The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-07-10
Refuse TO Work
With Neg pes
TROUBLE ANTICIPATED BECAUSE
WHITE LAsoRERs WON'T
WORK WITH coLoREp
MEN.


PARKERsBURG, July 1o.-serious
trouble Is expected in railroad circles
as the result Of the arrival in the city
Of thirty negro laborers who came
for the purpose Of working for the B.
q o. The white iaborers declare they
VIII not work with the colored men,
and say they will mob them II they
are given employment.
The negroes arrived Monday night
in a special car, having been sent here
by an employment agency Of BalH-
more. They were accompanied by An.
drew volk, an agent Of the employ
ment bureau. After their arrival here
volk discovered the situation, and be-
ing unable to put them to work at
once told them he would go back and
they would have to shift for them
selves.
The negroes were in q sorry plight
and began to talk in a threatening
manner TO volk, who feared violence,
and telephoned for police protection.
Chief oliver and a patrolman went to
his rescue and prevented an outbreak.
When the officers arrived in the yards
they did not know that their appear
ance put a stop to the plans Of score
or more Of white people who were get
ting ready to mob the negroes.
1t was learned last night that Just
as soon as the white laborers employ
ed by the B. & o. learned that ne
groes were to be placed at their side
there was strong talk Of a mob and
things we're in shape for charge on
the negroes, when Chief Oliver was
seen. II is said that the whites are
still determined to thwart any attempt
to put the blacks on any OF the jobs.
Landed here without penny, moth.
ing to eat and no job, the negroes
were badly worked up over the situa-
lion and late yesterday afternoon went
to the police station and told their
troubles. Attorney Via was seen by
the negroes and retained to defend
them. The attorney had a charge pre-
ferred against Volk and he was arrest
ed and taken before Judge Maroney.
He was charged with victimizing them
through trickery. He sent for ]. W.
vandervort, attorney for the B. & o.
and the trial was commenced.
The negroes testified that they had
applied to an employment agency in
Baltimore for work and Monday were
placed on a private car for Parkers-
burg. 1t was contended by Attorney
Via that under the circumstances the
employment bureau or It's agent should
be held responsible for the welfare of
the men and II they could not be put
to work here that 1t was up to some
one to give them transportation back
to Baltimore. The negroes said they
had been poorly fed.
Attorney Vandervort said the B. &
o. had no connection with the case,
and he was only representing volk.
After the case was thoroughly thresh.
ed out volk told Judge Maroney he
would try again to get the men a Job
and he was released upon that condi-
ton.
Whether the men can get job is
question. but the most serious ques-
ton is whether the whites will allow
them to work II they do land employ.
ment.
volk was taken before Judge Mar.
oney again last night, He said he
had not succeeded in fixing the mat
ter. The recorder gave the evidence
careful consideration and discharged
the prisoner. The colored men were
fed last night, Judge Maroney stand.
ing the bill. They will likely go away
today.