Feudalism in West Virginia coal fields--The system--The horrors of Cabin Creek--Reign of the gun-men--War of 1912--Unionism outlawed--Ernest Gaujot the King Guard--Outrages on women and children--“I don’t hear my baby calling me now”--Battle of Mucklow--Mother Jones--Leads miners to governor--Gun-men must go--Mother Jones organizes men--Governor appoints investigating committee--Its report--Armored train shoots up miner’s camp--Murder of Estep--Martial law--Mother Jones arrested--System enforces silence--The public wonders--Mrs. Freemont Older--Magazine exposes--Constitutional rights denied--Civil courts ignored--Mockery of trials--Kern presents resolution--Powerful interests alarmed--Pressure on Kern--Sinister fight on resolution--Kern hears from people--Mrs. Older sees him--“Will see you in hell first”--Bitter attack on Kern--Mother Jones smuggles telegram to him--A dramatic incident--Effect of telegram--Mother Jones released--Goes to Washington--Her work there--Kern’s first speech--Demands light--Kern’s second speech--Warns of social injustice--States rights--Wins the fight--Result of investigation. XVI--SENATORIAL BATTLES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE 328 Industrial Relations Commission--Kern’s interest--Attempt to cut its appropriation--Kern’s successful protest--The Seamen’s bill--Slavery of the sea--Andrew Furseth--His appeal to Kern--Kern’s attitude--Accompanies Furseth to the president--Furseth’s anniversary letter to Kern--The Kern Workman’s Compensation Act--The Child Labor Bill--Kern’s part--His fight in caucus--Vardaman drops the curtain--Kern leads fight in senate--Excoriates a preacher--His effective use of President Eliot’s letter. XVII--IN THE ROLE OF SENATE LEADER 349 Responsibility of leadership--On guard--Conciliation--The absentees--A jocular rebuke--Threatens slacker with denunciation--Summer of 1914--Temper of congress--Work in caucus and conferences--The one revolt--Smokes Penrose out--The president’s program--Kern’s tact and temper--Why he did not speak--Relations with the president--Opinion of him--Night conference in capitol basement--Strike conference in Kern’s room--Letter to Mrs. Kern--Concern over international situation--White House conference on Germany--Relations with Bryan, McAdoo, Daniels and Wilson--Opinion of Lane--Estimates of Senators Thomas, O’Gorman and Saulsbury--Relations with Republicans. XVIII--THE LAST BATTLE 377 Indiana campaign of 1916--Comedy and tragedy--Blunders of national leaders--Lack of money and organization--Speakers refused--Kern’s advice ignored--His plan--His illness--Handicaps of campaign--Mother Jones reports--Last campaign speech--Philosophical in defeat. XIX--THE CLOSING OF A CAREER 389