West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-11-01
RAILROADED TO JAIL.
The ''FulI Dinner Pail' Among the Coal
Miners or Georges Greek.


ers, has given out the following
statement:
"Not even at Gardner, Idaho. or
in the anthracite regions of Penn
sylvania, is there a more terrible
and iyrannous suppression of liberty
and abuse of the rights of the citi-
zen, than exists to-day in the
Georges Creek mining district in
Maryland, within $50 miles of the
Capitol. We have one thing in our
favor in Maryland. however, which
has proved of vital Importance TO
us and which the poor wretches in
Idaho and Pennsylvania lack we
have Democratic administration.
Last April the miners of
Georges Greek district inaugurated
strike on precisely similar lines
and Tor the same purposes as were
the cause of the great strike in the
anthracite regions. After three Ia
months / succeeded in arranging a
conference between the President
of the Consolidation Coal Company
and the men. The strike was
practically won by the men. But
the night before the conference was
to be held, the Coal Companies
hired lawyer to come among the
miners and make an inflammatory
speech. He challenged me to Joint
debate, but | remained away from
the meeting. A number of the
strikers were present out of curiosity
and to report upon the meeting and
its result. There were some cries
of "scab" and "blackleg", but no
disturbances. l came out of my
room to quiet the men, when sud-
denly AZ of us were arrested.
charged with unlawful assembly.
riot, threats, etc. We were acquit
ted on all but the indictment for
unlawful assemblage and on this
count, 80 of us, myself among the
number, were sentenced to terms
ranging from 80 days to six months.
The case was tried before a Judge
and by lawyers who are stockhold-
ers in the Coal Company. We
were denied change of venue and
railroaded to Jail without a single
chance for justice. l succeeded in
getting appeals to the higher court
In many of the cases, but in the
others, our lawyer was not allowed
to make exceptions and was over
ruled on every motion. These
cases could not, therefore, be APP
pealed and the men had to go to
the House of Correction. | then
asked pardon for them from Govern
or John Walter Smith, on the
ground that the men were absolutely
innocent and had been uniustly
convicted. | told the Governor
that wanted him to read the evil
dence of the prosecution against
these men and if he found one word
in it showing evidence of their guilt.
would withdraw the application
for the pardon. Yesterday Govern
or Smith pardoned these men.
Their names are: DIN Wilson.
Arthur Bone, Conrad Lapp, Rich
ard Merriman, Alexander Meek.
James Chapman and Daniel Harris.
1t is fortunate for us all that this
happened in Maryland, where there
is Democratic Governor, rather
than in Idaho or Pennsylvania. In
the former case we would have been
confined in bull pen with INSULT
cient food until we gave up, or
promised to leave the country and
in the latter case, we would have
been starved out or shot to death
by the soldiery. The miners of
Maryland have received an object
lesson which they will never forget.
They know who their friends are.
and the vote in Maryland November
9th will show that they realize at
last the proper and effective way to
draw the fangs of their oppressors.
They will vote for William J. Bryan
and the Democratic nominees for
Congress.