Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-10-24
Conference Passes
Strong Resolutions

O-s
n,o following is the text of the re.
.o,ntiops passed by the recent state
"a conference of the citizens at
Charleston:
WHEREAS, the constitutional right
- free speech and peaceful assemble
o1o has cen denied the citizens in
no mining regions of West Virginia;
and
WHEREAS, these rights have been
aonied because Of the desire Of the
-. mo, nnerators and other corporations
-. nreyent the organization of their
employees, and the resultant attainment
II living wage and humane condi-
inns of employment and
WHEREAS, to accomplish this pur-
nose the coal operators and other cor
norations, have established what is
Known as the Guard System" body
oflawless rufians and gun men, whose
sole duties are to intimidate. assault
Or murder every miner or other en-
nlove who endeavors to better the lot
ri his craftsmen, or who voices q pro
,test against the cruelties and oppres-
sion of rganized greed; and
WHEREAS, it is evident that where
gsucb system is established and sup
norted by the forces of law and the
state, it makes of justice a farce, and
is a. rank trayesty on a-republicab
form of government.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
bv this convention of West Syirginis
citizens. representing various repre-
sentative classes of society. held in thu
city of Charleston, West Virginia, OIL
october 10, 1912, that we condemn the
. Guard System" as an anarchistic In
stitution. an enemy of law and order;
and disgrace to the fair name of
West Virginia; and S.ssss
BE 1T FURTHER. RESOLVED, that.
We call upon the legislature OF West
virginia to abolish. the said Guard
system" and that we question all
Candidates for. the legislature as to
their position on this all important
question.
The Coal Strike.
WHEREAS, the present struggle OF
the miners of tWest Virginia against
the wrongs and oppression forced up
OF them by the lawless operators OF
the Kanawha V ALLEY has again brought
to toe foreground the fact that the
mowers of government are now IN the
hands or under the direct or indirect
control of the operates and large en-
ployees of labor; and
WHEREAS, the creation and main
tenanee of the lawless guard" sys-
TEN by the coal operators of the Kama
vha valley,Nsnd many other systematic
eyasions and violations of law, such
as the evasion of the laws relative to
landlord and tenant, all aimed at the
destruction of working class organlza-
ton and the consequent depreciation
Of the workers has resulted in q situa-
ton so critical that the Governor OF
the State felt called upon to declare
martial law over an extensive district
Of Kanawha and Fayette counties; and
WHEREAS, this declaration OF mar
tal law by the Governor has resulted
in the temporary abrogation of all the
constitutional statutory common law
rights of the citizens living within the
boundaries of the martial law district,
and makes their appeal to the ordin-
ary, processes and tribunals for the
protection of their rights Impossible,
the will of/the Governor having be-
come the cole authority within SAID
district, and the rights Of the citizens
therein ate subject solely to his CON
rola The great mass OF citizens are
thus forced to live for the time being
under an autocratic regime and con-
form their actions and conduct soiely
to the will Of the military commander
the Governor of West Virginia; anu
WHEREAS, it has come to our az
tenton that the Governor has been
and is now using he autocratic power
thus placed in. his hands to evict the
miners from their homes without Que
process of law, thus converting the
militia of the state into strike break
ing agency working in behalf Oh the
coal operators.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that We, the citizens of West Virginia
in convention assembled, do hereby
denounce this action Of the Governor
Of this state. and demand of him tnat
he protect the rights and interests OF
this great body of our citizensnlp
equally as much as the claims OF the
H. % n