The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-11-20
Mitchell LEAVES
WITNESS STAND
Examined and Cross.Examined by
Eight Attorneys for -Four
and One. Half Days.
NONUNIONISTS WILL BE HEARD
Miners President Announced
Decision OF Commission Will
BE Strictly Adhered TO
by Union Men.

SiikANIONs NOV lb.~-AIteT Deihk
op the stand for four and one-half daY
Pr.sidsnt Mitchell Of the miners un-
ion. completed his testimony before the
anthracite coal strike commission to-
day. During this ordeal he was ex-
amined by his own attorney and those
Of tha Erie company. the Delaware AMI
and Western and the Lehigh Valley
and the Philadelphia Reading Coal and
Iron company and also by the attorney
Of the independent operators.
tie was followed on The witness stand
by Rev. DR.. Peter Roberts OF Mahonoy
CITY. a Congregational minister. One
of the most important things brought
ont during the cross-examination of
President Mitchell today was his cn-
phatic declaration that the miners were
opposed 10 separating the hituminious
minera. fror. the anthracite workers.
thus creating two organizations.
The Individual operators who have
not up TO the present time pressd d their
cases before the commission, through
one Of their attorneys, Ira II. Burns
OF Scranton. INQUIRED OF the commits
sion II they would be given the oppor-
tnnitv TO examine witnesses when qnes-
tons arise which are different with
them thnn with the railroad companies.
Judge Gray answered that they would.
Mr.. Mitchell in reply 10 Mr.. Burns
said that when man strikes he does
not voluntarily give up his job, but
hs strikes for an improvement In the
conditions Of his Job, II he wins ne
gets back the position; II he loses ne
goes back with his hat in his hand
and asks for a lob.
Judge Gray here interrupted to ex-
plain the UNDERSTANDING OF the commits
sion with the respect OF the returning
Of men who had struck He said;
"t think that the understanding is
That pending the consideration OF the
questions by this commission the strik-
ers were 10 return to work and think
the further understanding is-don't let
me lie misunderstood-that the non
union men should not be interfered
with nor displaced from employment
generally by the return OF the union
men"
Mr.. Mitchell declared with emphasis
In the course Of subsequent examlna>
tlon that the miners win cary out TO
the letter the decision or the commits
sion "or 30 cut OF our union"
Judge Gray then announced the de-
cislon of the commission in the matter
of the application of John T, iIenanan
and Judge T. o'Brien, attorneys for the
ronunou men, to appear in the case.
In the light of all lncr claims, said
JUDGE Gray. they win beallowed TO ap-
u ar but the commission could not !
onset to The Withholding from the
ouhllc Of the names o the nonuniCt
men as their attorneys had desired. |
After Mr.. Lenahan assented TO this ,
Jpd " Gray announced that the COM
rlssion would see that no unfair us
would be made OF the names
Mr., Darrow insisted that Messrs
oonhan AMI OBr'en really reprcseuted I
ne operators and not the nonunion
nen.
whether they be here In that way
" not" Judge Gray replied, they rep
'cse1t an important element In the
rvestlGatlon; men who work for their
wing and who are interested IN the
'ra'nrs OF this commission We have
onsidercd that very carefully from
~ ,ites"
Responding to question from Conn
Observation-Disclosures for a suggestion as 20
,hat should be done in the matter
4 child labor, MIR. Mitchell said that
laS SHOULD be enacted providing that
fter a certain time children should
.ot be employed In the breakers, The
nlv way nov that tn operators coald
levent the evil would be to refuse to
mploy children until they are Il years
{ age. II frequently happened, he
aid, that parents swore falls ly con
erning the ages of their children.
1
,OMESTIC IN NEW YORK