The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-09-29
-0YSTERMEN STILL
IN CONTROVERSY

Ric h ond, Va, Special
wars and rumors OF wars may fill
the air following the adjustment of
the troubles OF the oystermen in Tide
water Virginia. but there has been
no serious trouble so far as Governor
Mann has heard.
The alarm following the suggestion
that the military was on the eve OF
being called out and that the big
planters had made demand on the
Governor for protection against the
incursions of the tongers was all news
TO Governor Mann today. He said that
he had heard nothing OF the request
or threat TO employ the military and
that no call had been made on him
by the planters for protection.
The Governor admitted that he had
heard reports, but that was as far as
his information of serious trouble
went. He said that he had been in
FORMED that Commissioner Lee had
reached the scene early today, that
he regarded Mr.. Lee as an extremely
cool and careful man, and he believed
that the reports of conditions down
there had been greatly exaggerated.
So, IL there is demand that the SOL
diers be sent down that way to en-
force the laws or the planters are
determined to hold the State respon-
Sible for invasions of their rights and
privileges it is still to reach the Gov
ernor.
VIII Enforce the Laws.
The Governor said that Mr.. Lee was
on the scene, and that the charges OF
moved their stakes so as to include
the natural rocks would be investi-
governor. that n the STAKES 1p have Sao bee ee
moved, then the parties who have done
this or who are beneficiaries OF the
be made to move the stakes and to
pay all the costs incident to removing
the stakes and placing them along the
WI he
ter bottoms were taken up.
On the other hand, If the rights Of
the planters have been diSregarded and
the tongers are infringing on what has
been paid for by the planters, the tong
ers Will be forced TO get out of the
way and to cease operations on the
property which has been assigned.
Governor Mann is extremely hope
full that the matter will be adjusted
without any trouble. There is today
a surveyor on the grounds to see if
the lines of stakes have been removed.
and if so the tongers will be forthwith
given the right to proceed to tong
for oysters. and the stakes will not be
allowed to be replaced if il shall be
found that they were set to include
the natural rocks.
Many Troops Available.
If there shall come a demand for
soldiers TO quell the oyster factions
there would be no trouble in getting
many men to. the scene in short or
tSAS o. Z hNS SO4h PohASS VI III
fantry in and around Norfolk, four
companies of coast artillery, two bat
teries Of field artillery and within a
comparatively short distance there
are several companies of infantry. and
the battery of field artillery here.
When asked today what time would
be required to rush troops to the
scene a gentleman connected with the
military establishment said that he
believed that within six hours four
commands could be gotten from Nor
folk to the James River oyster
grounds. and that within twelve hours
at least a thousand men could be
gotten to the scene.
Commissioner Lee is expected to
reach the city at an early hour to-
morrow morning. and he will at once
visit the Governor and lay all the
facts before him regarding the oyster
disputes.