The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-17
LAWYERS AFTER
MR.. MITCHELL
The Miners President Stands Their
Bullyragging Tactics Very
Well.
MI. MacVeagh Claims That the Coal
Region Has Seen Five Months
of Hell.
The Matter of the Methods of Strlk-
ers and of the Coal and Iron
Police Taken Up.


Scranton. Pa. Nov. 17.-President
Mitchell of the miners union resumed the
stand day upon the converting Of the
coal t1jke commission and his cross ex-
animate by Wayne MacVeagh which
was begun Saturday. continued Mr..
NIacVeagh. represents the Erie company
which operates the mines under the names
of the Pennsylvania Coal company and the
Hillside Coal and Iron company. Mr..
Mitchell. who has been on the stand since
Friday morning. brought with him num-
ber Of documents and books which he fire.
Quently referred to in order to refresh his
memory.
There seemed to be no falling off in the
interest in the proceedings. A large num-
Der of persons patiently stood in line in
the corridor Of the building in the hope OF
gaining admittance to the hearing. Only
n small portion of them were successful
the limited accommodations being almost
entirely taken up by counsel for both sides
and mining Officials, representatives Of the
mine workers and workmen who are en-
ployed III the mines.
Methods of Strikers.
Mr.. MacVeagh began his examinat ton
by reading from newspaper clippings Of
the methods Of labor organization
known as the operative plasterers' asso-
citation Of New York against the en-
ployers.
do You approve or do you heartily
dlSapproNe OF these methodist Mr..
MaCVeagh asked.
should say that my union has no
such rules was Mr.. MitchePs response.
Mr.. MacVeagh repeated his questions
and Mr.. Mitchell said, II can only say
That in the absence of knowledge as to
the causes which made them adopt such
resolutions. l am not competent to pass
upon the fairness or unfairness of them.
On the surface and with the informal ton
you convey to me, should say they are
unfair"
Mr.. MaCVeagh referred to the subject
OF placing the responsibility for the in
creased price Of coal and inquired:
DO you still feel at liberty to saw that
1t IS none of your business what addi-
tlonal cost the people will have to pay for
their coal if that additional cost is the
immediate result of your demands?"
L have not said a any time it was none
of our business replied Mr. Mitchell. II
have stated 1t was beyond our control
That we have absolutely nothing to do
with the selling price Of coal"
Won't your men have to work five
S-ars to make up the loss they sustained
during the striker" Mr.. MacVeagh asked.
Not by any means" was the positive
answer of Mr.. Mitchell.
Mr.. Mitchell, do you think you have
the right to ask for an increase in wages
which, if granted, would increase the cost
of living to hundreds Of thousands of
pOOr?"
he miners representative replied that
there are 100000 persons in the anthracite
fields who are starving. and it is their
Fundamental right to ask for living wages
N return for their labor.
Protecting the Properties.
The examination for a few minutes be-
came very spirited on this phase of the
consequence Of the strike and then Mr..
MacVeagh turned to the matter of pro-
tecting the properties during the strike.
Replying to questions by Mr.. MacVeagh
on the right OF private parties to protect
their property. Mr.. Mitchell said that the
provision in the miners constitution
against pckets grew out of the Home
stead strike when a number of private de-
tectives were employed as guards most
of whom he declared had been recruited
from the slums of Philadelphia and other
large cities. Mr.. Mitchell insisted thai
the city, county and state authorities
We're competent to handle the matter
Raising his voice to a pitch and speaking
with great fervor, Mr.. MacVeagh asked
the witness:
Don't you know as we'll as you know
your name is John Mitchell, that In spite
OF the authorities OF this city, of this
county and Of this state. the whole
a Neritable fOretaste Of help"
Mr.. Mitchell calmly replied
Il don't know anything of the kind
Well, YOU will before we through
with YOU was Mr.. MacVeaghs retort.
Commissioner Watkins here took a hant
in the examination and it was brough,
out that none of the pickets employed BIZ
the companies represented by Mr. Mac.
Neagh had been recruited outside Of the
community.
Mr.. MacVeagh then read Governor
Stones proclamation calling out the
troops in which the governor said there
was a reign Of terror in the region Mr.
Mitchell denied the correctness of the
governors assertions.
The eight-hour day question was taker
up and in reply to query as to whether
he had right to limit mans labor tc
eight hours day, Mr.. Mitchell replied:
The Eight-Hour Day.
I'VE favor a maximum of eight hours +:
and a moment later In answer to simila,
question said: We will accept whateve,
award the commission makes and thai
award will have precedence over the laws
of the union.'
Then Mr.. MacVeagh said:
abraham Lincoln was splitting "a lis
and he did not limit himself to eight hour;
and you demand it not only for the mer
In the mines but for all the men above
ground as we'll He was doing infinitel,
harder work than nine-tenths of our me1
employed in the mines above ground Sc
was Garfield when he was boy trudgins
along the path of the canal and so wa.
Mr.. Mckinley in his early life. I only
mention these because they are the three
victims of the spirit of anarchy which il
the curse Of this country to-day and tn.
only serious curse affecting it,
Mr.. Mitchell took quick notice of thu
word "anarchy'' as employed by Mr. Mac
Veagh and with considerable spiri
promptly inquired: -
Trade unions are not held responsible
for 1t are they?" ~
No, certainly not" said Mr.. MacVeagh
'"Trade unions are most admirable, blu
you make demand upon us that we shall
prohibit every man in our employ from
working more than eight hours. Tha
strikes us as perfectly inadmissible.".
In answer to further questions Mr.
Mitchell entered into detailed descrip
ton of the workings of the union.
Mr. Hanna Was Apprehenslve In 1900.
Mr.. Mitchell, upon question by Mr.. Gray
said the officers Of the union under pa,
had contributed 81 per cent per month o
their salaries for the benefit of the strik
Ing miners. The fact was brought on
that Mr.. Mthcell had had telephone con