The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-12-03

and lie so without expense, while q
railroad must continue as an active
concern, no matter at what loss.
Now, as you arc doubtless aware. an
enort 10 being made to form an alli-
ance Of these mine workers. The result
Is that an epic life struggle is about to
open between the railroad and It's
mines on one side and tho represen-
tatves Of the workers on the other. tho
sort OF Industrial conflict that means
bankruptcy for the one and starvation
for the other. The men have not
money enough to keep their families
for month, and the railroad COM
pany. having no tonnage, will neces-
sarily make default in the payment OF
the interest on It's bonds. and go into
the hands of receiver"
The attorney paused. His serene
face lifted into a beautiful profile.
Then he continued:
The only real authority OF this Re.
public is the federal courts. They
alone. under every emergency, rigidly
sustain the law. But n court must
have officers. The hand signing the
serving a writ. An order, no matter
how fearlessly entered, must fail Of
Its purpose IL It DO enforced with ex.
cuses. l come now to the very heart
or this matter. People do not break
out into rebellion unless they have
an ally sitting somewhere in author
lily. This strike threatened in Penn
sylvania has such an ally. 1t would
fail, 1t would collapse like a punctured
balloon, If his aid were removed. 1
do not mean any OF the judges; they
are incorruptible. l mean Thomas b.
Wood. the United States marshal.
A word must be spoken about this
remarkable man to make that charge
clear: He is thirty-eight years old;
he intends to be 4 United States sem
ator, and. what is more important for
the future, he intends to remain one.
Bear In mind that Woods inten-
tion was to become senator. He be-
gan, then, with the people He at.
tached himself to all movements In be-
half OF labor. He observed the clamor
OF the man with the pick, the man
with the apron, the man with the
hammer. He appeared to listen. to
consider, presently to be convinced,
and, finally, to advocate what they
said. Then, under that law which I
do not understand but by virtue of
which Mirabeau, a noble, became the
idol OF the French Revolution, this
man. an aristocrat, became a leader
or the people. So when his party
came presently to national power. tho
great heads OF II found him there to
be dealt with. What did he want?
They said It with a certain Difference.
lie might have demanded his seat In
the upper congress then, but he could
not hope to remain there, he had no
pedestal OF gold under him; he was
standing on the sands. He chose the
position of United States marshal
The leaders gave it with a certain
wondering contempt, and dismissed
him from their catalogue of fears. He
was, then, n person of no ambition
one struggling financially for pottace!
UNNECESSARILY not sol The poltl.
cal Warwick OF Pennsylvania is John
A. Garrett. The power under him Is
the Consolidated Fuel Railroads
Wood wished to direct that Warwick,
to control that power, therefore he
chose wisely the only position in
which he could destroy him, that of
United States marshal. Garnett. usu.
ally clear-headed, usually far-sighted,
usually running swiftly before events.
saw the thing forty-eight hours too
late, and, consequently, he is ruined"
With Wood standing now between
the worker and judges, the greatest
industrial contest in our history Is be-
ginning. The mines of Pennsylvania
will become smoking holes in the
earth; the railroad, two bands of rust.
and Garnett, a pauper. All this GER
tainly, swiftly, inevitably, is arriving.
unless this man can BIO removed from
Office.
ut Is ruin then, or the mans terms.
which are voting control Of the Con
solidated Fuel Railroads, the position
OF first vice-presldent. political die
tatorship above and behind Garnett
Then he will resign. With Wood STEP
ping down from the position of Unit
ed States marshal, the opposition will
crash through like q rotten bridge.
Garnetts commercial plans Will go
smoothly onto the piling up OF millions; ;
but Garnett will have a master. and
Pennsylvania a senator with life ten
ure In Office"
The attorney leaned forward in his
chair. his eyes rested steadily on Ma.
son, the index finger of his right hand
arose In direct and significant ges-
ture.
The problem, then" he said, "is to
remove Wood without the payment OF
his price-a thing no man can do"
"A thing any man can do" replied
Randolph Mason.
"How?" said the attorney, his finger
still lifted, his voice still impressively
deliberate.
Leave that to me-" said Mason.
Very WELL" he said. What am
TO dor"
What have you intended to dor"
replied Mason
L see nothing to do" continued tho
attorney, other than to accept the
conditions Of Thomas b. Wood-to sur
render, to give him what he de-
mands."
DO It then" said Mason.