New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-21
HEALTH OF MINE WORKERS
EVIDENCE N REGARD TO DISEASES
THEY SUFFER FROM TESTIMONY
OF THE REV. DR. ROBERTS
TURNED AGAINST MEN
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuHE.l

him, 10 testify TO the diseases which af1ct
the mine workers as a consequence Of the work
In the mines. The Rev. DR.. Roberts turned out
to be a most satisfactory witness to the opera
tors. Using his book and articles purporting to
be written by him and not denied, as the basis
Of the cross-examination they found that the
violence, the boycott. the intimidation, had been
denounced; that various actions of the miners
were condemned; that union conditions were Sc
verely criticised and that from an operators
standpoint nothing more denunciatory about the
mine workers could have been said against the
mine workers than were attributed to him.
In of his articles it stated that the
ordering out of the steam men was "a conspicu-
Gus example of a shortsighted policy precipi-
tated by spirit compounded equally of brag-
gadocio, spite and stupidity"
1T seems incredible that intelligent
should advocate and adhere to such foolhardy
policy"
THE order must ever be regarded an overt
act against the preservation of property
Nothing better for the operators could have
been had than this, they consider. and he ad-
United the stand in connection with this.
Il do think that the order calling out the
steam a mistake
He had stated yesterday that the newspapers
had greatly exaggerated the cases OF violence,
and IN rebuttal of this Mr.. Wolverton read ex-
tracts from his articles which condemned the
violence in unmeasured terms and reported
cases in detail Of the worst kind of brutality.
The following sentences were among those read:
The savage attacks were revolving and hor-
sible"
Nothing in the annals of savagery exceeds in
brutality the fatal assaults upon Beddall. of
Shenandoah. and Winston, of Olyphant"
In other communities the spirit of lawlessness
runs riot, and before it all sense of decency
personal right and obedience 10 law is swept
away"
These distressed DR.. Roberts greatly. and at
one time he appealed TO the commission regard
ing the relevancy of the admission of this Chair
man Gray held that it was admissible
RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAwLEssNEss.
A little later DR.. Roberts could restrain him
self no longer. Who is the most responsible for
the reign of terror in the anthracite coal field"
he cried, when the outrages were perpetrated
on July 81 in Shenandoah. and since then the
reign Of terror continued TO increase, Mr.
MacVeagh says. in intensity, until come
down 10 the 9Th Of this month-who was the
most responsible? Is it right to hold responsible
the five hundred thousand souls whose means
of living were cut off? And I have seen men in
the coal fields sit down a meal of bread and
molasses, have seen men weep for the want of
food, and children cold for the want Of clothing.
The question is not. Was there IawIessness? but
Was there any more lawlessness than there has
been? When you have a hungry man he is
a dangerous being. The blame rests upon cap
italists as well as labor, in this great struggle
through which have passed.
Here the witnesses voice choked with emotion
and as he paused Mr.. Wolverton said:
These things apply in every place where hun
ger prevails"
No such hunger has ever been known in the
United States as has existed during this strike"
DR.. Roberts answered.
The cross-examination Of DR.. Roberts was
taken up by Mr. Wolverton as soon as the COM
mission opened the morning session, and he
spoke Of the difficulty Of making uniform wage
such is demanded by the mine workers. and
quoted from DR.. Roberts's book passages which
bore out the contention of the operators. OF the
conditions in the Southern coal field Dr. Roberts
said
Il understand that in all the mines in the
Eouthern coal fields there is a certain rate fixed
for mining. certain to the yard accord
Ing 10 the workings; and that seems to be the
basis Of calculation between the foreman and
he miner so far the coal is concerned. Now
do not see why that could not be added to by
70 per cent, just the same any other class of
labor. On the other hand you have the varia-
lions coming in as the rock increases or dimin-
shes Now. the thing that is perplexing and the
source of trouble with the miner is this that the
price on Took Is not adjusted according to a
scale"
OF the rock work, the price for which varies
from 50 TO Sc yard, he said: That is the
difficulty. and ! acknowledge this as far as my
Investigation goes that il is only a difficulty
that can be adjusted between the employees and
the mine management themselves. But where
the conditions are uniform there is no reason
but that the scale could be adopted"
MINERS AND LABORFRs DISAGREE.
Mr. Woverton went on with questions of from
what part OF the region came the chief COM
Flaints which led to the strike DIR. Roberts adj
niitted that they were from the northern part,
that the in the southern district had few
complaints but that they were determined in
The event of a strike to stand by their brethren
IN the upper field. He admitted that there we're
dissensions among the mine workers them
selves, that the laborers objected TO the short
lime spent in the mines by the miners claiming
they had the bulk of the work to do and got
less pay. There was even talk at a certain time
Dc the laborers forming separate union in or
Ser TO better their condition. these Iaborers be-
Ing the ones employed by the miners and not
by the company. Further investigation into
this. DR.. Roberts said. had shown him that the
movement chiefly among the non-union
men, and that they were instigated by parties
Rho were opposed to the organization of labor
Chairman Gray asked IL the contest was pure
b between the miners and the laborers and not
with the operators.
Between the miners and the Iaborers but op-
orators who oppose organized labor are inter
ested in dividing the ranks of the workingmen"
Or. Roberts answered.
Speaking OF their desire to work in the col
leries Mr.. Wolverton asked wbv 81 woe ,ba.