Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-16
The Nation Must
 Own the Mines
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP IS
 THE ONLY HOPE.
REPORT TO THE SENATE
Committee Which Investigated Condi- tions in West Virginia Coal District Submits It's Recommendations

Washington, Jan. 15.-Government ownership of the great coal mines of the country as a remedy for strike dis turDanCes was recommended by sen ator Maritime of New Jersey today in report submitted to Chairman Swan son of the senate committee which in vestigated the West Virginia coal strike troubles. Senator Maritime charged particularly with the in Quiry regarding interference with the labor-reported that the evidence failed to establish either of these con- ditions.
 The report attributed much of the violence and bloodShed in West Vir- ginia to the presence of armed guards hired by the mine operators, and rec commended the passage of a bill which Senator Maritime introduced in the senate last session prohibiting the employment of armed police by pri- Yate organizations.
 Employment of immigrant Labor.
 While there was some delay in de- nvering mail, owing to the strike and a general disturbed condition existing in this district" said the senator. T found no attempt to suppress the gen. eral mail delivery to all legitimate pa irons of the respective postofhceS or guards, however, naturally excited bit ter feelings, and their presence can not be too strongly condemned. In many instances it was found that these guards loitered around the coal company stores which stores consti- tuted in the same building the office of the coal company and the pOstof1ce.
 Regarding the employment of inn migrant labor in blocks or on contract from foreign countries, this, too, was found impossible to establish. Though the fact was plainly brought out that la hN Of the nlIT1A owners in the great cities of our coun- try; that the said agents did not tell the men so hired the whole truth Of the situation at the place of destina- tion; that in most instances these men were unable to speak or understand our language, the burden of testimony tended only to prove that the trans portation of these men was a serious reflection on our boasted civilization. But Little Removed from. Barbarism.
 God has blessed West Virginia with prohigate hand. Here, above all sec ness reign supreme. On the contrary, your committee found disorder, riot, bitterness and bloodshed in their stead.
 Tn no spirit of malice or hatred, but with view that the country through knowledge of the true conditions may right the wrong, I charge that the hir- ing of armed bodies of men by pri- vate mine owners and other corpora tions, and the use of steel armored trains, machine guns and bloodhounds on defenseless men and women and children is but a little way removed from barbarism.
 Government Ownership Only Hope.
 "A millionaire owner of great sec ton of the state of West Virginia calmly admitted on the witness stand that so long a-s he got his per ton roy alty he never inquired further. Coal, under our civilization, is a necessity. This great commodity cannot be in creased fraction of a pound, yet our population is multiplying by leaps and bounds each year, thereby increasing the demands for this article. We must have warmth for our bodies and fuel with which to cook our foods. With this condition existing, and with av- arice as the dominating characteristic in man, I, at the risk of criticism by many friends and countrymen, unhesi- tatingly say that government owner ship of the mines is the only hope or solution for those who may come after us.
 These thoughts are not a dream of today, but the result of many years of thought and consideration. My re- cent investigation of conditions in the Paint and Cabin Creek strike, with all the attendant horrors, has confirmed