The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-12
MORE INTERESTING TESTIMONY
Before the Com mission New Evil
dence Is Given and an Attcmpfed
Bribery by a Mine Foreman Was
Revealed.

Scranton, Pa, December 1O-The
NEST interesting, if not important test;-
mony brought out at today's sessions
OF the coal strike commission. was to
the effect that an alleged attempt was
made Big 4 former mine foreman to
bride y presidents Of local unions Of
the miners, to have a resolution passed
sending the men 10 work, thus making
q serious break in the solid ranks OF
the strikers. Each Of the presidents
was to receive $500 and a good posi-
ton as mine foreman and each Of th=
ten men were to get from 800 to $500
each. The name OF no company was
mentioned in connection with the brib-
cry scheme, and nOne OF the lawyers
cross examined the witness.
The large coal companies have taken
notice OF the testimony which has been
presented ageInst the Coke and Markle
companies. During the afternoon SEES
sion, David Wilcox. vice-president OF
the Delaware and Hudson and General
sounsei for the company. addressed the
commission and protested vigorously
against the commission holding his
company responsible for conditions that
may exist at the Coke or Markle mines.
He was quickly stopped by Chairman
Gray, who said hat the commission did
not intend to hold n company respOn
sible for whatever special conditions
may exist in other parts OF the coal
fields
A large amount Of technical testi-
mony was heard on various phases OF
the questions at issue. Two check
weighmen produced figures, which tent
ed to show that at two Delaware and
Hudson cOIlieries. the miners produced
1883 tons Of coal more thar they were
paid for. The miners must bring up
S.135 pounds of coal and dirt to make q
ton of 2.24o pounds Of pure coaI. and
the union claims thar the company gets
more than 2.24O points of coal out OF
each "miners' ton Of 3.136 and produced
official figures to prove it.
The Delaware and Hudson mpan
presented it's figures to the commission
today. they being the fist certified sta
tistics to be handed in. They show the
average earnings of the miner in 1901.
to have been s622.6S. 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 Farley. a check weighman. IN
plOyed at the Gypsey Grove COlliery Of
the Erie who was president
eff the Gypsey Grove local" told the
story of the alleged attempt to briba.
Early said he was introduced to a for
Eer mine foreman named Michael
Grimes. in Scranton. Early and 4
miner named O'Hara, who was also
president of a local union, were each
offered $500 to get ten men to pass q
resolution. ordering the men from tn
two locals which they represented. back
to work. Early said Grimes first offer
ed him $1,000 to work for William on
nell for congress. Grimes then made
this proposition:
IF Early could get ten men to have
= resolution passed by his local. Grimes
would give nine of them 500 each, Tho
tenth man $500 and Early $500 and al!
expenses necessary to carry out the
scheme. He further added that Early
need not Apply lot "OEh LOT three
months and that he then wOUl be
given a foreman's position. Later on,
durfng.the conversation, Grimes amend
ed his proposition by offering to give
two of the ten men 5000 each and at the
same time. offered Early $40 for current
expenses. Early refused the money ana
told Grimes he would see him later.
r-- 1870 a. ,-+ - \ riot
President Nichols. Of the miners un-
ion. and it was decided to see how far
The bribery scheme would be carried.
Another meeting was arranged and
as Grimes a spoken OF having APP
preached p. F. O'Hara. the latter went
along. The same proposition was made
to O'Hara. The same night there was
TO be a 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 to do it
Grimes then proposed that they size
up the men in the meeting, get thirty
OF them interested and # the resolution
was passed. the thirty would each re-
ceive 5000. President Nichols he said
then gave out Il public statement which
ntfnated bribery was being resorted
TO, in order TO break the strike and the
whole thing fell through.
Grimes wanted Early to help him out
of the fix. but Early would have moth
ms 10 do with him.. The story held the
attention of the commissioners and the
SPECTATORS. Later O'Hara went on the
stand and CorrobOrated EarIy's story.
frmat by the Senate.
waSbiD0tou December -0-COnfrm1-