The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-19
Strike Forced In n Mill Because the
Manager Refused to Discharge
Two Girls.
EXCoRIATIoN BY JUDGE GRAY
ACTION OF THE BoYCOTTERs DE-
NOUNCED As CowARDLY.
Storekeepers Who Permitted strikers
to Influence Their Business Policy
Also Severely Criticised.

SCRANTON, Pa, pec. 1S.-The coal strike
commission listened to-day to further tes-
timony tending to show that a reign OF
terror existed in the anthracite coal fields
during the five and a half months OF the
mine workers strike. About a score OF
witnesses were called during the two ses-
sions by the attorneys for the nonunion
men. They told of serious boycotts. brutal
boys. and an attempt to burn the house
of nonunion man. In most instances
the witnesses testified that the alleged
offenders were members of the miners
union. The lawyers for the miners objected
frequently to the admission OF hearsay
testimony and sometimes objected because
of irrelevancy of certain other statements.
Chairman Gray said the commission was
not bound by any strict rules of evidence,
but asked counsel to confine themselves in
examining witnesses as far as possible TO
direct evidence. He said il was too diff
cult in trying to prove that boycotts ex-
listed to get information on the subject.
The commission. he said, wanted TO know
whether a reign of terror existed in the
anthracite region. and il could not get that
information If the strict rules of evidence
were applied 1.-The coward who will 60
to the storekeepers.' he said, land tell
them not to sell the necessaries of life TO a
poor woman usually seeks the obscurity
that the law OF evidence throws around
him. II a girl is discharged from her po-
sition in a store because she rode in a
street car in inclement weather, whiR~r-
street-car strike was on, the coward who
discharged her is coward enough TO refuse
TO testify" He recognized, he said. why
some merchants will not come forward and
tell who forced them 10 refuse 10 sell the
necessaries of life to certain boycotted per-
sons. but IL he Chairman Gray were a
storekeeper, he thought he would risk his
all In order to break up the cowardly
business.
August Scheuch of Hazleton, who worked
for the Lehigh Valley company through
the suspension, testified that he was at
tackled by mob while he and his son were
going to work and that he was severely in
Jured by being hit by rocks; that he was
stabbed three times and suffered FIVE ribs
broken He was acting as a coal and iron
policeman at the time, but he did not use
his revolver because he was afraid OF
shooting his son. who was being beaten by
the crowd at the same time. Many OF these
men, he said, were strikers. Among those
In the crowd who assisted in beating him,
the witness said. was Squire Mckelvey OF
Hazleton. The son Of the witness corrobo-
rated the testimony OF the father.
Henry Vermillye, of Dorrinctown. near
wilkesbarre said ne was to,ced to ioin the
union by the superintendent of the John c.
Haddock Coal Company In order 10 keep
peace at the colliery. This was before the
strike began. Later he left the company
because he thought the union was running
the place and went to work for another
company while the strike was on. He was
hanged in effigy, stones were thrown AZ
him while going TO and from his work and
storekeepers were compelled to refrain
from selling his relatives the necessaries OF
life
Mrs. Kate Mcnamara, of Parsons. the
mother of four small children whose hus-
band was in the mine and could not come
home for fear of bodily harm, testified that
her home was destroyed by fire at night
and she and her children were rescued with
difficulty.
Counsel for the miners called the commIs-
sions attention 10 the fact that the fire had
not been connected with the strikers, and
objected TO the other side bringing i'm evi-
dence of alleged strikers when they cannot
prove IT,. Chairman Gray said that while
the evidence did not directly connect the
strikers with the fire, the inference was
that the fire was most probably of incen-
diary origin.
John Doran. manager of the wilkesbarre
lace mills. testified that because he would
not discharge two girls. w.lo had relatives
working in the mines, the 1,100 employees
went on strike and stayed out eight weeks.
until the matter was fixed up.
Another witness said he was a member
of the union. and while under a physician's
care during the street car strike here last
i y
asked for by the union. but the mine super
intendent refused. The union men made
his occupation so unpleasant for him in
the mines that he had to quit He left
| the union, and when the strike came on
| he refused to leave his work He moved
from one place to another and finally re-
moved TO Pittston. AT that place the union
miner, who owned the house, ordered him
out and he had TO leave.
These witnesses and others testified that
their wives were insulted on the streets:
! that the children were beaten by othr chill
! dren and could not be sent 10 school: that
| local unions requested store keepers 10 re-
\ frain from selling goods to any one related
/ TO man working I'm the mines; that their
/ houses were stoned; that they were stoned
/ shot at and hanged I'm effigy. and that life
was generally made miserable for them
and their families. Most OF the witnesses
| connected strikers with the offenses ALLEGED
The lawyers for the nonunion men said
tonight they would continue TO call wit
nesses TO prove that reign OF terror ex-
/ listed during the strike. The commission
will adjourn Saturday and will convene in
! Philadelphia on Jan. 5.
a