The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-16
New Jersey Senator Submits
Report on West Vir-
ginia Probe
BLOODSHED CAUSED
BY MINE GUARDS
Control by Government Alone Is Way
to Preserve Peace, Is Claim.
Various Phases of Situa-
tion Taken Up

Washington. January 15.-Government
ownership of the great coal mines of the
country. as a remedy for strike disturb
ances. was recommended by Senator Mar
tine. of New Jersey, today in report
submitted to Chairman Swanson of the
Senate committee, which investigated the
West Virginia coal strike troubles. Sena-
tor MARITIME. changed particularly with
the inquiry regarding interference with
the mails and the employment of con-
tract labor, reported that the evidence
failed 20 establish either of these condi-
tions.
The report attributed much of the vio.
lence and bloodshed in West Virginia to
the presence of armed guards hired by
mine owners and recommended passage
of a bill Senator MARITIME introduced in
the Senate last session, prohibiting the
employment of armed police by private
organizations.
while there was some delay in dis
tributing mail owing to the strike and
general disturbed condition existing in
this district" said the senator. Il T sund
no attempt TO suppress the general mail
delivery TO all legitimate patrons of the
respective postoffices of this district. The
presence OF armed guards. however, eX-
cited bitter feelings, and their presence
cannot be too strongly condemned. In
many instances it was found that the
guards loitered around the coal COM
panies' stores, which stores constituted in
the same building the office of the coal
company and the postofflce.
Regarding Immigrant Labor
Regarding the employment of immi-
grant labor in blocks or on contract from
foreign countries this, too, was found
impossible to establish. Though the fact
was plainly brought out that labor was
hired by agents of the mine owners in
the great cities of our country; that the
said agents did not tell the men SO hired
the whole truth of the situation at the
place of destination; that in most in
stances these men We're unable to speak
or understand our language; the burden
of testimony tended only to prove that
the transportation of these men was a.
serious reflection on our boa sted ciyiliza-
ton.
God has blessed West Virginia with
profligate hand. Here, above all sections,
should peace, plenty and happiness reign
supreme. On the contrary your commit
tee found disorder riot, bitterness and
bloodshed in their stead.
TN no spirit OF malice or hatred, but
with a view that the country through
knowledge of true conditions may right
the wrong, l charge that the hiring of
armed bodies of men by private men.
owners and other corporations, and the
use of steel armored trains. machine guns
and bloodhounds on defenseless men,
women and children is but a little way
removed from barbarsm.
The Only Solution
"A millionaire owner of great section
of West Virginia calmly admitted on the
witness stand that so long as he got his
per ton royalty he never inquired fur
ther. Coal, under our civilization is a
necessity. AT the risk of criticism by my
friends and countrymen, / unhestiatingly
say that government ownership of coal
mines is the only hope or solution for
those who may come after us"
Additional partial reports on various
phases of the West Virginia situation
still are TO be submitted to Chairman
Swanson by Senators Shields and Ken
yon. When these have been made Sena-
tor Swanson will combine all of the partial
reports in a general discussion of the
results of the investigation.