The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1902-11-21
A TH|NTY Yelled THREAT.
Wayne MacVeagh Loses His Poise
in His Cross-Examination
of John Mitchell.
He INTIMATES A F0RETASTE OF HE'LL.
Mr.. MacNea%h, representing the
Erie Company, Finds n Witness
He Can Not Rattle, and shows His
Chagrin BY the Matter and Man.
ner of His Questions.


Scranton, Pa, Nov. 17.-President
Mitchell of the miners union, re-
sumcd the stand, Monday, upon the
convening of the coal strike commits
sion, and his cross-eXamination by
Wayne MacVeagh, which was begun
on Saturday, was continued. Mr.. Mac
Veagh represents the Erie Co., which
operates the mines under the names
of the Pennsylvania Coal Co., and the
Hillside Iron Co.
Mr.. Mitchell, who has been on the
stand since Friday morning, brought
with him a number of documents and
books which he frequently referred to
in order to refresh his memory.
Mr.. MacVeagh began his eXamina-
ton by reading from newspaper clip
pings of the methods of a labor or
ganization known as the Operative
Plasterers' Association of New York,
against the employers.
DO you approve or do you heartily
disapprove of these methods" Mr..
MacNeagh- asked.
Il should say that my union has no
such rules" was Mr.. MitchelfS re-
sponsc.
Mr.. MacVeagh repeated his question
and Mr.. Mitchell said: Il can only say
that in the absence of knowledge as
to the causes which made them adopt
such resolutions,I am not competent to
pass upon the fairness Of unfairness
of them. On the surface, and with the
information you convey to me, L
should say they are unfair"
Mr.. MacVeagh referred to the sub
ject of placing the responsibility for
the increased price of coal and in
quired:
'Do you still feel at liberty to say
that it is none of your business what
additional cost the people will have to
pay for their coal if that additional
cost is the immediate result of your
demands?"
Il have not said at any time it was
none of our business" replied Mr..
Mitchell. Il have stated it was be
yond our control. That we have abso-
iutely nothing to do with the selling
price of coal"
won't your men have to work five
years to make up the loss they sus'
tanned during the strike?' Mr.. Mac
Neagh asked.
Not by any means," was the posi-
tive answer of Mr.. Mitchell.
''NIr. Mitchell, do you think you
have the right to ask for an increase
in wages which, if granted, would in
crease the cost of living to hundreds
of thousands of poor?"
The miners representative replied
that there are 100000 persons in the
anthracite fields who are starving an
it is their fundamental right to ash
| for living wages in return for theil
| labor
The examination for a few minutes
became very spirited on this phase OF
the consequence of the strike, ant
then Mr.. MacVeagh turned to the
matter of protecting the propertie:
during the strike.
Replying to questions by Mr.. Mac
Veagh on the right of private partie:
TO protect their property, Mr.. Mitchell
said that the provision in the min
ers' constitution against picket:
grew out of the Homestead strike
when number of private detective:
were employed as guards, most OF
whom, he declared, had been re
cruited from the slums of Philadelphia
and other large cities. Mr.. Mitchell
insisted that the city, county anC
state authorities were competent tt
! handle the matter.
Raising his voice to a pitch, anC
speaking with great fervor, Mr.. Mac
Veagh asked the witness:
Don't you know as well as yol
know your name is John Mitchell
that in spite of the authorities of thi
city. of this county and of this state
this whole region has been treated fo
five months to veritable fOretaste o
help
Mrs. Mitchell calmly replied: g
don't know anything of the kind
"WelI, you will before we ar
through with you," was Mr.. Mac
Veagh's retort.
Commissioner Watkins here took
hand in the examination and it wa
brought out that none of the picket
employed by the company represente
by Mr.. MacVeagh had been recruite
outside the community.
Mr.. MacVeagh then read Gov
Stones proclamation calling out tn
troops, in which the governor sal
there was a reign of terror in the re
pion. Mr.. Mitchell denied the correOt
ness of the governors assertion.
The eight-hour day question wa
taken up, and in reply to a query a
to whether he had right to limit
mans labor to eight hours day, Nj
Mitchell replied: I'VE favor a max
mum of eight hours'-and momen
later, in answer to similar questio
said: 1--WE will accept whatever awar
the commission makes and that awar
will have precedence over the laws c
the union.
Then Mr.. MacVeagh said: "Abri
ham Lincoln was splitting rails and b
didn't limit himself to eight hours
and YOU demand it not only for tn
men in the mines but for all the me
above ground as well. He was doin
infinitely harder work than nin'
tenths of our men employed IN tn
mines above ground. So was Garfiel'