The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-12-12
BY Mine Investigation Com
mission Appointed by
. the Governor.

1
Fifty pages are taken by the M.1ing
Investigation Commission, appointed
by Governor William f. Glasscosk
last August TO investigate mining
conditions In West Virginia. espe-
lctnlly in the Paint and Cabin creek
districts of Kanawha county, where
! the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea have been endeavoring to drive
an entering wedge, with view of
eventually spreading out to every
district In the state. in making its
report and recommendations to Gov
ernor Glasscock. At the present
time only about 10000 of the TO-
600 miners in the state are men,
bers of the union.
The report of the commission
eharactcrizes the guard system" in
vogue in some of the coal fields of
the state as vicious. strife-pro-
noting and un-American," especial
ly so as 1t was operated on Paint
and Cabin creeks, where conditions
became so bad that the state militia
had to be called out and martial law
declared. Tho report declared that
both the miner and the operator
'thave passed the limits of justice to
say nothing of Christian charity and
broad humanity" in the enforcement
of their claims.
The commission appointed by the
governor consists of Bishop P. ].
Donohue, of Wheeling; Captain S. L.
Walker, of Fayetteville; and State
Tax Commissioner Fred o Blue.
About $500 pages of evidence was
taken and number OF trips made
lhy the comm ssion to ascertain the
conditions for themselves.
The report is strong in its crit
icism of both sides of the contro-
versy. II does not blame the coal
operators for refusing to deal with
the m ners' union as it is now con
Itrolled. The states of western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and III
mos are working hand and glove"
in an attempt to organize West vir-
sinia fields. These are the four
competitive states. and thatlthe main
cause OF the entire trouble was the
attempt OF the United Mine Workers
OF America to organize the union in
the whole chain OF plants along Cab
in and Paint creeks, is the opinion
If the commission.
The commission also Yields a CLUB
over the local peace officers for be-
lug lax in their duties, and recon-
siitnds that the governor be gwen
tnere authority to compel peace Of
lcers to do their duty.
The commission sums. up the re-
suit Of It's investigation as follows:
I First-That every man has a
right to out his employment and
Geek other work for any grievance
he may have; but
.second-He has absolutely no
right to obstruct, modest, threaten
Of otherwise prevent another man
from taking the position he has of
his own accord abandoned.
I Thlrd-Labor has the right to or
san,ze for It's benefits. etc., and to
have recognition of such organi2a-
tioa: but
Fourth HIS organization has no
right to coerce anyone to become af-
7illiated With II, nor to assault any
one, not des ring to become mem
Der; nor to destroy property; nor
10 violate its contract.
Fifth-That in many instances al
osefcharge ranging from ten to
twenty-five per cent is made at COM
pany stores, which has made the lot
OF the miner hard in the extreme.
s.xth-That there is evidence of
non-fulallment of the Law relating
to acknowledgement.
seventh-That the miners are
clearly in the wrong in resorting to
threats and violence against those
WHO work on terms which they re-
iett.
Eight-The. nj ners are culpable
IN seeking to destroy company prop,
erty. ~ y
NinthLThat the Efforts to in
flame the public mind by wild
speeches is to be confounded with
emphasis,
! tl1-That it is imperative
necessary" that the hands OF the
governor be strengthened SO that he
may compel local peace officers to
, perform their duty.
Eleventh-That the guard system
as formerly maintained on the two
creeks is vicious and bad"
/. The commission also recommends