The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-03-18
TELLS OF WARFARE
SENATE HEARS OF CONDITIONS IN
VEST VIRGINIA Mines
FOUGHT MANY BATTLES
Conditions in and Around Paint
Creek During Active Warfare Are
Summarized for Senate by Com
mittee in its Report-Makes no
Recommendations.

The report of the Senate sub-com-
mittee which investigated the West
Virginia coal strike was filed in the
Senate Monday by Senator Swanson
OF Virginia, chairman Of the COM
mittee. His report, while character
izing conditions in the strike field as
"most deplorable', makes no recon-
mendations, the committee explaining
that the resolution authorizing the
investigation conferred on it no pow
er to recommend remedial legislation.
The report was a general review
and summary Of the various reports
of conditions in the Paint Creek and
Cabin Creek fields prepared by the
Individual members Of the sub-com-
mittee who took charge Of various
phases Of the investigation. In sum-
ming up the conclusions Of the COM
mittee Senator Swanson said:
"The conditions existing in that
district for many months wee romts
district for many months were most
deplorable. The hostility became so
intense, the conflict so fierce that
there existed in this district for some
time we'll armed forces fighting for
supremacy. Separate camps organ
lied armed and guarded. were estab-
lished. There was much violence and
some murders. Pitched battles were
fought by the contending parties.
Law and order disappeared and life
was insecure for both sides. Opera
ton and business practically ceased.
Gas these unhappy conditions no
longer exist, as the differences be-
tween the contending parties have
ben amicably adjusted and an agree
ment entered into for several years.
and as peace and confidence now pre-
vail, work and business having been
resumed, the committee does not con-
slider it wise or necessary to elabo-
rate upon the many causes which pro-
duced these deplorable conditions.
Among the contributing causes
may be enumerated the following:
The failure Of the operators in the
Paint Creek district to renew their
expiring contract with the United
Mine Workers; the determination of
the coal operators under no circum-
stances to recognize the miners as an
organization or union, and the equal
determination Of the miners to or
ganize and form a union. right as
they claimed guaranteed to them
without discrimination by the laws Of
West Virginia; the employment by
the operators of mine guards, many
of whom were aggressive and arbi-
trary: mine guards acting as deputy
sheriffs and clothed with authority
of the law; the failure Of the civil
authorities to attempt even to pre-
serve the peace and order at the be-
ginning Of violence and permitting
things to drift from bad to worse
| without vigorous interference and as
sertion OF authority; discomfort
among the miners occasioned by no
opportunity to purchase homes: no
cemeteries except upon the company's
grounds; post Office located in the
company's stores; the disposition of
the coal operators to keep strict
espionage of all strangers who enter
ed the district and to exercise their
right on private ownership Of this
large district and to exclude from II
all persons objectionable to them
These may be stated as some OF the
immediate contributing causes