Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-06-14
GLASSCOCK BEFORE
WEST VIRGINIA
COAL STRIKE
INQUIRY
Former Governor Tells Com
mittee Particulars of Out
break Which Resulted In
Martial Law Declaration.


IEsy Leased VINE 70 Escninr Hesnid. ,
Charleston, W. Va, June IA
happy and c0ntentod people living
wholesome llvcs among the hills Oi
West Virginia. thrown into D reign of
terror BY an industrial strike, was de-
scrihed 70 the senate mine strike In
vestiesting committees today. Former
Governor OlaHec0ck and a group Of
men and women brought ia from tho
hills 90 tell their own stories de-
scribcd conditions to the COMMITTEES
The men and women of the strike re-
gion told how the detectives brought
Into the strike zone by the operators
preclpitatcd the troubles.
When these guards paraded up
ana down the creek. with their rifles
on their shoulders. then trouble broke
out,' said Ed. Bragg. n grizxled old
m0untaincer, who for nine years ~
deputy sheriff preserved law and or
der on Paint reek slngle-handed.
II never saw a more nappy and
contented people up 10 that time than
our people on Paint Creek"
Former Governor GiasEcock told the
committee under cross-examinatlOn
that the TrlncipRf complaints Of tho
miners that came 20 him concerned
the mine guards
Mr.. Glasscock made II clear
10 the commlttes that he had made
two attempts 90 secure an agreement
between tins miners and operators 20
arbiirate their differences. In both
cases. he said. the miners we're will
ing to arbitrate but the operators de-
clined.
Luther HudaIi was AT Holly Grove
during the strike. Tie said he was
taken from his home by guards and
taken TO MucklOw.
During the day they stood me in
front of a Gatling gun he said. "and
at night they locked me IN a box car. ="
Were you frightened when you
were Ia front OF the Gatllng sun ?"
asked senator Kenyon.
II never thought I'D get home no
morc,' said tfc miner.
Hu1nall said that the guards told
him they wanted ''tO hold an inquest
over a dead man
My wife begged them not To take
me-" ne said. ''and they taken hold
OF me. They taken hold OF my
wife. too. because she hung on me"
He was shown the body OF D dead
man who he WAS told was Stringcr
the mine guard killed az Holly Grove.
He took no part In any inquest and
was never accused of participating In
The killing OF Stringer The witness
named "A group or men who were lined
up before tho Gatling gun with him
and said that twenty-five men were
locked In the box car. There were no
sanitary accommodations. senator
MARITIME elicited. and the men were
kept In the car that night.
You've seen cattle placed Ia cars
that way. haven't your asked Sena-
tor Martin
Yes. sir. just that way"
I'D. Bragg, a deputy sheriff. said
NasN NNa.a .NnIIs
he had been able Ia maintain law and
order on Paint Creek single-handed.
IF anything happened I'D got some
of the miners 10 help me-" he said.
Trouble first began on the creek. he
said, when the mine guards were first
brought In.
These guards paraded up and down
the creek he said, carrying rifles
aud rcyolvcfs. Sunday and every other
day. Then trouble began"
Charleston. w. Va. June 1f.-C. ID.
lionaker, q conductor on the Chesa-
peake and ohio railroad was today's
first witness before the mine probe
committee. lie said that prior TO
April 80. 1914, mine guards In Cabin
Creek rode on the trains by virtue
OF passes. tie gave the COMMITTEES
the names OF number Of the guards
carried These guards he said. we're
all armed. Mr.. iionaker said his train
had been stoned three times during
the strike.
Former Governor GfaSscOck was re-
called 60 the stand for cross s-examin-
alton and said that the first trouble
broke out at Boomer unionizcd
mine outside OF the Paint and Cabin
/ Creek districts.
A lengthy correspondence between
the governor and the operators on the
question of arbitration WAS placed In
the record After his first proposal
was refused by the operators MIR.
GlasScook framed "A new proposition.
which he believed eliminated the
question of recognition OF the union"
This second proposal, he said, was
likewise rejected By tne operators. al
though accepted by the miners.
senator kenyon took up the qnes-
tion Of ownership OF lands on Paint
and Cabin Greeks.
"On Paint Creek" said Mr. Glass
/ cock, ~ have underatOod that out
side men were heavy stockholders. The
Cabin Greek mines, however, are
owned by West Virginia interests"
The witness named Judge Christ.
man of virginia. Former Represents
/ tive Connell OF Scranton. Pa, and
John a. Jones OF Pittsburgh, as some
! OF the outsiders who owned land In
/ thc creek.
Under cross examination by attor-
neys for the miners Mr.. Giasscock X
told OF calling a Statewide confer
once," whlsh assembled az the state
house. aud which WAS attended by
sOsne 400 or 500 representative citi-
zons" from all over the state. The
object OF the meeting Was To discuss
bor disputes.
was the attitude Of representa-.
tive operatora friendly toward that
moqtinrq" asked Mr.. BelCher
II thought decidedly otherwise. %
said Mr.. 0lafscOck.