The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-27
BUSINESS BEGINS.
Anthracite Arbitration Commits
sion Gets Down to Work.
President Mitchell Makes State
ment on Strikers Behalf.

Washington, Oct. 27.-The anthracite
strike commission met at 2 o'clock this
afternoon in the hearing room of the
interstate commerce commission. All
the members of the commission were
present. Mr.. Mitchell president of the
United Mine Workers, and District
President Fahy appeared for the miners.
and the coal carrying roads were repre-
sented as follows:
President Baer, of the Philadelphia &
Reading; E B. Thomas, chairman of the
board of the Pennsylvania Coal COM
pany and Hillsdale Coal and Iron CON-
pany; Alfred Walter, president of the
Lehigh Valley; w. H. Truesdale. presl-
dent of the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western; David Wilcox, vice president
of the Delaware & Hudson; B. Herr, vice
and Elkhill Coal and Iron company; j.
H. Torrey, attorney for the Delaware &
Hudson, and Francis G. Wayne, attor-
ney for the Lehigh Valley company.
Before opening the proceedings the
members of the commission and the
representa- tives of the contesting parties
were photographed. Judge Gray, the
president of the commission then read
the order of the president creating the
commission and in a general way out
lined the procedure to be followed by
the presentation of the issues He sta
ted that in accordance with the ifnmor
tai practice among English speaking
peoples, the commission would first re-
were to be regarded for the purposes of
this case as the prosecutors. The reply
of the other side would then be heard,
Judge Gray said, in order that the COM
mission might have before it a definite
issue. AT the conclusion of Judge Gray'S
remarks President Mitchell stated that
he had witt him the formal demands
made by the miners upon the operators
and at the suggestion of Judge Gray he
read the statement Of the miners de-
naands adopted by the Shamokin con-
vention, the rejection of which resulted
in the strike.
Walter Edward We'll was also present
rs q representative of the miners The
hearing room was crowded by the people
interested in the case and with specta tors
President Baer objected to the appear
ance of Mr.. Mitchell as a representative
of the United Mine Workers of America
but said he had no objection to offer
against Mr.. MitchelIs appearance as a
representative of the anthracite coal min
ers Mr.. Baer's object was to avoid the
recognition of the mine workers union as
order.
MI Mitchell replied that the objections
raised as 10 his status were not involved
in the case. He said that he did not APP
pear as a representative of the anthra cit
coal miners and distinctly refraiHed in mis-
reply from mentioning the union.
Presidents Baer and Thomas suggested
to the coal fields in order that it might be
informed at the outset as to the conditions
there.
1t was agreed that Mr.. Mitchell should
file with the commission next Monday IL
detailed statement of the claims of the
miners. The statement he read today
was a preliminary statement of the case.
| The representatives of the operators an
nounced that they would fie an answer
| to the statement to be filed by MI.
Mitchell on Monday within three days of
| t.-7t time.
1t was suggested that each side to the
| controversy appoint an expert to go
through the books of the coal company
for the purpose of securing data on which
to work but President Baer and other rep
resentatives of the company Immediately
objected and suggested that they would
furnish whatever information is needed.
This question precipitated a long discus
| sion in which the coal presidents and the
| miners representatives took part.
| The commission decided to begin its in
vestigation into the conditions in the an
thrac cite coal regions Thursday of this
week. commencing with District No I, in
which Scranton is located.