Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-06-17
WEST VIRGINIA
HEARINGS TO
CLOSE:
SENATE COMMITTEE MUST RETURN
TO WASHINGTON and PROBE
INTO COAL STRIKE. SITUATION
CLOSES TO-DAY.
SENATOR MARITIME
GOES ON The WARPA7H

Charleston, W, Va, June 17.-Witl
scores Of witnesses called to tell the
nine operators side of the labor cor
troversy in the Paint creek and Cabin
creek districts, the senate hearings
here will end tomorrow. Senator
Swan, chairman of the commirtee, de-
clared today that the situation in
Washington demanded the presence
of the committee and that it would be
necessary to leave Charleston at the
earliest possible moment.
News of critical conditions in the
hills continued to come into Charles
ton today All the union officials de-
clared they were doing their best to
keep the men on Paint Creek and
Cabin creek at work. They asserted
that some fifty men who participated
in strike meetings on Sunday were
discharged and that the men were
rapid in getting others to leave their
work. The operators in town said
they were having no difficulty with
their plans. The union officials have
called meeting for tomorrow of the
executive board of District No. 20
which covers the big New River coal
field They declare that strike will
undoubtedly be voted Oh at all of tho
mines in the New River field which
fail to make an agreement with the
union
A worthy controversy between c. G. |
Watts, of counsel for the operators, t
and Senator MARITIME en,ivered the ,
opening of today's session. Senator |
MARITIME was examining DIR. j. W. Ash
by, physician for the Cabin Creek Con-
solidated Coal company, as the sani-
tarv conditions in the strike zone. Dr.
DR.. Ashby said sanitary conditions /
were "as good as they were anywhere
else around mines." The senator
ccltradicted this statement and when
lie and the witness engaged In aa ar
gument Mr. Watts interfered
Mr.. Chairman l object to the SEN
ator, who is supposed to be sitting as
a fair judge he shouted, "brow-beat-
ing and bullying this witness. He
should not take advantage of his posi-
tion as senator of the United
States"
Senator MARITIME leaped to his feet
ond shouted: .! am senator of the
United States aid I'm exercising my
I rerogatives as 4 senator. You gentle ,
men with wealth and power at your ,
should provide sanitary con
uitions to protect the lives OF these
working men,
West Virginia. interrupted Mr..
Watts, docs not need to go to the
ridden swamps of New
Jersey to learn sanitation"
Both Senator MARITIME and Mr..
Watts were arguing heatedly when
Senator Kenyon Interrupted.
Either stop this or let's adjourn,
,e said, and Senator Swanson took
command of the situation. Senator
swanson defended the position of Sen
ltor MARITIME and reprimanded Mr..
Watts.
Quinn Morton, who owns several u
mines on Cabin creek, and who was II
harged by Lee Calvin, former mine 8
uard, with participating in the at .
ack on Holly Grove with the armored
rain, was examined at length as to "
be negotiations which preceded the .
trike. He said the contracts for the ~
nd ran for five years. This precluded y
is paying the increase in wages de-
landed by the miners. He went into o.
etail on the miners demands and re- g
lies of the operators and said the -,
ght settled down to a question of -,
of the union. ~, ~
Senator MARITIME interrupted Sir.
Iorton's story of negotiations to de- n,
,and that he tell what he knew OF ri
le armored train attack on Holly ca
rove camp. Mr.. Morton described ca
for the trip with Sheriff CO
onner Hill and buying thirty-one fie
hes in Charleston to arm the men tn
+, the train. Mr.. Morton asserted
lat before the train reached Holly Y
rove the lights were turned down on y
lie train because Sheriff Hill said the y
ain was likely to be shot up Sher =
t Hill was in charge of the train, ac- x
,rding to Morton He said he saw %
lbin crowded with women and child. =
n lust before the train reached Hol- =
Grove. 1T was our belief" he said, y
hat women and children had been =
moved from there by the miners 3