Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-08-21
White Miners Complain That
Negroes Are Armed
NO CLASH YET REPORTED
Whites Quit Work Rather Than Run
Chance of Outbreak In Undt r.
ground Darkness In Mines Near
SpringfieId-- Jury Made Up
of Prominent Men Considering the
Riot Question

Springfield, Ills, Aug. 19.-Whlle a
new special grand jufy, empanelled
yesterday, was hearing witnesses in
riot cases and citizens were holding Il
meeting, the antaSOnsm between
whites and blacks, already responsible
for seven deaths and scores of injuries,
struck under ground.
White miners ut the WoodSide coal
mine, Il mile out of town, and the Tux
horn mine, four miles distant re-
fused to work with the negroes. The
two mines employ about 800 men, about
100 of whom are negroes. The white
miners came to President Clark of the
Springfield sub-dfstrict of the United
Mine Workers with the declaration
that the negroes were armed, and they
did not feel safe in the underground
darkness with them.
On the other hand, it is said that the
negroes have armed with no thought
of taking initial action, but to protect
themselves in event of repetition OF
the riOting of Friday and saturday
nights Clark said that 50 far as he
knew there had been no clashes be-
tween whites and blacks in the mines.
"They are just nervous. | guess he
commented. Both races belong to the
union and the union will see that no
serious trouble arises"
Following Governor Deneen's proc
lamation, calling on all citizens to aid
in restoring order and promoting JUS
tice. a meeting Of business men was
held at the Chamber of Commerce. at
which resolutions demanding the pro
lection of life, liberty and property to
every citizen were adopted.
Satisfaction is expressed by citizens
and local newspapers at the persOnne
of the grand jury. Its membership is
about evenly divided between the city
and smaller towns in the vicinity. +
l.. Chaplin, who is president of the
Business Mems association, was made
foreman. Lawyers. merchants anc
one reporter are among the others OF
the jury. Not only will the jury tax,
up cases incident to the riots. but vii
consider the assault case which pre-
clritated the disorder and bloOdshed.
customed to having bivouacs on thei
curbstones that the sight of a guards
man securing pans in vacant lots or pre-
pairing the regulation menu Of beans N
longer attracts crowds of curious per
sons
= The only violence reported durin:
yesterday occurred on North Eight
, street. A small crowd of white mel
and boys set upon negro and bea
, him severely. The affair was reported
to the headquarters OF General Wells
hut the roughs had scattered by tn
time the soldiers reached the scene.
The present riots, according to oil
citizens, are the result of years of racia
antagonism. Each year has seen a
,. augmenta ton Of the negro population
$ "They were getting too bold and impr
q dent" said hotelkeeper. People ou
n side the city cannot realize just hoV
4 offensive this was. The people OF III
: state at large will discover that tn
g outbreak of last Friday was not the IT
e suit OF momentary irritation, tempo
O rary ebullition Of violence superir
+ duced by heat The undercurrent o
: resentment growing for years needle
d only a pretext and the assault ON
white woman furnished that pretex
The streets are quiet now because tn
troops are here, but that is no assuranc
V that the question is settled. For tn
IT most part the people would have like
II TO see the matter settled without tn
Il Intervention of the sOldiery. The fac
II that the trouble is costing bushes
d men thousands of dollars daily in los
e Of trade does not help matters"
is The tone of this statement is simila
e 70 that Of others heard by newspape
1t reporters. BARRIERS, street car mel
Y. miners and laborers talk In u slmia
vein.
H. Earthquake In Massachusetts
ID Boston, Aug IA slight cart
IL shock was felt by a number of elite