Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-04-11


stances these conditions frequent
II lack Of compliance with the laws
--ean be rectiGed If the miners want
them rectihed In many localities
the leases aud all coal sold is based
on the long ton 2240 pounds One
OF the demands OF the representa-
tiyes OF the miners OF other states
is that the scale IN this 6tate be based
upon the short ton. claiming that the
miners are producing 224o pounds
for ton but are only being paid for
2000 pounds
Only 500 Miners Idle.
Although many thousands OF min
ers are employed in the Paint creek
and Cabin creek districts, less than
ave hundred idle miners can be found
in those districts. and these are sup
ported by the United Mine Workers.
This number does not indicate the
number of men out OF the mines,
however. for several thousand left
these districts after the trouble as
sumed dangerous proportions, and
went TO other union or non union
mines to work. Those now occupy
ing houses or tents in the districts
are men who declined to accept EN-
ployment elsewhere in the kanawha
fields. or i'm the state. if taken to
such places together with their fam
lies free Of charge by the operators
of Paint and Cabin creeks for whom
these men had declined longer tc
work for
Believing that the representatives
Of the miners of other states are de
termined to force the coal operators
of West Virginia to recognize the
union, thus enabling the miners and
operators of other states to fix the
price of mining coal IN West Nir
ginia. the operators are determined
not to treat with the international
officers, but do assert they will dea
! with the men under their employ, anc
submit any differences that Nigh
arise between them to arbitration
With this belief thoroughly imbedet
and openly proclaimed defying con
tradiction, the coal operators are de
/ termined to make it unpleasant fol
/ the outside agitator aud will continue
to keep them from their property. az
f they believe, to protect their own bus
ness and the coal industry of Yves
Virginia.
Just when Governor Hatfield viii
feel safe to withdraw the few sol
diers now in the field and discontin
Tue martial law cannot be forecastet
with any degree of accuracy. He sha
notified both the coal operators an,
the miners and their representative
that he will maintain law and orde
in the coal fields at any cost AM
this would indicate he will keep sol
diers there and martial law in ct
feet until he is convinced there vii
not be a repetition of the rioting a
heretofore when troops were witt
drawn That the majority of thos
responsible for this rioting are nov
behind Jail here is freely admitte
by those conyersant with condition
but the question as to whether the
can be detained there after MARTA
law has been lifted is yet to be dt
termined by the highest court.
Has Had Strenuous Time.
On top of the difficulty in the coa
fields came the unparalleled floods, i
this and neighbor states, which cau'
ed Governor Hatfield to take an activ
hand, and again place everythin
else as matter secondary in impo
lance. Appeals for aid were sent owe
the state At first the instruction
We're to send funds to the Red eros
Society at Washington. or to Cove
nor J. NJ. Cox al Columbus, but VINE
| 1t was found conditions were niue
| worse than at first thought anotht
appeal was sent out with instruction
| to send money to Governor Hathel
Up to the present time nearly hftee
thousand dollars has come into tn
hands OF the governor. Doubles