The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-14

t0Ontlnueu from luSe Ohe)
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sidered martial law an absolute neces-
sity.''
The former governor said he had been
reluctant to take charge of the situation
with the military, but that parties to
the industrial controversy had urged him
to do so. Senator Boran ascertained that
the governor believed that the mine
guards" in the strike district, most OF
them employees of a detective agency.
were the main cause of trouble and that
one of the principal reasons for his de-
claring martial law in the first instance
was his desire to rid the district of the
mine guards. After the guards had been
driven out, he said, the question of union
izing the field became acute. and the
trouble broke out again.
Unequivocal in Defense
The governor was unequivocal in his
defense of the actions of the military
commission which tried prisoners in the
strike zone.
II consider that a state of war ex-
listed on Paint and Cabin creeks he
said, "and l considered that under the
martial law regime the will of the
commander in chief, myself. was SUI
preme in the affected territory. l re-
garded the proceedings by the military
commission as strictly in accord with
the law under the conditions which
were apparent at the time
The former governor explained that
sentences imposed by the military
commission which exceeded the PEN
alties provided by the statue were
never intended to be carried out, he
said he had an understanding with the
commission that very heavy sentences
were to be imposed but that he was
not to allow the prisoners to serve the
full terms The long sentences Were
planned for the moral effect
Il was determined" said the govern
or, "to have peace and order restored
This was one of the means employed
The attorneys for the miners ascer-
tanned from the former governor that
he recommended some of the militia
men who. after the first declaration oi
martial law was raised took positions
as mine guards in the pay of the op-
orators.
Did you think these men in the pay
of the operators We're competent
police force to guard the interests 81
operators and miners alike?' asked At
torney Beliher The governor could no
say.
Representative Avis, who was coun.
ty prosecutor when the trouble began
testified that juries secured in the civi
courts could not be depended upon t.
try cases arising out of the strike OF
account of the widespread perjury ant
bias throughout the country.
Were the Jurors secured any moro
subject to this general project than tn,
military officers who made up tile
military commission?" demanded Sena
tor Borah.
Probably not" replied Mr.. Avis.
Not Interfered With
Avis said throughout the strik'
| troubles the criminal courts of thu
county with grand juries sitting wer'
doing business without interference.
| On these points county Prosecute
Townsend and Assistant Prosecute
+. c. Burdette corroborated the testi
mony of Mr.. Avis, as did the sheriff.
| At the conclusion OF the examination
| of former Governor Glascock told th'
| committee to hurry along the inquir,
divided. Senators Shields and Kenyon
with a part of the numerous lawyer
| in the case and score or more o
witnesses went to room in tile stat
| capitol and began the investigation o
conditions and causes which led up Il
the strike. From Luke Gump, a Muck
| low miner, the new subcommittee heart
descriptions of number of encounter
between mine guards and miners JUS
witnesses along this line were to b.
examined. In short order Senator
Swanson, MARITIME and Borah wound vi
the examna tion of the civil officer
who wished to appear and at the nigh
session but single committee hat
witnesses to appear. Senator Borah, hi
| branch of the inquiry concluded, 1ef
for Washington tonight agreeing t
| return to Charleston II matters de
manded his presence rose.
Many miners wives and daughter
of strikers and union officials Remained
on the witness stand tonight but thei
their testimony was to be cumulatfv
in relation to general conditions OIL
the creeks.
Tonight the committee together agail
in the crowded hot committee room, be
gan examination of the women of tn
mining camp. Seven of these womel
were waiting and three carried little chil
dren whose crying occasionally inter
rupted the examination.
Mrs. Sarah Blizzard of Eskdale sal<
that she started for a neghbors las
April and while walking along the rail
road track had been ordered back by
mine guard.
He said / looked like Mother Jones
to him and told me to hit the dirt dow
the road. said Mrs. Blizzard.
Mrs. George Parker turned her littl'
baby over to her gray-bearded 1athel
while she told the committee that guart
named jackson had prevented her IRON
visiting a graveyard on Cabin creek te
'clean up the grave of her baby"
Mrs. Maud Estep, whose husband was
killed when the armored train ciasneo
with the miners at Holly Grove. on tep'