The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-18

replied: Eyes, but God with one is a ma
jority. If a man is doing right He is on his
side"
The courtroom was convulsed when Mr..
Mitchell nswered that he would be willing
to leave the whole dispute to God.
ILLINOIS OPERATOR TO TESTIFY.
Reverting for a moment to the yearly
agreements, Chairman Gray announced
that the commission had decided to invite
Herman Justi, commissioner of the Illinois
Operators Association, to appear before the
commission, and TO state the conditions ex-
listing under the yearly agreements be-
tween the soft coal operators and the Illi-
nois miners who belong TO Mr.. Mitchells
organization. AT the suggestion of counsel
on both sides Invitations will be sent TO
other soft-coal operators, a list of whom
will be handed TO the commission later.
Mr.. MacVeagh, seeking a direct answer
to his queries regarding boycotts. asked the
witness why he could not use his influence
to put an end to boycotting and to further
Intimidation OF men, women and children
whose lives have been made uncomfortable.
Mr.. Mitchell responded that ii was the
very fathers and husbands of these people.
who had themselves made their families
lives uncomfortable. Mr.. MacVeagh drawing
himself closer to where the witness was
sitting, said to him: IF such cases are
shown you until you grow weary of them,
as / will show you, will you then agree to
take drastic, thoroughgoing. efectual meas
ures to root ii out as you would any other
deadly, humanity. un-American, cowardly
practice?"
This question Mr.. Mitchell answered by
saying that people AVE a perfect right to
do whatever they choose, provided they
come within the law.
When asked IL he countenanced the stop
page of funerals. the preventing OF a ply
stefan attending a ncnunionist or any MEM
Der Of his family, Mr.. Mitchell declared that
he did not.
Mr.. Mitchell was handed a photograph of
a young woman schoolteacher. who, 1t was
alleged, had been dismissed from her posi-
ton because her father had been a nom
unionist, and was asked il 1t was fair to
rob her of her place on that account.
Judge Gray repeated the question.
A a general proposition" said Mr..
Mitchell. II should say no. 1t is going to an
extreme which no labor organization advo-
Gates" He said, however, that under some
cases it would impair the efficiency of the
teacher, because the pupils. the children of
men on strike, would not obey, and, there
fore, 1t was proper TO petition for the teach
er's removal until at least matters had
quieted down.
Mr.. Mitchell, in response to questions by
Mr.. Macveagh and Judge Gray, declared
that a member of a trade union, who was
a member of a state militia, should not es-
cape service, but Should willingly perform
the responsibilities that go with them.
A recess was announced at this point.
AT the beginning of the afternoon session
Mr.. MacVeagh went back to the question
of whether or not the poor would have
to bear the burden of the increase in wages
If granted Nothing new was brought out
except the statement from Mr.. Mitchell
that labor unions are democratic bodies,
the members of which decide for themselves
whether or not they shall go on strike.
The question of boycotts was taken I'D
again. A long line of questions followed
on the matter of boycotts and Mr.. Mac
Veagh again pressed Mr.. Mitchell hard for
a straightout expression on boycotts. The
attorney read a list of fourteen men who
were killed during the strike and Mr..
Mitchell said a number of these were killed
by coal and iron police and that of the
fourteen ten of them did not belong to
the union. A list Of the seriously il INJURED
was also put in evidence by Mr.. MacVeagh.
Mr.. MacVeagh was still engaged in cross
examining Mr.. Mitchell on boycotts and
acts of violence to show the rresponsibilitv
OF the organizations when the commission
adjourned.