Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-06-06
GOV. HATFIELD
IS EX0N0RATED
Socialist Leaders 50 Find After
Making Searching
Investigation
CLASCOCK RESPONSIBLE
-Deb2and Berger Report That
Hatfield Inherited Martial
Law Method

CHICAGO, June 4.-Gov. Hatfield,
OF West Virginia, was exonerated on
q number OF charges popularity cir.
culated against him in connection
with the West Virginia strike, in a
repodt to the national committee of
the Socialist panty yesterday by Victor
L. Berger. Adolph Germer and Eu-
gene v. Debs.
The burden of resentment in the
report is directed against Gov. Hat
aield's predecessor, Gov. Glasscock.
It was Gov. Glasscock, says the re-
port, who was responsible for martial
law and many atrocities which the
report alleges occurred in his admin.
istration.
Gov. Hatfield is censured for sup
pressing two Socialist papers and
imprisoning their editors, but the re-
port quotes the governor. as admitting
that this action was unjust and de-
claring that the papers might con-
tinue to issue without molestation
from the state administration.
One portion of the report, speak.
ing of the governor, says:
"He further claimed that he had
abundant evidence with which to con-
vict some of the leading strikers in
the civil courts, but that he had not
felt disposed to press the cases
against them"
The committee appointed by the ma
tional committee of the Socialist
party met at Charleston, W. Va, May
40, and the report declares it's mem
bers availed themselves Of all possi-
BILE sources of reliable Information.
After several days of investigation
It was determined to visit Gov. Hat
Aeld, but the latter declared ne
would see only Debs. Debs reluc.
family consented to 60 alone only
when urged gy the other committee
men.
The interview was SO satisfactory,
however. that on the following day
the entire committee was received.
OF this interview the report says:
"He (Gov. Hatfield) had inherited
martial law from Gov. Glasscock, and
the reason he permitted it to remain
effective was because he was req0est-
ed to do so by the union miners
themselves, to prevent them and their
organizers from being assaulted and
beaten up by the Baldwin-Feltz thugs
In the employ Of the mine owners.
This statement of the governor sub
etantially was verified by all the of.
ficials and organizers of the United
Mine Workers.
1.-THE governor unhesitatingly de-
clared that workingmen had the right
to organize, and that he would pro-
tect them in that right to the extent
OF his power; that Socialists had the
same right that Republicans and
Democrats had; that they were en-.
titled to the right of free speech and
free assemblage and to the full pro.
lection of the law"
The suppression of the two Social.
1st papers, both outside the martial
law zone, according to the report,
is characterized as utterly without
warrant and subject to the severest
censure." The demolition of the Of
flee OF the Star and the seizure OF
Editor Thompson are characterized
as "dastardly." although Gov. Hat
field is quoted as disavowing any
knowledge Of violence in. suppressing
this paper.
The governor is further quoted as
disavowing a threat which was cred
tied to him that he would deport all
miners from the state who refused
to accept the terms Of settlement
with the operators and resume work.
The report continues:
''The reports of outrages perpet-
rated upon the defenseless miners
and their families during the Glass
cock administration have not been
exaggerated in the least. Houses and
tents were shot up indiscriminately
from an armored train in the dark
ness of night. Men were assaulted
and women insulted by the dastardly
mine thugs. and even little children
were not spared.
'As all these astrocious crimes
against the striking miners and their
families will be brought out fully in
the senatorial investigation now un
der way and placed before the coun
try for its edfiication as to the des
potic misrule of the criminal mine
barons, We refrain from the attempt
to chronicle them In this report; in
deed, could scarcely begin to do JUS
tice to the subject without making
this report far too voluminous."