The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-18

Stones proclamation calling out the
troops, in which the governor said
there was reign Of terror in the re-
gion
Mr. Mitchell denied the correctness OF
the governors assertions
The eight-hour question was taker
up, and in reply to a question as tc
whether he had right TO limit mans
labor TO eight hours a day. Mr. Mitch
ell repiied: 1--WE favor a maximum OF
eight hours a day and a r1oment later
IN answer TO a similar question said
we viii accept whatever award the
commission makes, and that award
will have precedence over the laws 81
the union"
Then Mr. MacVeagh sail: Lincoln
was splitting rails and ne did not limit
himself 10 eight hours. and you de-
mand it not only for the men in the
mines, but for all the men above
ground as well. He was doing harder
work than nine-tenths of our men en-
ployed in the mines. So was Garfield
when he was. as a boy, trudging along
the path of the canal. and so was Mr.
Mckinley in his early life. / only
mention these because they are the
three victims of the spirit of anarchy
which IS the curse of this country to-
day, and the only serious curse affiicE-
ing it,
Union Men Not Anarchists.
Mr.. Mitchell took quick notice of the
word anarchy as employed by Mr.
MacVeagh, and with considerable spirit
promptly inquired Trade unions arc
not held responsible for it, are they?
No, certainly not said Mr.. Mac
Veagh, trade unions are most admira-
bic, but you make a demand upon US
that we shall prohibit every man in
Ta1ra l.
eight hours. That strikes US as per-
fectly inadmissable."
In answer to further questions, Mr..
Mitchell entered into a detailed de-
scription of the workings of the union.
Mr.. Mitchell, upon the request of
Judge Gray, said that the officers of the
union under pay had contributed 81
per cent per month of their salaries
for the benefit of the striking miners
The fact was brought out that Mr.
Mitchell had had telephone conferences
with Senator Hanna just previous to
the settlement of the strike of 1900.
of course, that was the year in
which Mr.. Bryan was again candidate
Tor the presidency" said Mr.. Mac
Neagh. land you were conscious of the
great apprehensions entertained by the
financial interests of the country as to
the possibilities of his election
Wen, understood they were very
aDDrehensive."
Mr.. MacVeagh asked if any ADVANCE
secured by the miners was not due to
that apprehension.
I believe" said Mr.. Mitchell, that
the fact that an election was pending
had something to do with the early
settlement of the strike"
Mr.. Mitchell denied that he had had
any conference with the coal operators
at that time, and said that during the
strike Senator Hanna had spoken to
him over the telephone and had sent
Daniel Keefe, president of the Interna-
uonaI Longshoremen's union, to see
him. He denied that it was through
Mr.. Keefe he agreed that if the 10 per
cent increase was granted the strike
would be called off, but said Senator
Hanna had told him the operators had
decided to make the offer of 10 per
cent.
Agreement Question.
Mr.. MacVeagh here took up the sug-
gestion for yearly agreement and at
tempted to show that the union could
not control its members, and therefore
an agreement is impracticable.
Mr.. Mitchell said there were many
differences that both sides Justly com
plain of and which he had hoped
would be wiped out by agreements. It
dare say" Mr.. Mitchell remarked, "'if
our union violates the contract the peo-
pie of this country will take good care
that we have no union left. There will
be no question about that. and if the
operators violate it the people of the
United states will see that they re-
greet it,
Mr.. Mitchell said this was a country
of majorities. whereupon Mr.. Mac
Veagh replied:
Cd 18th
If man is doing right he is on his
side.''
The court room was convuIsed when
Mr.. Mitchell answered that he would
be willing to leave the whole dispute
to God.
Revertng for a moment to the yearly
agreements, Chairman Gray announced
that the commission had decidSd to in
vite Herman Justi, commissioner of the
Illinois Operators association, to ap-
pear before the commission and to
state the conditions existing under the
yearly agreements between the soft
coal operators and the illinois miners
who belong to Mr.. Mitchell's orga MIA
ton.
Mr.. MacVeagh, seeking a direct an
;wer to his queries regarding boycotts,
asked the witness why he could not
use his influence to put an end to boy
men, women and children whose lives
nave been made uncomfortable
Mr.. Mitchell responded that it was
he very fathers and husbands of these
people who had themselves made their
iamilies' lives unendura BILE.
Mr.. MacVeagh, drawing himself
closer to where the witness was sitting.
'aid to him: IF such cases are shown
1ou until you grow weary of them. as
will show you, viii you then agree to
axe drastic, thorough going, efTectuaI
measures to root it out as you would
my other deadly, unmanly, un-Ameri-
an cowardly practice?"
Liberty Within the Law.
This question Mr.. Mitchell answered
~ saying that people have a perfect
light to do whatever they choose pro
7ided they come within the law.
When asked if he countenanced the
'toppage Of funerals. the preventing of
physicians attending a non-unionist or