Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-20
MITCHELL'S ORDEAL IS OVER
Miners Leader Leaves Box After Refusing
to Divide Organization.
PASTOR HIGHLY PRAISES UNIONS WORK
HRs Decreased saloons and Increased
General Morals of Foreign Born
Men Imported to Re-
duce Wages.

SCRANTON, Pa. Nov. 1s.-After being
on the stand for four and half days Mr.
Mitchell completed his testimony before
the anthracite strike commission at noon
today. During his ordeal he was examined
by his own attorney and those Of the Erie
company, the Delaware & Hudson, the Del
aware, Lackawanna & 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 by the Rev. Peter Rob
erts, d. D., of Mahnoy City. IA, con-
gregational minister who has studied the
anthracite coal industry and has written
a book on the subject. He was still on the
stand when the commission adjourned.
One of the most important things
brought out during Mr.. Mitchell's eXaml-
nation today was his emphatic declaration
that the miners we're opposed to separat-
ing the anthracite and bituminous miners,
thus creating two organizations.
The nonunion men, that is those who
remained at work during the strike, were
made a party to the arbitration today.
Mr.. Mitchell announced that he is also
representing thousands Of nonunion men
VINO SlTuth WITH lut unlOulSbot anu NiAe'S "i'
the workmen would abide by the award OF
the arbitrators, "or get out Of the union"
Mr.. Mitchell, answering questions by
Mr. Ross said that an increase in wages
without adopting the weighing system
would not meet the demands Of the miners
An eight hour day would increase the
annual income of the men.
Opposes Separate Unions.
When Mr.. Ross concluded his examination
NJ. Mitchell was cross examined by Simon
P. Wolverton, counsel of the Reading Iron
and Coal company
He said it would be impossible for
him to give in detail the conditions at
each mine, or even under each company.
He also declared that 1t would neither be
possible nor desirable to divide the mino
workers into two separate organizations
one bituminous and the other anthracite.
THE anthracite miners" he said, "have
had Independent and separate organiza-
tions in the past. They have had several
of them. They have gone. They do not
want any more of their organizations to go
the same way"
The reply excited some interest because
this plan was suggested by Carroll d.
Wright in his report on the strike to
| President Roosevelt.
James H. Torrey OF Scranton, represent
| ing the Delaware & Hudson company, fol-
lowed with number OF inquiries on the
subject OF the riotsthat occurred at Shen-
1 andoah.
Mr.. Mitchell was emphatic in saying that
| the reports sent out were grossly exagger-
| ated and that but one life was lost. Thl
| sheriff's appeal to the governor for aid, he
said, was overdrawn.
The individual operators, who have moi
| up to the present time pressed their case
! before the commission, through one of theiI
attorneys, Ira Fl. Burns of Scranton. in
quired of the commission IL they would bC
given the opportunity to examine witnesse:
when questions arose which are different
with them than with the companies. Judge
Gray answered that they would.
Mr.. Mitchell in reply to Mr.. Burns, sait
that when a man strikes he does not vol
UNFAIRLY give up his Job, but he strikes fo
an Improvement in the conditions Of his Job
If he wins he gets back the position, II h,
loses he goes back with his hat in his hant
and asks for a job.
Judge Gray here interrupted to explain
the understanding of the commission will
respect to the returning to work OF mel
who had been on strike. He said:
thlnk the understanding Is that pendin
the consideration of the questions by thi
commission, the strikers were to return i'm
mediately to work and / think the furthe
understanding is-don't let me be mlsun
derstood-is that the nonunion men shouI,
not be interfered with nor displaced from
employment generally by the return o
union men.
VIII Abide by Decision.
Mr.. Mitchell declared with emphasis 4
the course OF subsequent examination tha
the miners will carry out to the letter tn
| dnnisinr, nR The cal "a.