Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-19
HEARS ". VA. MINERS
SIDE OF LABOR TROUBLE
Senator Kenyon's Committee
Goes Into Lick Greek
Tent Colony.
80 MEN AND WOMEN
Operators VIII Re Heard To-day. Thru
llody Will Determine How Far Ia
Proceed Under senate Ncsolu ton
Directing Inquiry,
IRy Nssociated rrcss.l


WILLIAMSON, w. VA. sept is
Senator keHyon's investigating COM
mittec, boiled down finally to him
self end Senator Shortridsc. OF Cali
forria. went among the people in the
Lick Greek tent colony today To get
he miners side OF the underlying
cause OF industrial troubles in the
Minro region.
There was no comment from tho
senate committee after fifty OF
more mon and women mad been uucs-
toned Tomorrow tho operators will
be heard. ana then Senator Kenyon
and his associate will determine how
far to proceed and where. under the
Senate resolution directing the in
curry.
Becn on strike 10 Months.
The tent colony is populated by
miners who have been on strike four
teen msnths. Tho first OF the group
Whose testimony was obtained was
. George Echols. n negro preacher. -
; years old. who showed the ragged
, gaps in his tent. put there he tcs-
tilted. hy state constahulary or pri-
vate guards" Inside. the old man
. plkcd up his month-old baby. born
in home with only tho Vrth as
. flooring and proudly Displayed i; to
: Senator Shor,ridgc as an evidence
{ Of healthy living outdoors in tho
Minso mountains
Wide slaShcs ana bullet holes il
( other tents also were pointed out as
alleged evidence Of some OF the col
ony's hardsh!ps, News that the sem
, utorial party was on the way hroUr ut
: out n big attendance. the women he
ing the most eager 10 talk. From
individual groups. the Senators tried
TO find out how the trouble might be
settled. Most OF the miners declared
they had no, been amply paid for
their work: that. while they might
make IS day. expenses for tools.
Dynamite and other things, cut the
net to So other alleged grievances
Were against the socallcd "minr
guard system. and the claim or the
1nen that, once they joined the union,
,ihey were instantly urcd
r.. We've rut in Prison.
~ The witnesses also complained that
'Siany men from the colony had hcon
Suut in fail ana not told Of the charges
'acainst them. Howard Iianvcrs. one
.of the spol5osmcr. said they objected
Ito enforcement OF law by private
guards,
=. The story of Alex Brecdlove, who
.sas shot to death last june near the
camp when 13-ycar- old boy. alone
With him in u thickct, begged that
.he be not deserted. was told III de-
tail ny nIl. = to3tU NitucsScS-
men said after Erecdlovc was cap
,turcd ne was given one minute 10
pray. and fell dead with prayer on
his iius Senator Kenyon found that
the boy. Willie Hodges, lives at
Huntington, and efforts will he made
TO get his testimony.
:. Brccdlove was a colonist. and lost
his lie In an exchange of shots with
Incmbers Of the state police when the
.lattcr went TO Lick Creek 10 maize
tarrcsts ms II result OF Il previous
.shootinc when members of an tUto-
xmobilc party reported having been
fired upon.
During The fight in which freed
love was Killed, James y. Bowlcs
State trooper. was wounded as v.-a
.1lso Martin Justice who was then
in charge OF the colony.
+, On the way here, the committee. NJ
.Welch, overheard people at the sta
-tion DISCUSSING ,hr killing there OF
Sid Hatfield. who recently testified al
wash:ngton. There WAS only car
window view o.: Matewan. where the
mrs, hir clash developed in May. ~"
Tomorrow the Senators will look oN"i
other Ntlds hrfor" proceeding tC
Huntington ANA Char!oston ia ,h,
hope OF reaching Washington nest
wednesday, morning.