The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
N0N.UNIONISTS
HAVE A LAWYER
The Men Who Worked During the
Strike Want to Be Represented
,~~-., at Scranton.
The Characterization Of Mr.. Mitch
ell Is Resumed This
" Morning. "
The Question as to Whether Organ
lied Labor Is Trust Comes
Up Again.


commission resumed its sessions to-day.
After few preliminaries. President
Mitchell, who was on the stand all day
yesterday. again went into the witness
box and his cross examination by David
Wilcox general counsel for the Delaware
& Hudson company, was continued.
Some OF the attorneys connected with
the case are Of the opinion that some ar
rangement will have to be agreed upon to
expedite the proceedings. Each side Is
anxious for a speedy ending Of the hear
ings, but this will be impossible If the
present plans of the contending parties
are carried out. The miners have large
number Of witnesses to be heard. and the
attorneys for each of the coal companies
are anxious to cross-exam1ne them. Al
ter the miners have closed their case the
companies will also present q long line OF
persons to testify and 1t Is the intention
OF the lawyers on the miners side to
cross examine the witnesses for the COM
panies.
Non-unon Men Want Hearing.
Immediately after the opening of the
morning session, Chairman Gray for the
commission addressed John T. Lenahan
one of the attorneys for the non-unlon
men. At yesterdays session MIR. Lenahan
said he represented the non-union men
who worked during the strike and wanted
to know what their status would be be-
the commission could not give q decision
until after it had carefully considered the
matter and he promised some sort OF an
answer to-day. This morning the chalr-
man said
"The commission have considered the
matter Of your application and have de-
cided that it will ask you to!submit to
them a statement showing whom you rep
resent, by what authority. what points
other than those already at issue between
the formal parties to this controversy you
wish to inject into this hearing and con-
else statement of what you claim or what
your position is in regard to the general
propositions between the formal and logi-
cal parties to this commission and also
state that you guarantee submission to the
award Of this commission"
Mr. Lerahan asked How soon must
this be done?"s
"As soon as you can," replied Judge
Gray.
Is Labor a Trust?
After Judge Gray's announcement to
the attorney for the non-union men, Mr..
Mr. Mitchell He put in evidence extracts
from the proceedings Of the Shamokin
convention which formulated the demands
which caused the late strike; copy of
the United Mine Workers journal, the Of
fetal organ Of the union, and voluminous
copy OF the FeQeTdIlOn1SC, the Official pup
LEGATION of the American Federation Of
Labor.
,, Mr.. Mitchell, answering g. question by
sMr. Wilcox said that the local unions or
Bmass- meetings may direct the operations
@of pickets. Mr. Wilcox then read from a
statement made by President Gompers
| Of the Federation Of Labor, at the Chi
cago trust conference in September, 1899,
In which Mr.. Gompers is alleged to have
said that any trust legislation which did
not specially exempt organized labor from
its operations would meet the unques-
toned opposition Of all the labor forces
and asked the witness if that expressed
his views.
Mr. Mitchell replied that organized labor
would not look with favor upon any law
that would legislate them out Of business.
Mr.. Mitchell, answering further ques-
tions, said he regarded as living wages
for a miner not less than $500 per annum
which would cover his actual necessities
and permit him to educate his children. :.
At this point Judge Gray asked the wit
ness If he meant to say a wage sufficient
to permit the children to avail themselves
OF the public schools and render it un-
necessary to employ child labor to In
crease the income of the family. The wit
ness answered in the affirmative.
On the question of the minimum age
at which the boy should go into the
breaker, Mr.. Mitchell said he would advo-
cate Lnat IL De put at IL years.
The Amount Paid for Wages.
Mr.. Wilcox examined Mr.. Mitchell at
some length regarding the various de-
nnands Of the miners.
do you know that the wages that are
paid are about $50, 900, o0O?" Mr.. Wilcox
esked.
Il have read that statement" the wit
ness answered.
Don't you or your committees know
it? inquired Mr.. Wilcox.
mo, sir, we DON'T" responded Mr.
Mitchell.
This is a demand of s12, 900 In
crease in the cost Of production" said
Mr.. Wilcox.
"On that calculation. yes" replied the
witness. THAT would be about IL or 1;
cents a ton"
Mr.. Wilcox took up one Of President
Baers statements and Mr.. Mitchell sale
that it was susceptible Of several inter
preta lions. For instance" he said
Mr.. Baer IS quoted as saying that slate
pickers receive IS cents a day. That ma,
be true In some cases, but we know tina
most slate pickers get much less than tina
amount"
Miners' Demands Modest
In reply to another question, Mr. Mitch
all col hot t1o