Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-20
MITCHELL RELIEVED.
he COMPLETES us TEsT1s1oNf
BEFORE THE COAL COM
MISSION.
SEPARATE ORGANIZATIONS.
Miners Emphatica11y Opposed to DI-
vIding Their Forces.
sos-us1oS MEN co'rE II,
Made Party to the Arbitration Plan
by Agreeing to Make Public the
Names of the. Men who Pctitioned
for Hearing Congregational
Minister Follows Mr.. Mitchell on
the Witness Stand.
Miners Emphattca11y Opposed to Di-
vIding Their Forces.
Made Party to the Arbitration Plan

sSCRANlON, "a. NoSelibei 49, 90
being on the stand for four and half
days, President Mitchell OF the minei~
union, completed his testimony at noon
to-day before the Anthracite Coal COM
mission. During his ordeal he was ex-
aulined by his own attorney and the attor-
neys of the Erie Company. the Delaware
ard Hudson. the Delaware, Lachawanna
and Western, the Lehigh Valley. and tho
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and iron
Company and also by the attorneys LOT
the independent operators lie was ioilo"-
cd on the witness stand by Rev. Peter
Roberts, a Congregational minister, who
has studied the anthracite coal industry
arc has written a book on the subject
He wes still on the stand when the COM
mission adjourned for the day.
One of the most important things
brought out by the cross-examnatlon OF
President Mitchell, was his emphatic dec
larat ton that the miners We're opposed 10
separating the bitumlnous miners from
the anthrac cite workers. thus creating two
organizations. He made this reply to
question from ex-Congressman Simon
Wolverton counsel for the Reading COM
pany, as to whether 1t would not be bet
ter to have separate organizations.
Miners Against Division.
Mr.. Mitchells' answer was that 1t would
not be possible or desirable. THE an
thracite mine worker have had inde-
pendent organiza tons In the past. They
have had several. They have gone. They
are not here now and the men do not want
any more of their organizations to so the
same way.
Commissioners Wright, as head Of the
Department of Labor, in his report TO
President Roosevelt. on the coal strike.
dated June 10th, suggested among other
things as reasonable and just, to pre-
vent industrial conflict in the anthracite
fields, that the anthracite employees
should organize an anthracite coal miners
! union, in its autonomy to be independent
of the United Mine Workers of America
but that ,nightpe aftliate,s with it. There
had been some gossip among the small
army OF attorneys at the hearings that
the commission might possibly suggest
such separate union, and the fact that
MI. Wolverton touched on the matter
shows that it Is being seriously thought
:: o. in some quarters. What effect alr.
Mltchelps declaration will have on the
attitude of the commissioners if this
phase Of the labor question is taken up
by them, is, Of course. not known.
Non-UnIonssts Made Party.
The non-union men, that IS, those who
remained at work during the strike were
made a party to the arbitration plan to-
day, by their counsel agreeing TO make
, public the names Of the men who petition
ed the commission. When the attorneys
for the non-strikinG workingmen. as
Chairman Gray designated them, and who
numbered about 2,000, made a demand to
the commission for a 20 per cent increase
In wages. with no reduction in hours, the
attorneys desired to withhold the names
Of the persons they represented. The com
mission, however, decided 1t could not be
a party TO such a plan of secrecy. In con-
nection with the nOn-union feature or the
investigation, Mr.. Mitchell announced that
he is representing thousands of non-unioT.
men, who struck with the unioniSts. and
that all the workmen would abide by the
award OF the commission, or get out OF
the union"
Mr.. NIitchelrs testimony to-day con-
taned little that was new to the commits
sioners, and that OF Mr.. Robertson was
Of q general character, regarding the eco
nomic und social conditions in the anthra.
cite coal country. The commission, while
regretting they have to do so, are still
reminding; both sides that they W uld like
to have the submission of testimony eX-
pedited Chairman Gray several times
during the day interrupted, and showed
that the ground then being gone over had
already been covered It has been sug-
gested that counsel for both sides agree on
rules for the submission of evidence. but
nothing has been done toward that end.
The Days Examination.
At the opening of to-day's session. Mr..
Mitchell was cross-examined briefly by
W. w Ross. Of the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western; Simon P. Wolver-
ton, for the Philadelphia, Reading. and
James H. Torrey. representing the Della
ware and Hudson.
The individual operators, who up to the
present time have not pressed their case
before the commission. through one Of
their attorneys, Ira II. Burns. OF Scran-
ton. inquired of the commission If they
would be given the opportunity to ex-
anime witnesses on questions which ara
from those concerning the companies
Judge Gray answered that they would
Mr.. Mitchell, in reply to Mr.. Burns.-
said that when a man strikes he does not
voluntarily give up his job, but he strikes
for an Improvement In the conditions Of
his job. II he wins he gets back the
position, If he loses he goes back with
his hat In his hand and asks for job
Return to Work of Men.
Judge Gray here interrupted to explain
the understanding of the commission
with resnect ia the returning to work OF