The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-16

| he had. and made an explanation by saying
/ that, II one miner worked more than eight
l hours a day. 1t would probably result in
| the. other men being compelled to work the
| same number of hours.
| During Mr.. MitchelPs examination by Mr..
| Wilcox, the fact was brought out that. II
the increase In wages was granted. 1t would
increase the expenses OF the companies
about S12,UD.oOC a year. In regard to child
TABOR, Mir. Mitchell said he was in favor OF
| a State law which would make the mini
mum age for boy to work at the collieries
II. instead of L.
The attention Of Mr.. Mitchell was directed
to the demand that the operators should
make an agreement with the United Mine
Workers. and Mr.. MacVeagh asked II he
had prepared a draft of such agreement.
which he would have the commission to
compel them to execute. Mr.. Mitchell re-
piled that he had suggested in his opening
address to the commission a form that
would be practicable and acceptable to all
interests in the anthracite field.
Mr.. MacVeagh declared that there was
nothing in Mr.. Mitchells suggestions that
the companies must enter into partnership
with the United Mine Workers. and inquired
If that was one of the miners demands.
Mr.. Mitchell answered that IL was, where
upon Mr.. MacNeagh said his company was
endeavorng TO ascertain and would Continue
TO ascertain what reasons there were for
attempting to compel them 20 enter into
that agreement.
1t Is expected that all OF next week will
be taken up by the miners in presenting
their case.
Immediately after the opening OF the
morning session Chairman Gray, for the
commission. addressed John T. Lenahan
one of the attorneys for the nonunion men.
AT yesterdays session Mr.. Lenahan said he
represented the nonunion men who worked
during the strike and wanted to know what
their status would be before tho commits
sion. Judge Gray said the commission could
not give a decision until after it had care
fully considered the matter. This morn
ing the chairman said:
The commission has considered the mat
ter of your application and has decided that
II viii ask YOU to submit to them state
ment showing whom you represent, by what
authority. what points other than those al
ready at issue between the formal parties
to this controversy you wish TO inject into
this hearing. and a concise statement of
what you claim or what your position is in
regard to the general proposition between
the formal and logical parties to this com
mission. and to state that you guarantee
submission to the award of this commits
sion."
be done?"
AS soon as you can." replied Judge Gray.
After Judge Gray's announcement TO the
attorneys for the nonunion Men, Mr.. Will
cox resumed his cross-eXamination of Mr..
Mitchell He put in evidence extracts from
the proceedings of the Shanokin convention
which formulated the demands which
caused the late strike, a copy OF the United
Mine Workers Journal. the Official organ
OF the union. and voiuminous copy of the
Federationist. the official publication Of the
American Federation of Labor
GOMPERS QUOTED.
MI mitchell, answering question by
Mr.. WILCOX, said that the local unions or
mass meetings may direct the operations
OF pickets.
Mr.. Wilcox then read from a statement
made BY President Gompers of the Fedora
tion of Labor at the Chicago trust confer
ence In September. 1899. in which Mr.
Gompers IS alleged to have said that any
trust legislation which did not specially ex-
empt organized labor from its operation
would meet the unquestioned opposition of
all the labor forces, and asked the witness
If that expressed his views.
Mr.. Mitchell replied that organized labor
would not look with favor upon any law
THAI would leg.slate them out OF business
Mr. Mitchell. answering further questions
said he regarded as living wages for a
would cover his actual necessities and per-
init him to educate his children.
At this point Judge Gray asked the wit |
ness II he meant to say he regarded not less |
than 500 a year for a miner would be a /,
wage TO permit the children to avail them |
family TO spend portion of its income for !
education and still not make 1t necessary to |
resort to child labor. Witness answered |
In the affirmative
on the question of the minimum age at |
which boy should go on the breaker Mr..
Mitchell said he would advocate that it be |
: Mr. Wilcox examined Mr. Mitchell at |
some length regarding the various demands |
of the miners. |
Don't you or your committee know it?" |
inquired Mr.. Wilcox. 4
No. sir, we don't" responded Mr.. Mitch |
ell.
This is a demand of a 1000 900 increase |
in the cost of production" said Mr.. Will |
cox.
ION that calculation, yes.' replied the |
witness. That would be about IL OF 13 |
cents tom
In reply to another question Mr. Mitchell |
said that IL the miners had known at the /
outset that the differences would go to !
board Of arbitration they would have asked |
were settling the question they would settle |
1t right. i
WORK NOT RESTRICTED.
Mr. Mitchell denied that his organization
restricted the quantity Of work man
should perform. but said 1t did believe in
re egulating the hours of the work.
Judge Gray asked:
If bast and throw down enough GOAL |
to- employ three laborers to load and you
only throw down enough to employ two. am
not to be allowed to employ the third la
borer?'
because your laborers could not all work In
the same place. You should have to work