The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-05-05
INTERESTING FIGHT
BEING WAGED ON
KERN RESOLUTION
WATSON SAYS INVEST
CATION MIGHT UPSET
AGREEMENT"
American Federation of Labor
Takes a Hand and Will Urge
Passage of Resolution.
Intelligeneer Bureau.
Warrington, d. c., May 4.

Investigation of the coal strike and
labor conditions in West Virginia
seems certain to bc ordered by the
scEate.
Any doubt that senator Kerns reso-
luton FOR such inquiry would pass was
ohNidtcd today when numerous SEN
ators stated that they had received
requests from many sources that the
Kern resolution pass
Additional impetus to the enactment
OF the resolution came in intimations
that President Wilson favors inveSti-
eating conditions in the Cabin Creek
ana Paint Creek coal regions OF West
Virginia. while secretary OF Labor
Wilson has made an urgent plea for
such an inquiry.
Secretary Wilson declared that con-
ditions in West Virginia have Consti-
tuted "a menace to American liberty"
that absolute fcudal power has been
exercised in a feudaI way by the mine
owners and that living conditions
have been forced ON miners which are
disgrace To American civilization"
Tho greatest good To- the people OF
the United States will result from a
senate invest iGatiun ana the resultant
puhlIcitN.' said secretary Wilson. I
am absolutely confident that from this
publicity VIII result changes in West
\lrgiuii which cmphatically ought To
tdk" plaC" and which Will prevent the
spread "f what - 81 mcnaCe {" the very
foundations at our EuNcrnm"
i mean the suspension of civil
rights and the absolute militari>m
which was established there by the
governor of West Nrginia. So tha:
American citizens. deprived of their
right To trial 10y jury. wcr, sentenced
{" the p'uit"ntiar, Tor terms ranging
from ON" Z" seven Years. ana this
Will IN" civil courts Wer. continuing
th, ir functions without suggestion Of
interruption.
Menace 70 Liberty.
This Is a menace to American lib
eriy. and must be so construed no
matter what the merits of the coal
strike We're No matter IL crimes al
legged to have been committed by the
strikers were committed. 10 deprive
them OF civil rights Is most danger
Gus policy, and an investigation by a
committee OF Congress which beings
out thar state OF affairs viii 30 far
TO stop the spread of such militarism.
Conditions IN the West Virginia
mining country continued the SeCre-
iaTy OF Labor. have grown up out OF
ownership Of land in great tracts by
the coal mining companies They
have n"ld a yeritable feudal domain
on which ieudal conditions have been
Instituted. Abuses have grown up
MhlCh, IN my judgment. an invcsticd-
ilon by the Senate will 40 far 10 r..
move
The mine owners have instituted
a system OF guards. the BALDWIN
Guards. and th" wishes OF the mine
owners have been ruthlessIy executed
by these private mercenaries The
mining towns have been owned on
iirely hy tie companies. and whatever
conditions the companies wished 70
impose were imposed The company
stores fourishcd nightly. and every.
one who can read knows what abuses
IN This respect always result. Til O.
miners W"r" forced 20 live In cabins
which were novels and shacks unfit Tor
habi'atiOu. far beneath toe STANDARD
Of life which is the American sfanl
ard FOR working man.
Investigation VIII Prevent
l3ut the great menace which the
investigation Hiii reveal and tend 10
prevent the growth or has been the
suspension of civil rights and the -s-
iabli~hment Of government by mill
tary commission The Governor. bv
executive order. declared a state og
var and deprived the miners ~ tu"
Tight oi trial by jury. and Of th" rights
Of habeaS corpus
Extension % such conditions In
other parts ~ this country would DO.
most dangerous 20 the fundamental
principles % our government All
this o. most emphaficaly true. ire
sp"cHNe 81 The merits ~ the strike.
irrespective o. whether the miners did
Do The things which the companies
charge them With. For these reasons