Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-06
OPERATORS ARE MISTAKEN
Wayne MaOVeagh Says They Should Come
to Amioable Settlement
BLIND MINERS LED TO WITNESS STAND
strike COmmission Continues Investi-
cation and Sees sad Spectacle IL
Illustrating Dangers of work
in Anthracite Region.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec b.-The mine
workers continued to call witnesses today
before the strike commission to testify
to the alleged black listing by several COM
pantes in refusing to re-employ strikers.
In most cases no satisfactory reason was
given.
Two blind men, who were also otherwise
badly injured by underground explosions
were presented as living evidence OF the
dangers In the mines. when the commits
sion adjourned the Rev. ]. J. Curran, a
Roman Catholic clergyman of Wikesbarre
was on the stand.
Mr.. MacVeagh told a reporter that a
majority OF the operators thought It better
to postpone efforts to reach amicably a
basis for the award OF the commission
until both sides had presented all the
testimony they wished to. Whether such
efforts to reach basis will then be re-
sumed can only be decided after the evil
dence is all In.
Lawyer DisaRrees with Clients.
Mr.. MacVeagh added that he personally
thought in view of the extraordinary con-
ditions existing in the anthracite region,
that this was a mistaken attitude for the
operators to assume, as he feared each
days testimony would tend to increase
the bitterness of feeling; but it was not
only the right, but the duty, of the op-
orators to act en- their own judgment, and
he sincerely hoped the result would justify
the conclusion they had reached.
Before the evidence was resumed today
| Judge Gray said the commission had de-
cided to present to both sides certain blank
forms which would indicate what informa>
tion regarding wages the commission
wanted.
| Half dozen witnesses, all of them mine
workers, were called in rapid succession
to testify to alleged blacklisting by the
companies. All were employed before the
strike, but we're afterward refused work
The companies gave various reasons, none
Of which were satisfactory to the work.
men.
| Mr.. Darrow then presented two witnesses
| who had been injured while at work Both
were blind and had to be led to the stand
One of them, besides losing both eyes in
an explosion lost one arm and his other
| hand was rendered useless.
| After they had testified, attorneys for
the operators protested against bringing
such unfortunate men to the witness stand
| They we're injured before the strike and
| had no direct bearing on the matter.
Mr.. Darrow did not Intend to present
too many of such witnesses, but wanted
to enable the commissioners to realize tbs
dangers Of coal mining. tHa
Judge Gray here broke in and said HI
hoped the thing would not be overdone
1--WE have lively sense Of the conditions,
he said, "and l may add that I never saw
| sadder spectacle than that presented b!
| those two men,"
The Rev. ]. j. Curran, a Roman Cath
olic clergyman of Wilkesbarre, occupied
the stand during the remainder of thu
session. He gave a description of the con
ditions under which mine workers live, ont
similar to that given yesterday by Fathe
| Hussie of Hazleton.
In answer to questions put by Judg'
Gray witness said he was opposed to thu
boycott and the black list. This met will
the chairman's approval, who said il boy
colts were permitted the country woult
go to pieces.