The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-11

when they put two witnesses on the
stand to detail an alleged plot to break
the strike in September last by briblng
officers of mine workers locals.
The first OF the two witnesses was
John Early, OF Dunmore, an employe
of the Pennsylvania Coal company and
president of the Gypsy Grove local.
The other was p. F. o'Horo, president
of No. local, Of Dunmore.
Made an Appointment.
Early swore that on September 2S, a
neighbor and fellow miner, John MUIR
ply, told him that Michael Grimes, an
ex-mine foreman and political worker,
wanted to see him at the Valley house,
about doing some political work for
Congressman William Connell.
Early went at once to see Grimes.
and after some little talk sbout poll
tics, Grimes opened up the subject Of
strike by asking IL he did not think the
men were wavering a little. Early ad-
mitted he thought they were weaken-
ing little.
"A break is coming" Grimes is al
legged to have said why can't we
have something out of it,
| Then, according to Early's statement,
Grimes outlined a plan whereby they
/ might profit by anticipating the
break" 1t was, in effect, that ten
men from the five different locals in
| Dunmore should be bribed to draft and
| introduce resolutions declaring that 1t
| would be better to call off the strike
! than have 1t break up, and that it was
! time then to call it off.
1t could be argued Grimes is alleged
to have explained. that if the strike
broke up the union would be wrecked:
| If it was called off. the union would be
saved for another fight at a more pro-
pitous time.
Early testified that he pretended to
agree to the plot to draw Grimes on,
and inquired what there was in 1T.
Grimes, the witness averred. told him
he would get $4,000 and expenses, and
any job under any coal company he
| might select. He would also give 500
for each Of the ten men that might be
selected to get the resolutions before
the locals and ain extra $1OO for the
| one of the ten who would be picked
upon as sort of first lieutenant.
f. T.. O'IIoro president of No. local
of the United Mine Workers in Dun
more. was picked upon as the first lieu-
tenant, and Early agreed TO bring him
down the next day. AS soon as the in
terview was concluded, Early. SO he
tells, fastened to District President
Nichols headquarters and laid bare
the plot. He was advised to keep up
his pretensions and. if possible, trap
Grimes into disclosing whom he repre-
sented.
Went to See Grimes.
The next day Early took OIIara to
see Grimes, and the latter enlisted
O'Hara's services.
I'm just as good a union man as
either of you,' Grimes is alleged to
have said, but there is no reason why
we shouldn't make something out of
this There is d man named Howell
over on the West Side, getting the
Welsh miners to go back. We don't
want that the Irish shall be ostracized
by the companies, do We?
You know, Paddy" Grimes. it is
claimed, went on to say, addressing
O'Hara, "there ought to be some Irish
in bosses positions. You know we got
mine foreman's certificates before for
men that couldn't pass the eXanina-
ton, and / guess you'll believe me, we
can get them again.
Early swore further that Grimes told
him that ministers over in West Scran-
ton We're working to get the men to
break the strike but" he is said to
have added, "they are not getting as
much out of it as we are"
The details of how the scheme was TO
be worked was then discussed. accord
ing to EARLY. and after he had secured
a promise of $500 apiece for thirty men
who would work to get the resolutions
passed he and O'Hara left Grimes and
reported to mine workers headquar-
ters. District President Nichols put a
card in the papers warning the strik-
ers against Grimes. This, Early said.
closed the incident, although Grimes
wanted him to come to see him after
wards.
When the witness got through with
his story, MIR. Darrow turned TO the
operators attorneys and said:
"YOu may crosse examine him. gentle
men"
There was a silence OF half minute. |
Judge Gray asked: Are there any
questions?" |
Not Represented.
With the most bland expression of |
countenance imaginable, Nh Torrey |
hesitatngly arose and, looking around |
slowly, inquiringly remarked, after II |
pause: II don't think Mr.. Grimes is
represented here"
The force and Significance of Mr.. |
Torrey's happy saying brought a |
hearty laugh from all the hearers.
Commissioner Clark halted the wit
ness as he was leaving the stand to in
quire into the workings of the check
weighman plan existing at this coliery.
The witness said it was very satisfac-
tory and that the miners have no com
plant to make. He added that since
the adoption of this system in 1899, the
miners are being credited with con-
siderably more coal than they We're be-
fore. On being cross-eNamined by Ma