The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-05-02

May BE Eradicated by the
Timely Arrest of MeTTick
and Clark

logical TO TtfL HNsNlS,liAA4
CHARLESTON, Nay 2.-YVhat IS be-
Heyed to be an important stroke on
the part Of Governor Hatfield was the
suppression and conhscatiOn Of the
Labor Argus, the anarchistic publica-
ton. and the arrest and placing in
jail OF the men responsible for its re-
cent utterances. The arrest Of Fritz
aerrick and Charles ". Clark, alleged
anarchists. it Is believed, viii, for the
present at least, put an end to the
insurrectionary movements Of the
Socialists and Anarchists who have
been fostering the disturbances in the
Kanawha coal fields.
In recent issues OF the Labor Argus
the miners were urged to continue
warfare SO as to make the mining Of
coal so expensive that the plants
would have to be closed down. By
such methods, It was contended, the
coal properties would eventually be
abandoned by their owners and then
become the property of the miners, to
which this sanarchistic publication al
Tegedsthe property belonged and which
actually caused maay Of the Socialists
Of .6hat district to believe would soon
come. to be fads
The arrest Of 8Eerrick and Clark
was under Chapter IA OF the Code, and
was the direct result Of the violation
OF the warning issued by Governor
Hatfield on several occasions that he
would cause the arrest and detention
Of all persons aiding and abetting
and conspiring hostile and insurrec-
tionary motives against the state and
it's civil and military officers. Chapter
fourteen gives the governor the right
to suppress riots and arrest any per-
son or persons aiding and abetting
riots.
Section one Of this chapter says:
oThe governor shall have the power
to cali out the militia to repel invas-
ion, suppress, instruction and en-
force tie, executionpf the laws And
whenever in any part of the state a
too powerful to be sup
pressed by the civil authorities, shall
endarger the peace and safety of the
people, or obstruct the execution Of
the laws, the governor may use the
military force Of The state to suppress
such combination"
In another section, that Of section
six OF the same chapter, the governor
is given further power to supprt6s IN
surrectiop. This section reads:
He (the governor) may also cause
to be-apprehended and imprisoned all
who in time OF. war insurrection or
puBISf danger shall wilfuIly give. aid,
support or information to the enemy
or insurgents, or who, he shall have
Just GAUGE to believe, are conspiring
or combining together to aid or sup
port any hostile action against the
United States or this state"
The commitment issued by Cover
nor Hatfield combining Clark and Mer-
rick to jail is based on Chapter four
teen and charges them with wilfully,
unlawfulIy and knowingly giving aid.
support and information to insurrec-
tionary movements; publishing malic-
ious and infammatory articles, to IN
cite disrespect for lawfully constituted
authorities and counseIed disobedience
10 lawfully constirnred authorities.
These articles urged the miners not,
to accept he proposal OF Governor
Hatfield for a settlement although the
officials efethe United Mine Workers
In this state were doing all they could
to bring about settlement or the dis
turbances. The international organ
ization. United Mine Workers. is al
legged to have caused to be distributed
large quantities OF the Labor Argus
among the miners in this state.
Clark. one OF the men arrested,
lives near this city, and has wife
and eight. children. When arrested
he was found in local saloon. His
family is in destitute circumstances.
Merrick is well known throughout
the state and has served several terms
IL jail for his anarchistic utterances
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