Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-05-15
Several Senators Express
Doubt as to Wisdom Of Be-
ginning Inquiry Into Condi-
tions in Coal Mining District
ROOT JOINS DEMAND
FOR CAREFUL PROBE
Military Court Has Sentenced
People to Penitentiay Con-
tray TO Opinion of United
States Supreme Court

NV uosmNo louRrsL SPECIAL trssGn wiarf
Washington. May IL = senator
Kern's resolution for federal investi-
CATION of conditions relative to strike
Of miners IN West Nireinn advanc-
ed through three hours of debate to-
day 60 Il point where It's friends In the
senate believe vote upon it viii he
taken
Several senator's expressed doubt AS
TO the wisdom Of ordering a senatorial
inquiry before a senate committee had
discussed the need of II. From the
support Il received upon the rcpubli-
can side In the days development,
however. advocates Of the resolution
were confident that il would De-
adopted. whether it was first referred
to a committee for report or acted up
on directly.
senator Kern led the supporting
column in favor of the resolution and
Senators Borah. Root and Hollis con
CURED in part IN his demand for an
Investigation. while Senators Chiffon
and Con. of West Virginia, expressed
their disapproyai senator chiffon
argued AGAINST an Investigation by The
senate. maintaining that the courts
were amply able To review them. Sem
ator Gom had moi concluded his nd
dress when the senate adjourned
Senator Kern read affidavits from
men who declared tnat thcs Ind beer
refused admission 20 postoffices in the
strike region hy employees Of the mine
operators lie said that the men had
been tried there by drumhead court
martial and refused writs of hahoas
corpus hy the supreme court and OK
pressed the opinion that such judicial
acts as these We're responsible for
growing sentiment In this country In
favor Of the recall of Judges and of
judicial decisions
Senator Kern told of pressure
brought to bear to prevent the inquiry
and expressed surprise that mine opcr-
ators seemed opposed to an investiga-
tion if they We're concerned as to the
good name of their state.
Senator Borah author Of resou-
ton Of the same nature last year, re-
ferred to difficulties of the United
states supreme court in similar cases
and insisted that il had held that
while governor OF state might ere
ate military zone such as existed in
West Virginia and might employ the
militia TO enforce an order, the men
must be tried In the civil courts and
by the ordinary law and not by milf
tary law. lie declared that If the Wcn
had been uied by court martial IN
West Virginia and sent to the penten-
tlary without regard ia their rights,
an investigation should be conducted.
If such conditions exist said the
senator IT Is of supreme concern 10
the people Of the country.
Senator Root approved the investi-
CATION. lie said men in West Virginia
were being deprived Of their rights Of
the protection of the law with the
sanction Of the state supreme authori-
IT, its governor
Senator Con- admitted many Incl
dents related by Mr. Kern, but de-
cAred that the creation Of military
tribunals were Justified under exist
ing conditions. lie told of orators who
went into the strike country and made
inflammatory speeches and Of their
suppression. He said that he did not
oplOse free speech nor did he be-
lieve the senate opposed IT,
But" he added, 1T has never been
held in any land that free speech
means license
lie praised the creation of the fa-
nous military commission by West
Nirginias governor
You will not find anyone IN West
Virginia he said who Will not say T
wen done, thou good and faithful
servant
lie asked the senate to consider the
peaceful law-ahiding people Of the
rest Of West Virginia when II passes
upon q question Of an investigation
which concerns the whole state but
really affects Il small area In the coal
region.