Arizona republican., 1913-06-14
Former Governor Says That Many Murders Had Been Committed in State and Sheriffs Were Unable to Handle Situation
DESCRIBES REIGN
 OF TERROR CLOSELY
Senate Committee Investi- gating Strike Conditions in Paint Creek District Spend Busy Day i'll Hear ing Testimony
ASSOCIATED PRESS D1sPATcHI


 CHARLESTOWN, June 13--After hearing from Former Governor Glass cock and his explanation of condi- tions under which the Paint and Ca bin Creek mining district were plac- ed under military rule, the senate mine strike Investigating committee hurried the hearing along tonight with but single branch of its inquiry 10 be concluded here The testimony of Governor GIasscock and the civil officials of KanaVha county in pow CT during the strike was concluded and recorded under the head of ar rest and conviction of citizens con trary to the laws and constitution
 Senator Kenyon's branch inquiry as to the general conditions and causes leading up to the strike was all that was left tonight to be taken up at Charleston The committee decided to leave the matter of. violations or the immigration laws to be taken up at Washington The big question as to agreements and combinations contrary to the laws of the United states for the purpose of controlling the production of West Virginia ccaT, will not be investigated by the committee at this time it was decld- ed owing to the fact that officials of the United Mine Workers were in dicted on this charge under the sherman Antitrust law in the fed eral courts.
 In no uncertain terms. former Gov ernor GIasscock and the civil author ties Of Kanawha county defended the declaration Of martial law in the strike zone. Glasscock told the com nittee that the sheriff and the coun- k prosecutor of Kanawha county ln- formed him that they were unable, through the civil courts, to controls the strike district, and they urged the declaration of martial law
 There was reign of terror in the strike district said the former governor and twenty-five or thirty murders had been committed and no prosecutions had been held in the courts 1 considered that martial law was absolutely necessary
 The former governor said he had been reluctant to take charge of the situation with the military but poth parties in the controversy urged him to do SO Senator Borah ascertained that the governor believed the mine auards" in the strike district were most of them employees of the Bald u.in-Feltz detective agency The main cause of the trouble and one of the principal reasons for hls de~ claring martial law in the first 1n- stance was his desire to rid the dlS- trict of the mine guards Alter the guards were driven out he sald' the question of unionizing the field pe- came acute and trouble again broke out.
 The former governor was unequl- vocal in his defense of the actions of the military commission Whlch tried the prisoners in the strike zone T considered that state or Wal existed in the Paint and Cao1n cfeeA district and I considered that under martial law that the will of the commander in chief and myself world be supreme in the affected ter ritory regarded the proceedings rv the military commission as strict ly in accord with the laws under the conditions which were apparent at ire time
 .I was determined said MT. Glass cock. ito have peace and order restoreo- This was one of the means employeo'
 Attorneys for the miners aScertalheu from the former governor that ne re- commended some militiamen after the first declaration of martial law was raised for positions as mines guards in the pay Of the operators he said ne did not know how far these men an tagonized the miners there in the per formance Of guard duty.
 Did you think that these men Tn the pay of the operators were competent police force to guard the interests o1 operators and miners alike?" asked Attorney Belcher. The governor could not say
 Representative $. B. Avis who was county prosecutor when the trouble began testified that the juries secured in civil court could not be depended or to try the cases arising out of the strikes because of widespread prejudice and bias throughout the country
 Were the jurors secured any more subject to tf1ls general prejudice thar the militia officers who made up the military commission?" demanded Sen ator Borah Probably not replied Avis.
 Borah ascertained from Avis thai throughout the strike troubles the criminal courts of the county with the grand jury sitting were doing business without interference.
 On these points County Prosecutor Townsend and Assistant Prosecutor