Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-18
Miners Executive Denies the In
sinuation.
SHARP TALK In ARBITERS MEETING
legal Light Has Tilt With Mr.. Nit
chell-Former Proposes to Show
Latter Few Things, He Says.
Progress of Conference.

on the convening of the coal strike
commission and his cross examination
by Wayne McVeagh was continued.
Mitchell brought with him a number of
documents and books, which he fre-
quently referred to in order to refresh
his memory. In reply to McVeaghs
questions, Mitchell said he had never
stated it was none of his business
what additional cost the people will
have to pay for coal if the additional
cost was the immediate result of the
miners demand; that it was entirely
beyond the miners control
DO you think you have a right to
ask an increase in wages, which, if
granted, would increase the cost of liv-
ing to hundreds of thousands of peo-
ple?" asked McVeagh.
Mitchell replied: There are 100000
persons in the anthracite field who are
starving, and 1t is their fundamental
right to ask for living wages in re-
turn for their labor"
The examination became very spirit
ed on this phase of the consequence OF
the strike Then McYeagh turned to
the matter of protecting property dur
the city county and state authorities
we're competent to handle the matter.
Don't you know that in spite of the
authorities, the city, county and state,
this whole region has been treated for
five months to a veritable foretaste OF
hell?"
Il don't know anything of the kind.
"Well you will before we are
trough with you,'' said McVeagh.
Proves 1t BY Stones Proclamation.
McVeagh read Governor Stones
proclamation calling out the troops, in
which the governor said that there
was a reign of terror in the region
Mitchell denied the correctness OF the
governors assertions.
The Eight Hour Day.
The eight hour day question was
taken up and in reply to query as tt
whether he had right to limit mans
labor to eight hours day Mitchell re
piled: I'VE favor maximum of eigh
hour, but we will accept whatever
award the commission makes and tina
award will have precedence over thu
laws of the union"
viii Invite Illinois Men.
The commission has decided to SEM
invitations to the representatives o
the Illinois Coal Operators association
to appear before the commission to tel
of the conditions in that state unde
the system of yearly agreements witt
the union.
Officers Give to Strikers.
Mitchell said the officers of tn
union under pay have contributed 8
percent per month of their salaries fo
the benefit of the striking miners
Had Conference With Hanna.
One fact brought out that Mitchell
had telephone conference with Ser
ator Hanna just previous to the settle
ment of the strike in 1900, in whic
the senator had told him the operator
had decided to make an offer of l
percent advance.
Mitchell believed the fact that tn
election was pending had something t
do with the early settlement of th
strike.
Yearly Agreement.
McVeagh took UP the suggestion fC
yearly agreement and attempted
show the union could not control ii
members, therefore agreements woul
be impracticable. Mitchell said theI
are many differences of which bot
sides could justly complain which
hoped would be wiped out by an agre
ment.
The Boycott
Regarding the boycott McVeag
asked Mitchell why he could not us
his influence to put an end to bo
cotting and to further intimidation
men, women and children whose live
had been made uncomfortable. Mitche
responded it was the very fathers an
husbands OF this people who had ther
selves made their families lives une
durable He did not countenanee ii
stpppage of funerals or the preve
tion of physicians attending non-unio
lists or members of his family.
i Citizens First, Unionists Afterwards
He declared that trade unionis
who are members of the state milit
should not escape service but won
willingly perform all the duties al
responsibilities OF citizenship.