New-York tribune., 1902-12-17
GOMPERS ON THE STAND
Declares That Operators Are I'M
porting FOREIGNERS. for Mines

Scranton Penn Dec Notwithstanding that
the mine workers announced yesterday that tney
had closed their case with the exception OF calling
one more witness. the entire two sessions OF the
strike commission to-day were consumed In near
ing three witnesses for the men, They were John
c. Haddock. individual operator; the Rev Ut
Peter Roberts who is assisting the miners, ana
President Samuel Gompers, OF the American FED
GRAFTON OF Labor The principal point in Mr.. Had
docks testimony that he favored giving the
mine workers concessions. under certain cohoi-
tions. President GOmpers testned as an expert
ON the trade union movement He created a stir
when he strongly implied during MS exarnlhatiOi'
that the coal companies are responsible IN orihs
ing immigrants to the coal regions Wnen one Oh
the lawyers for the coal companies asked him II he
knew IL from personal knowledge he said ne coulu
prove IL IL necessary.
The miners made another attempt to-day to have
the commission admit as evidence large mass OF
testimony tending show that the anthracite
coal carrying roads charge extortlonate ana ols-
eliminating freight rates. and that monopoly eA-
lists in the anthracite mining industry which keeps
the wages of men at unnaturally low level Inc
commission again decided that the evidence must
be limited to the scope of the commission.
Mr. Haddock president of the Plymouth Coal
Company regarding prices, said the middlenlah
in New-York were paying Sn and 81 ton
DO they pay the operators that price," Judge
Gray asked.
Possibly" the reply
Mr. Haddock said he believed in the combination
ot canitaI and of labor He looked the organlZa
ito nof labor as necessity, and he had no objec-
tior of labor as a necessity and he had no obJec-
ducted He believed the mine workers. because OF
the good market for coal. were justified in asking
for an increase in wages. On cross-examinatton
Mr. Haddock said ne did not know OF any operator
who Is charging prices above the schedule list
Judge Gray said the commissioners were i'm
rraesed with the spectacle of the little girls who
we're before the commission yesterday and testified
thai they worked all night. He said the people OF
tbA community and citizens of the Commonwealth
should not let the Incident pass without taking
some steps have the Legislature of Pennsylvania
seriously consider the enactment of a law that Will
forbid the employment of children at night AT
the suggestion of the commission the statement
of the wages Of the fathers of two OF the girls
were presented. One earned more than Sl,tto laSt
year and other $500
would boycott any person that was unfair 70 MS
workrnen but would not boycott man VINO choSe
do business with person boycotted IN reply 20
Bishop SpauldinS, Mr.. CompeTS sald ne WouIu not
favor Incorporating union ~,
James Torrey. counsel of the Delaware and Hud-
son company, asked the witness II ne dld not De-
America should be twenty-one years OLD ana apIe 70
read and write before they We're admitted 10 tne
union. To this the witness replied; 49,, -
from now ana When the com
pa nies stop bringing tiiterate foreigners 10 TINS
Country They are brought here by the companies,
and the labor union must protect them ana see tnat
NJ Torrev asked him If he could prove that coal
coruanies were guilty of such thing and the VIII
he had seen copies of circulars which had been sent
around in Southern Europe asking people 10 come
into PENNSYLVANIA. and that there was plenty OF
money TO be earned in the mines
He offered to give to the commission Ihe name OF
a man who could give the facts. He did not care
10 make his name public