Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-12
PENNSY Is ACCUSED
OF CAUSING MINES
TO CLOSE IN OHIO
Continued from First Page.)

Penrod was at one time a member Of
the United Mine Workers.
At the opening of the investigation
John l.. Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers. charged that the rail-
roads had tried to break the union and
nullify the Jacksonville agreement in
order to reduce fuel prices.
Sagle said that IS per cent OF the
Roseville Co. coal had gone to the
Pennsylvania Railroad for the past 10
years but no sales had been made since
they were forced to close down in 1926.
Picture Of Misery.
A report drawing a general picture
Of misery and horror in the soft coal
regions Of Pittsburgh and central Penn
sylvania was before the committee to-
day.
Made public by the subcommittee
which recently visited the region for a
first hand inspection, the report re-
lated stories Of men and women run
ming wild" of the brutality of the
coal and iron police" family evictions,
deaths. shootings. attacks on young
girls. and cases OF extreme poverty.
While little time was given by the
subcommittee to the economic side of
the controversy between the union and
the coal operators, the members de-
clared they had every reason to be-
lieve that the coal industry generally
IN this country Is not in prosperous
condition"
Searching Probe Advised.
The report urged that the investiga-
ton by the whole committee, there
fore, be searching and severe in every
detail, looking forward to some solution
by legislation that will put the great
coal industry of America on a reason
ably prosperous basis"
The subcommittee directed its prin-
cipal fire against the Ohio and Penn
sylvania Relief Society, whose "slimy
trail' OF duplicity, 1t said, was found
everywhere in the Pittsburgh district.
The attitude of some of the operators
also was criticized by the subcommit-
tee. which, on the other hand, was
impressed with the courage and deter
minatiOn Of the miners to stand I'D for
what they believe was their due, an
American wage, making possible an
American standard of living"
The conditions complained Of most
were found at Broughton. Harmaryille,
Bruceton and Pricedale.
Shooting Up Homes Alleged.
A region OF terror" existed at the
first named place where a mine Is
operated by the Pittsburgh Terminal
Coal Corporation, the report declared
nervous from the shooting up OF their
homes" Wives of miners at Bruceton
testified that their homes had been
shot up"
Declaring the brutality OF the coal
and iron police shocked every member
o! the committee" the report related
the testimony OF Mrs Clarissa Englert
OF Broughton. that these men at one
time shot into a group Of school chill
dren. At Pricedale, witnesses accused
them OF taking young girls away from
their homes and attacking them.
Joe Lubresky OF Harmarville said
that he and his wife. while Ill. had been
evicted from a home owned by the
Consumers Mining Co, and forced to
move into unheated barracks. His wife
died days later.
Wife Tells OF Conditions.
Mrs. Eva Barr Of Pricedale. a recent
witness before the investigating COM
mittee here. told the subcommittee
that her eight children were generally
In rags" because her husbands daily
Evidence OF bootlegging also was I'M
covered, and the subcommittee de-
clared that in one section lit seemed
as II the morals of that community
had been broken down entirely"
AS TO the Ohio and Pennsylvania
Relief Society, the report declared that
the more suffering and distress the SUBJ
committee found the more sure 1t was
to find this organization active. offer
ing food and clothing to the distressed
miners and at the same time preach
ing its doctrine OF disloyalty. the break
ing OF injunctions by mass picketing
and. the destruction of the organiza-
ton Of the United Mine Workers OF
America. together with the destruction
OF the Government itself"
Miners Against Society.
At no place, the report continued,
did the investigators find any evidence
that the coal and iron police or deputy
sherifis had striven to curb the activ-
tiles OF this disloyal organization t.
The miners out OF work. however, were
said to have worked toward Kidding the
Pittsburgh district OF the society's
agents.
Describing the Ave or six hundred
coal police maintained by the operators
III inc region rs very Dig men, most OF
them weighing between 200 and $50
pounds. the report said their victims
were found everywhere. many OF them
still carrying scars from the rough
treatment" they had received.
Relating their experience at the
mines Of H. r, Baker. president of the
Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation,
who protested Mt the inquiry here Sat
urday against the taking OF testimony
from miners wife In the absence of
defense lawyers, the subcommittee said