Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-13
it. We exercised war powers,

away in the hooks and crannleS OF the
West Virginia mountains the Senate sub
committee yesterday sought the truth
about the strike which has disrupted the
state for more than year. All day long
special train carrying the senators
visited the mining camps on Paint creek
and Cabin creek.
Groups of men and women with their
children about them We're startled and a
little awed by the sudden appearance Of
the five stern-faced senators, lawyers.
mine operators, stenographers and news
papermen at the doors of their little
homes.
Lists of "High Prices"
The ousinesslike company stores gave
up to the senators lists Of the high
prices which were given as one Of the
strike causes, and the -begrimed
miners. bound to or from the drifts that
cash the sides of the mountain, were
halted and questioned in the road. As a
method of securing definite testimony
the all-day trip proved unproductive, but
the committee was enabled to secure a
first hand view of the conditions in the
field.
A -bucolic quiet reigned throughout the
entire district, so lately the scene of
constant violence. The last of the state
troops struck their tents and left the
strike zone yesterday. just as the COM
HutteeS tram puIieQ INTO rant creek
Junction. where military headquarters
had been maintained.
"Today's trip was valuable said Sen
ator Swanson, chairman of the subcom-
mittee, when he reached Charleston at
o'clock last night. because 1t gave us
a bird's-eye view of the situation and en-
abled US to fix the geographical outline
OF the country in our minds. It will IA
cilitate. greatly the examination Of wit
nesses."' ss..i e=r' 1..Gi-.
Tbrn OK he
tee did not see single disturbance or
sign of disorder, and not an armed man
was met in the district where the militia
have confiscated hundreds Of rifles, re-
volvers and shotguns. A quiet reigned
that seemed almost unnatural except
where a stir of activity conferred about
a cash in the mountainside, which
half hidden by the forest, marked a
mine. A half dismantled sheet iron shed
used as q fort, and a number of bullet
rtddled houses were the only signs the
committee saw of the state Of virtual
civil war which lately existed.
Strike Camps Deserted.
These and few strike camps with
less than half a. hundred union miners
living in tents were all that was left
Of the strike, so far as the committee
could tell.
Cabin Creek and Paint Creek valleys
lie parallel, about threa miles apart, and
the committees special train. went d.
rectly to the head of Cabin Creek, the
valley nearest Charleston. where during
an impromptu stop at Carlson mining
camp the committee first detrained A
hurried look through one boarding house
where in two rooms eight cots were
huddled in confusion and dirt was all
the committee had time for.
Senator Kenyon's interest in the hous-
ing arrangements and his conversation
with the wife Of an Irish miner nearly
marooned him at the next stop, Kayford.
The special train moved off. leaving the
senator behind. and just as it was pulling
out of sight the senator. hat In hand,
dashed down the slope to the tracks, sig
mailing frantically. The train was stopped
and he was taken aboard.
AT Acme and Eskdale the committee
examined scores of the company houses
rented to the miners They were mostly
twO-room or four-room houses, many in
a state Of bad repair.
Counsel for the companies explained to
the committee that the older Of these
houses were rented for 81 a room a
month. Representatives Of the strikers
with the party said that the average rent
on the creeks was S. to IS month