The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-11-19
A YEARLY AGREEMENT.
Fourth Demani of the Union
a Bone Of Contention.

wayne MacVeagh Questioned Presi.
dent Mitchell About the Alleged
Reign Of Terror-Working Of Agree.
ments In Soft Coal Regons-com.
mission Wishes to Hurry Inquiry.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 1S.-In the pres.
ence of as many persons as could be
jummed into the superior court room,
Wayne MacVeagh for the Erie com.
pany and John Mitchell for the miners,
continued their brilliant battle of cross
examination before the anthracite coal
commission.
The fourth demand of the union
which calls for yearly trade agree
ment, and which means a straight out
recognition of the union, was the bone
of contention, and although four hours
were taken up in a discussion of the
question not much material progress
was made.
MacVeagh attempted to show the ut.
ter responsibility Of the union and its
unfitness to make contracts which it
could not live up to. His principal ar.
gument was the alleged boycott and
he often hard pressed the miners pres.
ident for an answer.
The latter, however, slowly and de-
liberately gave some reply but they
did not always satisfy his inquisitor,
who expressed his admiration of the
ability of the witness.
Mr. MacVeagh weighed heavily on
what he said was a reign of terror in
the anthracite region during the period
of the strike and with the assistance
of many documents maintained that it
would be utterly impracticable for the
coal companies he represents to enter
into agreements with an organization
that could not control its own men.
Mr.. Mitchell stoutly maintained
that the discipline in the organization
is as good as it possibly could be
where 10000 men were involved. He
claimed that the strikers were not en-.
tirely responsible for the acts of law
lessness that were committed. He re-
gretted that members of the union
had in some instances violated the
law, even after they had been warned
to refrain from doing so, but made
the excuse that in times Of great ex-
citement there was always more or
less disorder.
In answer to questions he said that
where there was a reign of terror,
and he had no information that such
was the case during the late strike,
conditions arise that are 'intolerable"
or unfortunate"
Replying to specific instances point
ed out to him by Mr.. MacVeagh where
men had been deferred from going to
work through fear of personal harm
or social ostracism for themselves
and families. Mr. Mitchell said that in
some cases men may have been de-
tered, but denied the assertion that
such alleged acts prevented the mines
from being operated.
The miners president could not be
dragged into a fiat admission that he
as president of the union approved
of the boycott complained of by the
companies.
During the cross-examination the
commissioners often interrupted with
questions in order to stop long col
loquy over some disputed point
While the discussion of the effect |
a yearly agreement would have on
the coal industry in the anthracite |
region was in progress frequent refer
ence was made to the workings OF
agreements in soft coal regions.
This led to the announcement by
Chairman Gray that the commission
had decided to invite Herman Justi,
commissioner of the Illinois Coal Oper-
ators' association, to testify before
the commission. This announcement
was favorably received by each side
and the attorneys for the miners and
the operators made suggestions for
additional witnesses.
Mr. Wilcox, general counsel for the
Delaware and Hudson company, after
a conference with the other attorneys
handed up a suggestion that such
other witnesses, if any, as the Illinois
Coal Operators association may deem
proper for the purpose of showing the
effect of trade agreements with the
United Mine Workers of America" be
invited to attend.
Mr.. Darrow counsel for the miners,
several names and it is
likely all the gentlemen will be in
yited to come here. The investigation
IS dragging too slowly to suit the com
nissioners and it is likely the COM
mission will probably ask both sides
% agree upon some arrangement for
the investigation. The
awyers for the Delaware, Lackawanna
md Western or the Philadelphia. and
Reading company will next take Mr..
Mitchell in hand unless the programme
S changed
Il is expected the attorneys for the
lon-union men will present their case
o the commission today. If it is de-
,ided to hear them 1t will inject an
new feature into the inyesti-
cation. and one which was not expect
ID at the time President Roosevelt
,reated the commission.