The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-06-16 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

TRADES UNIONISM IN AMERICA. THE "MOLLY MAGUIRES."  The Times correspondent, writing from Philadelphia on May 20, says t—There has existed for several years past in the Pennsylvania coal regions a trade union of the colliers, known as the Working Men's Benevolent Association. Between it and the operators or coalowners a bitter conflict has been waged, the colliers resisting at every step the inevitable reduction of pay which had to come in the coal trade as in every other branch of business. In carrying on this contest the trade union, or a part of it, has resorted at times to the most desperate methdds, so that the Pennsylvania coal region become one of the most lawless parts of the countrj, fully as bad as any " Rtoklux infested section of the South which has agitated Congress. The body which did this nefarious work is known as the 'Moll', Maguires," and after a three years' warfare it is now succumbing to the energetic efforts made by the officers of the Philadelphia and Readtng Railroad, our thief cialowner, to break it up. This band of organised assassins has heretofore held sway in Sbhuylkill, Columbia, Lucerne. Carbon, and Lehigh counties, winch form the Pennsylvania anthracite region. They have committed atrocious outrages, almost without number murder, incendtarism, throwing railway trains off the track, robbery—and through their strength and menaces have held the entire population In intimidation. It has even been necessary at times to call upon the military to matntain the peace when broken through their machinations. They have also until recently practically enjoyed immunity, as courts and juries have been overawed, and most of their offences bane never been brought to trial at all. All the victims of their outrages have been of one class— colliers or superintendents who would not submit to their dictation—while the property destroyed has been that of their victims or of the cealowners. It was no easy task to aope with such an organisation in a region which was practically paralysed by fear but skilful detectives got into their lodges, and exposed all their machinery, telling of their crimes, how they were planned, and who were the guilty. The exposure has been so complete that it is now the "Molly Maguires" who are stricken with fear, many of them stealthily leaving the country to avoid punishment. Five of them are now being tried for their villainy at Pottsville, having murdered a policeman at Tamaqua. Two others are in gaol in Carbon county, under sentence of death for assassination, while 20 more are in various viols awaiting trial. The exposure and demoralise tion of this terrible organisation are complete, and the testimony at the tri-ls has discicejd one of the worst tales of conspiracy and crime ever laid bare before the world. In the cases of assassination it has been shown that the murders were usually paid for, being committed by men brought from a distance, who had no quarrel with their victim; and so bold and mercenary was the business that meetings of arbitrators were sometimes held to settle disputes between rival claimants for the blood-money. The extent of the compiracy and the class of men who were intimidated into joining it are shown ty the fact that among those detected in it and awaitffig trial are a County Commissioner, a High Constable, a Chief of Police, and a candidate nominated for Judge. That this reign of terrorism is at an end is a great blessing to Pennsylvania. Had it existed in the South it would long ago have attracted attention in Congress. for it. misdeeds were many and startling. nil downfall of the " Molly Maguir.e" will be of great advantage to the anthracite coal region, for the peaceable collier can now pursue his calling unmolested, property will be reasonably safe, and the almost daily tales of rapine and mortice will cease.