The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-15

VI tHe DtldWdIt anu I1uuSOn anu W. w.
Ross Of New York, for the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western.
Clarence =. Darrow, 10 the United Mine
Workers, said that the miners were ready
10 follow any procedure. the commission
might Law down. He said that the opera
tors have filed answers, to which the miners
will file replication b. Monday. The com
panies have raised some new issues which
will have to he absolutely denied, and Others
will be answered.
John 7. Ier a IAN Informed the commission
that he and Mr. OBrien appeared for the
non-union workmeI who have grieva noes.
but who have not made IN aprearan
in the pleadings, aud kI what their
status would he. This seemed To- puzzle
Judge Gray or a moment and, after a short
pause he said that the commission would
take the matter under consideration.
After some more prelimiuaries Judge
Gray said that they were ready to hear
the miners side and called upon Mr.. Darrow
to open for the miners.
Mr. Darrow Introduced President John
Nit chell. who. he said. would explain the
position Of the miners in an upeni"i' address
Mr. Mitchell. at lo:l7, began TO read his a.
dress from type written page. - wa nearly
5000 words long and it was a few minute.
Of II O'Clock when he concluded. While
he read Mitchell stood directly in from, of
Judge Gray ard read with slowress aud
deliberatior. ~ he drew near the end,
however. h began to read faster aud less
impressivp.v.
Mr.. barrow announced that John Mitchell
would be called as the first witness. Before
any questions were asked Judge Gray
said that the commission wanted 10 know
whether II was deemed best To- swear Wit
Ness. This the commission had no
authority To do, but if the parties TO the
case agreed that the witnesses be sworn
the matter could he arranged. The agree
ment was made at once and the clerk Of
the court was called in ana administered
the oath to MIR Mitchell.
Much of Mitchells testimony either
went over the same ground covered by his
statement or related TO his history and to
his record as "A labor leader He went ON
TO say that the United Mine Workers con-
-tituted the largest labor organization
in the world H. said that there are abour
10000 paid NJ members and 20 per cent.
Of all the II inc workers in America are
affiliated with them The actual member
ship is much larger, he said. as there are
many of " HON no record can b. found on the
books
After describing the government of
the United Mine Workers and their national
boards he said that the three districts
in the anthracite field have local unions
With a membership Of perhaps 1900.
He told of the States in which the United
Mine Workers have locals and said that
they are stronger in Pennsylvania than in
any other State and that 81 per cent of
the coal mined in America Is turned out in
Penns ylvanla
Mitchell explained that the president
OF the United Mine Workers has not the
power to call a strike himself, but when
strike is ordered II must have his APP
proval Should he not approve, the matter
can then be referred 10 the National Execu-
tive Board, which may then order strike
# il sees fiji
The amount Of bituminous coal marketed
last year was $50 COO 600 tons, Mitchell said.
The amount Of anthracite marketed was
d. tons last x-ear lpipp n rpcnrl
breaker in this respect. He declared that
1t requires great deal Of skill To be an
anthracite miner and two years q expert
encc as "A laborer in the mines. The work il
hazardous. more hazardous than is bl-
luminous mining, where workmen receive
better pay.
Five hundred and fifteen persons lost
their lives in the anthracite mines during
1901. The region Is not H. healthy AZ the
bituminous either, there being more serou,
cases of asthma. Owing To the fact that
the anthracite region has breakers, more
children are employed here than in the
bltuminous district.
Mitchell explained about the manner
in which the miners are paid He had
something to say about past strikes and
he gave his version OF the strike just ended.
he explained about topping and told why
the miners would like to pe paid by weight
instead of by car,
Thu; brought Mitchell up 10 the vario,!,
He said that the mine workers paid out
81 -0OcO for relief durin ( he closing months
To union and Lon-uilon men alike.
just before the adjournment of the |
morning session Mitchell was turned over |
20 Mr.. Wilcox for cross-eNa mration. The |
United Mine Workers, he al, had never |
failed to keep al agreement. Agree |
merts between the men ard the operator |
take precedence over the constitution, h"
~aid
The United Mine Workers are not in
corporated. Mr. Mitchell said MIR Wilcox |
then proceeded To examine Mr. Mitchell |
about certain provisions Of the coLsttu-
ton. holding ole IN his hand. Mr. Mitchell |
finally remarked that Mr.. Wilcox was ask
ing questions from an old Constitution and
had better get ole up 10 date. Mr. Mitchell
said that il YVES true that the col stitutiuu
does rot provide for the discipliEing of
man who docs violate il, but il is al UNI
written law Of the organization that he
can be punished. The commission at this
time adjourned for lunch
When the commits o. covered in the
Afternoon Mr.. Mitchell was recalled and
asked If il WIS rot true that al the co.,
vertion of Nay 10 the nl,ioral Ulcers
were petitiored to call CONVENTION for
the purpose Of callirg a sympathetic strike
Nr. Mitchell admitted that the statement
was correct. He ahO admitted that the
workers in the bi,umirous field were under
contract AT the time.
Then" asked Mr.. Wilcox. If an agree
merit l., superior to the COZ stitution, low
could the national organization consider
a n1tiofal strike when the agreements
IN the anthracite fields still atooGf"
This question was asked in two or three
different wayS before Mitchell was able TO
pull himself together and answer it, He
finally said that the organ i7ation did rot
COZ slider the proposal to order a general
strike, on the contrary by unarinous
vote II had agreed not 10 exteid the strike
why did you not tell them nj the Hazle-
ton convention that the natioral convcl-
tion had no power TO order n strike in the
soft coal field while agreements We're still
IN force there?"
After a little Hesitation Mitchell said that
he had His reasons hsridc' the n1tional
convention had it, task before II and voted |
u million and half collars for relief
suppose, asked Wilcox. "that there was
n strike in the hituminous region and an
thracite coal was shipped there in great
quantities, could not the national officers
of the United Mine Workers order n sym
pathetic strike among the anthracite
miners?"
Mitchell answered that they could not
and then read paragraph from the agree. |
ment in force in Illinois which specifically
provides that the agreement cannot be st
aside by any rule or regulation of the United |
Mine WORKER
Mitchell was then examined with regard
to arbitration He declared that ne was |
in favor Of it but not Of compulsory arbitra-
ton He qualified this a little later by