Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-18
NEW STRIKE EVIDENCE
Illinois Coal Operators Will BE
Asked to Testify.
AS TO YEARLY AGREEMENTS
MIR. Mitchell. Who Has Been ON the
Witness Stand since Friday. Il
Further Cross Examined
by Operators Counsel.
AS TO YEARLY AGREEMENTS

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 18.-The strike
Investigating commission has decided
to send invitations to representatives
of the Illinois Coal Operators associa
ton to appear before the commission
! and tell of conditions in that state un
der the system OF yearly agreements
| with the union.
President MITCHELL of the miners TN
ion resumed the stand upon the con
vening of the commission in the Lack
aW;lilll county 10 IL iiV;:ee and his
cross examination BY Wayne Mae
Neagh. which WAS begun on Saturday.
was continued. M MacNes@It repre-
sents the Erie COMPANY. which oper-
ateS the mines uut!,r the names Of the
Pennsylvania Coal company and the
Hillside t'Onl and Iron conpnBy. Mr..
Mitchell. who has been on the stand
since Friday MORNING., brought with
him Il number Of documents amt books.
which III frequently referred to, im Or
der to refresh his memory.
Mr.. MsirVengh began his examination
by reading from newspaper clippings
of the methods of IL labor Organizat ton.
known as the Operative Plasterers' As
ISOLATION of New York. against the EN-
ployerst. "Do you approve Or do you
heartily disapprove of these methodist
Mr.. MaeVeagh asked.
Il should say that my union has no
such rules" was Mt. NIitchelrs re-
sponse..
Mr.. MacVeagh repeated his question,
and Mr.. Mitchell saids II cam only say
that in the absence of knowledge as
to the causes which made them adopt
such resolutions am not competent to
pass upon the fairness or unfafrness Of
them On the surface and with the in
formation You convey to me- I should
say. they are unfair"
Question of Incre; sed Prices.
Mr.: MacVeagh reverted TO the sub.
jeot of placing the responsibility for
the. Increased price of coal and in
qusred. 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 addi-
tional cost is the immediate result OF
your demandsy'
Il have not said at any time it was
none of our business" replied Mr. Mitch
ell II have stated it was beyond our
control; that we have absolutely MOTH
ing to do with the selling price of coal"
won't your men have to work five
years to make up the loss they sustain
ed during the striker Mr. MacVeagh
asked.
mot by any MEANS was the posi-
tive answer of Mr.. Mitchell.
"Mr. 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 the poor?"
The, miners representative replied
that there are 100000 persons in the,
anthracite fields who are starving, and
it is their fundamental tight to ask for
living wages in return for their labor.
witness and Counsel Spar.
The examination for few minutes
became very spirited on this phase of
the consequence Of the strike, and then
Mr. MacVea gh turned to the matter of
protecting the, properties during the
strike. Replying to questions by Mr..
MacVeagh, Mr.. Mitchell said that the
provision in the miners constitution
against pickets grew ont of the Home,
stead strike, when a number Of private
detectives were employed as guards,
most of whom, he declared, had been
recruited from the Slums of Philadel-
phia and other large cities. Mr.. Mitch
ell insisted that the city county and
state authorities We're competent to
handle the matter.
Raising his voice to high pitch and
speaking with great fervor, Mr.. Mac
Veagh asked the witness, Don't you
know as well as you know your name
is John Mitchell that in spite Of the Yu-
thorities of this city, Of this county and
Of this state this whole region has been
treated for five months to veritable
foretaste Of hell?"
Mr.. Mitchell calmly replied, 81 don't
!, know anything Of the kind"
"Welf, you will before we are
through with you" was Mr.. Mac.
Veagh's retort.
Contradicts stones Statements.
Mr.. MacVeagh then read Governor
Stones proclamation calling out the
troops, in which the governor said
thoro wos a roiun Of forrnr In tho va
gion. Mr.. Mitchell denied the correct.
ness Of the governors assertions.
The eight hour day question was tax.
en- up, and in reply to query as to
whether he had right to limit mans
labor to eight hours day Mr.. Mitchell
replied. 1--WE favor maximum Of
eight hours" and moment later In