The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-14
SOLDIERS LEAVE
SCENE Of STRIKE
IN WEST VIRGINIA
Martial Law Is Lifted in Dis
turbed Regions By Cover
nor Hatfield
STRONG EVIDENCE
IN STATES FAVOR
Members Of. the Committee Inn
pressed By Testimony AS
to Difficulty in Pre-
serving Order

CHARLESTON. w. VA, June a.
Martial law wal lifted by Governor
Hatfield from the battle SCARED strike
zone lying between the tortuous creeks
amid rugged mountains in the kanaw-
ha coal fields, wherein. according to
the governor. over n hundred lives
have been lost, by an order enforced
at 3 o'clock this morning.
The senate subcommittee, returning
last evening from their inspection trip,
saw from their train the last five
soldiers at Pratt loading their tents
on handwagons for train shipment.
Nearly all today the State con-
tinued its strenuous legal conflict be-
fore the senate committee, to estab-
lish its Ease for the necessity of
martial law in the war zone, by show
ing the courts were powerless- to
act. a contention as strenuously con-
troverted by counsel for the United
Mine Workers.
Borah IL Convinced.
At the close of the testimony on
this point Senator Borah declared he
was convinced of the necessity of
martial law to end the continuous
bloodshed. and insurrection. but the
fact remained that. as some indict-
ments had been found, and no effort
made TO a special grand
jury, the courts were open for the
trial of military prisoners. Sheriff w.
T. Smiths testimony today partly
sustained the senator's view. He ad-
mitted that he could with, military
aid have served processes, secured
witnesses, and brought them to
Charleston. for trial He, however.
believed they could not have had q
fair trial at the time, owing to the
intensity of public feeling on both
sides OF the strike controversy.
For two hours and five minutes,
former Governor William E. Glasscock
occupied the witness chair at the
senate subcommittee investigation into
mining conditions in West Virginia
One of the most interesting points
In Governor Giasscock's testimony was
that there was a perfect understand
ing between himself and the mill
tary commissions. That the sentence
imposed by the latter were never in
tended to be actually carried out. and
as a matter OF fact they never were
carried out. The pretended harsh
and summary methods of the military
courts were all for effect. Many OF
the culprits were never taken away,
but were pardoned where they were
tried while all the rest were per-
mttted to languish IN Jail only a shor,
time. Only one man Of all those CON
victed by the military commission
served his full sentence.
Denies Charges.
Major T. b. Davis. who was pro-
vost marshal, while martial law was
in effect. was the hrst witness a,
the morning session Major Davis
swore emphaticailyt that he had never
ordered m one to stay away from
any p~ostofice or store.
Captain s. b. Avis. representative
from the Third congressional district,
who was prosecuting attorney OF
kanawha county during most OF the
disturbances. explained the judicial
system OF West Virginia under
which one-third OF any grand jury
drawn would have been from the
strike one He told OF mine guards
being arrested on complaint OF miners
in several cases. and the cases agains,
them having failed for lack Of evi.
fCnnt{puah IN CnrcrN paDa