Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1891 — PEACE NOW RESTORED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEACE NOW RESTORED.

FINAL SETTLEMENT OF THE MINING TROUBLES. - - -i Successful Adjustment of What Might Have Been a Serious Matter—Militia Sent Home—Resolutions—Origin of the Trouble. Peace has been restored In the Tennessee mining.regions, and the trouble, which seemed about to necessitate shooting down probably scores of miners to uphold the law, has been adjusted.

A Knoxville special savsi When the situation looked to those on the inside more dangerous than at any time since the bcgiiining of the Bri cev 111 e agitation, the miners’ committee met in a room at the Lamar House, and in

half an hour the trouble was ended. The Hon. Dennis Leahy, at the beginning of the session, presented the draft of a series of resolutions, which were unanimously received. The resolutions

were presented to the Knoxville committee of citizens, and by them approved and signed. An interview was then had with Gov. Buchanan and Attorney General Pickle. To say that the

opportunity t o obtain peace without blood-

shed was jumped at puts the thing mildly, for a “love meeting” followed in which all took part. Following are the resolutions: We, the undersigned, committee on behalf of the miners and their friends of

Briceville and Coal Creek, and In the lute r e s t of harmony, do submit the following, trusting that It will meet with your favorable consideration : 1. The status quo to be restored,, and. guards and cohvicts not to be molested on their return to the mines, and we will use all ordinary caution and honorable

supt. OF convicts, means to prevent any Interference with them. 2. Reposing confidence In our Governor, and believing the General Assembly, when they meet in extra session, will give us the necessary relief from the oppression that now hangs over us, we will endeavor to conduct ourselves as law-abiding people, so as to maintain the confidence and sympa-

thy of the public in the future as well as in the past. 3. And we do hereby express thanks to Governor Buchanan for the kind consideration in holding the militia in this city and thereby preventing a conflict that might have resulted in bloodshed. 4. And to the committee of citizens we also express thanks for the interest they have shown by their counsel and advice in their efforts to adjust the oxisting difficulties. Jobiah T. Thomas, J. W. Hardin, 8. R. Pickering, 8. F. Moore, W. F. Smith. We. tho citizen committee, hereby approve of tho above. Dennis Leahy, William Rule, J. C. J. Williams, D. A. Carpenter. This ends the trouble In the mining districts. The militia were drawn up at dress parade and orders read releasing them from strict discipline. Tho orders were received with tumultuous cheering, for the troops did not relish a week or

two in tho mountains. The fourteen compauies left for their homes on a special train. The’convicts will be removed to Briceville and Coal Creek at once. The miners’ committee remained in Knoxville to accompany the guards and convicts to guarantee protection when the train arrives at Coal Creek. This action will not meet the full approval of all the miners, but the terms of the agreement will be kept. Never In the history of labor agitation have i'legal acts been committed in as orderly a fashion as were those of the Coal Creek Valiev miners. They are so thoroughly disciplined and so thoroughly controlled by the miners’ union that it is universally conceded that the end of the struggle has come. ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE. Last week about 403 armed strikers attacked the guards who had charge of fifty felons at Briceville and liberated them. Gov. Buchanan was immediately notified and responded by ordering two companies from Chattanooga and one from Knoxville to the scene. Of the fifty convicts taken from the guards at Briceville, two escaped and the others Were brought to Knoxville. When the militia arrived they took the convict*

back with tnem and warned the ihob that they would protect them at ail hazards. Gov. Buchanan at once proceeded to the seat of trouble and explained his position to the rebellious miners. He told them that it was his • sworn duty, to uphold the law, and if the convict lease system was wrong be was not to blame, and that the only recourse of the men was through the Legislature. The miners announced that their families were starving and they were compelled to drive out the convicts if it cost the life of every man in the valley. They made all sort 3 of fun of the beardless youths, but declared they would not harm the “spiderlegged, cigarette-smoking dudes,” as they characterized the militia, but that as soon as the militia were withdrawn they would release every convict in the region. Bet oming impatient, however, at the delay in recalling the troops they decided to try to overcome the soldiers by force of numbers, and succeeded only too well. W'hile there have been differences existing between the mine operators using convict labor and the miners for years, never did the people of-Coal Creek and vicinity feel that the State militia would be needed to settle the differences between Fast Tennessee miners and convict operators. But when it became evident that another mine heretofore using free labor was to be handled by the outlaws of the State there at once arose mutterings of discontent Had the Tennessee Coal Mining Company not made an effort to put in convict labor instead of retaining the lree miners, it is thought there would have been no call for troops at the company’s mines. The people could have endured the convicts they had had to fight against for years, but when it became apparent that more free miners were to be displaced, and work had to be sought elsewhere, a halt was called. Indignation reached a fever heat, and .but for the cool heads and good of the leaders there would sjubt:ess have been b oodshed.

COL. SEVIER, OF MILITIA.

EUGENIS MERRILL, THE MINERS’ LEADER.

J. E. GOODWIN, ASST.

THE BRICEVILLE MINES.

THE COAL CREEK DEPOT.