The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-19

Milkman WinterStein also ignored
notice to quit selling her milk.
Henry Nermillye, of Luzerne bor-
ough, a veteran of the Civil war, who
did not like the way the union was
carrying on and who therefore refused
to join it. told n long story of his trials
| and tribulations.
He was working for j. c. Haddock as
a. company hand doing repair work.
George w. Carey, the foreman, and
Patrick Kelly, the fireboss, came to
him. he said, and requested him to join
the union, saying that the union threat
| ened to shut down the colliery II he did
not Join the union or was not dis
charged. The witness told the bosses
he would rather not join the union, but
at their earnest solicitation, after four
days, he consented to join. He paid 50
initiation fee and became, a member
Wouldn't Buy Button.
When the strike came on, a commit
tee from the local notified the boss that
the witness could only work every
other week at his repair work The
witness did not take kindly to this and
when, Il few days later, an officer of
the union told him he would have to
buy and wear u union button or quit
work, he quit work, and went into the
employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western company as a. watchman
at the Pettebone colliery.
He was hung in efflgy, grave mound
was constructed on one of the princi-
pal streets and q tombstone" of wood.
with his initials on it. erected above
the mound, he was hooted. jeered and
stoned as he came and went to and
from his work, merchants were notified
not to sell him goods, his daughter was
called vile names as she passed along
the street and his name was posted on
two printed boycott lists. On account
Of the annoyances to which his family
was subjected, he had to move from
Luzerne to Dorranceton.
When the witness was starting to
tell what his wife had told him about
the coal man and milkman having been
warned against supplying them with
their wares. Mr.. DarrOw vigorously OBJ
iected on the grounds that it was hear
say evidence.
Judge Gray said that if Mr.. Darrow
would insist on his objection the evil
dence could not be received under the
general rules of legal investigation.
"Why do you object, Mr.. Darrow?"
inquired General Wilson. "Is it be-
cause your side is afraid to hear this
mans storv?"
Mr.. Darrow explained that he object
ed because the evidence was second
hand.
Sought to Save Time.
Mr.. Lenahan stated that under the
|
course. was not admissible, but IL the
strict rules OF evidence were to be en-
forced and he was compelled to call
every member of a non-union mans
family. instead of one, to tell the ex-
periences of that family, the commits
sion would have to sit for a year. He
wished only TO save time At all events
he added, the other side had been per-
mitted to give hearsay evidence. Presi-
dent Mitchell, Mr.. I.enahan explained
was freely allowed to tell what others
had told him.
The commissioners consulted for a
few moments, and Judge Gray an
nounced that they would hear any
thing the witness had to tell, that he
heard from members Of his own house.
hold.
Joili bOIdu, general manager tne
Wilkes-Barre lace works testified that
the second day after the steam men
We're called out, a committee of his
employees came to him and stated that
If he didn't discharge all the sons and
daughters of the steam men who had
refused to obey the call, they would
inaugurate a strike. He refused the
demand. and the next morning the L.
15O employees Quit work. The strike
lasted seven weeks. The employees re-
turned to work without the demand
being granted. The seven unions rep
resented in the mill We're also required
to sign an agreement not to strike
again until after arbitration had failed
to settle any differences that might
arise.
Case Todd. a Plymouth hosting en-
gineer employed by the D.. l.. g. w.
company told that he refused to strike
and that he was subjected, in conse-
quence to many anoyances. He was
hung in efligy and four strikers
stopped plumber who was called by
him to repair his bath room.
John Frederick, an engineer at the
Bliss colliery of the D.. l.. & w. COM
pany at Hanover, refused to go on
strike and was one day assaulted by q
crowd of men and women and pain
fully injured. An effort was made by
the strikers to prevent him from get
ting provisions from the merchants of
the town.
Threatened and Stoned.
Edward Whitehead another Bliss
engineer, who would not quit work.
told of being threatened, boycotted
and stoned. Lee 4 Scouten, of Wan
annie, We're warned not to sell him
goods but did not heed the warning.
Bruce Parker, pump runner for the
d., l., d w. company, at Nantcoke,
refused to strike, had his name pub
lished on boycott list and one night
his house was besieged by a crowd of
stone throwers. He raised the siege by