
Mr. Lukens notified the Governor that
his mines would be operated. aud de-
manded the protection of the State. The
matter had been brought before the
State board of arbitration and that board
decided in favor of the miners, but held
that an injustice had been done the Chi
caGo-Yirden Company.
From this point the trouble has been
dispute between Governor Tanner and
the mine operators, carried on by tele-
graph and other communications. The
Governor steadily refused to call out the
State troops. and charged the operators
with importing eX-cOnvicts and an I'M
desirable class of workmen.
WHAT THE OPERATORS CLAIM.
The operators declared that the men
they desired to bring TO their mines had
been chosen for their ability and their
capacity to become good citizens. They
also said they were willing to take back
the strikers at the scale of 2Sc ton, but
that they could not open their mines at
the exorbitant demand of 40 cents. The
mines. il is claimed. are all operated in
accordance with the State law.
Sheriff Davenport has been in SYM
pathy with the Governor and says he
does not want to enforce laws that will
bring labor into the State and offered TO
resign rather than to undertake the
task.
enforced the Virden strikers October 10,
armed and determined to p-event the me-
groes from going to work. Armed men
have since been practically in possession
Of the town.
Manager Lukens. of the Chicago Nir-
den Company, swOre out a writ of in
junction against thirty-four of the lead
ing strikers. These men had run out of
IL f,.a.I
hired by the operators. The strikers
had not displayed violence against others
until they began to suspect that more
negroes were to be brought in.
ASKS GOVERNMENT FOR MEN.
Washington, Oct. 12.-Latn tonight Il
telegram was received by the War De.
partment from Governor Tanner. re-
questing that the Fifth Illinois, new Oh
furlough, be placed at his disposal, to
quell the riotOuS demonstrations at Vir.
den, Illinois.
Governor Tanner is embarra ssed be-
cause all of the Illinois State troops.
practically are in the service of the
United States. He is unable to order 10
the scene of the miners troubles any Of
the Illinois troops in the service of the
Government, without the authority of
the Secretary of War.
Thus far no decision has been reached
by the officials ut the War Department
concerning Governor Tanners request.
The matter involves some difficulties
which preclude the possibility of hasty
decision. 1t will be submitted to Secre-
tary Alger tomorrow morning, and
late tonight Adjutant General Corbin
said that the probability is that the regi-
ment will he placed at the disposition of
Governor Tanner.
CAVALRY ORDERED TO SCENE.
Chicago, Ills, Oct. 12.-Colonel Young
of the First Illinois volunteer cavalry,
received orders tonight to report ut
Springfield Immediately with troops 4 &,
b. G and ID of his command These
troops will leave at II O'Clock to.ln0r-
row morning from Springfield, and wiIl
be hurried to- Firden.
Old fashions in dress may be revived,
but no old-fashiOned medicine can re-
place Chamberlain's Collie, Cholera and
Diarrhoea Remedy For sale by j. Hal
Bobbitt, Henry II. Hicks and North
Side Drug Store.