The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-21

not voluntarily give up bis job, but he
strikes for an Improvement in the con-
ditions of his job. If ne wins he gets
back the position. if he loses he goes
back with his hat in his hand and asks
for a job. Judge Gray here Interrupted
to explain the understanding of the com
mission with respect to the returning
to work of men who had been on strike.
He said:
Il think the underst tanIing is that
pending the consideration NJ questions
by this commission, the strikers were to
all return Immediately to wo.k and 1
think the further understanding is
don't let me be misunderStCFd-is that
the non-union men should not be inter-
ferred with nor displaced from employ
ment generally by the return of the
union men,"
Judge Gray then announced the deci-
sion of the commission III the matter
OF application of John II. I@nahan and
John T. O'Brien attor 1eys for the nom
union, to appear in the case. In the
light OF all their claims. said Judge
Gray, they would be allowed to ap-
pear, but the commission ctuld not con-
sent with the Withholding from the
public the names of the non-union as
their attorneys had desired. After Mr..
Lenahan assented to this. Judge Gray
announced that the commission would
see that no unfair use would be made
of it's names.
Mr.. Darrow insisted thdt Messrs.
Lenahan and OBrien really represented
the operators and not the non-union
men.
Whether they be here In that way
or not Judge Gray quickly replied.
they represent an important element in
the investigation, men who work for
their living, and who are interested in
the findings of this commission. We have
considered that very carefully from all
Sides
Responding to a request from Com
missioner Watkins for q suggestion as
to what should be done in the matter of
child labor. Mr.. Mitchell said that a
law should be enacted providing that
after a certain time child en- under
fourteen years of age, should not be
employed I'm the breakers The only
way now that the operators could pre-
vent the evil would be to refuse to en-
ploy children until they are fourteen
years old. 1t frequently happened. that
parents swore falsely r"gal ding the
ages of children.
The miners president lett the witness
stand.
John J. Murphy, counsel for the union,
read the Pennsylvania statutes, reQuir-
ing the measurement CT coal by weight
which he said he wanted to put into the
record.
Rev. Peter Roberts then took the
stand.
Answering a question ny Commits
sioner Watkins, DR.. Roberts saids there
was an effort made by the individual
operators to import cheap labor into
the anthracite fields. ct was done, u
said he. through ship agents who got
men in New York to watch the vessels
coming in and turn in the current of
immigration-that is. the siav immigra-
! tion-into the coal fields.''
Have miners been obtaining homes
to any extent during tho last ten
years?' the witness was asked, which
elected the reply that they had been
ians who did not settle in the United
States.
The witness declared in response tic
questions that a miners occupation is
more risky than in any ether large in
dustry. There were more deaths in the
mines than on the railroads, but fewer
accidents.
Have you noticed the effect of sa-
| looms on minerS?" was the next cues
| tion.
''The number of saloons in Schulykil
county have decreased was the reply
land the concensus of opinion is that
! it is due largely to the miners union''
He said that the social wcrth and mar
illness and individuality Of the Slav hat
| been greatly Increased through the
| miners union
do You know what was the result o
| the strike of s1900?''
| 1T decidedly improved the condition:
| by giving 10 per cent. advance"
Mr.. Roberts was still on The stant
when the commission adjourned.