The Detroit times., 1913-06-19
Rough. House Tactics of Yester-
day Responsible for Latest
Move
ACTIONS OF SENATOR
MARITIME CAUSE ALARM
Operators Claim They We're Con.
. demned Before Evidence
Was Offered
BY JOHN e. NEViN,
(Staff Correspondent. Of the United
Press.)

Press.)
CHARLESTON, w. Va, June IS
TIE senate probe OF the West Virginia
mine strike and the civil war condi-
lions that have existed in the Paint
and Cabin Creek regions for more
than year. will be transferred 10
Washington The three members OF
the subcommittee, Senators Swanson,
Kenyon and MARITIME. will leave here
late tonight, and the inquiry will be
completed In the capitals
The near-fist fight between Senator
MARITIME, Operator Quinn Morton, and
the attorneys for the operators, Is
chiefly responsible, because II II had
not occurred, at least one member OF
the committee would have been au-
thortzed to remain here and gather
up loose ends Of needed evidence.
An all-day session was held today.
the operators calling leading oper-
ators and superintendent OF all the
mines In the regions affected TO testi
~, and all united In admitting that
tie attempt tC unionize the region was
the real source OF the war. All de-
Tended the mine guard system: insist
cd that the strikers were the first TO
arm. and generally placed the blame
on the workers.
The operators plan TO make the
MARITIME attitude one of their strong
est points. When the hearing is re-
sumed in Washington they intend TO
introduce written statements by the
New Jersey senator and oral declara-
tons made by him assailing them, and
then demand that the full senate COM
mlttee recognize that one OF the sub
committee, supposedly impartial, en-
pEatically condemned the mine own
els before q single shred OF evidence
IN their favor had been introduced
This development Is causing real con-
Germ to the other members of the sub
committee here. Senator Kenyon
would have withdrawn from yester-
dsyl hearing entirely II MARITIME had
not positively promised to ask no
more questions, but to permit the in
CURRY to 60 along in an orderly man
,ner. The whole proposition will. 1t Is
expected, be the subject Of a confer
eucc by the entire committee, as soon
a. the subcommittee gets back to
Washington.
Describes Miners Preparations.
Walter Belk, in charge OF the Bald
vin-Fellz guards on PaiHt Creek, de-
acribed the attack OF the miners on
Mucklow on May 20. 1912. 1t began
from the hills. he said. and after II
was over, developed that the miners
held their position hidden In the
woods all night. They had cut down
trees he swore, In order to get the
uninterrupted range OF the sleeping
quarters Of the guards. After the
shooting. he said, they imported
Calling gun and built steel fort.
The next attack came on June at
Waukoma, he said, but this time the
guards we're ready, and killed one and
wounded another. He described the
general nature of the duties OF the
guards and said they we're picked men
Of high bodily courage and molested
no one who did not first attack them
Others of the guards were called and
gAve similar testimony.
Belk was asked pointblank wheth-
Or certain of his men had not been
engaged TO shadow members OF the
committee or persons In attendance
upon the hearing, and this precipitat-
Cd Z lively argument between Attor-
ney Belcher, for the miners. and
knight, for the operators. knight de.
MED that any men had been employed
for that purpose.
Then Belcher demanded whether all
Of the Baldwin men we're not heavily
armed right In the court room, and
again Knight replied that the men
were not armed.