The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-19
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States, and the raiisoads Of the
country have B An n lionslya
handicapped by q strike for al
most half that period. It Is est:
mated that about SIX million labor.
ing men have been out OF employ
ment, but II Is difficult to estl-
mate the loss which this has en-
tailed, not only to the laboring
men themselves and their tamI.
lies. but also to the entire citizen.
ship OF the United States in the
deprivation they have suffered by
reason OF not being able in some
instances to get the necessities Of
life and IN others to abnormal
prices they have had to pay when
they did get them. And 1t Is i'm
possible to estimate how long Il
will be. II ever, until this enor-
mouse waste OF energy, material
and man-power may be retrieved.
In addition to the loss and waste
which has been insutferable, there
has in various parts OF the coun.
try resulted lawlessness, disorder
and riotous conduct, and ruthless
destruction Of property and wiltul
murder Of officers engaged in
their duty Of enforcing law and
order and the massacre OF men
who dared to exercise their God
given right 10 labor and thereby
earn livelihood for themselves
and families.
I'VE are living in the very center
Of one Of the greatest coal produc-
ing districts in the United States,
but Notwithstanding this fact and
the fact that this district has been
materially and vitality affected by
the strike in both industriesi and
Notwithstanding the lawlessness
that has prevailed in different sec.
tions Of the country not more vi
tally affected than ours, yet am
most happy to state that in Marion
County there has been no destruc.
tion Of property tracable directly
to the strike, and not one drop Of
blood has been shed, and this is
due to two elements: First, to the
vigilence and discretion OF the
county officials; mean, Of course,
principally the sheriff's force and
prosecuting attorneys office; and,
second, to the fact that the great
majority Of the laboring men in Ma
rion County are law abiding citI.
zeus. When they entered upon this
strike, whether It was right or
wrong, they ,conscientiously be-
lieved It to be right and pledged
themselves during its continuance
10 keep within the law. and they
kept the faith. Under stress, som ,
that we're more hot.headed and
less responsible than others might
have been moved to acts OF vic.
lence, but they were restrained by.
their fellow workmen. There was
a time when things looked ominous,
when march was in progress and
the marchers encroached upon PR
Nate property where they had nc
right, and were trespassars. They
were placed under arrest by the
Sheriff and his deputies and ihcar.
cerated In the jail. In few days
they were released on bond, requir.
ing them to appear and answer
any Indictment that might be found
against them oy this grand jury.
II they were now indicted, tried and
convicted. their offense would be
that OF misdemeanor. subject TO /
a small fine and imprisonment, they
having done no specific injury and /.
no offence except the naked tres. /,
pass. Upon due elaboration upon
these facts and the further fact that
Immediately when arrested the
men, though many times outnum.
bering the Sherlff's force. submit.
ted themselves 10 lawful authority
and marched peaceably and with. !
out resistance TO jail, the Prose /
cutting Attorney has determined
that their conduct commends itself
TO the favorable consideration Of
the Court, that the Imprisonment
suffered by them has been
fIlly commensurate with their OF. /;
fence. and that he would be justi.
fled in dropping further prosecu.'
ton OF these cases. His determine.
ton In the premises meets with my
cordial approval, and unless the
judgment Of the grand jury should |
not be in accord with these views.
you will be relieved OF the burden
Of giving consideration to these
cases.
but while there is no occasion
for immediate action by this grand !
jury. yet with the experience
through which the country has Just
passed and the imminency OF a |
repetition OF that experience, l feel
that would be derelict TO my trust
did ] not attempt to analyze our sit.
and in this proper forum
endeavor TO outline what should be
the settled policy OF the duly con.
stituted legal authorities and OF all
loyal and patriotic citizens in times
OF such disturbed conditions, and
especially so since under the pre-.
tended settlements that have been
made, we cannot fail TO see the
same crisis or probably a worse
one confronting us in April Of next
year.
Living Costs.
Past January, as you may re.
member, the grand Jury OF this
county. and a special commission
appointed for the purpose, spent
some time conducting an investiga-
ton calculated to reduce the cost
of living. Merchants and trades
men were appealed to TO lower the
prices Of commodities that constl,
tute the necessities OF life, and
this apneal was resnonded 10 In