The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-11-20
TOLD BY MITCHELL
PRESIDENT OF MINEWORKERS
UNION ON THE WITNESS
STAND.
TRYING DAY FOR STRIKE LEADER
UNDER cRoss-ExAMINATIoN BY
GENERAL COUNSEL OF ONE
OF THE ROADS.
IRRtSPONSIBILITY or THE UNION
WHAT COUNSEL is TRYING TO
PROVE BY MITcHELL's
TESTIMONY.

Scranton Pa, Nov. II. - The an
thrac.te coal strike commission yes
terday began the hearing of testimony
by which ii will determine whether or
not the workmen are receiving fair
and just wages for their labor and
whether their conditions should not
be improved. The star witness for
the miners, President Mitchell, took
the stand in the forenoon, and when
the commission adjourned at o'clock
he was still under the fire of cross
examination by David w. Wilcox, gen.
eral counsel of the Delaware & Hud-
son company. II was a trying day for
the miners leader, but he seemed to
stand the test well.
The opening of the sessions was a
notable day in the annals of the law
in the upper anthracite region. Such
an array of lawyers has never been
seen in this part OF the state, and it is
doubtful whether attorneys have ever
been so numerous on one side of a
case in this state as were present in
the interests of the coal companies
yesterday. The
Commits ions Sessions
are being held in the beautiful room
of the Pennsylvania superior court,
which is now sitting in Philadelphia
Ranged around three tables in front of
the seven commissioners who occu-
pied the judges bench were no less
than thirty lawyers, twenty-four of
whom were looking after the interests
of the mine owners. The attitude Of
the commissioners was closely fol.
lowed by every one in the court room.
They appeared to be greatly interest
ed in the DISCRIMINATION of Mr..
Mitchell, bit at times seemed to grow
restless under the ceaseless fire of
questions aimed at him. Judge Gray,
as chairman of the commission, was
the only spokesman for the commits
sion. He at times asked questions,
and at the very close of the afternoon
directed a query at Mr.. Mitchell which
Mr.. Wilcox had been leading up to for
some time. He asked Mr.. Mitchell
whether his organization approved the
act of Withdrawing from or denying
the necessities of life to those who
had offended the organization, and he
replied:
81 should say emphatically no."
Mitchell Is oulzzed.
During the day Mr.. Wilcox asked
Mr.. Mitchell many questions as TO the
policies of the union, the method Of
calling strikes, the ability of the union
to maintain discipline and prevent the
members of the union from violating
the law, and also as TO the liability OF
the union breaking contracts. 1t was
apparent to many of those present
who understood the situation that Mr..
Wilcox's object was to attempt to
prove by Mr.. Mitchell's own testimony
that the contention of the companies
that the miners union was an ire
sponsible organization and that trade
agreements, therefore, could not be
safely entered into was well founded.
During the hearing the statement
was brought out for the first time
since the late strike was inaugurated
that the union had disbursed $780,
600 among the union and non-unton
men who were on strike.
Mr.. Mitchell, before taking the wit
ness stand in the forenoon, presented
the miners side of the case in 5000
word statement. 1t took him forty
minutes to read his address, and he
was listened to by the commissioners
and the operators with the closest at
tention.