The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-19
MATCH FOR THE LAWYERS
Arbitrat0rs Worried by Long
DraWn-Out Examination.
Members of the Commission Urge
the Lawyers to confne Their
Questions to New Features.
Crowds Continue.

Scranton, Pa, Nov 1S.-President
Mitchell for the fourth successive day
occupied the witness stand during today's
session of the strike commission and was
crossed examined by three attorneys for
as many coal companies.
While considerable amount Of infor-
nation for the enlightenment Of the
commission was brought out, the day was
rather quiet one. The arbitrators are
growing restless in consequence of the
long cross-examination which apparently
does not bring out the facts as quickly
as the commission would like to have
them presented. Several times during
the days session Chairman Gray re-
minded the attorneys of the value of time
and suggested that cross-examination be
limited to new features Of those questions
that have already been gone over. The
lawyers assured the commission that
they, too were anxious to expedite mat
tiers and would do anything possible to
hurry matters along without injuring
their own case.
Signs Of Uneasiness.
Mr.. Mitchell has been on the stand
since last Friday morning and Is show
ing signs Of WEAKNESS from the strain of
four days cross-examinati ton. Thus far
his attorney, C. s. Darrow, and David
WILCOX for the Delaware and Hudson,
Wayne MacVeaugh for the Erie; Francis
/. Gowen for the Lehigh Valley and w.
W. Ross for the Delaware, Laekawanna
and Western company have examined tho
nss,A4 -l-r11 A.
day for the first time entered into the
discussion with the lawyers and the wit
ness over disputes which arose from time
to time
Mr.. MacVeagh who began his cross-ex-
animation Of Mr.. Mitchell Saturday cea=
cluded at ii o'clock today. The dsttn-
guished attorney centered most of his
energies in trying to break down the
miners reasons for asking for yearly
agreement with the companies on hours
of labor, wages and other conditions,
which, If made, would be a recognition
of the union. Mr.. MacVeagh's principal
aim throughout his questioning Of Mr..
Mitchell was ITO show that the Mine
Workers Union, because of alleged acts
of intimidation, violence and the use of
the boycott by its members, proved itself
unfit to be a party to a contract.
No Reign Of Terror.
Mr. Mitchell would not admit, nor even
assume for the sake of illustrating points,
that a reign of terror existed in the an
thracite fields during the last six months.
The recognition Of the union Is looked
upon as the most important question be-
fore the commission and 1t is quite evil
dent from the trend Of the proceedings
thus far that the companies will oppose
1t TO their utmost ability.
Mr.. Gowan and Mr.. Ross questioned Mr..
Mitchell principally regarding questions
existing at the collieries of the companies
they represented. These questions were
more or less technical. Mr.. MitchelPs
answers as a rule. differed very little
from the reasons given In his preliminary
statement to the commission for improved
conditions for the mine workers.
Interest in the proceedings is not wan
ing The large crowds which have been
wedged In the court room on the preceding
days of the hearings were in evidence
today Neither Is there a falling off in
the attendance of attorneys, Of whom
there are almost two score present at each
session
Time of Employment.
In the afternoon Mr.. Ross's line of ex-
animation was for some time directed
toward testing Mr.. MItchell's knowledge
of bituminous mine working, the number
comparison of these with the wages paid
in the anthracite fields. Regarding the
number of hours the men work IN the
hard coal regions. Mr.. Mitchell said that
when the breaker runs ten hours, the
men usually work seven. eight or nine
hours When the breaker runs less the
men work in proportion. On the average.
however, the men worked more hours
than the breakers.
LAS a matter of fact" said Mr.. Ross.
.has not wour organization stopped the
miners from working on the days when
the breakers were idle?"
Mr.. Mitchell admitted that in this dis
trict the rule Is that the men shall not
prepare coal on idle days. This, he said,
was for the purpose Of preventing
favoritsm.
T"Do any of these epithets and slurs."
injured Mr.. Boss. you have made re-
qardlng the horrible condition Of the
miners apply to our country?'
Had Cast No Slurs.
"Nvin you tell me particularly what slurs
Won refer tor" Mr. Mitchell asked
Getting no direct answer, he. with some
snirit. repeated his query, saying: 81
would like you to refer specifically to
,vbo. YOU mean by slIrs. do not recall
having used language of that character"
NJ Ross did not take any notice of
nv Nitrhclls rem ark. hut. instead, took
nm the I'ne of his examination.
You have spoken Of the existence Of
rovorit!sr. for one thing" Mr.. Ross said,
.,ord YOU referred to the excessive sys-
tenn Of docking. Do they exist in our
That is my information" was the re-
ply. .,.,,,,,,-, .,,,u,. err
?, rfplv TO another question by Mr..
.oss Mr.. Mitchell declared that the rule
: the local unions not to prepare coal
vhen tho breakers were idle. did have for
It's object the restriction of the output.
sTf these miners had been permitted to
o-i, - asked Mr.. Ross ION these idle
Sovs the output would have been great
"I don't know whether your company
wanted more coal than the miners pro-
duccd or not"
Eve have wanted for several years all