The Detroit times., 1912-08-09
bUARD SYSTEM PUTS
| WEST VIRGINIA IN CLASS
/, WITH DARKEST RUSSIA
Brutal Army Recently Imported
toState Cause of Bloody
A. Conflict
MANY WOMEN Ev1CTED
Detectives Even Bar Church
doors Because They Are Prop
erty of Coal Companies
MANY WOMEN EvIcTED
By z. @. RODGERS.


CHARLESToWN, w. Va, Aug. s.
rhe bloody conflict now raging in
Vest Virginia started with the viola.
lon BY the coal mine operators OF an
greement to pay 2 1-2 cents ton in
crease TO the miners. Today. with
lead mems bodies IN the valleys and
n the mountains and with thousands
bf miners thirsting for revenge. 1t is
Is much war as that which reddens
he soil OF Mexico or the sands OF
rripoli.
Every lead OF my investigation OF
Eauses leads directly to the guard sys-
lem, to the conduct OF the army OF
kuards the Baldwin-Feet concern OF
Btaunton, Va, put into the field the
minute the strike started.
Early one morning In June COM
bany OF guards came down on the
italian settlement at Banner. Lining
hp the ignorant foreigners the leader
|aid: IF you don't go to work we'll
blow your brains out!''
Thesguards then began the work OF
Eviction From house to house they
vent. Go to work or get out!" they
Eelled4 and threw furniture and all
tut OF windows and doors.
Half the village was at breakfast.
Every meal was thrown into the road.
70 Tony Seviller's cabin they came.
fGet out." they roared. Mrs. Seviller
vas IN bed. Roughly they ordered
her out. II
Ernest Goujot was the guard leader.
sMrs. Seviller's baby was born soon
litter in tent furnished by the ma
ional mine workers.
Six other babies have been born
b those tents down at Holly Grove.
The only land not owned by the mine
Companies, and where several thou
band people live in tents.
have looked up the record OF this
loujots captain of the guards. He was
b the West Virginia penitentiary for
murder. and was paroled. Then he
oined the Baldx IN Felts gang of
labor fghters. In the 1902 strike he,
With squad OF guards. shot up Stan
lord. Three women. seven children
md q score OF men were killed In
heir beds.
Now he leads the mine guards In
he daredevil campaigns. His men
Ire on the average about like him.
Many are proved ex-convicts. Once In
while respectable man gets to be
mine guard. One such, Dawson by
Iame, quit Handing his guns TO
Neal Farrell, Mucklow mine storek-
Keeper. he said;
Il got my fill OF this business. I
BOT mother OF my own and I'll starve
efore I'll abuse any woman or kid
like you wanted II done here"
When mrs John Robinson, of Muck
ow, died her friends went to the fu.
eral During the services the guards
wooped down and threw the furni-
ure out OF the cabins OF the mourn
PRS, arriving at the cabin next door
10 the church just as the body was
being carried out.
"You won't have any more funerals
ere," q guard shouted, that church
belongs to the company" And to the
une OF the tolllng of the bell they
nished their job and cleaned out
he Robinson cabin thoroughly while
sc hearse was at the cemetery!
Every miner in the field has been
Fvicted and unlawfully, because not
IN hour or q single minutes notice
Eas given. Women and children often
Fere pushed out into rains and into
he night, to walk down the creek to
he only spot Of land pot owned by
nine companies. Even the roads are
Pwned by the companies, and mine
olks have been arrested for walking
IN them. The miners can't even swim
Ip the creek without trespassing. for
he water belongs TO the companies
In front OF one little church, the
guards put up their machine gun,
pointed toward the church door. That
Eas early one Sunday morning. When
he children began coming to Sunday
school they were frightened and ran
hack home. They went for Miss
Katie Winfrey, the teacher and she
Bame with them to the church.
PLEASED take the gun away, until
sfter Sunday school," she begged Of
he guardt.
"You folks amt got any right to
fome here" guard replied.
There haven't been any services In
mat church since then.
Why didn't the miners appeal to the
aw7
From their mountain tops they can
Utmost see the 1S-foot statute OF the
GODDESS Of justice standing serenely
fn the top Of the courthouse at
CharleatOn