Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-09-22

sune We're brought into the dis
trict by both parties to- the eontro-
versy and freely used The
conditions existing for many
months were deplorable There
was much violence and some muir
ders Pitched battles were fought
by the contending parties. Law
and order disappeared and life was
insecure on both sides. Business
practically ceased
The foregoing IL not a portrayal
of the civil war in the West Nir-
ginia coal fields. which recently
compelled the intervention of Fed
eral armed troops because Of the
helplessness of the State Govern
ment, says ]. Bart Campbell, l. n.
S. staff correspondent.
1t Is from the report of the Nn-
ditions found in West Virginia in
1918 by Senate Investigating
committee which was submitted by
its chairman, Senator Swanson,
Democrat, of Virginia. to the Sen
ate in March, 1914.
Eight years ago this Senatorial
investigation. centering around the
Cabin Creek and Pain Creek mines
in the wooded kanawha Valley, re-
vealed conditions similar to those
which another Senate committee is
now engaged In uncovering in Min
go, Logan and other turbulent West
Virginia counties.
Battles have ragged about mine
and mountain truces have been Or
ranged, only to be broken; disputes
have heen settled with the rife
and the revolver and violence and
sudden death have always Iurked
across the path of men, women and
children-since the miners and OPP
orators "broke" on the first day of
April 1912. moro than nine years
ago.
FeudaIsm In Reality.
A state of feudalism amazingly
Ike that of the Dark Aes has pre-
vailed in the rough mining region
of West Virginia, where men stalk
men to kill them, and whole famil-
les are tenantry of the wealthy
who own every strip ow thickly-
timbered mountainside and every
patch of ichly.vened coal land.
Before the first Senate investi-
eating committee that sought an
answer to the perennial question,
"W7hat Is the matter with West
Virginia?" 1t was testified on Octo-
Der 30, 1913. that "furiners" owned
large tracts OF rich mining land. on
which the people of the state were
permitted to live only If they obey
ed the mandates CT the lords of
the domain"
One Of these TURNER'S was
George +. Wetmore, formerly Unit
ed States Senator from Rhode Is
land. He owned three-eights Of
the stock Of a company of "outsd-
ers' which acquired 21,000 acres of
( rich hcoal deposits in West Vir-
ginia for 100000 in 1901. It's value
in 1913 had jumped TO $4,000.
A Brooklyn, N. Y, member Of the
company was grilled by the commit
tee
"YCu realize that these $1,000
acres are yeritable domain; if
you tell a man to get off your prem
ises if he happens to be in the mid
ddle Of them, it would be practical
4 ly ike telling him TO get off the
! earth?" the witness was asked
Would it meet with your approba-
tiG1 if notices were posted, "Pri-
vate Property and Trespassers
Forbidden over tract of 21,00G
acres?'
81 do not know what the Iesees
would conclude was wise for hem
to do, was the reply They would
probably have the right to DO As
They Pleased"
Senator Kenyon, Republican, or
Iowa, Chairman of the Senate com
mittee now engaged in probing Yves
Nirgnia's sore spots, sat as mem.
ter Of the former committee when
il listened then TO the story Of how
a group of wealthy New Workers
and New Englanders bought mp
these 21000 acres and, through hr-
ed agents and overseers. ruled tire
people who bad lived upon them tor
years.
Perennial Question
The average man cann0f 20 out
and buy 2l,00Q acres" Sena Or Ken
von ramarked at that time But p
wealthy corporation buys them and
then sits back and saw Orr re
sponsibility is ended in merely get
ting Our dividends and seeing that
things are done IN an orderly way
! have no warfare with honest
wealth but simply 70 say We pur
chase hose great tracts 3. and and
al We want IS our royal and thai
and great wealth nae got 70 wake
NJ 10 It The welfare 0f the men
who work for him, o. Who live on
the land, involved, There is some
thing the matter in this country
when The employer arms himself
and goes out shooting A.s men and
the men arm themselyos and 90 out
shooting him. Tha canrot endure
forever What is the aatter?'
The question Senate Kenyon ask
ed then ne and his Senatorial col
leagues are asking today. IN the
light Of what Ia -ssan place in
West Virginia recently he report
Kenyon wrote eight years aeo was
lately dug from dusty Senatorial ar
chiyes and referred 10 the present
committee as evidence that Ken
yon's original question still remains
unanswered
1t was in January 1914, that Ken