The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-01
MITCHELL IS
INDIGNANT.
President of the Mine Workers
Writes Letter.
Defends Organization Against
Harsh Insinuations.
PEACE NOW REIGNS.
Arrival of Troops at Shenan-
dOah Stops Disturbance.
Soldiers Have Settled Down to
Camp Life.
EXPENSE TOO GREAT.
Coal Operators Found 1t Was
Costing Them Too Much
To Employ Their Own Guards
State Will Stand 1t.
Arrival of Troops at Shenan-
dOah Stops Disturbance.
Soldiers Have Settled Down to
Camp Life.
EXPENSE TOO GREAT.
Coal Operators Found 1t Was
Costing Them Too Much
To Employ Their Own Guards
State Will Stand 1t.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, Aug 1.-President
Mitchell, in the course of his reply to
=, the Citizens Alliance. which comm uni
cation he made public this afternoon,
says:
Permit me to say that I do not re-
cOgniZe your right to make demands
upon me to specifically declare myself
opposed to any special classes of law
leSSness- As a citizen of the United
States and the chief executive of the
miners organization have declared
on innumerable occasions and in lam
guage not susceptible of mistake, that
1 am opposed to lawlessness in every
character; and do not propose to alter
my views to conform to the tenets of
the Citizens Alliance, namely, wink at
capital Grim es while inveighing against
minor offenses. / have never in nay life
sought to cOndOne an unlawful act. L
have thrown the full weight of my per-
sonality and influence on the side of
law and order: and / can say without
egOtiSm that the miners union and its
officers have done more for the conser-
walton of peace than all the citizens
alliances that have been or could be
formed by men like yourselves whose
sympathy with the poor and oppressed
is like unto the friendship Brutus en-
tertained for Caesar.
p Il did not assume to say that there
have not been some transgressions of
law by members of the miners union,
but L do say, and defy you to success
fully contradict the statement that there
has been much less lawlessness on the
part of the miners-that which has oc-
Cured. has been less serious-in proper
tion to their number than the part
of the deputies and coal and iron police
who are charged with authority and are
specifically commissioned to preserve
the law, and against whom you have
made no protest and your association
taken no action whatsoever.
And, further, the records in the police
courts will demonstrate that a smaller
number of miners have been convicted
of crime in the anthracite mining towns
during the progress of the strike than
for like period preceding it.
Again, have no hesitancy in saying
that there never was a great upheaval,
either industrial, political or social in
which there was as little real lawless-
ness as has existed in the anthracite
region since the strike was inaugurated.
AS l said in my speech at Nanticoke,
to which you took exception, the miners
are as law abiding, as patriotic, as lib
erty loving as any other class ofcitizens
in our country, and I shall not permit
you to malign them or defame the resi-
dents of this community either by di.
rect charge or insinuation without reg
istering an emphatic protest.
THE GOVERNORS ORDER.
Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. 1.-Governor
Stones general order placing troops OF
duty at Shenandoah was made public
today by Adjutant General Stewart.
Orders were also issued today by Major
General Miller formally placing General
field.
The governors advices from the strike
region are that everything is quiet and
that there are no signs of further trou-
ble The governors order follows:
Unlawful aSsemblages of persons
have congregated in some sections of
the commonwealth and by acts of vio-
lence and disregard of the law, have ta-
ken human life and placed life and pro-
perty in jeopardy. The civil authorities
are unable to preserve the public peace
protect life and property. and secure
to citizens of the commonwealth their
rights and privileges under the consti-
tuition and the laws. LaW1eSSneSS, dis
order and conduct tending to disturb
the public peace and safety of life and
property will be suppressed, and to that
end such portions of the national guard
as may be necessary to enforce the laws
will be placed on duty to assist the civil
authorities in restoring and maintaining
peace and order.
THE sheriff of Schuylkill county hav-
ing advised the governor of his inability
to preserve order and protect life and
property and the governor being salts
fled, upon investigation, that tumult,
riot and mob violence does exist. the
major general comma nding the division
National Guard of Pennsylvania, will
place on duty such portions of the di-
visions as in his Judgment may be nee
essary to properly assist the sheriff of
SchuyllSiI county in restoring order and
maintaining peace and order.
THE major general commanding the
division will report fully to headquar-
ters.
by order of VIM STONE
Governor and Commander-in-chief
'THOS STEWART, Adjutant General
l. GENERAL ORDERS.
Shenandoah, Pa, Aug 1.-The follow
ing general order was issued from Ma
tional Guard headquarters here today:
The brigadfer general commanding
desires to commend the officers and men
. of the several commands now in camp
at Shenandoah for their prompt re-
sponse to the call for duty and the rapid
concentration when their services were
required. 1t is most comm endable and
cannot fail to establish to still great
er extent the confidence of the people
in the efficiency and reliability of the
troops of this brigade.
The utmost care and observance OF
discipline is enjoined upon all. The pc
cular character of the service required
renders it necessary for officers and
men to be constantly ready to respond
to whatever may be required of them
The visitation to saloons and drinking
places by officers and men is strictly
prohibited and violations of this order
will be rigidly dealt with The good
me q nd ,f1ti f<v>