Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-18
RUSH WITNESSES
IN COAL INQUIRY
Operators Lawyers, Follow
ing Clash Yesterday, Hold
Senator MARITIME Unfair.
BELK DESCRIBES TWO
FATAL HILL BATTLES
Stir Caused When Guard Is Asked
If Armed Men Were Not Then
in Court.

SrAhbf1SloN. w. a, June lS.-Ine
Senate committee investigating the West
Virginia coal strike today rushed along
the examination Of witnesses in order to
dispose OF as many of those to be heard
as possible before leaving for Washing
ton tonight. The coal operators. who
are presenting their side of the case, had
on hand score or more of witnesses
whose testimony was brief. and who
they wished to examine IN Charleston.
The attitude of Senator MARITIME of
New Jersey. who yesterday clashed with
Quinn Morton, one of the operators on
Paint creek, and the attorneys for the
operators. became a matter OF concern
today. The operators lawyer declared
that Senator MARITIME has been unfair in
his examination of witnesses and has
been prejudiced in his attitude toward
the operators. They said that when the
committee reaches Washington they will
put into the record evidence Of oral and
written statements by Senator MARITIME
to show that he has "prejudiced the
case
Statement Causes Discussion.
A statement purporting to come from
Senator MARITIME and reproduced In fac
smile of his handwriting by a newspa-
per circulating throughout the state to-
day aroused considerable discussion. The
statement set forth that Senator MARITIME
would rather sweep the streets than
earn his money as the West Virginia coal
operators do" Attorneys for the oper-
ators declared that they would place this
statement with others made by the SEN
ator in the record.
Today Senator MARITIME took little part
| in the proceedings. Although he sat at
the committee table throughout the hear
ings. he asked no questions. under an
agreement reached after yesterdays out
break that Senator Kenyon was to take
sole charge of the examination of wit
nesseS.
John A. Greene. superintendent Of the
| Mucklow mine of the Paint Creek Col
| lieries Company when the strike broke
| out. was the first witness. He said that
| guards were not placed on Paint creek
| until men at work had been interfered
| with by the strikers.
Not Armed at First.
| When the guards arrived they were
not armed but after fifty or seventy
five strikers carrying guns had made a
demonstration, he said, the guards were
| increased and armed. He declared that
the conduct Of the guards was not the
cause of the various outbreaks of
Walter Belk, who served on Paint
creek as a guard, and who was for a
time in charge Of the guards. defended
battle Of MuckIow May 20. 1912. when
the town was attacked from the hills.
The firing. he said, continued for about
half an hour. and after II ceased ne
fully prepared for the shooting. He said
| men had evidently been in these places
| for hours before they began firing.
hot IL In, he
hills when the guards killed one miner
and wounded another. He denied the
story told to the committee by Mrs
Sevilla that she had been brutally as
saulted by mine guards.
Armed Men in Room.
Attorney Belcher caused a stir in the
committee room when he asked Belk:
| Isn't it true that fifteen or twenty
| armed men connected with your agency
| have been in this room throughout this
investigation?''
Il couldn't say as to that" answered
! Belk
Don't you know that you men have
been hired to shadow gentlemen connect
ed with the investigation?'
II couldn't say as to that, because
that is not my line Of work
This precipitated an argument be-
tween counsel in which Attorney Knight
denied vigorously tndt uetecCNeS
been hired by the operators to shadow
men connected with the investigation.
MARITIME and Morton Clash.
An exciting incident of yesterday was
the denunciation of Quinn ,Iorton by
Senator MARITIME. Mr.. Morton had de-
nounced the attitude of Senator MARITIME
as Outrageous and the trouble broke
out again with the first question the
senator asked upon his return after
luncheon.
WELL remarked Mr. Morton. well
all go down and take few drinks ana
then we'd feel better
The crowd had already began TO rush
toward the door of the room when it was
arrested by a shout OF Senator MARITIME
What was that you said, sir? he de-
manded. leaning toward Mr.. Morton.
II said wen all go down and have
few drinks and well feel better, re-
peated the mine operator.
Senator MARITIME shouted:
You are a blackguard of the worst
character to address such remark to
me-
did YOU not take three drinks with
me in thirty m:nu.es?" cried Morton.
You have forfeited all right to con-
sideration a decent white man.,
Senator MARITIME shouted.
committee table and seized Senator
MARITIME Aided by Sergeant-at Arms
Higgins, he hurried him from the room.
BEGIN THEIR DEFENSE.