The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-10

mighty respected citizen of Herrin M
rec Mason of high standing, a sober
upright, lnoffensive citizen, who was re-.
Gently in Fayette County, West virrini,
arrested and taken from a train bs 4 ~,
guards of coal company upon the
charge OF carrying concealed We,nonS
wnen as matter of fact he had none
l nad neve had one in his possession in
inis state and although protecting his
a'n T' ne was taken to the office of
d Justice OF the Peace, who was not in
ms Office and could not be found. and
Drotner Deck was liberated, and in his
ehorts TO get away, he undertook to walk
down the railroad in company with n
colored man whom he had hired to on
with him from Glen Jean to Tburmo5S
in Fayette County. Just after nasSime,
harvey three men arose before them on
the railroad track, telling the colored man
10 leave at once and starting him off in
run, and firing several shots behind
IL nun IN! IN order to intimidate him and make
MN run faster. Thereupon, Brother
Deck was seized and beaten nearly to
eeath, knocked down repeatedly and
nnaily falling with his leg across a rail
fohu rail whereupon, one of the mon
Win a weapon, apparently n black Jack,
SIrucK MN n tremndous blow across the
leg, breaking and crushing both homes
below the knee, then telling him to get
up and run which he tried to do hut feIJ
linen he was knocked senseless by another
DO" ana when he recovered conscious.
ness found himself lying on the railroad
track, ms leg broken and his life nearly
gone out. He managed to crawl beside
the railroad track and succeed in attnct-
ing the attention of the train men ON
a passing train They stopped the train
ana took him to the Mckendree Hos
Pltai, from which place he was removed
TO the General Hospital in this the city
OF Charleston the capital of West Vir
inf. ia
Fourth day of February, 1910, and he
still remains in the hospital MANNED and
ruined for life; be it further
RESOLVED, That in the name of
Justice and the constitution and laws of
TINS state, and fair play among men
tnat this sort of conduct being nracico3
In the different sections of this proud
commonwealth by the "guard system y,
is creating name for this state and n
reputation which the state is not en-
Titled to carry but rebels against
RESOLVED FURTHER, That a COPY
or this resolution be certified to by the
secretary of this convention and handed
OF west Virginia, and that Il copy there
OF be mailed to each one of the hold over
Senators in this State, and a copy there
OF, be given the press in this state, and
that the people of this state be appealed
TO, and that the members of this con-
vention individually take it upon them
selves to appeal to the officers of this
state charged with the responsibility of
the enforcement of the laws, and with
TINS resolution we appeal to the Governor
OF this state, and to the members of
the Legislature of this state, that in
order to at least protect the name and
reputation of our commonwealth if not
to vindicate the legal rights of indi-
viduals, that stop be put to such wan
ton, fragrant and reckless violations of
the laws of this state.
Coal miners skilled in their avocation
have been leaving West Virginia fer
years and going to other coal fields in
other states, in order to avoind coming
in contact with such treatment, and Just
so long as the Governor of this state, the
various county officials and the law MAX
ers of this state, permit men to be beaten
into insensibility, crippled and manned
for life without cause, except upon some
trumped up charge, the real cause being
that they are mem ers of the United Mine
Workers of America or some other repu-
table organization, just SO long will
coal miners and mine laborers who are
native born and union men seek more
congenial employment wn-.- --.aions
are more inviting to them. We have pc
| titioned for peace, we have begged and
implored and still our brothers are be-