The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-15
Mitchell UNDER FIRE.
CONTINUED from First Pace.

desire to impress the question upon the
commission, Mr.. Wilcox said:
"Air. Mitchell. during the last strike there
was considerable violence in the anthracite
regions, was there not?'
There was some violence, but to what
extent am not fully informed"
Mr.. Wilcox here read the proclamation Of
Governor Stone of October 6 last calling
out the entire division Of the National
Guard OF the State and, continuing, said:
In your letter to President Roosevelt OF
October 16 you said: There have been a
few crimes and a number of misdemeanors
ohargeable to those on strike. You recol-
lect that don't your
Yes, sir, was the response.
HAS anything been done to discipline
those people?"
1--WE have no method Of punishment for
man who has committed 4 crime except
expulsion from the union. We have no
record that any man who has been arrested
is member of the United Mine Workers OK
America.
"You said there were crimes and misde-
meanors chargeable to those on striker
Because there were any amount of non
union men on strike.
UNION MEN NOT GUILTY.
Continuing. Mr.. Wilcox asked what
method was used to inquire into the sub
iect. to which MIR. Mitchell responded by
saying that an examination of the union
books of crimes committed failed to show
the connection of any union man win
them.
eve take the position that courts are
established to determine the innocence OF
ruilt of any one arrested, and until then
we have not the right to proceed against
him. We have in every possible way tried
70 narsuade our men from committing Gets
Of violence"
"Tbore are no rules on the subject1"
asked Mr.. Wilcox.
"Our organization has no rules govern
ing the subject" was the witness re-
sponse. "because few of our members ever
commit crimes
Mr. wilcox asked II Mr.. Mitchell APP
nroved Of the methods Of the miners dur
ing a strike IN Hopkins county, hentucEy'
bn+ Mr.. Mitchell insisted he knew CT no
lawlessness committed by the nnion men.
The strikers. he said hnNl been put out
NJ the companies houses and the union
had hired ground and bought tents and
kept the men in them until the company,
through process Of law. had the tents taken
away and the men arrested He had, he
said sanctioned this strike. ara not having
met with much success, called 1t on.
WILCOX CITED ANOTHER CASE.
Mr. Wilcox cited another case which
had been decided by Judges Smonton and
Mcdowell. whereupon Mr.. barrow, for the
miners, objected. Judge Gray, In passing
on the question, said that Mr.. Nit Fell
seemed very competent to take care OF
himself and that he undoubtedly was "a
miliar with the case. TIE limitations to
be put upon, the giving of testimony, he
said must, In view of the very natdre OF
the commission. be pros rlbcd largely by
the counsel themselves. Mr.. Mitchell then
went on and stated that the two men who
were sent to prison for violating re-
straining order, were pardoned by the
president He insisted that he all Toy cd
Of any organization holding meetings In
public halls, doing that which under the
law he had right to do
1--WE deny that the courts have any rea
son to restrain members OF the laboring
unions" said Mr.. Mitchell, with consider
able emphasis, from doing anything law
full We have had people sent 20 prison for
holding meetings on ground held by US By
lease"
He then mentioned the action OF Judge
Jackson in West Virginia In sending men
to Jail.
Mr. Wilcox, with some sarcasm inquired;
Have you ever known OF an Injunction
being granted against your order witch
you thought was propsr7"
"There have been" said Mr. Mitchell.
provisions Of injunctions, restraining our
people from violating the law, that were
proper. Our only objection to the injunc-
ton was because it restrained us from do
ing things we had legal right to do, 1t
is far-reaching enough TO restrain and pun
ish those who violate the law"
The subject Of boycotting occupied the
attention Of tho commission for the last
half hour
Mr.. Mitchell said his union had rot sane,
toned or encouraged boycotts.
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