Waterbury Democrat., 1902-11-17
Says Miners Will Accept ver-
diet of Commission.
DENIES GOV. STONES STORY.

President Mitchell at Length-SIalls-
tics Gathered by the Mine Workers
of the Schuylkill Region.
Scranton, Pa, Nov 17.-President
Mitchell of the Miners union resumed
the stand to-day upon the conVenlng
of the anthracite coal strike commls-
sion in the Lackawanna county court
house, and his cross-examination by
Wayne MacVeagh, which was begun
on Saturday, was continued. Mr. Nc
Veagh represents the Erie company
which operates the mines under the
names of the Pennsylvania Coal Co
and the Hillside Coal and Iron Co. Mr.
Mitchell, who has been on the stand
since Friday morning. brought with
him number of documents and books
which he frequently referred to in
order to refresh his memory.
There seemed to be no falling off in
the interest in the proceedings. a
arge number Of persons patiently stood
N line in the corridor of the building
in the hope of gaming admittance To
the hearing. Only small portion OF
them We're successful, the limited ac-
ccmmOdations being almost entirely
taken up by counsel for both sides,
railroad and mining officials, represen-
tatives of the mine workers and work
men who are employed in the mines.
Mr. McVeagh began his examination
by reading from newspaper clippings
OF the methods of a labor organization
known as the Operative Plasterers' as
sociation of New York against the en-
ployers.
Do you approve or do you heartily
disapproye of these methodist Mr. Mac
Veagh asked. Hi .s
Il should say that my union has no
such rules, was Mr. Mitchell's re-
sponse.
Mr. Macyeagh repeated his question.
and Mr. Mitchell said:
Il can only say that in the absence
OF knowledge as to the causes which
made them adopt such resolutions I
am not competent to pass upon the
fairness or unfairness Of them. On the
surface and with the information you
convey to me should say they are un-
fair"
Mr. MacVeagh reverted to the sub
Ject of placing the responsibility for
the increased price of coal and in
qu1red: DO you still feel at liberty
to say it is none of your business what
additional cost the people will have to
pay for their coal if that additional
cost Is the. Immediate result of oyur
demandsY'
II have not said at any time it was
none of our business replied Mr.
Mitchell. Il have stated it was be-
yond our control; that we have abso-
lutely nothing to do with the selling
price of coal''
Won't your men have to work five
years to make up the loss they sus-
tanned during the striker Mr. Mac
Veagh asked.
Not by any MEANS" was the post
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 increase
the cost of living to hundreds of thou
sands of the poor?''
The miners representative replied
that there are 100000 persons in the
anthracite fields who are starving and
it Is their fundamental right to ask for
living wages in return for their labor.
The examination fof a few minutes
became very spirited on this phase of
the consequence of the strike. and then
Mr. MacVeagh turned to the matter of
protecting the properties during the
strike
Replying to questions by Mr. Mac
NetSSA OA tAC 4ISA1L I'll pI1Ndl0
to protect their property. Mr. Mitchell
said that the provision in the miners
constitution against pickets grew out
of the Homestead strike, when a mum
Der of private detectives were en-
ployed as guards, most of whom he de-
clared had been recruited from the
slums of Philadelphia and other large
cities. Mr. Mitchell insisted that the
city, county and state authorities were
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 your name is John
Mitchell that in spite of the authorities
of this city, of this county and of this
state this whole region has been treat
ed for five months to veritable fore
taste of help
Mr. Mitchell calmly rcnIied: s'I don't
know anything of the kind''
'sWell, you will before we are through
with you" was Mr. MacVeagh'S Ie-
tort.
The strike commission to-day de-
cided to send for the officials of the
Illinois Coal Operators association TO
appear before them and tell what they
know about the system of yearly
agreements under which they work.
John Mitchell was on the stand
again to-day. He denied Governor
Stones assertion that a reign of terror
existed in the strike district. He said
the miners favored an eight hour day
and moment later said that the min
ers will accept whatever award the
commission makes, and that award
will have precedence over the laws of
the union
Pottsvil1e, Pa. Nov 17-Statistics
gathered by the United Mine Workers
from the Schuy1kiII region for presen
tation to the arbitration commission
show that only per cent Of the grad
uates OF the local high schools are sons
Of miners
The wage rate shows an average Of
1886 per year for the mine workers
waees OF 1aborers being Included with
the miners In the calculation. A pro
fest VIII be made on behalf Of fhf
schuy]ki11 miners to the nissioners
aeainst the acceptance Of the proposi
fina Of the Reading company to base
7he rate OF wages on the price Of coal
Hsffa xras the system in x0R'ie here ne