Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-15


give them NJ least q common school educa-
ton. p0 ~ ~ cuuip them 70. Rear the grave
responsibilities that will ultimately devolve
vie wealth ana future Of the nation are
f%onsirssse. ~ rather BY The, snlieh,sned
cgntehtment and prosperity q IL millions
wttchett ~ first witness.
Clarence r barrow. for the miners, then
called Mr.. Mitchell 20 the stand, the oath
vas administered to him, and the first
direct evidence vas taken from the lips
" tho famous mine leader.
He said % per cent Of the anthracite
minors we're mombers OF the union and
that the president Of the executive board
never. ordered q strike except upon tho
Affirmative vote Of the miners themselves.
Only Honest Metho
Ito said the agitation for high wages was
begun two years ago. This had crystalized
into . demand to b. paid by weight,
witch In his opinion was the only honest
method Of determining the amount the men
earn. Tie spoke Of the size OF coal cars
and the demand Of operators that more
top" should be put on, which be said had
been q source Of more trouble than any
one thing ne knew Of.
Were you willing to submit to arbitra-
ton 70 Mr.. barrow asked.
Always" said Mr.. Mitchell.
"And. OF course, you are now"
YES. I'M a public statement June % we
proposed arbitration"
Mr.. Darlow's next question brought out
tho hrst question since the strike began
regarding tho amount Of aid given the
strikers. MIR Mitchell SAID that $500, 900
a. - af-4.aA...a ar,d,, tho uvnrEara
and that nonunion men on strike had
shared equally with the u~nionists, although
they had paid no dues. He said he did not
know Of q single iastahce where his or
ganlzation had failed TO keep its contracts.
what do you say as 10 the ability OF
your Organization 10 maintain discipline
and assist in the settlement Of questions
and help In the harmony of the manage
ment Of the coal Industry" inquired MT.
barrow.
Speaking very deliberately. Mr.. Mitchell
answered: II would say that our expert
ence az an organization demonstrates con-
clusiveiy that discipline can be maintained
where trade agreements exist. AS a matter
OF fact, in those states where we have
trace agreements. II any Of our local
unions we're to attempt to violate agree
ments or refuse to go back to work when
VIC instructed l0em 10 w 81 VIC NOuiu pun
them out Of the union. Our agreements
take precedence over our own law. The
agreements must be kept inviolate.'
Wen Must Keep Agreements.
When the direct examination Of MIR.
Mitchell was concluded Mr.. Wilcox, for the
operators. cross-examined Mr.. Mitchell re-
garding the general workings of the organ
%ization. Mr.. Wilcox asked IL there was
any provision in the miners constitution
which authorized the expulsion OF men who
violate agreements. Mr.. Mitchell said that
he would have such authority because that
had been the policy Of the organization.
Usually" said he. the process of enforc-
ing the agreement is the agreement itself.
The constitution does not specifically make
Arrangement for turning a man out Of the
union. but II does confer power on its ON
GERS to interpret and exercise supervision
!. under II. The Interpretation ID the law"
I Then you are now making the law?"
said Mr.. Wilcox.
l Mr.. Wilcox inquired IL there should be
a strike in the Pennsylvania, bitufninous
! mines and II should turn out that anthra-
: cite coal was going there, the national
officers could not order a strike in the
anthracite district.
t me- said Mr.. Mitchell, and in support
. VI III blhIcIAchl uG NCuu AZ VI IN
: agreements with the %bituminous operators
$ a clause expressly providing that the con-
tract could not be set aside "because OF
any rules Of the United Mine Workers now
8 in force or which may hereafter be adopted
: or because OF any proposition of their state
: or loacl constitutions"
4 1.-THE constitution gives the president q
, good deal Of discretion, doesn't it?' in.
r quired Mr.. Wilcox.
8 That is true Of every constitution" an
. swered Mr.. Mitchell "evon the constitution
Of the United States"
8 would not 1t surprise you to know
Queried Mr., Wilcox, that the increase
asked would In 1900 have been about Il
per cent?"
Q II do not remember" was the witness
response. 81 think we nxed the minimum
d price at about Size per day. l do not thinl
the men were earning 70 per cent less thar
that"
Miners obey Law.
n What methods do you adopt to proven
interference with nonunion menu" per
y sisted counsel.
Well, ordinarily" said Mr.. Mitchell, I'll
,e the bituminOus fields all the mine work
! ers in states where they have contracts ar
le members Of the organization. In parts o
ID central and western Pennsylvania, they ar
not. They work together in harmony
There is no dinlculty between them. Til
organization tries by persuasion to hav
the nOnunionist come into the union, 1
VI the anthracite field they have worked tn
same way"
70 There is no definite method Of prevent
to Ing Interference or anything done on ths
go subject. particularly, is there?"
There IT, usually no Interference, an
consequently no necessity Of having laws I
TO prevent H." MIR. Mitchell responded.
- Speaking very slowly and with an evider
desire to impress the question upon tn
committee, Mr.. WILCOX asked.
"MT. Mitchell during the last strike theI
Was Considerable violence IN the anthra
cite regions. was there not?"
There vas some violence. but to whl
extent l am not fully informed"
Has anything bsen done 20 diseipIir
those people7"
I understand that where miners vel
guilty Of laWlessness they have been a.
rested and are under indictment"
" | mean anything been done BY your O
sa~niEation?'
We have no method Of furnishing a ms
- hnH rauanuNHNmA . II