Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-11
TRIED BRIBERY.
Big Offers by Operators to
Break the Strike.
Miners officials Approached, but
They Could Not Be Bought.
Another Sensation at the Strike Com.
missions Hearing.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. l0.-The first bus
mess before the strike commission, to-
day, was the presentation by Simon p.
Wolverton of part of the statement
of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal &
Iron Co. showing the average wages
paid to contract miners and inside and
outside laborers. A further statement
will be made later. The statement is
not yet officially on file, but was pre-
scented so that the commission could
determine whether the figures are in
the shape in which they wish them pre-
pared.
Alexander McVicar, Delaware &
Hudson miner. testified that he was not
given back his old place in the mine,
but was placed at work in more unde-
sirable part of the colliery.
On cross-examination he denied that
the miners boycotted certain breasts or
chambers. by marking half moon on
the place, thus notifying other workers
of the boycott. The miners, through
Mr.. barrow. announced that they were
prepared with cumulative evidence to
back their claims that members of the
union are being Disseminated against
by the companies but that they did not
wish to thus take uD the commissions
time.
Mr.. barrow asked if, in case the COM
panies, when they submit their sale,
present cumulative evidence on their
point, the union could produce more
witnesses along the same line.
Mr. TOrrey. for the Delaware & Hud-
son. said that that company had large
number of witnesses ready to testify
to violence which had a direct bearing
upon the recognition of the union.
Chairman Gray hoped each side
Would do its best-not to produce too
much cumulative evidence and remark
ed: Il think that matters growing out
of the mere exhibition of feeling will
not have much weight with this COM
mission
After superintendent of schools in
Lackawanna. ]. c. Taylor, and Super
intendent of Schools NJ. w. Cummings
of the borough of Olyphant. had told
the commission that % 1-3 per cent. of
the children of the mining region were
out of school, sensation was caused
by the testimony If John Early, a
check weighman, employed at the Gyp-
sy Grove colliery of the Erie Co., who
was president of the Gypsy Grove 10
cal'
Early said that he was introduced to
a former mine foreman named Michael
Grimes. in the Lackawanna Valley no.
tel. Scranton. Early and a miner NAM
ed O'Hara. who was also president of
a local union, were each offered $500
to get 10 men to adopt a resolution or
dering the men from the two locals
which they represented. back to work.
Early's story was as follows:
He met Grimes in the hotel through
another person. In the course of con-
versation. Grimes asked him how he
st God in politics. Early replied that he
had not made up his mind. and Grimes
said that inasmuch as he was the pres
ident of local union he had good
deal of influence among his friends in
DunriOre. and that if he worked for
William Connell for Congress he would
give him $1,000. This was on Sept. %.
After Grimes made the $1,000 PROPOSE
ton. Early continued, he said: How
about the strike. Don't you think the
men are weakening?"
Early replied that he did not think
they were wavering "A little. Grimes
was coming in the ranks of the men
and that they would be defeated.
Grimes recognized that the men had
grievances and that they had put up a
good fight. and as long as they were
going to be defeated by the operators,
Early ought to get something out of it.
Grimes then made this proposition:
If Early could get 10 men to have a
resolution adopted by his local, Grimes
would give nine of them 500 each, the
10th man $500 and Early $4,000 and all
expenses 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 foreman's position. During the
three months his expenses were to be
paid there would be no trouble in get
ting mine foreman's certificate, be-
cause the companies controlled the
boards that issued them.
Later on. during the conversation.
Crimes amended his proposition by Of
ferins to give two Of the men $500 each,
and at the same time he offered Early
$40 for current expenses. Early refused
the money and told Grimes that he
would see him later. Early reported
the matter to District President
Nichols of the Miners Union. and it was
decided to see how far the alleged
bribery scheme would be carried.
Another meeting was arranged and
as Grimes had spoken of having APP
preached r. F. O'Hara. the latter went
along The same proposition was made
to O'Hara. The same night there was
to be joint meeting of all the locals
in the vicinity Of Dunmore and Grimes
wanted them to adopt the resolution
that night, but the two presidents could
not see their way clear to do it. Grimes
then proposed that they sound the men
in the meeting and get 80 of them in
dictad. II the resolution was adopted
the so would each receive 5000, he prom
Used.
Early went on to say that the minis
tiers of the vicinity were to be APP
preached but they were not to get as
much az the miners for breaking the
strife.
President Nichols, he said. then is
CONTINUED on cage s.