The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-31
THE MINERS STORY TOLD
Men Close Their Case Before the
Strike Commission.
WILL NOT PROBE THE COAL TRUST
The Announcements OF Judge Gray-ain-
srs" Counsel Submit Five Points 60
Prove That Monopoly Exists In the
Aathracits Induslry-scopo OF the In
quiry Not 70 BE widsned.


Scranton, Pa.-The mine workers. al
ter occupying nineteen days In present
Ing about 100 witnesses, closed their
case before the anthracite coal strike
commission. The afternoon session
was one Of the most important sittings
the commission has yet held. because
the question whether the close rela.
tionship Of the coal carrying railroads
with the mining companies shall figure
In the commissions effort to adjust the
controversy. came squarely before the
arbitrators. The decision Of the COM
mission, II Chairman Gray's remarks
can be So called, was briefly this:
That the commission. In q general
way. Is unwilling to widen the scope
Of the investigation beyond the terms
of the submissions Of the miners and
the operators: that In carrying Oh the
investigation 1t assumes the coal com.
panies can afford to pay fair wages; that
II the coal companies In presenting
their side Of the case maintain they
cannot afford to give IN increase In
wages, then the commission will hear
what the miners have to say on the
ability Of the companies to do SO, and
that IL O business cannot pay fair
wages the employer ought to get out
Of It.
These points were brought out during
the two hours consumed by the miners
lawyers in reading documentary evi-
dence, to the whole Of which the coal
companies entered specific and general
objections. The miners wanted to pre-
, sent this evidence in documentary
form. but as objection was made to 1t
and the objection was sustained BY
the commission with the above rulings.
the subject was not pressed. Clarence
8. Darrow and Henry d. Lloyd. repre-
senting the miners, said after the ad.
journment they were well satisfied
with the attitude Of the commission.
and will fight out their case along the
line indicated.
Mr.. Darrow and Mr.. Lloyd, In ipre-
senting documents bearing on thesre-
latiunship between the coal companies
and the railroads were met by this re.
mark from Chairman Gray: You may
submit them to US. but do not think
that the commission would, perhaps. 60
into the relations between the coal car
rying companies and the miners unless
you can show something more directly
bearing upon the matters We have In
controversy"
Mr.. Lloyd then read a syllabus Of the
documents he had to present. He also
submitted these ave points to prove his
c0ntention:
The ownership by certain railroads
Of extensive mining properties in the
anthracite fields; that men who are di.
rectors In one mining company are
members Of boards of directors Of
other railroads and mining companies;
joint resistance Of the coal carrying
railroads to the individual operators
building an Independent railroad to
carry their product at reasonable rates:
the community Of interests Of the coal
carrying railroads and their mining
companies; constant acquisition Of ad-
dltional unmined coal by the coal car
rying railroads.
In O discussion that followed Chair.
man Gray made his announcement
about q fair wage and that II an en-
ployer cannot pay fair wages he ought
to get out Of the business. Mr.. Lloyd
seemed to be satisfied with this view.
and In his remarks to the commission
said he would 60 ne further.