Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-17
MARITIME CLASHES
WITH ATTORNEYS
Exciting Episode During Inves-
tiqation of Mine Conditions
in West Virginia.
SENATOR THANKS GOD
HE is NOT A LAWYER
Committee at Charleston Hears Tes-
timony Offered by Mine Owners,
Explaining Strike Causes.

CHARLESTON, W. Va. June 1I.-Witll
scores of witnesses called to tell the mine
operators side of the labor controversy
In the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek dis
tricts. the Senate hearings here will end
tomorrow night. Senator Swanson. chair
man of the committee declared that the
situation in Washington demanded the
presence of the committee and that 1t
would be necessary to leave Charleston
at the earliest possible moment.
A wordy controversy between c. G.
Watts Of counsel for the operators and
Senator MARITIME enlivened the opening
Of today's session. Senator MARITIME was
examining DIR. J. w. Ashby. physician
for the Cabin Creek Consolidated Coal
Company. as to the sanitary conditions in
the strike zone. DR.. Ashby said sanitary
conditions were as good as they We're
anywhere else around Mines The sena-
tor contradicted this statement and when
he and the witness engaged in an argu-
ment Mr. Watts interfered.
Mr.. chairman, l object to the senator.
who is supposed to be sitting as fair
judge he shouted. brow beating and
bullying this witness. He should not
take advantage Of his position as sena-
tor of the United States.
Senator Marines Rejoinder.
Senator MARITIME leaped to his feet and
shouted: IL am a senator of the United
States and ] am exercising my prerog-
atives as a senator You gentlemen with
wealth and power at your command
should provide sanitary conditions to
protect the lives Of these workingmen.
"West Virginia." interrupted Mr. Watts,
docs not need to go to the mosquito
ridden swamps of New Jersey to learn
sanitation
Both Senator MARITIME and Mr.. Watts
were arguing heatedly when senator
Kenyon interrupted .
EITHER stop this or let's adjourn, ne
said, and Senator Swanson took COM
mand Of the situation.
Senator Swanson defended the posi-
ton of Senator MARITIME and reprimand-
ed Mr.. Watts.
Quinn Morton on Stand.
Quinn Morton, who owns leases of
several mines on Cabin creek, and who
was charged by Lee Calvin, former
mine guard. with participating in the
attack on Holly Grove with the armor-
ed train, was examined at length as to
negotiations which preceded the strike.
He said the contracts for the output
of his mines were made In l9lo ana
ran for five years. This precluded MS
paying the increase in wages demand
ed by the miners. He went into detail
on the miners demands and replies
of the operators, and said the fight fin
ally settled down to a question or rec
ognition of the union.
Senator MARITIME interrupted Mr.. Nor
tons story of negotiations to demand
that he tell what he knew Of the armored
train attack on Holly Grove camp. Mr..
Morton described arranging for the trip
with Sheriff Hill, and buying thirty-one
rifles in Charleston to arm the men on
the train. Mr.. Morton asserted that be-
fore the train reached Holly Grove the
lights were turned down on the train
because Sheriff Hill said the train was
likely to be shot up
Sheriff Hill was in charge of the train,
according to Morton. He said he saw a
cabin crowded with women and children
just before the train reached Holly
Grove. 1T was our belief he said,
that women and children had been re-
moved from there by the miners and
that we were going to have trouble.
Another Clash Precipitated.
Just as we got to Holly Grove he
said, II heard two shots that seemed
to come from the camp. One window
in the car was broken, and a second
later a general fusillade, both from the
shot, Of course, just as everybody else
did
Here again Senator MARITIME clashed
with the lawyers. Mr.. Morton and At
torney VinsOn demonstrated excitedly
when Senator MARITIME demanded:
"In your conscience do you approve
of the use Of a machine gun to shoot
n a nv 6efanSalaSS
women and children"
AS the lawyers argued over the ques-
ton Senator MARITIME shouted: Il thank
God 1 am not a lawyer.
Senator MARITIME, Attorney Vinson and
the other senators engaged in a Wig
orous dispute.
Senator MARITIME has already made
an outrageous attack on me- said Mr..
Morton, excitedly. when Lee Calvin
was on the stand. The senator, without
any proof, has. by his questions, accused
me of attacking women and children in
their homes with a machine gun. This
treatment is outrageous. and not even all
United States senator should be allowed
to PREJUDICE a case in this manner
Senator MARITIME said that he had not
prejudged the case, and again demanded
of Mr.. Morton whether there was any
justification for the use OF the machine
gun. Mr.. Morton declined to answer.
well. 1 can stand the silence, and so
can the people said Senator MARITIME,
"if YOU cam.
Denies the Calvin Charges.
Mr.. Morton vigorously denied that he
had ever urged that the train back
up and give them another round"
after Holly Grove had been passed, as
charged by Lee Calvin. Neither he nor
Sheriff Hill had ever said anything
of the sort he said
do you own your coal mining
lands?" asked Senator Kenyon.
I'VE do not; we lease on royalty
basis of cents ton.
who owns the land?'
The Paint Creek Coal and Land
Company
What is that company?
1T is a company controlled by Mr..
Charles Pratt of New York
'Who is Mr.. Pratt, the Standard Oil
man." asked Senator MARITIME.
Yes, sir"
Probable Strike in New River Region
Witnesses who are not given an oppor-
tunity to appear here will be taken to