The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-15

the proper Dill was introduced III lHc
senate In good faith. II was reported
by the judiciary committee and brought
on, OF tho floor. Through indirect In
fluencc Of the governor this ball WAS
taken back 10 tho committee room un-
der prcieXt that ar amendment WAS 10
hc offered 1t never reappeared. II
Governor Morgan had given 1t the same
personal attention and the same hacking
n, gave 10 the gross safes tax bill. and
other pet measures the mino guard Dill
would have become a law. and the f"ui
murder Of Sid Hatfield and Ed Cham
bcrs would no: have occurred. Gov
.rror Morgan should. as he says de
acre" this tragedy. especially 40 since
; would no, in all probability. have
occurred had he kept faith with the
Republican party and lived up to MS
inaugural pledge.
Both Governor Glasscock and Gov
ernor Morgan expressed the right idea
hut their appeal received the same re-
nse--ahsolute inactiOn. The results
OF this neglect by the leSislatureN are
only too apparent Since legislation was
FIRST proposed in thu state senate in
1908 10 prohibit the employment or prl-
yate guards. Legislative lnactl0n mas
claimed moro than one hundred violent
deaths and been responsible for afro
cities which are almost beyond belief m
n nation possessing the highest type OF
citizenship in the world. This same leg
ISiative inaction has permitted conul-
ton 20 exist and system I" function
which can only re parallr!ed In history
OF the dark ages.
What Right,
What right. what law, what princi-
ple of Justice or humanity makes IL
possible that the teudal lords OF cen
turtles past may be rencarnated In the
hills of Vest Virginia. levying tax on
whomsocver may pass their way and
taking human life without MndcSance
Of the law or the laws servants. Why
is il that the laws Of our state permit
lawlessness 10 30 unheeded and dcs-
ricable and dlauOlical system TO operate
which has FOR years been 4 disgrace /"
the nation and q blood-ClOt on West
VirRinia's shield Of hnnor-a system
whose teuetS are bitter paradox 10.
and which brazely belle the very motto
OF the state? "Nountalneers Are Al
ways Free" II Ia TO laugh.
Just the other day in the little city
OF Welch the writer was In CONVEX ga
ton with Tom Felts. head OF the Bald
win-Felts Detective agency We We're
standing on 4 street corner. discussing
the shooting of Hatfield and Chambers,
when a young man stopped and turned
his back towards MIR. Felts and the
writer. That no was in easy hearing
distance was Immediately noticed and
commented on by Nj. Felts. We moved
Il few feet away and continued our con-
versation. A few minutes later tho
Young man passed US and walked down
the street. Immediately his back was
rurned. Mr. Fcl;S raised his LETT haad
and made some siCl with his fingers.
AT once a mar rr Ise6 the street Mr..
I'elts asked him :! he knew that bird.
When the man cpntessed his ignorance,
he was told 70 follow him and md out
his name and so forth. In just a very
few minutes, the man returned and re-
ported the others name, his business In
Welch. how long he had been there. and
where he was from. Mr.. Felts said.
We'll, put that in writing and keep an
eye on him
They Wont Ta[h
This was all done IN a very matter Of
fact way and goes TO show in small
manner the strict surveillance TO which
WEIGH Is subjected by private detec-
tive agency, the agents OF which are
tolerated by the laws Of West Virginia
In the guise OF mine guards" The
average citizen Of WEIGH will not dis
cuss or pass an opinion relative 10 the
perpetrators OF the murder OF Hatfield
and Chambers Whenever they wish 10
discuss IT, they do 30 only behind
closed doors and TO persons with whom
they are familiar. They are afraid what
they have to say might be overheard by
some OF the numerous Baldwin-Felts
detectives and they do not care TO incur
their enmity for obvious reasons Some
people In Welch claim that these detec-
tlves are able 10 read any of the teie-
grams sent out by tho Western Union
and to listen In on telephone calls. This,
however while in the reign OF possibil-
ity. Is hardly probable. None tho less