Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-14

Win the Dltumln0uS operators, MF- hitcHeii
said wages had been increased since 1895
an average of 80 per cent, and that there
had been a reduction in hours of from ten
to eight, and also in the mum ber of children
employed.
The price of coal. both bituminous and
anthracite, he said, had gradually increased.
The work of mining he characterized as
the most hazardous in the world.
In answer to further questfonings by Mr..
Darrow, President Mitchell said that last
year 513 men were killed in the mines and
twelve injured. He said that most life in
surance companies refuse to take employees
of mines. The number of deaths in the
bituminous fields. in proportion to the num-
Der of men employed, was not so great as
In the anthracite regions.
Comparison of Wages.
Mr.. Mitchell comparing the rates of
wages paid in the bituminous fields with
those paid in the anthracite region, said
they were from 40 to so per cent higher ir
the bituminous country in some classes of
work and from 20 to 80 per cent in others.
The wages paid bituminous miners, ne
said, were practically the same as those
paid to carpenters and bricklayers, but he
was not sufficiently familiar with the rates
paid for other employment than mining in
the anthracite fields to draw comparison.
He said he had visited the homes Of min
ers in this region and the bituminous fields
the soft coal fields are better than in the
hard coal territory. This was especially
true. he said, Of the houses owned by the
companies.
Was Begun Two Years Ago.
He said the agitation for high wages was
begun two years ago. This had crystalized
into demand to be paid by weight, which
in his opinion, was the only honest method
of determining the amount the men earn.
THE miners know and believe" said Mr..
Mitchell, that they are not paid for the
coal they mine"
He spoke Of the increase in the size of
coal cars and the demand of the operators
that more top should be put on, which
he said had been a source of more trouble
than any one thing he knew Of Mr.. Mitch
ell said that a miner must pile the coal six
inches above the top of the mine cars.
The distance from the place where he is
working to the breaker is often more than
a mile, and the coal is shaken down to the
level. The worker is docked If there are
not six inches of topping on the car at the
breaker, and gets nothing If there are more
than six inches of topping.
Ever Ready for Arbitration.
Were you willing to submit to arbit1a-
tion?" Mr.. Darrow asked.
Always" said Mr.. Mitchell.
And, of course, you are now?"
''Yes. In a public statement June % we
proposed arbitration
Mr.. Darrow's next question brought out
the first public statement made since the
late strike was inaugurated regarding the
amount of aid given the strikers.
Mr.. Mitchell said that 81 100000 had been
distributed among the workers, and that
non-union men on strike had shared equal
ly with the unionists, although they had
single instance where his organization
had failed to keep its contracts.
Discipline Can Be Maintained.
What do you say as to the ability of
your organization to maintain discipline
and assist in the settlement of questions
and help in the harmony of the manage
ment of the coal industry?' inquired Mr.
Darrow
Speaking very deliberately, Mr.. Mitchell
answered:
II would say that our experience an
organization demonstrates conclusively that
that discipline can be maintained where
trade agreement exists. AS a matter of
fact, In those states where we have trade
agreements, if any of our local unions were
TO attempt to violate agreements or refuse
to go back to work when we instructed
them to do so, we would put them out of
the union. Our agreements take precedence
over our own law. The agreements must be
kept inviolate."
Cross-Examined by Wilcox.
When the direct examination of Mr.
Mitchell by Mr.. Darrow was concluded Mr..
Wilcox, for the operators, cross examined
Mr. Mitchell at length regarding the gen.
eral workings of the organization. Mr..
Wilcox read from the Mine Workers con-
stitution, and asked if there was any pro-
vision in it which authorized the expulsion
of men who violate agreements.
Mr.. Mitchell said that he would have
such authority, because that had been the
policy of the organization. Usually" said
he, "the process of enforcing the agree
ment Is the agreement itself.
THE constitution does not specifically
contain any provision for turning a man
out of the organization. but it does confer
power on its officers to interpret it and to
exercise supervision under it. The interpre-
tation is the law"
Then you are now making the law" said
Mr. Wilcox
The hour of 1890 having arrived, a re-
cess was taken until 2 o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session was opened prompt
ly at o'clock, but 1t was some minutes
later before Mr. Mitchell was recalled to
the stand to answer Mr.. Willcox's ques-
tions. The Mine Workers leader was ex-
amned regarding interpretations of the
unions constitution.
<,orrnrrcorNHr