The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-13
STORY OF THE STRIKE.
"pe=5ie Grew Out of the ImpOrta-
ton of Negro Miners.

@0iS Grew Out of the ImpOrta-
ton of Negro Miners
CHICAGO. Oct. 12.-The difficulty at the
Virden mines originated April l. 1898, when
the miners Of the Fourth district of Illinois
went out on a strike instituted by the United
States Mine Workers. Trouble followed at
once at Pana but the Virden mines remained
quiet throughout the summer. The strikers
mad asked for 40 cents an hour and were Of
Tered 2S cents. Actual disturbances at Virden
began sept. 70, when the Chicago Virden
company, the principel mine owners at that
point, imported 100 negroes from Birming-
ham, Ala. When the train arrived with them
on BOARD 1t was met by a large body Of
armed union miners, who threatened to shoot
the hrst negro that stepped from the oars.
The negroes were finally prevailed on to re-
turn to the South, and the mines were not
operated.
President T. c. Loucks, Of the Chicago
Vlrden company, then proceeded to make
preparations to get other miners. Oct 8
Sheriff Davenport notified Gov. Tanner that
tnere would certainly be trouble and that
state troops were needed to preserve the
peace. The governor asked if it was the
purpose OF the coal company. in the event
or troops being sent to import miners from
other states to take the place of the strikers
Supt Hikens who was with the sheriff at
the time the request was made by telephone
for the militia, said that the company pro-
posed to operate its mines in it's own way
and that they expected to import labor both
white and colored from the Southern states
Inc governor told him that the best class of
miners got employment at home and only
the criminal class would come-men who
would soon quit work and get into the Door
hours, Jalls and penitentiaries, and become
burdens to the taxpayers Of the state; that
ne was opposed to the system; that while
there was no law to keep them out Of Hi
nols he did not feel it to be his dtuy as
governor to use the arms of the state to give
protection to mine owners in operating their
mines with this class of employees. Lukens
according to Gov. Tanner, replied that the
mines would be run at all hazards; that the
company would employ such labor as they
saw Mt; that they would import this labor
and operate the mines with it, even If they
had to do 1t at the point of the bayonet and
were sent.
The next day Mr.. Loucks notified the gov
ernor that his mines would be operated and
demanded 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 also held that
Virden company From this point the trou-
BILE has been a dispute between Gov Tanner
and the mine operators, carried on by tele-
grams and other communications The gov
ernor steadily refused to call out the state
troops, and charged the operators with i'm
porting ex-convicts and an undesirable class
OF Workmen. 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 strik-
they could net open their mines at the ex-
orb1tant demand of 40 cents. The mines, 1t
is claimed, are all operated in accordance
with the STATE law.
Sheriff Davenport has been in sympathy
WIN Inc governor and says he does not
want to enforce laws that will bring negro
labor into the state, and offered to resign
rather than undertake the task. Five hun
dred Springfield miners reinforced the Virden
strikers Oct 10, armed and determined to
prevent the negroes from going to work.
Armed men have since been practically in
possession CT the town. A rumor was cir
culated the day before yesterday that
small body of negroes had been landed from
train just outside Virden, and, under COW
er of darkness. conveyed to the stockade
They were supposed to be making the shaft
ready for the miners who were to come
This made the strikers more than ever Wig
liant
Manager Lukens, Of the Chicago irden
company, swore out a writ of Injunction
against thirty-four Of the leading strikers
These men had run out of town four ex-
policemen who had been hired by the opera
tors. The strikers had not displayed violence
against others until they began to suspect
that more negroes were to be brought