Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-08
FIRM
ON THE RACK
Methods Of Markle & Co.
Placed on Record.
Evicted EmpIoye. Who Toll
cd Thirty Years in Their
Mines. Tells a Sad Story.
Testimony of a Boy.

An amazing disclosure OF tho practi-
cal working OF G. B. Markle & Co.'S
company store system was made to the
Anthracite Coal Strike Com mission at
Scranton on Saturday by James Gal
lagher, Jeddo miner about 60 years
old. He testified that he had never re-
ceived any money except once In seven
teen years and nine months. He ex-
planned this by saying that he never got
enough money for himself; that the
company store got It all
Mr.. Gallagher said he was evlcted
from his house, and the company re-
fused to put him back at work. He did
not know why the company would not
take him, unless 1t was because his son
was the secretary OF the local union of
the U. M. w. OF A. at Jeddo.
In answer to another question he said
prices at the company store were from
10 to 20 per cent higher than at other
stores. He had made as high as $40 a
month. but this was eaten up in paying
his debts with the company. When he
was clear Of debt the company gave him
bad place to work until he was again
In debt.
The witness kept the court constantly
in good humor by his wit and sharp an
swers to thrusts by the lawyers. He
said man is never called hurt In the
mines until he Is half killed. He was
half killed twice, he said, which brought
out the remark from Chairman Gray
that If he was twice half killed then he
was now dead
This caused much merriment, but it
was turned to roar OF laughter when
the witness replied that the first half
was healed before the other half was
injured.
Child labor was next brought to the
attention Of the commission. Andrew
Chipprie, little orphaned breaker
boy, who does not look to be more than
10 years old, although he said he was 13,
told In a child's simple way . story OF
his treatment In the Markle mines,
where he earned cents an hour, and
his boysh struggles to help his widowed
mother, that moved the compassion OF
the commission. No more pathetic
revelation OF the sombre phase OF min.
Ing life has been presented to the COM
mission since It assembled.
When Chairman Gray asked the lad II
"Yes sir; II tell lie I'll die." Then
the lad went on to tell the story OF his
life at home and in the mine. His
father was killed In the mine Of G. b.
Markle & Co. at Jeddo eighteen months
ago. The widowed mother has four
children, Andrew is the oldest. Two
are twins and the youngest is 2 years old.
Upon the death of his father, Andrews
mother took in boarders in an endeavor
to support the family and keep the lad
at school. The family lived in a four
room house owned by Markle & Co. At
one time Mrs. Chipprie had nine board
ers in the frame building in addition to
her four children. But strive as she
did, she could not make living, so
little Andrew was taken from school,
where he had been for one year, and
put to work In the breaker at Jeddo.
Then began his first real experience
with mining corporation. The father,
when he was killed, left debt OF about
500 due for rent to the company.
The boy testified that, though he had
worked 10 the breaker several months,
including the time he worked before the
strike, be has not received one cent of
pay for his work. Markle & Co., ac-
cordlng to his testimony, have withheld
every penny earned by the child, In
order to apply it to the debt of his
father.
The first month on pay day the state
ment showed he owed the company
S64 90. He worked hard the next
month, and at the end of that time his
due bill showed that he owed the Mar