Evening journal., 1902-12-18
OPERATORS SIDE SIDE
BEING HEARD
Strike Commission Hearing
baWhat thelMine Owners
Have to Say
NON UNION MEN CALL WITNESSES


are on record before the commission
as representing the non-union men,
who have been admitted to the arbi-
tration scheme, began calling wit
nesses. The sessions yesterday were
probably the liveliest yet held by the
commission. Simon p. Wolverton.
delivered the opening address on be-
half OF all the large coal companies.
Mr.. Wolverton emphasized a number
of particular points upon which the
operators base their case. Chief among
these were: Monopoly OF labor by
the United Mine Workers. Conces-
sion OF miners rights to organize. but
denial OF right Of bituminous organiza-
ton to control anthracite fields. De
nial of commissions jurisdiction over
question of recognition OF union, com
mission only having authority over
question OF wages and hours OF labor.
Denial that wages in anthracite region
are lower than in bituminous field;
claim that hard coal workers earn
more than employees Of manufacturing
establishments, and that a majority
of miners work only six hours a day.
Mr.. Darrow, the miners attorney,
called attention to the reference in
the statement that recognition OF the
union Is not an issue before the com
mission, and said II the commission
should sustain that claim then the
operators should have no right TO pre-
sent witnesses TO show that the vlo-
lence committed during the strike was
instigated by the union. James Tor.
rey, Of the Delaware and Hudson, made
the point that the miners occupied
most of the time trying TO show that
the union was not responsible for It.
and that 1t would be unfair for the
commission to deny the right OF tho
operators to combat that testimony.
The matter went no further.
Il was arranged that the attorneys
representing the non-union men should
first call their witnesses, and five wit.
nesses we're produced who testified
that strikers had killed one man and
had more or less seriously annoyed
two other men who worked during
the suspension. The first witness was
Mrs. James Wenston, the wife of the
murdered man, and the second was her
sonin-law. Mr. Darrow asked the
sonin-law who was paying for the law
yers who are representing The non
union men, and then ensued the llveli-
est tilt that has occurred in the ses-
sions OF the commission. Counsel for
the witness objected and Mr.. Darrow
insisted he and the commission had n
right TO know who were back OF the
non-union men. but Chairman GRAY
differed with him. The chairman said
II made no difference II the operators
were paying for the lawyers. Mr.. OAR
row insisted he had a right 10 know.
because this was peculiar case and
claimed that the non-union men hasa
virtually formed union, because they.
had asked the commission TO recon-.
nize them in the award and pro.eCe
lnem from losing their places. and
mat they had also asked for an in
crease In pay. The colloQuy WIS cslr.
ried on for some time, and finally
chairman Gray consulted his col
and as a result quietlv an
'wered that the commissioners Thought
[ immaterial who was back cf the
lon-anion men.
Al the morning session the miners
awyers challenged the fairness of GER
ain wage statements hanaes 10 the
'ommission by the Penns,slry mia Coal
company. Several little u rls testi.
led on Monday that they y yorl,ed ali
light in silk mill In orut or N helm
heir fathers along, who we re emplov.
q In the mines ard receive A moor nav
tuesday Everett Warren, who renre.
ents the EIie, Company, which con.
rolls the Pennsylvania. &C al Comnanv
q whose mines some Of these fathers
worked, handed to tha commission a
memorandum showina. q lat one father
asst year received ahsut $1,000 for him
elf and laborer, and that tha 9TH !.
ather received $500 for bip,so1e . -
Aborer AT the open ing of the 1sas,
ION Yesterday the mE ners placed the
"o pareNts on Ihe stand, and, thew
wore tlaat the Earnings ment ioned was
lvideo among from four to six mon
his testimony surprised Il a. commits.
lpenrs, and. Judge Gray q slxed n tbe
|gures on the memoranda fn were 10.
zen from, the wage slater nent already
lied By the company hth the com.
nlssioR ana Mr.. Warren renliea in ,ba
Inirnative. =" '''
Chairman Gray then raouested conn.
'ei Tor the company o indicate IN its
Itatement handed IN. whether the
'gures given out arr for one. two OF
more men I'VE dent saw IT shakes
'ur faith in the stAaer nent +" he CON.
inued. Unless 5Ou can show that
here are none os thoss cases such ss
IRE suggested by thf testimony n
Hill very ms4erSallx sIlake our faith IN
The company through its general
MANAGER W. ~ May. was permitted
q make a .eatement. He said th
,Pnpany ma two systems. one WI, -
our men <orked in a place am -el A
y "nich here are only two mer ~ ~
'olnpaR 8 does not keep a recU - =
'noiFi' fuals In a contract or ~ VI -
'Si' The company. he saif - sa.- = ~ -.
pA s the laborer. II only p 49, 49, -" ~
-.