The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-19
AFTER FIRST HAND
INFORMATION AS TO
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
Senators Kenyon and ShOrtridge
Go Among People in Lick
Greek Tent Colony.
SEE TENTS TORN TO
SHREDS BY BULLETS
Miners Tell Committee of Their
Grievances and Of Oppres-
sion by Company.

WILLIAMSON, W. Va, Sept 1S-
Senator Kenyon's investigating com
mittee boiled down finally to himself
and Senator Shortridge, Of California,
went among the people in the Lick
Greek tent colony today to get the
miners side Of the underlying cause
nf industrial troubles in the Mingo
region.
There was no comment from the
committee after fifty or more men and
women had been questioned Tomor-
row the operators viii be heard and
then Senator Kenyon and his associate
VIII determine how far to proceed and
Svhere, under the senate resolution di-
recting the inquiry
The tent colony IS populated by min
ers who have been on strike IA months
The first Of the group whose testi-
I monies was obtained was George
Echols, a negro preacher, rs years
old, who showed the ragged gaps in
his tent, put there, ne testified by
&state constabulary or private guards"
inside the old man picked up his
month~old baby, born In a home with
only the earth ais the flooring and
proudly displayed It to Senator Short
ridge as an evidence Of healthy living
outdoors IN the Mingo mountains.
Wide slashes and bullet holes in
other tents also were pointed out as
alleged evidence Of some Of the col
ony's hardships. News that the sena-
torial party was on the way brought
out a big attendance, the women be-
Ing the most eager to talk
From Individual groups, the senators
tried to find out how the trouble might
be settled. Most of the miners de-
clared they had not been amply paid
for their work that while they might
make So day, expenses for tools,
dynamite and other things, cut the
net to SO. Other alleged grievances
were against the so-called mine
guard" system. ana the claim OF the
men that once they joined the union,
they were instantly fired.
The witnesses also complained that
many men from the colony had been
put in jail and not told Of the charges
against them. Howard Hanvers, one
Of the spolxesmen, said they objected
10 enforcement Of law by private
guards.
Have any mine guards been shot
by miners7" Senator Kenyon asked
and the Witnesses agreed that while
they had heard such reports they had
40 direct knowledge.
The story OF Alex Breedlove who
was shot to death last June near the
camp when a 1s-year-old boy, alone
with him in a thicltet. begged that he
be not deserted, was told in detail by
half a dozen witnesses. The men said
after Breediove was captured he was
given one minute to pray and fell
dead with a prayer on his lips. SEN
ator Kenyon found that the boy, Willie
Hodges. lives at Huntington, and ef-
forts win be made to get his testi
nony
Breedlove was colonist and lost his
nfe IN an exchange OF shots with
members OF the state police when tho
latter went TO Lick Greek to make
arrests as a result Of a previous shoot-
mg when members Of an automobile
party reported having been fired upon.
During the fight III which Breedlove
Nav killed James a. Bowles. a state
trooper, was wounded as was also
Martin Justice who was then in
sharge OF the colony.
tomorrow the senators will look
j ,ver other fields before proceeding to
Huntington and Charleston in the
aopo OF reaching Washington next
Wednesday morning.
Just after his arrival Senator Ken
lfon was presented with memorial
rom local council Of the United Nine
Workers, setting forth their side of
lie case along with series OF charges
against the operators The memorial
covered broadly the same ground
touched on BY the union heretofore.