The Worcester spy., 1898-10-13
GOV TANNERS VIEWS
He Says Those Who Precipitated Riot are
Guilty of Murder.

Springfield. Ill. Oct. l2.-In an in
terview this evening regarding the Vr-
den riot, Gov. Tanner said
"Mr. T. c. Louck, president, and Mr..
Lutkin, superintendent OF the Virden
Coal Co.. at 1870 o'clock today made
Of imported Naborers frorl the south
and attempted to put chem to work
in their mines at the point of the bay
onet and muzzle of the Winchester,
such laborers being drawn largely if
not entirely from the criminal class,
ex-convicts, who learned their trade
while doing their terms in the penI-
tentiary Of Alabama. After having
been fully advised and having fun
knowledge that the landing of such
imported laborers would precipitate a
riot, / had wired them that if they
brought these imported laborers they
did 80 at their own peril, and under
the circumstances would be morally
responsible and criminally liable for
anything that might happen.
AS to what happened after the stop
ping of the train in front Of the coal
shed, my information is based on tele-
graphic and telephone communications
and from those coming from the scene
of the conflict From the information
can gather at this time, the very min
ute the train stopped III front of the
coal shaft where the doors of the
stockade were thrown open for the i'm
poted la6orers to enter the firing be-
gan.
AS to who fred the first shot. I am
at this time unable to determine, but
all reports agree that general battle
was precipitated within q few moments
and the firing became general from the
guards on the train, called deputies
estimated at 50 or 60, and was respond
ed 10 by the idle miners lying back on
the other side of the track.
The battle lasted several minutes
after which time the train pulled our
The reports vary as to the number of
killed and wounded. The sheriff tele-
graphed that 100 were killed and the
battle was still on. However, from
estimates and from all the
information I can get there, 1 would
estimate the number OF killed sorne-
where from nine to Is, and possibly
quite as many wounded. The killed and
wounded are largely Idle miners, who
were on the outside. The others were
the hired guards who We're brought
along by the coal company. Most of il
not all of them were non. residents of
Illinois. There is no means of learn
ing their names or whereabouts. for
they declined to give them out, know.
ing, perhaps, that they are crininally
liable for murder, as they had no per-
mission from any officer in Illinois au-
thorizing or deputiztng them to act as
deputy marshals or deputy sheriffs
instantly, on learning of the trouble,
directed Adjt Gen. Reece to order
Capt. Craig Of the. Galesburg battery,
and one company of the Sons Of Veter-
ans regiment, now stationed at Pana,
to prodeed at once by the quickest route
to the scene Of the trouble.
i learned later that Capt. Craig met
with serious difficulties in securing a
train with coaches to bring his com
mand. and directed the adjutant gen
sral to advise him to load his troops
on freight cars and come at once to
Springfield by the Baltimore and Ohio.
and secure train on the Alton to carry
the command to Virden. These ar
were made, and Cant
Craig arrived here at $50 o'clock, and at
Virden by 7S0 o'clock Gen. Reece was
accompanied by Capt. Craig, and I
have instructed Gen. Reece to select a
camping ground most suitable for the
occasion, to quell the riot and maintain
order, protect life and property, to dis
arm all persons bearing arms, and max
Ing an inventory of such arms and tax
ing the name of the individual owner
and his post office address, such arms
to be held until further. orders, and to
not allow imported laborers to unload
from any train within the limits of the
city, nor to march in q body.
These avaricious mine owners have
so far forgotten their duty to society as
to bring about this plot upon the fair
name of our state. They have gone far
enough. yes, too far, as they had fair
warning from me by wire and telephone
that the importation of labor which
brings to our state an undesirable class
IF citizens had to stop, And l say now
to such and all others that this is a
thing of the past. that 1t shall not be
in Illinois while am COVER
nor. These men, the president and off,
GERS of the company, who precipitated
this riot by the bringing in of outside
laborers, are guilty of MUIR
der and should be, and will, l believe
be indicted by the grand jury of Macou-
pin county. and tried an convicted for
this henios offense."