Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-08-21

accurately about November 1, the
mines at Dorothy employing about 500
men, signed an agreement with their
employees on a basis that was salts
factory and operations were immedi-
ately resumed. Three weeks later the
mines at Eskdale on Cabin Greek
made similar settlement and short
/ ~ thereafter the mines at Grown Hill,
Crelyan, Coalburg, the Lewis mines at
Cabin Creek Junction and other small
| Ter operations made like settlements
and the men went to work. But all
this while the Paint Creek Galleries
/ Company and the Cabin Creek Con-
solidated Coal Company the largest
companies in this section, with almost
! limitless resources back of them,
fought on with a brutal determination
to destroy the last vestige of unionism
in that section. They are dominated
by men who are absolutely unscru-
pulous and who believe that a worker
has no rights that they are bound to
respect. M
During the early part of the strike
| the miners made every possible effort
to secure the protection that the law
guaranteed them. They appointed a
number Of delegations at different
times to call upon the governor for the
purpose of laying their grievances be-
fore him. They told the governor how
their homes were being invaded, their
families assaulted and insulted, and
how life was made almost unbearable
by the company thugs. Governor
! Glasscock, a political child, of the
, DaVis-Elkins oligarchy, listened to the
story of these outrages, but each time
sent the petitioners away without
hope of relief. Failing here. ahey ap-
pealed to the prosecuting attorney
and sheriff of Kanawha county. whose
duty is was under the law to protect
citizens from molestation ait the hands
OF these laWless thugs, but they, too.
were political hirelings of the opera
tors and they refused to do anything.
At last, almost despairing of gaining
legal projection, they appealed to the
circuit court Of Kanawha county, pre-
sided over by the notorious Sam Bur
dette, for an Injunction against the
companies maintaining their private
army of thugs and marauders. The
miners feared here what they always
learn, that the courts are on the side
OF wealth. They learned that laws are
made for the benefit of those who
have money. They had often heard Of
1njunctions being granted against
Workingmen, so they thought they
would try an injunction against the
coal barons. But the court summariIy
kicked the mout of the temple of ms
tee" without granting their prayer for
an Injunction. Seeing that they were
denied legal protection for their fami-
hes and their homes, they had but one
resort left. They must protect them
selves. They had to rely upon the law
OF self-prOtectiOn. Therefore many of
them armed themselves with rifles
and determined to put an end to the
barbarous treatment of themselves
and their families.
The clashes that followed between
the thugs and miners occasioned a
second declaration of martial law.
This happened about November 18th.
Just here began one of the greatest
crimes ever inflicted on free people. |
The operators. using the government
had the governor create what has be- |
come known as a military commits
sion. It was composed of I'VE mem |
bers Of the militia, and q judge-adYo-
cate as prosecutor. The governor de- /
clared that this court was to take /
the place Of the civil courts of the /
county though tie Iltter we're peace