New-York tribune., 1913-06-18
MARITIME ON VERGE OF
FIST FIGHT At HEARING
Senator Resents Invitation OF
HeckIed Witness to "Take
a Few Drinks"
CHAIRMAN ENDS SESSION
Kenyon Takes Charge When
Proceedings Are Resumed
Charles Pratt in Con-
troll of Coal Lands.


Iames T. MARITIME. OF New Jersey, and
Quinn Morton, manager or the RANT
crock Operators' Association, all but
came 10 fisticuffs to-day while the coal
operators Of Paint and Cabin creeks were
presenting testimony before the SENATE
committee Only the interference OF ser
geant-at-A Arms Higgins, Senators Kenyon
and Swanson and others in the room pre-
vented a personal encounter. senator
Swanson adjourned the committee 70 end
the controversy.
Morton. put on the stand. testlhed ne
saw a cabin crowded with women ana
children Just before the armored tram
reached Holly Grove.
1T was our belief" he said, that
women and children had been removed
from there by the miners and that we
were going to have trouble.
Just as we got to Holly Grove" he
continued. IT heard two shots that
seemed to come from the camp one win
dow in the car was broken. and a second
later a general fusillade, both from the
train and from the camp. was on. | shot
OF course Just as everybody else did.
In your conscience do you approve OF
the use OF a machine gun TO shoot up
/ village inhabited by defenceless women
/ and Children asked Senator MARITIME.
The lawyers argued over the question
and Senator MARITIME shouted: II thank
! God ] am not a lawyer
Protests at Attentions.
Senator MARITIME has already made an
outrageous attack on me- said Morton.
| excitedly, when Lee Calvin was on the
stand. The Senator. without any proof.
! has by his questions accused me OF at
tacking women and children In their
| homes with a machine gun. This treat
ment is outrageous, and not even a United
States Senator should be allowed 10 pre-
! Judge case in this manner
Senator MARITIME said he had not pre-
Judged the case. and again demanded Of
Morton whether there was any justifica-
ton for the use OF the machine gun. Nor
ton declined to answer.
We'll. ! can stand the silence. and so
can the people" said Senator MARITIME, IF
| you can"
Morton vigorously denied Lee Calvin s
testimony that he (Morton) had urged
that the train back up and give them
another round" after passing Holly Grove.
~ this point Senator MARITIME left the
hearing room. but returned as the COM
mittee was prepared to take recess for
! luncheon. He strode into the room and.
without taking his seat. wanted TO know
whether Morton had expressed satisfac-
ton at the effect OF the firing on Holly
Grove. Before he had developed his line
OF questioning Senator Swanson, scent
ing trouble. adjourned the committee
Invitation Resented.
Morton leaned back in the witness seat
and remarked: Wen all so down and
take a few drinks and then well feel
better"
What was that you said. sir?' Senator
MARITIME shouted. leaning toward Morton.
Morton repeated his remark. Pushing
his way through the little thronG about
the stenographers' table, Senator Martine
shouted:
You are a blackgusrd OF the worst
me"
out Of the confusion that followed came
the voice of Morton:
Did YOU not take three drinks with
me In thirty minutes
with a bound Senator MARITIME covered
the short distance that separated the Two
men.
You have forfeited all right TO con-
sideration as decent white man." he
shouted.
You are an excited old man" inter
posed Il. T. Ninson. OF counsel for the
operators. as both, men pressed toward
each other. Ninson protested against his
client being "insuted."
Senator Swanson hurried around the
committee table and seized Senator Mar
tine Aided by Sergeant-at-ArmsH Higgins,
he hurried him from the room. Later
Sergeant-at-Arms Higgins summoned
| Senator MARITIME to a conference, and an
agreement was reached by which Senator
Kenyon was TO do all the questioning for
the committee
Crowds at Hearing.
This afternoon Senator Kenyon TOOK
! charge Of the hearing. and Senator Mar
| tine did not ask A single question. Crowds
| throngcd the lobbies Of the hotel where
the committee was sitting. The commit
tees arrangements TO place the entire