The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-04
HATFIELD IS NOT
GREATLY TOBLAME
Committee From Socialist Party
Exoncratcs Him on Mum
Der of Charges.
HIS PREDECESSOR SCORED
Burden of Resentment After
Mining Inquiry Directed
Against Glasscock.

Chicago, Ill, June 3.-Governor Hat
field. of West Virginia, is exonerated
on number of charges made in n re-
port circulated against him in con-
nection with the West Virginia coal
mine strike. in report to the national
committee OF the Socialist party. made
Germer and Eugene V. Debs, who made
personal investigation.
The burden OF resentment in the
report is directed against Governor
Hatheld's predecessor Governor Glass
COCK 1t was Governor Glasscock. says
the report, who was responsible for
martial law and many atrocities which
the repor alleges occurred during his
administration.
Governor Hatfield is censured for re-
pressing two Socialist papers and inn
pr1soning their editors, but the report
quoted the Governor as admitting this
action was unjust and declaring that
the papers might continue to issue
without molestation from the State ad-
ministration.
One portion of the report. speaking
OF the present Governor, says:
He further claimed that he had
Wet Bome of the leading strikers in
the civil courts. but that he had not
felt disposed to press the cases against
them"
The committee of three was appoint
ed by the national committee of tho
Socialist party and the report declares
the mem bers availed themselves of all
sources OF reliable information. They
declare that they were shadowed from
the moment they arrived in West Vir-
ginia, but nothing came Of it. After
several days OF investigation. il was
decided to visit Governor Hatfield. but
the latter declared he would see only
Debs.
Debts reluctantly consented TO go
alone, but the interview was so salts
factory that on the following day the
entire committee was received. OF this
interview. the report says in part:
He Governor Hatfeld) had inhcri-
ted martial law from Governor Glass
cock, and the reason he permitted IL
I TO remain effective was because he was
requested to do so by the union mem
bers TO prevent them from being as
saulted by thugs in the employ of the
mine owners"
ernor that he had two mine guards in
Jail, and that he ahd refused to lib
crate them on bail The day previous
to the interview, the Governor had un-
conultionally released all "comrades'
then remaining in prison.
The Governor referred to the fact
that not in a single instance had he
affirmed conviction OF the military
commission. the report states and con-
tinues:
The Governor unhesitatingly de-
clared that workingmen had the right
10 organize; that the Socialists had the
same right that Republicans and Dem
ocrats had; that they were entitled to
! the right of free speech and free as
semblage"
The committee found the Governor
not opposed to the impending senate.
rial investigation.
IT was under the administration of
G!asscock. and not Hatfield" says the
report. that martial law was de-
clared: that the military commission
was created that Mother" Jones. John
Brown c. H Boswell and numerous
! others were court martialed and con
Hicted and II was also under the Glass
| cock administration that an arnnored
/ train, in the name OF Law and order.
! shot up the cabins and tents of the
miners. dealing out death and destruc
ton under cover of darkness"
TIE suppression of the two Socialist
papers. both outside the martial law
zone. the report characterized as "ut
terry without warrant and subject to
severest censure." Demolition of the
ONCE OF the Star and the seizure OF
Editor Thompson are termed ida stard :
~" although Governor Hatfield IS
quoted as disavowing knowledge OF
violence in suppressing that paper The
report continues in part:
Reports of outrages perpetrated
upon defenseless miners and their
families during the Glasscock admin
istration have Mot been exaggerated
Houses and tents were shot up indis-
crimnately from an armored train. men
were assaulted and women insulted nv
the dastardly mine thugs, and even
little children were not spared As all
these atrocities against the striking
miners and their families will he
brought out fully in the senatorial in
vestigation now underway and placed
before the country for its edificat ton
as 20 the despotic misrule Of the Grim
inal mine barons. we refrain from the
attempt to chronicle them in this re
port"
The action of the Legislature of West
Virginia. by which a report saws the
mine guard system was abolished. is
said to make 1t possible for workers
to organize without interference from
private thugs and sluggers."
The report declares that in portions
of West Virginia, owing to alien owner
ship, the feudalism of the middle-aees
still prevail over wide areas priyateIv
owned.
The report ms kes no mention Of for.
mer Governor Glasscock having bsen
interviewed.