The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-06-20
STRIKE Of MINERS
TO Be RENEWED
NEWS OF VOTE COMES AS SEN.
ATE INVESTIGATION IS
HELD.
OPERATORS TC PRESENT CASE
Numerous Array Of Witnesses to Go
Before Committee-Guard Who
Told Of Rifle Fire on Miners
Camp to Face Ordeal.

Charleston. W. Va, June 1.-THE
state of West Virginia is now being
presented before the senate min
strike investigating committee. sun
day the attorneys for the operators
lined up the scores Of Witnesses they
viii produce TO show they are not to
be blamed for the conditions which
threw the Paint Creek and Cabin
Creek mining districts into a state OF
civil war.
Word Of Another Strike.
simultaneously with the opening Of
this investigation word came to
Charleston from various sources that
the miners at work in the operations
Oh Paint and Cabin creeks had voted
at q mass meeting to renew the strike
which for a yea has convulsed the
coal field. According to reports reach
ing Governor Hatfield, meetings at
Eskadale and in the mountains above
Kayford voted not to return to work.
Representatives of the miners aI,-
pearing before the senate committee
investigating the strike received con-
firmation OF the report that the strike
had been renewed.
Would Break Down Story.
Much of the activity of the min
owners lawyers will be directed to-
ward breaking down the story OF Lee
Calvin, an eX-mine guard, the star
witness tor the miners who. on Satur-
day. told the committee of his ey-
periences on the a%rmoured train,
which shot up the camp Of tho
miners at Holly Grove on Paint Greek.
just before the last declaration of
martial law. Calvin accused Quinn
Morton, q mine operator, of urging
that he train return and fire again
on the tented camp, after the fire from
the cars had once raked the little viii
lage, and after Cisco Estcp had been
killed beside his little home. Quinn
Morton himself, Sheriff Bonner Hill
who was on the train. and others who
We're on the train will be called by
the operators in an effort to disproye
Calvins statement. Calvin will be re-
called for crcss-eXamination.
The discussion of general conditions
R1'i94i ~ p ~ tx
branch Of the inquiry which the com.
mittee has left 10 dispose Of during
its stay in Charleston. On this point
the operators desire to present many
witnesses. When the inquiry here is
concluded, the committee will retur
to Washington to concluded its hear
inss. What the final result of the in
quiry will be is a matter which the
big galaxy of stars engaged by both
sides is discussing eagerly. The com
mittee. under the resolution of the sen
ate authorizing the investigation. has
solely the power to investigate and
report.
Whether the senate itself has juris-
diction over II of the matters in
volved and the operators is a grave
question. 1t is probable that as a mat
ter of interstate commerce the senate
may initiate remedial legislation as 10
any combination against the mine
operators of West Virginia-such as
is charged in the resolution
But beyond that even the members
OF the committe themselves doubt
their authority to take any real action.
THE state of West Virginia is not
on trial here is the way Senator
Swanson, the chairman of the comit-
tee. states the question. This com
mittee has no power to try any n
for any %offense. We are simply here
to determine the facts, and report them
to the full committe on education and
lab.r, to be presented t the senate
for its incarnation"