Hide Article Text (OCR)
AS KRI PTIOX IX M\TO.\.Careful readers of the Journal probablynoticed a dispatch In yesterday’s Issue in-dicatlng that the town of Linton Is In astate of RociaJ eruption. I^lnton Is situated in the cool-mining region of Greenecounty, and not having much to get tt-ctted over It tuts to make the most of whatIt has. In this Instance the cause of excitement is the recent employment by theIsland Coal Company of some forty or fifty colored miners. It does not seem tohave been the unusual Increase of population that disturbed the Linloriins as muchas the color of the new arrivals. They donot object to miners per se, but they do not like colored miners. Their feelings on this subject culminated In a citizens' meeting. at which speeches were made and apreamble and resolutions adopted, as follows:V. herens. The Island Coal Company has.when no labor trouble was anticipated,import**] and colonize i an undesirable clansof pauper labor, whose presence Is a menace to the prosperity, peace an 1 morality of the community, and whose continuedpresence would work injury to our publicschools: ther.Tor.-.Resolved. That we earnestly, respectfully.but determinedly demand thetr immediateremoval. Resolved. That as evidence of our sincerity. we will furnish said negroes' transportation to such places as they wish toKit. conditioned only on this: that theyconsent to leave quietly, but Immediately.The speakers were unanimously of the opinion that the objectionable element should be removed, although, with on evident understanding of the temper of Greene county people they advised against resorting to violence. It was the sense ofthe meeting that, as there was more whitelabor in Linton now than could find steady employment, and as the negroes would be likely to Intrude their children In the public schools.” they would have to go. A committee was appointed to collect funds to send the negroes and their famine's away, and a considerable sum was raised. The dispatch concluded by saying: It Isreported that the negroes urlt;; breaking upand burning their furniture at Island City. Of the thirty-seven now here, only two or three object to leaving, and it ts expected they will weaken when they see the others going.In order to appreciate the an’.mus of this social tempest In a teapot. It is necessary to hi ate a few facts as learned from Mr. A. M. Ogle, of this city, president of the Island Coal Company. The negroes did notgo to Greene county its miners, but as common laborers. They were hired by him atmuch less than miner's wages to do common labor, preparatory to the opening of a new mine. They did not displace a single white miner. They have not interfered with anybody, nor made themselves offensive in any way. When they#were first employedthey did not belong to the union, but aftergoing there they were organized and arenow In the union, and some of them areemployed as miners at miners’ wages. So far as known there is nothing objectionable about them except their color. Since the movement against them began Mr. Ogle has received an anonymous letter fromLinton threatening the destruction of thecompany's property If the negroes are notsent away. From this It would appear thatthe IJntonlans would rather not have theircoal mines worked at all than have themworked by colored miners. They do notw'ant any colored laborers earning andspending money among them. They areafraid of becoming contaminated by contact with such an objectionable element. and they do not want local business orprosperity that has to be purchased at such a cost.Xo doubt the true animus of the movement is politics. One of the speakers atthe citizens' meeting which adopted theresolutions quoted above was Andrew Humphreys. of Sons of Liberty fame. Humphreys waa convicted of treason in 1SC4. and owes the fact that he is alive to-day to the clemency of the authorities. He hates a negro as only a Greene county Democrat can. and there are plenty ofoLh-rs there like him. They do not wantto see the Republican vote of Greene County increased, hence their deep solicitudefor the welfare of the white miners. Themovement represents a species* of intolerance that is very discreditable to the com-m unity where It c-xists. If the coloredmen who are now In Greene county canmake h living there they should refuse tomigrate.
Newspaper Details
Indianapolis Journal
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Wed, Dec 27, 1893
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 10 Jul 2020
Other Publications Near Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis Daily Sentinel
Indianapolis Republican Convention
Indianapolis Daily State Sentinel
Indianapolis Indiana Democrat
Indianapolis Press
