The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-15

1.-THE process of enforcing the agreement is
! the agreement itself. The constitution does
not specifically contain any provision for
] turning a man out of the organization, hut
1t does confer power on its officers TO IN
terpret IL and to exercise supervision under
il. The Interpretation is the law"
Then you are now making the law" said
Mr.. WILCOX.
The hour OF 1870 having arrived, a recess
4 was taken until o'clock.
In the afternoon Mr.. WILCOX resumed the
examination of Mr. Mitchell and read news
| paper accounts referring to the proceed
! ings OF the Indianapolis convention, at
/ which it was proposed to call for "A ma
/ tional convention OF all miners employed
| in the United States for the purpose OF
| considering the situation in the anthra-
| cite fields and general suspension OF
work. Mr.. Mitchell said he did not re-
| call the statement, as il was read, although
it might be correct. Mr.. Wilcox: 'As /
understand 1t, workers in the bituminous
| fields are under contracts
Mr.. MitcheIl-"Yes. sir"
And you say those contracts are SUI
perior TO the constitution of the United
| Mine Workers."
Yes, SIR
How then could that convention have
| considered the question of inaugurating a
national suspension
1T did not consider it. because, by unan-
| imous vote IL was decided not To inau-
| gurate a national suspension. II was
called for the purpose of considering the
application of the anthracite miners that a
bituminous coal fields
What was the object of the conven-
! tion?'
PURPOSE OF THE CONVENTION.
well, L had my own reasons for not
telling them that. They knew it. The real
purpose of the convention was carried out
and si,500.0O0 was got from them to help
| to sustain these anthracite men while on
| strike"
Mr.. Wilcox then inquired IL under the
constitution Of the United Mine Workers
should there be a strike in the western
| Pennsylvania bituminous mines and 1t
should turn out that anthracite coal was
going there, the national officers could not
order strike in the anthracite district.
Mr.. Mitchell with emphasis, said they
could not. and in support OF his statement
bituminous on orefator ne IN WHICH II w Was ex
pressly provided that the contract could
not be set aside because of any rules OF
may hereafter be adopted, nor because Of
stitutions.
The constitution gives the president a
good deal OF discretion, doesn't it?' inquired
Mr.. WILCOX.
That is true of every constitution" an
swered Mr.. Mitchell, "even the Consttu-
I ton OF the United States"
Mr. Wilcox at this point read the testi-
mony of Mr.. Mitchell before the industrial
commission In which ne explained the pol
icy and conditions of the mine workers at
that time This occupied an hour, and
| several members of the commission be-
came restless, Mr.. Willcox's voice at times
becoming almost inaudible. Referring to
| the strike OF 1900, MIR. Wilcox handed to
Mr.. Mitchell for identification copy of
the res, resolutions passed at the Hazieton con-
| able to state how much those demands
would have added to the labor cost of min
ing either in dollars and cents or in per-
centage. Mr.. Mitchell replied that the in
crease would have amounted to 20 per cent.
Wouid not 1t surprise you to know" in
would have been about 20 per cent?"
II do not remember" was the response
Il think we fixed the minimum price at
about sLl5 per day. do not think the men
were earning 20 per cent less than that"
MANY BOYS EMPLOYED.
Mr.. Wilcox continued his reading of Mr..
Mitchelfs testimony before the Industrial
committee and inquired what methods were
adopted for the purpose of getting the men
out on the strike of 1900. The witness de-
clared that the officers of the organization
of mine workers who were employed sim
ply held meetings and asked the men to
go out, being notified through the news
papers that a certain day was set for going
out Mr.. Mitchell admitted that the men
marched to the places of meeting and that
| he had made two speeches at the Markle
| properties. Upon further questioning he
said that there are employed in the anthra-
| cite mines about H,000 persons under TWEEN
| ty-one years or age, most of whom be-
longed to the union. although boys under
sixteen had separate branch with the
right OF but half n vote.
what methods do you adopt to prevent
| interference with nonunion mem" asked
| Mr.. Wilcox.
We'll. ordinarily" said Mr.. Mitchell, Gin
1 INV falI all r.
| In States where they have contracts are
members of the organization. In parts of
central and western Pennsylvania they are
| not They work together in harmony.
! There is no difficulty between them. The
| organization tries by persuasion to have
the nonunionist come into the union. In
the anthracite field they have worked the
! same way"
There is no definite method of prevent
ing interference or anything done on that
| subject, particularly, is there?"
| There is usually no interference, and
| consequently no necessity of having laws
to prevent it," Mr.. Mitchell responded
Speaking very slowly and with evident
desire to impress the question upon the
| commission, Mr.. Wilcox said: Mr.. Mitch
| ell, during the last strike there was con-
siderable violence in the anthracite regions.
| was there not?"
There was some violence. but to what
extent I am not fully informed"
Mr.. Wilcox here read the proclamation of
Governor Stone of October last. calling
out the entire division of the National
| Guard of the State and in continuing his
| question said: In your letter to President
| Roosevelt of Oct. is you said, There have
| been few crimes and a number of INSIDE
| meanors chargeable to those on strike You
recollect that don't your"
Yes, sir" was the response.
| Has anything been done to discipline
| those people?
81 understand that where the miners were
| guilty of lawlessness they have been arrest
| ed and are under Indictment"
Il mean anything been done by your or
| sanization?"
NO UNIONISTS ARRESTED.
I'VE have no method of Furnishing a man
| who has committed a crime except expul-
| sion from the union. We have no record
that any man who has been arrested is a
member of the United Mine Workers of
| America"
You said there were crimes and INSIDE
meanors chargeable TO those on striker?
Because there were any amount of nom
union men on strike"
You think that ii was the nonunion men
Willcox's next query.
Mr.. Mitchell responded by saying that
| his information was that IL was not mem
| bers of the union.
Continuing, Mr.. Wilcox asked what
method had been taken to inquire into the
subject. to which Mr. Mitchell responded
| by saying that an examination of the
| unions books OF crimes committed failed to
| show the connection of any union man with
| them. We take the position that courts
| are established TO determine the innocence
ar ol1ilt nf nv ta1 nd until q