Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-18

have precedence over the laws of the
union"
Then Mr.. MacVragh said: abraham
Lincoln was splitting rails. and he
didn't limit himself to eight hours. and
you demand ii not only for the men in
the mines, but for all the men above
ground as well. He was doing in.
linitely harder work than nine-tenths
of our men employed in the mines
above ground. SO was Garfield when
he was as a boy trudging along the
path of the canal and so was Mr.. Nc
Kinley in his early life. only mention
these because they are the three vic
Tins of the spirit OF anarchy which is
the curse Of this country today and the
only serious curse affecting It,"
Mr.. Mitchell took quick notice Of the
word anarchy" as employed by Mr.
MacNeagli and with considerable spir-
1t promptly inquired. Trade unions are
not held responsible for it, are they?"
NO. certainly not" said Mr.. Mac
Veagh. "Trade unions are most ad-
mirable, but you make a demand upon
ms that we shall prohibit every man
in our employ from working more than
eight hours. That strikes us as per.
fectly inadmissible."
Describes. Unions Workings.
In answer to- further questions Mr.
| Mitchell entered into a detailed de-
scription of the workings Of the union.
Mr. Mitchell upon the request Of
Judge Gray said that the officers of the
union under pay had contributed 81
| per cent per month Of their salaries
for the benefit Of the striking miners.
The fact was brought out that Mr..
Mitchell had had telephone conferences
with Senator Hanna just previous to
the settlement Of the strike of 1900.
"Of course that was the year in
which Mr.. Bryan was again candi-
date for the presidency" said Mr..
MacVeagh. land you were conscious Of
/, the great apprehensions entertained by
the financial interests of the country
as to the possibility of his election?'
"Well, L understood. they We're very
apprehensive," was the response.
Mr.. MacVeagh asked If any advance
secured by the miners was. not due to
that apprehension.
II believe" said Mr.. Mitchell; "that
the fact" that an election was pending
had something to do with the early set
Element of the strike"
Mr.. Mitchell denied that he had had
any conference with the coal operators
at that time and said that during the
strike Senator Hanna had spoken to
him over the telephone and had sent
Mr.. Daniel Keef, president of the In
ternational LongshOremen's union, tC
see him.. He denied that. it was.
through Mrs Reef he agreed that If the
10 per cent increase was granted the
strike would be called Off, bat said
Senator Hanna had told him the oper
ators had decided TO make the offer OF
10 Eer cent
Responsibility OF, Unia~aa.
Mn. Macveagh here took up the sug.
gestion for a yearly agreement and at
tempted to show that the union could
not, control its members and therefore
on agreement Isl inpracticahle.
Mr.. Mitchell said there We're nAam,
differences thatl both sides justly ooln-
plain OF and which Lie hoped would bt
wiped out by agreements. II dare
say" Str. Mitchell remarked. ''T OH,
union violates the contract the people
Of this counsry will take good care
that We have.no union leRt. There viii.
be no question about that. and if the
operators violate it the peopls, of tlse
United States will see that thay regret
it."
Mr.. MitcMel said that thds was q
country Of majoxities. wheraupon Mr.
: MacVeagh replied:
Yes. but God with one is a jor
ity, If Il. man is. doing right, he is on
his side
The courtroom WIS cOnMulsed. when
Mr. Mitchell answered that he would
be willing to. leave the whole dispute
to God.
Mr.. Macvaagh,. seeking a direct an.
swer to his queries regs&ding boycotts,
asked the witness wing he could not
use his Influence to pug an end to boy
cotting ana to further Intimidation OF
men. women and children whose lives
have been made uncomfortable ME-
Mitchell responded that it was the
very fadlers and husbands Of these
people who had themselves made theil
eamilies'' lives uncomfortable. Mr. Mac.
veagh. drawing himself closer to where
the witness was sitting said to him:
III such cases, are shown you until
you grow weary of them. as will
show you, will you then agree to take
drastic, thoroughgOing, effectual meas
ures to root 1t out as you would any
other deadly. unmanly, un-American,
cowardly practice?"
This question Mr.. Mitchell answered
BY saying that people have a perfect
right to do whatever they choose pro-
vided they come within the law.
Mr.. Mitchell, in response to, questions