The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-20
Nom Union Men Tell of Their
Alleged Wrongs.
SNUFFLES PECKSNIFFIAN
One Non-Union Man Sheds Tears as he Testi-
fiss---They Say They We're BoycOtted,
Stoned, DYnamted, Roughly
Used Generally.
(By the Associated Press.)

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 19.-Non- union men,
some of their relatives and others, to
the number of thirty, appeared before
the Anthracite Coal Commission today
and told their stories of alleged boy
colts, intimidations, dynamiting and vio-
lence in various FORMS during the late
strike Each witness called was a SUI
ferer in one form or another at the hands,
they alleged, of union men. Four wit
nesses said attempts We're made to blow
up their houses; many of the witnesses
were threatened with bodily harm; sew
eral were beaten; one was shot in the
leg, and everyone stoned, boycotted or
hanged in effigy.
One school teacher testified to having
lost his position because his father did
not strike. One man was asked to re-
sign from a Catholic temperance So
ciety, and another was expelled from a
local lodge of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians. because they were classed as
unfair workmen."
Joseph H. Duggan, the man who was
requested to give up his membership in
the temperance society, remained at
work, doing repair work and acting as a
watchman. He wept on the witness
stand as he told how they ordered him
to leave after many years of pleasant
associations with it's members. He said
he had been stoned and otherwise badly
| treated, and added that a good clubbing
would not have hurt half as much as the
action of the society in throwing him
out OF the organization.
Chairman Gray asked the witness if he
remained at work SO that the pumps
! could be kept in good repair and thus
keep the mines from being detroyed. and
he said he did. Mr.. Darrow asked him
how long he worked, and examined him
in such way on the subject as to bring
the statement from Chairman Gray that
men will work fifteen hours or more to
help save a neighbor's burning house.
J. 'sJames Mitchell was the man who was
| expelled from the Hibernian Society.
He said he worked during the strike as
1 a repairman, and did not consider it un-
lar, because he did not mine any coal.
he had been member of the Society
20 or 26 years, and at a meeting one
hlght during the strike the question OF
MS unfalrness came up and every mem
| Der present voted to expel him.
| Z Polander named Max Lasar, who did
not quit when the strike was inaugu-
rated, told of how a man threw a quart
| bottle of giant powder, to which a
lighted fuse was attached, into the par
| of his home. He extinguished the fuse
The powder was shown to the commits
| sion.
Thomas Kennedy, aged Is years, said
he worked in drug store in CarbondaIe.
| His father was an engineer in the employ
OF the Delaware and Hudson Company
| and did not quit work when the strike
started. The manager of the drug store,
he said, was requested by committee
from the union, to discharge him and
rather than have the store boycotted,
the druggist told the boy to quit. The
| father cCrroborated the story, and added
that he had TO keep his children from
| the public schools as they were being
| abused.
An Italian ramed Frank Fidati, who
was striker but who was hired by a
| coal operator to watch the home of a
non-union man, was shot in the leg by
other strikers because he would not stop
protecting the mans house. The nom
| union man who lived in the house and
| subsequently quit work, was next called
and produced letter written by Presi-
| dent T. d. Nichols, of District No. / ,
in which he stated that the witness had
quit work and was a good union man,
and that all union men should treat him
IN friendly manner $50 long as he be-
haved himself accordingly"
John Conlin, a miIe boss and presi-
dent of the school board of Plains, near
Wilkesbarre, testified that a committe of
local union called on him and asked
that school teachers whose relatives
were working in the mines be not re-
appointed as teachers.
Other witnesses testified to having
been hung in effigy once or more times,
that grocers, butchers, milkmen and ice
men refused to serve them because they
were afraid their business would be boy
VOTED, and that they We're severely
beaten and socially ostra acized
The commission will meet at o'clock
tomorrow morning and will adjourn at
Has o'clock for the holidays.