The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-13
4BDR'S POSITION
on POLICE BILL
The Snecial Deputy Plan is
Deemed Quite Suffi-
Gent in This State.

CHARLESTON W. Va, March 1S-
Failure to introduce any kind of a
military or state police bill or strik-
ing the enactng clause from the bill
that has been prepared by the special
Joint committee of the House and Sen
ate after It had been introduced will
be the only way of satisfying organized
labor IN West Virginia on the subject
according to repeated statements made
by labor representatives before the
members Of the legislature here last
night.
No attempt was made to discuss the
merits or dement's of the bill, exceC1
IN the broad terms OF disproving and
denouncing it altogether. The speak
eTs claiming TO appear as representa-.
tives OF the entire movement in West
Virginia, including w NJ. Rogers, OF
FaiTmont, president Of the State Fed.
Grafton Of Labor; Walter B. Hilton,
secretary Of the Ohio aVlley Trades
and Labor Assembly; Joe n. Cradock
mayor Of Clarksburg; John W. Brown
organizer for the United Mine Work
ers OF America; Fred Mooney, secre-
taTy Of District IT, United Mine Work.
ers OF America; and C. F. Keenney
president Of the same organization.
Near the close Of the hearing, Keen
ey presented petitions to the commit
tee which he said bore the signature
Of 10000 to 100000 voters OF West Vir
gina opposing the passage Of any kind
, Of state police or constabulary meas
ure.
Just two propositions were discuss.
ed as satisfactory to labor on the sub
Jet. The present deputy sheriff law,
enacted as war measure two years
ago, II reenacted would be all the
police force needed by the state, ac-
cording to the first contention. The
second was that IL the employers Of
labor would remove all restrictions
upon the organization OF their workers
organized labor would see to it that
no police force would be needed at all.
Only two concrete objections we're
offered to the bill. One Of these was
the fear expressed that the creation Of
a state police force was for the pur-
pose Of strike breaking, to be used in
the same manner as the Baldwin-Feltz
Guards were used years ago. The 9TH
er was that it would cost large sum
of money aud greatly increase taxes
in the state.
Directing TO the bill generally, it
was maintained that the creation OF
police force would bring about the
very thing which 1t sought by the
measure to overcome-the develop
ment of Boishevism and the l. w. w.
movement; that the bill Is un-Ameri-
can; that it Is not necessary now
and never will be necessary; that To-
cal peace officers are able to cope
with any situation that might arise;
that there is no room in democracy
for such a police system; and that
there must be "a Niger in the wood
pile" somewhere, or such efforts as
are hehind the bill would not be press
ing for its passage.
Speaking for the United Mine Work
ers CT. Keeney denounced the Ram
age Resolution, introduced as petit
ton In the Senate Tuesday afternoon,
as not representing the sentiments Of
that organization. The Ramage Reso-
luton declared its signers ready to
take up arms against the enforcement
Of the red nag bill and the Police Pa
troll bill II passed.
He declared his organization did not
stand for anything with blood and
thunder in IT," or for any declarations
OF war on government, and that he
had written letters to unions saying
that in connection with that resolu-
don.
walter B. Hilton offered defini-
ton for movement known as Bolshe-
vism and declaring that it is a state
Of mind coming as one Of the first
stages IN the labor movement, uniform
ed and chaotic, stage which has been
passed by the labor movement in this
country years ago.
He declared that where labor has
been organized longest there is the
least trouble and that 1t is impossible
to meet Bolshevism successfully with
the Iron hand. He maintained further
that q sympathetic interest on the
part Of the government together with
proper guidance would dispose Of Boil
shevism quickly in a perfectly natur-
al way.
The Joint committee is expected to
mako some Kind Of report to the legis.
lature tomorrow.