The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-10
LAWIESS
Reign of Terror Still Be
ing Carried on by
Guards"i in the
Territory Controlled by
Master Mi11ds''--Butch-
cry and Brutality Fol-
low in Their Trail.

The lawless reign of terror that has
prevailed in the guard ridden coal
fields since 1902 still goes on without any
effort on the part of the state or county
officials to check it,
During the past two weeks a number of
outrages have beer perpetrated on inno-
cent men by this gang of thugs in the
Kanawha and New River Valley. On
Cabin Creek last week two miners were
horrible beaten up by these tools of the
heartless and tyranical coal barons who
maintain the Siberian system. The two
men in question becoming tired Of the
slavish conditions imposed upon them by
the master minds secured work in the
union fields and returned to remove their
families, when they were assaulted in a
public place and received the treatment
above referred to. ~
Only few days ago the men at Sun,
in Fayette county demanded that they be
allowed a checkwei gilman in the tipple,
a right guaranteed them under the state
law-and notified the company that un-
less their request be granted that they
would cease work, the company agreed
and checkweighman was placed on the
tpple and acted in that capacity for one
day. The next day when he assumed his
duties he was assaulted by the "guards''
and beaten up in vicious manner and
when the men showed their indignation,
their leaders were likewise beaten and a
number of them driven away and the
others marched back into the mines like
slaves and fal0pa III tbo sn@ of
and the thugs go unpunished and their
masters feel not the hand of the law.
Another case reported is from Loup
Creek. A miner, who has worked in
other fields, whose manhood revolted
against the treatment, the starvation
wages and the master 8 lash-'s guards''
went into another section and secured
work and then returned to move his fam
lily to his new place of labor. He had
started on his way with his family and
his household goods when he was set
upon without cause by the 'sguards''
and his face beaten into a pulp and 9th
erwise seriously injured.
These are only few of the deeds of
this lawless system, legalized by the Of
fcials of our state that have taken place
within tie last few days, aided and abet-
ted by the coal operators and the officials
in those sections in an effort to further
degrade and enslave the workers and
drive all thoughts of joining an organiza-
tion for their benefit and protection.
from their minds.
Many of the crimes are committed that
never reach the public and still when it
is brought to the attention of the officials
they with placid countenance say that
they are not aware that such things hap
pen, but that an investigation will be
made. But their Investigations, like their
ante-election promises soon evaporate into
thin air and death an destruction awaits
any workingman who dares assert his
God given and constitutional rights
The end is drawing near, the people
are aroused, and unless the officers, who
are sworn to enforce the law do their
duty, the. people will rise in their might
and perform the humane act of Kidding
our state of the human vultures who are
preying upon our citizenship.