The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-16
Mails Not Interfered
With Says Sen. MARITIME
SUBMITS HIS REPORT ON ONE
PHASE OF WEST VIRGINIA
COAL STRIkE.
Also Fails 10 Find Employment Of
Contract Labor - Recommends
Govt Ownership of Mines.

WASHINGTON. Jan 15.-Govern-
meat Cwn' rShtp OF the great coal
mines ~ the country as remedy for
strikt disturbances waS recommended
nN senator MARITIME OF New Jersey to-
day in 90 report submitted TO Chair
mau swanson of the senate commit
tee which investigated the West Nir-
glnia coal strik" troubles. Senator
Marine. charged particularly with the
uUciry REGARDING interference with
the mails and the employment OF con
tract labor. reported that the evil
d"nce failed To establish either OF
these conditions
The report attributed much OF the
violence and bloodshed ia West Vir-
ginia 90 the presence OF armed
guards hired by the mine operators.
and recommended the passage OF
bill which Senator MARITIME introduced
IN the senate last session prohibiting
The employment OF armed police by
private organizations
While there was some delay in
distributing mail owing to the strike
and general disturbed conditions ex-
istiug in this district" said the sena-
ter. II found No attempt TO suppress
general mail delivery to all the great
patrons OF the respective postoffices
in this district The presence OF
armed guards. however. naturally ex-
cited bitter Feelings and their pres
ence cannot be too strongly con
demned la many instances IL was
found that these guards loitered
which stores constituted I'm the same
building both the ofice OF the coal
company and the postonice
Immigrant Labor.
Regarding the employment OF i'm
migrant labor in blocks or ON con-
tracts from foreign countries. this.
100. was found impossible to esablish.
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 az the place OF
destination; that i'm most instances
these men were 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 oar boast
ed civilization.
In no spirit Of malice or hatred
but with view that the country
through knowledge of the true condi-
TONS may right the wrong. | charge
that the hiring Of armed bodies OF
men by private mine owners and 9TH
cr corporations, and the use Of steel
armored trains, machine guns and
blocdhounds on defenseiess men. wo-
men and children is bat little way
removed from barbarism.
Was Satisfied With His.
4 millionaire owner of great sec
tioH- of the state OF West Virginia
calmly admitted on the witness stand
that 80 long as he got his per ton
ROYALTY he never inquired surther.
Coal. under our civilization is a ne
ncssity. This great commodity can
not be increased n fraction OF n
pound. yet our population Is multi
plying by ieaps 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 avarice
as the dominating Characteristic in
man. J. az the risk OF criticism by
my many friends and countrymen.
unhesitatingly say that government
ownership Of the mines Is the only
hope or solution for those who may
come after us.
These thoughts are not q dream
Of today. but the result OF many
years Of thought and consideration
NV recent Investigation into condi-
lions in the Paint and Cabin creek
strike. with all the attendant hor-
rors, has confirmed any thoughts into
hNed judgment"
Additional martial reports on var
ious phases OF the West Virginia in
vestiratior are still to be submitted
10 Chairman swanson by Senators
shields and Kenyon. When these
nave been made Senator swanson
VIII combine all OF the partial re-
ports an general discussion Of the
results OF the Investigation.