The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-03
THE GOVERNORS POWERS.

month.
THE GOVERNORS POWERS.
IN discussing the power Of the Cover
nor to order out troops. the Norfolk Vlr-
r,nian-Pilot says we mistake It's position.
II agrees that the Governor has full au'
4hority ITO coll out, troops to suppress
actual riot and mob violence, whether %
not any call Is made upon him by inc ioca o.
authorities, but that he has not the po"e'
and authority to do SO when no can mas
& been made as q mere precautionary meas
ure against what he may regard as
threatened violence This. IT contends
10 what Governor Montague did when ne
sent troops into Henrico. and In SO DONG
our contemporary thinks he transcenooa
his authority
Coming 10 the action OF Governor O Fer
rail in the Pocahontas riots, 1t says
wa a. not know what Mr.. o'Ferral
etad of in his public addresses. but
NO DO find that In his communication
+n,,he Legislature he gave the following
reason for his action: 80
j'r"I,ater tho same day the same oiicer
,,,,rea mo from Pocahontas In these
4 words: west Virginia miners propose
"a mold mass-meeting here Sunday. :.
violence attempted my force wou'u ~
wholly Inadequate. Answer" me ., te,e
e .,ra =, was signed, John w. crockett
San,,t,. sheriff" This was In effect though
not IN direct words, call for troops ny
~ acting local authority, based upon
f his knowledge OF local conditions me
denuty sheriff virtually said no antie'-
nataA disorders he could not control. Now,
what aid Governor o. Ferrall say IN com
menting upon this Hero are MS worus'
II determined that the rights OF VIZ
ginia citizens. the safety OF the co11,h'uu.,
wand the perfection Of life and properly
demanded that the soldiers be placed sum
cientiy near to pocahonta to enable the
sheriff to call them quickly to tho scene
In the event they were needed. Neeo
the difference In theaction OF Ex-Governor
o,Ferrall and Governor Montague DO eIn-
phasized? O. perrall on tho representa- ton
OF tho acting sheriff that asltuatlon was
likely to arise that he could not contro.
placed the troops !'suficlcntIy neg. ~.
the sheriff to use them. Montague ordereo
thenn to Henrlco when the sheriff said they
we're not needed and that he could nan.
die the situation.
Governor OTerrall made no "boastful
addresses at Pocahontas. Tho sheriff
was timid, and he told the people not to
blame the sheriff, but to blame tho Gov
ernor, II anybody was to be blamed. as ne
was responsible for the presence OF the
troops.
But that Isl neither here nor there
Governor o'FNrall was Informed BY the
sheriff, as our contemporary says thas
riot was threatened, and IT,: no was
una bic to deal with the situation.
He did not call for troops, but no made
the Governor understood that their pres
ence was necessary, and the Governor
lost no time In sending tho soldiers there
as precautionary measure. Afterwards ne
went to the scene and he served notice
m the strikers that the law would be
upheld, and that the right OF every man
10 work would be enforced. And he would
have employed the forces at his command
to that end. sheriff or no sheriff
Governor Montagues position was even
stronger True, the sheriff did not ask
for troops, and did not Intimate that
ttere was danger of riot. but others told
him so and Judge Wlckham was clearly
OF opinion that troops should be called
for. In testiiying before the jury in the
case OF Sheriff Solomon. the Governor
said that Judge Wickham called on him
for troops. But more than all this, there
was actual riotng In Henrlco when the
Governor ordered the troops across the
,,ne and before they arrived, there wa,
bloody clash near tho corner OF MaiI
and Vine Streets, In which several mel
on both sides were hurt. II the troop
had been there an hour or so sooner, tina
unfortunate affair would never have oc
CURED.
We are not saying this In defense
Governor Montagr, per go. We are SIN
ply trying TO show that II the Governo
# Of the State-any Gorernor--has the AZ
thority OF law IN employ the military t
put down riot. he has the authority eN
pressed or implied to employ the mitar
in his discretion TO prevent riot II Is a
summed up In that provision of the Cor
stitutlon, which says that the Governo
shall take care that the laws be fa!tf
fully executed"
Observation-Disclosures
THE NEGRO CRIMINAL.
y Sryf