Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-11-27

practiced in Scranton or Wilkesbarre,
took the stand for the miners and in
substance testified that the occupa-
ton of mine worker was very un-
healthful'' and shortened his life. One
physician, DR.. Frank =. Lenahan, of
Wllkesbarre, who says he has had a
long experience among mine workers,
testified that fully 90 per cent. of the
men " % work in the mines are amaze
mic. L eir health is impoverished and
their e, 'eral condition is below par,
thus dec sing their earning powers.
The principal illustration offered by
the miners, the physicians said, were
the miners asthma, rheumatism, lum-
bago and sciatica. The miners asth-
ma comes from coal dust, powder
smoke and vitiated air.
John OMalley, of Scranton, said
that at a post mortem he had seen
miners lungs as black as anthracite
itself and DR.. Lenahan testified he
had personal knowledge of man
coughing up coal dust nine years after
he left the mines
The cross examination of the Rev.
DR.. Peter Roberts, d. D., of Mahanoy
City, Pa, ended yesterday. Copious
extracts from his book were read and
placed on record. EX-Congressman
Simon p. Wolyerton, counsel for the
Reading Co., read much of the matter
pertaining to violence in the 1900
strike, and also read articles written
by DR.. Roberts during the progress of
the late contest in which he described
in strong language the acts of vio-
lence, intimidation and boycotting
committed during that suspension.
His articles spoke of some of these
acts as brutal outrages," and he also
branded the unions action in calling
out the steam men in June as fool
hardy" In explaining his articles DR..
Roberts said that he did not wish to
infer that the organization was re-
sponsible for all the lawlessness COM
mitted.
In attempting to show that care
lessness of the miners contributes
materially to the danger of his occu-
patton. Chairman Gray interposed
with the remark that a margin of
carelessness incident to human nature
must be taken into account when es-
timating the dangerousness of any
hazardous occupation.
Scranton. Pa, Nov. 22.-The mine
workers, through their representa-
tives, have agreed with the mine own
erS to attempt to adjust the differ"
ences existing between them outside
the anthracite coal strike commission.
The proposition was made on a com
promise basis and negotiations, it is
expected, will be at once entered up
on, with a reasonable hope of settle
ment with the aid of the arbitrators.
The rough proposition, which Is to
form the basis of negotiations, Is
10 per cent. increase in wages, a nine
hour day, and trade agreements be-
tween the miners and the company by
whom they are employed. The only
one of the four demands not touched
upon is that of the weighing of coal
by the legal ton. While both sides
have expressed the willingness to set
tie their differences among them
selves, it is = ot to be construed that
it carries with it the acceptance of
the terms proposed. They are men
toned only as a basis, it is under
stood, from which a settlement is to
be effected. 1t is possible that the
wrecked by either party holding out
too strongly against some question
and thus leave the whole matter in
the hands of the commissioners, who,
in the meantime, will act as sort of
board of conciliation, rather than
as a board of arbitration.
Few persons were aware that an at
tempt would be made at an outside
settlement until it was practically so
intimated by Judge Gray, the chair
man, of the commission, who read
carefully prepared announcement
from the ''bench." The move, one of
the most important in the whole his
tory of the coal strike, created a mild
sensation when it became known. The
surprise was all the greater when it
will be remembered that numerous
persons from the president of the
United States down and that many
organizations from the national civic
federation to the small boards of
trade of the mining towns failed to
bring the two parties together. 1t
is said. it was all brought about by
both sides seeing that the proceed
ings before the commission would be
interminable, and that in the inter-
mingling of the lawyers for both sides
the outside agreement proposition
was broached and taken up.
1t is generally believed that the OPP
orators were the first to make the
proposition. Wayne MacNeagh, who
carried on such Il brilliant cross-eX-
animation of President Mitchell, is
given credit for bringing about the
presen situation. The commission
ers was Informed of the new turn of
affairs last night, and acquicsced in
the proposed arrangement.
Clarence ). Darrow, of Chicago, one
of Mr. Mitchell's attorneys, brought
the matter out when, near the close
of yesterdays session, he suggested
that the miners be given a little more
time to prepare their evidence.
In order to give all parties an OPP
portunity to confer on the new state
Of affairs an adjournment was taken
at I2:45 until this morning.