Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-19
MINERS NEAR
SPRINGFIELD
REFUSE TO
work WITH
C0L0RED men
AFRAID OF An 0UTBREAK--NE-
GR0Es CLAIM THEY ARE PRO-
TEcT|AG THEMSELVES FROM
P1ssIBlE MOB VIOLENCE.

''eruay, wac hearing witnessas =
riot cases and citizens wero
meeting. the antagon.sm betwaan
a,'es ana blacks already resnop.
s'Die ior seven deaths and scores .,
INJURIES struck under ground
"h"e miners at the Woodsi,a
ooai Mine. mile out OF town ors
Inc Iuxhorn Mine. four miles dis.
'"h'' refused to work with the ma
eroes' The two mines employ anon,
ooO men, about $50 of whom oro
coiored. The white miners came 10
PRESIDENT Clark or the spr.preeIa
SUP district of the United Mine
workers with the declaration thai
they ala not feel safe in the under.
ground darkness with them.
Both Sides Neryous.
oh the other hand, IL is said that
the negroes have armed with no
thought of taking the initial action
out TO protect themselves I'm event
or repetition OF the rloting OF FIR.
day and Saturday nights. Presi.
dent Clark said that so far as nc
knew there had been no clashes he.
tween the white and blacks in the
mines.
Ihey are just nervous. guess
commented the organization leader
Both races belong to the union and
the union will see that no serious
trouble arises.
Mr. Clark's office was filed with
the white miners who had quit work
determined not to take chances IN
der the earth under the present con
ditions. Said one young miner with
brogue.
If they amt armed they ough.
TO be, and If they are they ought
10 be disarmcd. You cannot blame
'em for being nervous, nor you can
you blame us for getting away from
the KIND OF nerves that carry ra
zor. If chunk of coal broke loose
and fell on some one he might thinL
with all this talk that rioting had
started again. Then there would be
trouble. i don't know whether tn,
back man next to me has got a gun
or a knife, and man can't mine
coal feeling that way"
This and similar stories was pour.
ed into Mr.. Clark's ears, but he in
sisted that a mere matter of nerves
did not justify quitting work. and
asserted that the two mines would
be workin full handed tomorrow OF
next day. The whole matter was
referred to an examining board
which spent the day quizzing both
blacks and whites as to warlike PREF
arations, if any down in the shafts
Must Search Negroes
Some of the white men insisted
that before they would return tc
work every negro must be searched
at the mouth of the mine before
descending.
II Is said that the trouble exists
in the Tuxhorn and Woodside mines
alone. There are approximately for
ty coal mines within radius
ten miles of Springfield. They elm.
ploy altogether some 5000 men
about ten per cent Of whom are ne
groes.
Following Gov Deneens procla
nation of last night calling on al
citizeRs to aid I'm restoring order
and promoting justice. an enthusi
astic meeting of business men was
held at the Chamber of Commerce
u was called to order by Dr. +. A.
Hall. who introduced A. l.. Chain
as chairman. The latter launched
into fiery address in the course of
which he said:
The Question in Springfield.
This is the most extraordinary
meeting we have ever held. The
question before us is whether law
and order shall prevail in this com
munity or whether it shall be com
mitted to the rule OF riot rebellion
and ruin. You know about these
events and their results in blood
shed and property loss. / believe
that out OF every ten men in this
city nine are law-abiding, faithful
citizens. OF the personality in that
mod there was not one TO whom
any OF us would entrust single
dollar. Not one of them felt any
degree OF responsibility for the wei
fare OF this community. Are we go.
ing to stand the rule OF such a mob,
is life so dear and sweet that we
would surrender II to cowardice, we
love this city ana no mob, large OF
small shall defy the law"
A torrent of applause followed
and was continued when other
orators delivered themselves OF sim
liar sentiments.
DR.. Hall then read resolutions for
the protection OF citizens drawn by
Dr. J. w. scott, who was health
officer of the state under Governor
Altgeld. when this production was
read Dr. Scott discovered with