The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-15

Attempt OF Council for She Operators
to Prove That the sIiners' Union Is on
irresponsible Body and That Trade
Agreements Cannot be Safely Entered
Into with It-MitcheII Well sustains
the Fire.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 1.-THE anthra-
cite coal strike commission appointed by
President Roosevelt to arbitfate the
differences existing between the mine
workers of the hard coal fields of Penn
sylvania and their employers, to-day
began the hearing OF testimony by
which it will determine whether or not
the workmen are receiving fair and
just wages for their labor and whether
their conditions can be improved. The
star witness for the miners-President
John Mitchell-took the stand in the
forenoon and when the commission ad-
journed at o'clock in the afternoon he
was still under the fire of cross-exam-
ination by David w. Wilcox, general
counsel of the Delaware and Hudson
Co. 1t was a trying day for the miners
leader, but he seemed to stand the test
well. The heaviest fire Of cross ques-
tons was aimed at him late in the af-
ternoon session and when the hour of
adjournment was reached Mr. Wilcox
was still propounding questions and
testing Mr. Mitchell's memory.
The commissions sessions are being
held in the room of the Pennsylvania
superior court which is now sitting in
Philadelphia. Ranged around three
tables in front of the seven commission
ers who occupied the judges bench were
no less than thirty lawyers, twenty-four
of whom were looking after the inter-
ests of the mine owners.
The court room at both sessions was
packed almost to suffocation, and
scores were unable to gain admittance.
Among the spectators We're quite a
large number of general superinten-
dents and district and mine superinten-
dents, all of whom took a deep inter
est in the proceedings and some of them
frequently made notes.
Grouped about Mr.. Mitchell were Dis
,trict Presidents Nichols, Duffy and
Fahy, the three district secretaries the
three national board members, the
members of the three district executive
boards of the anthracite field. Scatter
ed through the spectators were many
practical miners who will be called upon
to take the stand in behalf of the min
ers' claims.
The attitude of the commissioners was
closely followed by every one in the
court room. They appeared to be great
ly interested in the cross mination
of Mr.. Mitchell, but at times seemed to
grow restless under the ceaseless fire of
questions aimed at the mine workers
leader. Judge Gray, as chairman of the
commission, being versed in court pro-
! ceedings and in the law, was the only
spokesman for the commission. At the
close of the session he asked Mr.. Mitch
ell whether his organization approved
the act of withdrawing from or deny
ing the necessaries of life to those who
had offended the organization. Mr..
Mitchell replied: "I should say en-
phaticaIly, no."
During the day Mr.. Wilcox asked Mr.
Mitchell many questions as to the poll
cies of the union, the method of calling
strikes, the ability of the union to main
tain discipline and prevent the members
of the union from violating the law
and also as to the liability of the union
in breaking contracts. 1t was apparent
to many of those present that Mr.. Will
cox's object was to attempt to prove
by Mr.. Mitchells own testimony that
the contention of the companies that
the Miners union was an irresponsible
body and that trade agreements could
not, therefore, be safely entered into,
was we'll founded.
During the hearing the statement was
brought out for the first time since the
late strike was inaugurated that the
union had disbursed 81, 900 among the
union and nom union men who were on
strike.
One of the questions which came UP
before the commission was the advisa-
bility of hearing counsel on behalf Of
the non-union men who remained at
work during the strike. Attorney John
r. Lenahan, one of the attorneys for
the non-union men, asked the commits
sion what his status before the arbitra-
tors was Judge Gray informed him the
question would De taken unQef COnSlQ-
Grafton and that an answer would prob
ably be given him tomorrow.
Mr.. Mitchell before taking the wit
ness stand in the forenoon presented
the miners side of the case in 5000
words 1t took forty minutes to read
his address and was listened to by the
commissioners and the operators with
asthe closest attention 4gsaa3as, g~
1t is not unlikely that Mr.. Mitchell
will be on the stand all day tomorrow
and probably longer 1t is the inten-
ton Of the miners to next call on Rev.
Peter Roberts of Mahoney City, who
has an intimate knowledge of anthra-
cite mining and it's the author of book
on the subject. During the hearing
all the attorneys took copious notes and
it looks as if the investigation will be
long drawn out unless some arrange
ment for curtailing the cross-examina-
ton Of witnesses is agreed upon.
williams Wins Debate.