The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-14
Believes He Did Right Thing in
Suspending Operation of
Civil Courts.
DRASTIC ACTION NECESSARY
He Tells Senate Investigators Of
Frightful Conditions Which
Existed.

Charleston, W. Va, June l3.-After
explanation of the conditions under
which tho Paint Creek and Cabin Creek
mining districts were placed under the
domination of military rule the SEN
ate mine strike investigating commit
tee tonight hurried its hearing along
with but single branch of it's inquiry
here to be concluded. The testimony
OF Governor Giasscock and the civil of
hcials OF kanawha County, in power
during the strike. concluded the record
under the head of the arrest and con
viction Of persons contrary to the laws
and Constitution"
Tonight Senator Kcnyon's branch of
the inquiry as to general conditions and
causes leading up TO the strike was all
that rmcained TO be disposed OF In
Charleston. The committee decided TO
leave the matter of alleged violations
OF immigration laws to be taken up in
Washington. The big question as to
agreements and combinations Con
trary to the laws of the United States"
for the purpose of controlling the pro-
duction of West Virginia coal will not
be taken up by the committee at this
time. ii was decided. owing to the fact
that officials OF the United Mine Work.
ers have been indicted on this charge
under the Sherman antitrust law in the
Federal courts.
Martial Inv Defended.
In no uncertain terms Governor
Glasscock and the civil authorities Of
Kanawha County defended the dcclara-
tion of martial law in the strike zone
Governor GlaSscock told the commit
tee that the sheriff and county prose
cutor of kanawha County informed him
they We're unable. through the civil
courts. to control tho strike district,
and had urged the declaratio of mar
tial law.
There was a reign of terror in the
strike district" said the former Gov
ernor. twenty-five or thirty murders
had been committed. and no prosecu-
tions had been made in the courts. /
considered martial law an absolute ne
cessity"
Senator Borah ascertained that the
Governor believed that the ''mine
guards in the strike district. most Of
them employees of detective agency,
were the main cause Of the trouble
and that one OF the principal reasons
for his declaring martial law was his
desire TO rid the district OF the mine
guards After the guards had been
driven out, he said, the question of
unionizns the field became acute, and
the trouble again broke out
The Governor was uncQuivocal in his
defense OF the actions of the military
commission which tried prisoners in
Il considered that n state of war eS-
listed on Paint and Cabin Creeks" he
said. 'and ! considered that under the
martial law regime, the will of the
commander chief, myself. was su-
preme in the affected territory I re-
garded the proceedings by tho military
commission as strictly in accord with
the law under the conditions apparent
at the time"
Done for Moral Effect.
The former Governor explained that
sentences imposed by the military com
mission which exceeded the penalties
provided by the statutes wcrc never
intended to he carried out. He had an
understanding with the commission
that heavy sentences We're to be i'm
posed, but that he was not to allow
the prisoners to serve the full terms.
The long sentences We're planned for
the moral effect"
II was determined" said the Gov
trnor, Ito have peace and order re-
stored
The attorneys for the miners as
certancd from the former Governor
that he recommended that some OF
the militiamen. after the first declara-
tion Of martial law was recalled, take
position as mine guards in the pay or
the operators.
Representative s. b. Avis. who was
county prosecutor when the trouble
began, testified that jurics secured in
the civil courts could not be depended
upon to try cases arising, out OF the
strike because OF the widespread pre-
judice and bias throughout the
country.
Avis said that throughout the strike
troubles the criminal courts OF the
county, with grand juries sitting, were
doing business without interference.
On these points, County Prosecutor
Townsend md Assistant Prosecutor
Il. C. Burdcttc corroborated the tcs-
timony OF Mr.. Avis, as did Sheriff
Smith.
ton OF former Governor Glasscock,
the committee, to hurry along the i'm
qulry, divided itself. Senators Shields
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