The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-17
MINERS ARE SUSPICIOUS.
They Fear Unjust Treatment by the
Commission

Washington Correspondence Boston Tran
script.
THE reason there is so much apprehen-
sion lest the anthracite strike break out
again., said a gentleman who has been in
attendance on part of the public hearings
of the arbitration commission, lis that
there is large element among the late
strikers who still regard the commission
with suspicion, a device for sending
them back TO work, without the points
gained for which they went through the
long siege last summer. The trouble was
allowed to go on for so many months not
only unsettled, but unchecked that many
of the miners grew to regard the final SUBJ
mission of the question TO arbitration as
the rich mans trick for hooGwinking the
poor man, the whole arbitration machinery
as owned and controlled by tAe-ffc1 man
its coming award a rich mans coiicoc-
ton, and-perhaps it is not going too far
I. to say-the comparative conversation of
John Mitchell as the effect of the rich
mans destinations. One of these fellows
approached Wayne Macveagh the other
day, during a temporary lull in the pro-
ceedings. We had noticed already the way
| he studied the lawyer and watched his
every motion. The man was a typical mime
| hand, rough in appearance and manner,
obviously uneducated. but with certain
| shrewd, 'half-cynical expression in his eye.
| win this case?' he inquired.
II feel satisfied that whatever is just
and right on either side VIII triumph, an
swered Mr.. MacVeagh. pleasantly; and
hope that my clients will be found to have
| their full share.
"'You have confidence in this commits
sion, them?
/ as regards both character and intelligence.
"'You are dressed like a fine gentleman
| This made Mr.. MacVeagh smile slightly.
| for IL there is man in the United States
| whose clothing is always a masterpiece OF
| art, it is he, and he probably is aware OF
| his distinction in appearance.
| II should be paying you poor compli-
ment. to say nothing of my professional
| brethren and this tribunal said he, IF
| were TO present myself In a shabby condi.
| ton when / can just as well do otherwise.
| You surely would not respect me any more
| for doing that
81 mean touching the others lapel
| you wear silk facings on your coat
| THE lawyer nodded.
SO do the $4,000 comfnissioners--they
| wear silk facings on their coats. too And
his eyes swept the whole line Of arbi-
| traitors.
| 1T was like a passage from one of Vic.
| tor Hugos novels. Not another word was
| back on the brief conversation / could see
| what was in the mans mind-the notion OF
| class lines, caste, social strata founded or
| wealth-the familiar theory OF the untutoret
| laborer that all who have more OF the
worlds goods than he are banded together
| against his interest. II they are organized
| to grind him down, he reasons why shoulc
not he and his cronies organize to defend
themselves with the only weapon they
| have? If the capitalists stand by each
] other, even to padding arbitration commits
| sions with their own people, why should
| not the laborers stand by each other for
| resistance to awards from such a sources
| ourselves that we have settled affairs X
the anthracite region for good