Evening journal., 1902-11-20
VERDICT GIVEN IN
G0MPER'S FAVOR
.Shaffer Not Only Failed to
Prove Charges But Did
Not Formulate Them

q
President Mitchell, Of the MIXERS
union, completed his testimony at
noon yesterday before the anti racite
strike commission. During his ordeal
he was examined by his own attorney
and those of the Erie Company. the
Delaware and Hudson, the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western, the Lehigh
Valley and the Philadelphia and Read
ing Coal ami Iron Company, and also
by the attorneys Of the Independent
operators. He was followed on the
witness stand by the Rev. Peter Rob
erts, d. d., of Mahanoy City, Pa, a
Congregational minister. who has stud
led the anthracite coal industry and
has written a book on the subject.
He was still on the stand when the
commission adjourned for the day.
One of the most important things
brought out during the cross-ex ami
nation OF President Mitchell yester
day was his emphatic declaration that
the miners were opposed to separating
the bitumiuous miners from the an
thracite workers, thus creating two
organizations. He made this reply to
question of Ex-Congressman Simon
p. Wolverton, counsel for the Reading
Company, as TO whether it would not
be better to have separate organiza-
tions. Mr.. MitchNn's answer was that
ut would not be possible or desirable.
The anthracite mite workers have had
independent organizations in the past
They have had several. They have
gone. They are not here now, and the
men do not want any more of their
organizations TO go the same way"
Commissioner Wright, as head of
the department Of labor, in his re-
mort to President Roosevelt on THE coal
strike. dated June 20, suggested
among other things as reasonable and
just" TO prevent industrial conflict in
the anthracite fields. that the 'anthra-
cite employees should organize an an
thracite coal miners union, in its
autonomy to be independent. of the
United Mine Workers of America"
but might be affiliated with it. There
has been SOME gossip among the small
army OF attorn eys at the hearings that
the commission may possibly suggest
such a separate union, and the fact
that Mr.. Wolverton touched on the
matter shows that 1t is being serious
! ly thought of in sotne quarters. What
effect Mr.. MitchelFs declaration will
have on the attitude of the commits
sioners, II this phase of the labor
question is taken up by them, Of
course, is not known.
Mr.. Roberts testimony was Of n
general character, regarding the eco
nomic and sociological conditions in
the anthracite coal country. An
swering questions by Mr.. Wolver-
ton, DR.. Roberts said there were
four methods of payment in the an
thracite regiOn-by car by weights,
by. the yard and by the day. The
wages paid are far from uniform, he
said, and he then went on to describe
the changes which had been made in
the size Of the cars from 72 cubic
feet until they now vary from so to
90 feet. In moving the car from the
breast of the mine to the shaft, Mr..
Roberts said there was per cent.
shskedown.
The witness declared, in response
TO questions, that miners occupation
is more risky than in any other large
industry. There were more deaths in
the mines than on the railroads, but
fewer accidents.
Have you noticed the effect Of sa.
looms on miners?" was the next Ques.
ton,
The number OF saloons in Sohhuyl.
kill county have decreased" was the
reply. "and the consensus of opinion
is that It is due largely to the miners
union" He said that the social worth
and manliness and individuality OF
the Slav had been greatly increased
through the miners union. do you
know what was the result Of the strike
Of 19O0?"
at decidedly improved conditions by
giving 10 per cent advance.
Under the conditions you have ex.
planned" Mr. Wolverton further ask
ed: Can there be any uniform stand
ard of wages, or where fixed would the
wages apply TO the whole coal regions
or to one colliery that would do jus-
tice TO the employe and employer?"
The witness replied that he did not
know whether that could be done, but
said that where work is the same
OF nearly so there was no reason why
the wages should be different.
The non-union men, that is, those
who remained at work during the
strike, were made a party to the arbl-
tration plan today by their counsel
agreeing to make public names Of the
men who petitioned the commission.
When the attorneys for the non
striking workmen. as Chairman Gray
designated them, and who numbered
about 1000. made a demand to the
commission for a 20 per cent increase
in wages with no reduction in hours
tholr offornpvc dhcfrad 20 ,rgthL-fa