The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-12
EFFORTS TO BR|BE
UNION PRESIDENTS
Resorting to Crooked Means
to Break Strike
MORE WITNESSES SPEAK
No Attempt to Cross Question by Counsel for
Coal Barons-- Wilcox 'dollers' Before
he is Rur---Chairman Gray
Quieis Him.
(By the Associted Press

(By the Associted PresS.)
Scranton, Pa, Dec. 1O-The most in
teresting, if not important, testimony
brought out at today's sessions of the
Coal Strike Commission was to the effect
that an alleged attempt was made by
former mine foreman to bride two presi-
dents of local unions of the miners to
have ten men in each local use their in
fuence to have a resolution passed send
ing the men to work, thus making a Sc
strikers. Each of the presidents was to
receive $1,000 and good position as mine
foreman and each of the men was to get
from 500 to 5000. The name of no COM
rany was mentioned in connection with
the bribery scheme, and none Of the law
gers cross-examined the witnesses.
The large coal companies have taken
notice of the testimony which has been
presented against the Coke ard Markle
companies. During the afternoon ses-
sion, David Wilcox, vice president of the
Delaware and Hudson, and general coun-
sci for the company, addressed the COM
mission and protested vigorously against
the commission holding his company re-
sponsible for conditions that may exist
at the Coke or Markle mines He was
quickly stopped by Chairman Gray, who
said that the commission did not intend
10 hold any company responsible for
whatever special conditions may exist in
other parts OF the coal fields.
a large amount of technical testimony
was heard on various phases of the ques-
lions n issue. Two check weighmen pro-
duced figures which tended to show that
at two Delaware and Hudson collieries
the miners produced 1859 tons of coal
more than they were paid for. The miners
must bring up 3,136 pounds of coal and
dirt TO make a ton of 2.240 pounds of
pure coal, and the union claims that the
company gets more than 22i0 pounds of
coal out of each miners tom Of 3,136,
end produced official figures TO prove it.
The Delaware and Hudson Company
presented its figures to the commission
today, they being the first certified statis-
tics 10 be handed in. They show the
average earnings of the miner in 1901 to
have been $622.6S, and his laborer $449.47
When Mr.. Mitchell was on the stand
he said that 5000 should be the minimum
OF American living wages.
John Early. a check weighman, en-
ployed al the Gypsy Grove colliery of the
Erie Company, who was president of the
Gypsy Grove local" told the story of
the alleged attempt to bribe Early said
he was introduced to a former mine fore
man named Michael Grimes, in Scranton.
Early and n miner named O'Hara, who
was also president of local union, were
each offered $4,000 to get ten men to PASS
a resolution ordering the men from the
two locals which they represented, back
to work. Early said Grimes first offered
him 81 900 to work for William Connell
for Congress. Crimes then made this
proposition.
If Early could get ten men to have a
resolution passed by his local, Grimes
would give nine of them 500 EACH the
tenth man $500 and Early 81. 800 and all
expense: necessary to carry out the
scheme. He further added that Early
need not apply for work for three months
and that he then would be given a fore
mans position. Later on, during the
conversation, Grimes amended his propo-
sition by offering to give two of the ten
men 5000 each. and at the same time Of
fercd Early $40 for current expenses.
Early refused the money and told Grimes
he would see him later. Early reported
the matter 10 District President Nichols
of tho Miners Union, and it was decided
10 see how far the bribery scheme would
be carried.
Another meeting was arranged and as
Grimes had spoken OF having approached
p. f. O'Hara, the latter went along. The
same proposition was made to O'Harra.
The same night there was to be joint
meeting OF all the locals in the vicinity
of Dunmore, and Grimes wanted them to
PASS the resolution that night. but the
two presidents could not see their way
clear 20 do it, Grimes then proposed that
they size up the men in the meeting, get
thirty of them interested and if the reso-
luton was passed the thirty would each
receive 5000. President Nichols, he said,
then gave out a public statement which
intimated bribery was being resorted to in
order to break the strike and the whole
thing fell through.
Crimes wanted Early TO help him out
of the fix but Early would have moth
ing 10 DO with him. The story held the
attention of the commissioners and the
spectators. Later, O'Hara went on the
stand and corroborated Early's story.