The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-20
Suggestions for Two 0rgani-
cations Opposed.
MITCHELL Is EMPHATIC
Says Separate Organizations are Neither Posi-
bic nor Desirable ---3ey. Peter Roberts
Follows Him on the Stand---Case
Of Non-Union Men.
of Non-Union Men.
(By the Associated Press.)


Scranton. Pa. Nov. 19.-After being on
the stand for four and a half days, Presl-
dent Mitchell, of the Miners Union COM
pleted his testimony at noon today before
ing his ordeal he was examined by mis-
own attorney and those of the Erie Com,
pany, the Delaware and Hudson, the Del
aware, Lackawanna and Western, the Le-
high Valley. and the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company, and also
by the attorneys of the independent oper-
ators. He was followed on the witness
stand by Rev. Peter Roberts, a Congrega-
tional minister who has studied the an
thracite coal industry and has written a
book on the subject He was still on the
stand when the commission adjourned for
the day.
One of the most important things
brought out by the cross examination Of
President Mitchell was his emphatic dec
laratiOn that the miners were opposed
TO separating the bituminous miners from
the anthracite workers, thus creating two
organizations. He made this reply to =
question of ex-Congressman Simon Wei
verton, counsel for the Reading Com
pany, as to whether it would not be bet
ter to have separate organizations. Mr.
Mitchell's answer was that sit would not
be possible or desirable. The anthracite
mine workers have had independent or
ganiZations~ in the past. They have had
several. They have gone. They are not
here now and the men do not want any
more of their organizations to go the
same way"
Commissioner Wright as head of the
Department of Labor in his report to
President Roosevelt on the coal strike
dated June 20, suggested among other
things as reasonable and just" to pre-
vent Industrial conflict in the anthracite
fields. that the anthracite employees
should organize an anthracite coal miners
union, in its autonomy to be independent
of the United Mine Workers of America, .
but might be affiliated with it, There
has been some gossip among the small
army Of attorneys at the hearings that
the commission possibly may suggest such
separate union, and the fact that Mr.
Wolverton touched on the matter, shows
that it is being seriously thought of in
some quarters. What effect Mr.. Mitch
elrs declaration will have on the attI-
of the labor question is taken up by them,
is, of course. not known.
The union men, that is. those who
remained at work during the strike, were
nadc party to the arbitration plan to-
day by their counsel agreeing to make
public the names of the men who petit
toned The commission. When the attor-
neys for the mon striking workmen,' as
Chairman Gray designated them, and who
number about 1000, made a demand to
the commission for 20 per cent increase
in wages with no reduction in hours,
their attorneys desired to withhold the
rames of the persons they represented
The commission. however, decided it could
not be a party to such plan of Sc
crecy.
In connection with the non-union fea-
ture of the investigation, Mr.. Mitchell
announced that he is also representing
thousands Of union men who struck
with the unionists, and that all the work
men would abide by the award of the
arbitration commission, cor get out of the
union"
Mr.. Mitchell's testimony today con-
tanned little that was new to the COM
missioners and that of Mr.. Roberts was
of general character, regarding the
economic and social conditions in the an
thracite coal country. The commissions
ors, while regretting they have to do
so, are still reminding both sides tha;
they would like to have the submission
of testimony expedited. Chairman Gray,
several times during the day, interrupted
aud showed that ground then being gone
over already had been covered. 1t has
been suggested that counsel for both
sides agree to rules for the submission
of evidence, but nothing has yet been
done looking toward that end