The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-19
Subcommittee May Return
to Complete Taking
Evidence
OPERATORS GIVE
BULK OF TESTIMONY
Continue Presentation of Their Side
of troversy-Martine's Ac-
tion May Cause Serious Con-
roversy--Employes
Are Called

Charleston, w. Va, June 1S.-The Sen
ate mine strike investigating counties
closed up its work in Charleston for the
present and started tonight for WashinsF
ton. The committee took under advise
ment request made by attorneys for the
West Virginia coal operators, that sub
committee be allowed to return to Charles
ton at "a later time TO complete the taking
OF evidence which the operators desire to
submit. The investigation will be resumed
in Washington within the next few weeks,
Senator Swanson, chairman OF the conn
mittee. announced.
Today the operators controlling the
mines ON Paint creek and Cabin creek,
where the troubles of the past year have
resulted in riot and bioodshed, continued
the presentation of their side of the con-
troversy. Witnesses were called who con-
tradicted the contention of the miners
that the presence Of the mine guards In
the district was the cause of the trouble-'
Other witnesses. men working in the
mines on Paint and Cabin creek, told the
committee that wages paid and the condi-
tons of work and life on the creeks were
satisfactory.
Begin Controversy
When the committee resumes sessions IN
Washington, a controversy Will begin ovet
the attitude of Senator MARITIME OF New
Jersey, one of the members of the conn
mittee, toward the investigation The OF
| orators attorneys today asked that as
result of yesterdays near fist fight be
tween Senator MARITIME and Witness Quiu
Morton, one of the operators. they be a
lowed to place in the record newspaps
articles, one of them including a wrlttd
statement by Senator MARITIME. criticism
the operators The request was made M
Senators Swanson and Kenyon, but boi
argued with the operators, and persuadff
them to postpone any action in this dire
tion until the committee returned
Washington. A serious controversy OF
Senator Marines activities here proba-
| bly, will result.
Several of the employees of the Baldwin,
| Feltz Detective agency. who acted as
| mine guards in the strike district, were
called by the operators today. All of them
defended the action of the guards, assert
| ing that the original trouble was started
| by the miners and that they used their
| guns only when forced to do so to protect
| the people under their charge and the
companies property.
Mother Jones Figures
! This afternoon the operators put on
| witnesses to show the activities OF armed
miners throughout the strike district and
called several witnesses who testified that
| Mother Jones and other labor agitators.
| at the beginning of the trouble, urged the
miners at union mines in the Kanawha
district near the strike zone to arm them
selves and aid the strikers
+. II. Suddy. superintendent of union
mine at Boomer. in the Kanawha field.
said that an Italian killed in one of the
first battles on Paint creek was employed
in his mine. lie told of a speech deiS
cred by Mother" Jones at his mine. in
which he said she urged the miners to
keep their guns and to save money to ny
more.
James claggett, coal inspector at
Boomer, said Mother Jones speech was
''innammatory.'
''she told the miners. he said. ITO hold
their guns. and if they had no guns
save their money and buy them. She
said that when she was ready for them
to use their guns she would let them
know. She said she was going to Charles
ton to tell the governor that If he did not
release the prisoners held at Pratt. at
military headquarters, they would tear
ur the state
I.
said he heard the same speech and that
Mother Jones told the men that IF
necessary she would take a gun and 80
with them"
SwOre a Good Deal
"Did she use any profane language"
asked Attorney Knight for the operators.
"She swore good deal for lady re-
piled the miner.
Before the committee finally adjourned
Senator Kenyon and the attorneys for
both sides agreed on a large amount of
documentary testimony. trans ripts of
records. and public files that are 10 be
placed in the record. These included a
copy of the letters between Governor
Glasscoels, representatives of the opera
tors and representatives of the miners at
tending the negotiations which preceded
the strike, copies of the assessments on
the lands on Paint creek and Cabin creek.
owned by the Pratt Land company, copies
of the pay rolls of the mines and data as
to the ownership of the coal companies
and the capital they represented with the
dividends paid and profits made.