Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-11-17
MITCHELL
AND McVEAGH
Miners Representative Un-
derwent a Severe Cross
Examination.
WAS CALM and COLLECTED
Men Have a Fundamental Right
to Ask for Living Wages
in Return for Their
Labor.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. H.-Presiden
Mitchell of the Miners union, resumed
the stand on the convening Of the Goa
strike commission, and his cross-ex
animation by Wayne MacVeagh, whicl
was begun on Saturday was contin
ued MacVeagh represents the Eri'
Company which operates mines undel
the names of the Pennsylvania Goa
Company and the Hillside Coal ant
Iron Company. Mitchell, who has
been on the stand since Friday morn
ing, brought with him number OF
documents and books TO which he fire.
quently referred in order to refresh
his memory. MacVeagh began the ex-
animation by reading from a newspa-
per clipping of the methods of the labor
organization known as the Operative
Plasterers Association of New York,
against their employers.
DO you approve or do you heartily
disapprove of these methodist" Mac
Veagh asked.
"I should say that my union has no
such rules" was President Mitchell's $
response.
Mr.. MacVeagh repeated his question,
and Mr.. Mitchell sail: II can only say
that in the absence of any knowledge
as to the causes which made them
adopt such resolutions, I am not COM
petent to pass upon the fairness or un-
fairness of them On the surface and
with the information you convey to
me, I should say they are unfair"
Mr.. MacVeagh referred to the sub
ject of placing the responsibility for
the increased price on coal and inquir-
ed: do you still say it is none of your
business what additional cost people
will have to pay for their COAL if
that additional cost is the immediate
result of your demand?"
II have not said at any time it was
none of our business" replied Mitchell.
Il have stated it was beyond our con-
troll. That we have absolutely nothing
to do with the selling price Of coal.'
"Mr. Mitchell, do you think you have
the right to ask for an increase in wag-
es which, if granted, would increase
the cost of living to hundreds of thou
sands of poor?"
The 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 in return for their labor.
The examination for few minutes be-
came very spirited on this phase of the
consequence of strike and then Mac
Veagh turned to the matter of protec-
ting properties during the strike.
Raising his voice to high pitch and
speaking with great fervor, Mr.. Mac
Veagh 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, this county and
this state, this whole region has been
treated for five months to a veritable
foretaste of hell?"
Il don't know anything of the kind"
replied Mr.. Mitchell.
"Well, you will before we are through
with you," was MacVeagh's retort.
The commission allowed MacVeagh
the greatest latitude in his questions, |
many of which had no apparent bear
ing on the matter in hand.
The strike investigating commission
decided to send Invitations to represen-
tatives of the Illinois Coal Operators |
Association to appear before the COM
mission and tell the conditions in that |
state under the system of yearly |
agreements with the union.