The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-18
Feeling Runs High in Morn
ing SessiOn-Encounter
Narrowly Averted
QUINN MORTON
PRINCIPAL WITNESS
Following Conference of Senators,
MARITIME Yields Charge of Hear
ing to Kenyon-Operators
Issue Protests

Charleston, w. Va, June 17.-At a
strike committee at which near fist
fight between Senator MARITIME of New
Jersey and Quinn Morton, manager Of
the Paint Creek Operators association
was narrowly averted. The coal oper-
ators of Paint and Cabin creeks today
presented their = de of the controversy.
Mr.. Morton. principal witness for the
operators. discussed the attack on the
strikers camp at Holly Grove from an
nrmorcd train and precipitated the
clash with Senator MARITIME mt the close
of the morning session
This afternoon following an earnest
conference between Senators Swanson
Kenyon and MARITIME, Senator Kenyon
took charge OF the hearing and Senator
MARITIME did not ask a Single question
although he had beer persistent ex.
aminer during the morning.
All through the morning session FEELING
ran high, counsel for the operators three
times protesting against the methods OF
examination employed by Senator Mar
tine The afternoon session went of
quietly.
Conclude Examination
The committee made plans tonight tc
conclude the examination of witnesses
tomorrow afternoon and to start fol
Washington that evening. Many wit.
tyilI ha loft IN, ha. T.
Washington when hearings are reopenec
there and the committee may determine
to return to Charleston later
Conditions were quiet among the min
ers ON Paint and Cabin creeks today
according to advices from the hills, al.
though officials of the United Mine Work.
ers declared they expected further trou.
BILE soon. The union board for the New
river field district will meet tomorrow
to consider n strike there. which If de-
clared, il win involve nearly 1000 men.
Defends Position
Quinn Morton defended his position
taken by the employers throughout. de
claring they were utterly unable TO ac-
cedc to the terms offered by the miners
although the latter were narrowed dowr
10 recognition of the union. He Went
into details as to the negotiations which
preceded the strike in April, 1912
Mr. Morton and others discussed al
length the fight at Nthe miners camp al
Holly Grove on the night of February Z
when, witness for the miners testified
q machine gun raked the town from an
armored train. Mr.. Morton fatty de-
MED the statement of Lee Calvin an ex-
mine guard. called by the strikers, that
he had urged that the train be backed
up and that the men on board give them
another round This statement, and Cal
WINS declaration that Morton had re-
marked Didn't we give them hell?''
after the train passed the town, were the
disputed points which Mr.. Morton Wig
orously denied and precipitated the clash
between the witness and Senator MARITIME.
When Chairman Swanson announced the
noon adjournment Mr.. Morton remarked:
well all go down and take a few drinks
and then Wen feel better" Senator Mar
tine boiled over and Sergeant at Arms
Higgins. Senators Kenyon and Swanson
had difficulty quieting things.
This afternoon *. S. Leitch, engineer.
and william Tardy, fireman. of the ar
mored train, the night of the Holly Grove
fight, both testified that the first shots
were fired from the hills along the tracks
at Holly Grove.