The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1913-06-18
MINERS ASKED
MARTIAL LAW
So TeStitieS Ex-Governor Glass;
cock at ". Va. Probe
SAYS LIFE WAS THREATENED
Ex-Governor Insists Civil Courts in
Strike Zone Were Helpless and
Martial Law Was Only Course Left

Strike Zone Were Helpless and
Martial Law Was Only Course Left
cock of West Virginia told the sena-
toria investigation committee in
vestigating mine conditions in that
state that he declared martial law
in the Paint creek and Cabin creek
mining districts because of turmoil be-
tween striking miners and mine
guards, against the opposition of the
coal operators and at the plea of the
prosecuting attorney and sheriff OF
Kanawha county and asserted his be-
lief in the right of the military com
mission to act as it had done
The senatorial committee promptly
frowned down an attempt to question
the justification of the former COVER
nOr's declaration of martial law. The
committee will never pass on the good
faith Of the governor, said Borah.
Glasscock said he thought the pres
ence of the mine guards was largely
the cause of the violent outbreaks in
the strike zone.
"The situation was that these mine
guards were armed in that district and
were causing the disturbance and, to
get rid of Them you declared martial
law? Is that right?" asked Senator
Borah.
THAT is not exactly it, These men
were in there. They were in control
and the miners were contending with
them for supremacy, and to quiet the
situation ! declared martial law.
want to say that | believe that ! never
acted more conscientiously in my life
than when | took charge OF that dis
trict."
He explained that he declared
martial law because he was convinced
the civil courts were not administer
ing justice.
miners and others were coming to
me- he said, "and telling me of
pitched battles that had been fought.
| had heard OF twenty-five or thirty
murders and no prosecutions had been
made. That convinced me that the
courts were not controlling the situa-
ton"
He said his own life had been threat
ened at various times and speeches
we're made in several miners meet
ings accusing him of "iddling while
Rome burned"
The miners requested the first
declaration of martial law. | told them
that a declaration of martial law was
the only method by which could
eject the mine guards from the strike
zone"
According to the witness the trouble
originated in the refusal of some of
the operators on Paint creek to renew
agreements with the United Minework-
ers. After that the trouble arose from
complaints of the conduct of mine
guards in the district.
"Do you suppose the trouble could
have been stopped?' asked Senator
Borah, IF you could have removed
those guards and substituted your
own police?"
" thought so at the time" said Mr..
Glasscock, Now could not say"
The executive said that when the
state troops disarmed the men in the
strike district six machine guns were
taken from the mine guards,
How many of these mine guards
we're there in the district when mar
tial law was declared?" asked Senator
Borah.
"We took about seventy-five out of
the field"
did the mine operators object to
your disarming the mine guards?"
Senator Borah asked.
Yes they did
Calvin, an ex-mine guard was the
star witness for the miners. He told
the committee of his experiences on
the armored train which shot up the
camp of the miners at Hollygroye on
Paint creek just before the last dec
laration of martial law.
Calvin accused Quinn Morton,
mine operator of urging that the train
return and fire again on the tented
camp, after the fire from the cars had
once raked the little village, and after
Cisco Estep had been killed beside his
home. Quinn Morton himself, Sheriff
Bonner Hill and others who were on
the train will be called in an effort to
disprove Galyin's statement.
There were ten or twelve men in
the armored car attached to the train,
said Calvin, "and when we got just
above Paint Creek Junction all of them
began getting rifles, which were in the
ear. The brakeman came through the
train and turned down the lights. lie
told us not to raise the windows, but
to shoot right through the windows.
| was leaning out Of an open window
and as we came up to Hollygrove |
saw a stream of fire start out OF the
baggage car, just ahead where the
machine guns were mounted. The
stream kept up as We went through
Hollygroye AS we passed saw three
or four 1as Us Of fire from the tents"
"Were tnere any shots from the
tents before the shooting began from
the train?' asked Attorney Belcher
for the miners