The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-11-27
ORDERS AN INVESTIGATION
Into the Reasons For Demanding the
Aid of Federal Troops and Also Into
the Court and Legal Proceedings
Up to This Time.

Fort Smith, Ark, Nov. pa thour.
ough and impartial investigation of
the conditions and merits OF tae min.
ing troubles in Hartford Valley was
promised by Ethelbert Stewart. chief
statlstician of the bureau of labor
statistics, who arrived here today
from Kansas City. Mr. Stewart spent
about ten days in Kansas City exam.
ining the records of tle Southwestern
Interstate Coal Operators Associa-
which controls this field.
While detailed to the field by Sec
retary of Labor WilliamB. Wilson,
who requested the investigation fol
lowing the conference early in Nov
ember between President Wilson,
Secretary Wilson and Attorney Gen
eral T. w. Gregory. Mr.. Gregory ad-
dressed a letter to Secretary Wilson
outlining briefly the troubles in the
Prairie Creek region of Arkansas,
where property had been destroyed,
two men killed and prisoners taken
from United States officers and said:
Il mad conference with the presi-
dent this morning and we thought it
would be very desirable for you to
send one of the very best men in your
department to Fort Smith and have
aim make a full report as to condi-
tions and the merits of the contro-
yersy.'
Acting on this instruction Secretary
Wilson detailed Mr. Stewart to the
work in the following order
You are hereby directed to proceed
to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and such
other places you may find necessary
to investigate the causes and conduct
of trade dispute at the mines in the
Prairie Greek Coal regions of Ark
ansas and make full report as to the
conditions and the merits of tne con
troversy.'
While the operators. court officials
and mining men in this section were
looking for him, Mr.. Stewart quietly
slipped into Kansas City and made
a complete investigation Of the opera
tors association watch has its head
quarters there. There he also looked
into the records of Franklin Baohe's
connection with the association from
which Mr.. Bache withdrew in 1910;
the litigation between Bache and
Charles Keith, president OF the asso
citation, and the Howat and Holt suits
involving tne dispositions of about
$40, 600, alleged to have been paid in
securing contracts between the min.
ers and operators.
Among the matters, which it is be
lieved will be investigated here are
the records of the federal court in con-
nection with the granting of the tenn
porary injunction by Judge Trieber of
Little Rock; the permanent injunc-
ton granted by Judge Frank Youm-
ans here and the conditions underly-
ing the appointment of Franklin
Bache Denman interests.
The scope of the investigation also
will include the various troubles in
Hartford valley dating from March
25. when Bacne closed his mines.
Mr. Stewart declined to discuss his
work, other than to say that Judging
from the preliminary work already
covered. it promised to uncover some
interesting data. His coming acre,
however, is believed to indicate that
President Wilson is not entirely sat
sfied with the reasons advanced for
the presence of the United States
more complete and official report.