The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-21

Sranton, Pa, November lin the
presence of as many persons as could
be damned into the superior court room
today, Wayne MacVeagh, for the Erie
Company, and John Mitchell for the
miners, continued their brilliant battle
of cross-examination before the anthra-
cite coal commission. The two men,
one in his thirties and the other in his
seventies, were followed with intense
interest by the commissioners and the
crowd throughout the day today and
the contest will be resumed in the morn
ing. The fourth demand of the union,
which calls for a yearly trade agree
ment n which means a st%raightout
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. Wayne MacVeagh, skilled
in the art of cross-eXamination, at
tempted to show the utter Irresponsible
ty of the union and it's unfitness to
make contracts which it could live up
to. His principal argument was the
o4ASoSo DoySolS oIfo hS oAlIh 1lAIu
pressed the miners president for an an
swer. The latter, however, slowly and
deliberately gave some reply, but
it did not always satisfy his
inquistor. Mr.. Mac Veagh in the
presence of the assemblage, expressed
his admiration of the ability of the wit
ness n on one occasion, hen Mr..
Mitchell parted a question regarding
the boycotting of a coal and iron police
man hv a hotel Eaanar tho 6iStinO J1iSh-
ed attorney threw up his hands, laugh
ed and said:
"Mr. Mitchell, you are the best wit
ness for yourself that 1 ever confront
ed"
Mr.. MacVeigh weighed heavily m
what he said was a reign of terror in
the anthracite region during the period
of the strike. He read a list of fourteen
names of men who were killed during
that time and also submitted in evil
dence about seventy-fve printed pages
| of acts of alleged violence, boycott and
intimidation n with the assistance Of
| stacks of other documents. maintained
that it would be utterly impracticable
for the coal companies he represents to
enter into agreements with an ~organiza-
ton that could not control it's own men.
Mr.. Mitchell stoutly maintained that
the discipline in the organization is as
good as it possibly could be where 1f7,-
600 men were involved. He claimed
that the strikers were not entirely re-
sponsible for the acts of lawlessness
that were committed. He regretted
that members of the union had, in some
instance, violated the law. even after
they had been warned to refrain from
doing so, but made the excuse that in
times of great excitement there was
always more or less disorder.
In answer to questions, he said tha1
L h fhnrn yr-oC q ro1 or Of farrnr ln(
he had no information that such was
the case during the late strike. condi
tons arise that are 'into.crabIe "
unfortunate" Replying to specific IN
stances pointed out to him by Mr.. Nc.
Weigh, where men had been deferred from
going to work through fear Of persona
harm or social ostracism for themselve
and families. Mr.. Mitchell said that il
some cases. men may ave beeen de
TERED, but denied the assertion tina
such alleged acts prevented the mine
from being operated. He said tha
when the strike was declared ever.
mine worker in the region quit worl
and remained out ever after the entir'
national guard of the state mad beel
thrown into the coal fields. In short, h
said. the men would rot have gone t
work under any conditions.
The miners president, no matter HOY
skillfully he was questioned could no
be dragged into a fiat admission, tina
he as president of the union. approve
of the boycotts complained of by III
companies. He had mis- personal orin
ions of those phases IF the boycott, bu
would not express them as being tn
sentiment or policy of his organization
During the cross examination, the com
missioners often interrupted with ques
lions in order to stop a long cO:loqu
of some disputed point. While the ex
animation was at times quite spirited
the best of good feeling prevailed. Onl
once did Mr.. Mitchell show signs OF II
ritability. This was hen Mr.. dc
Weigh, reading the long list of acts G
violence, would take Mr.. Mitche'' I
task for some particular vicious act an
say. sharply:
You could have prevented this"
In the course of the forenoon session
Mr.. Me- cVeigh examined NJ. Mifche
regardi the eight hoUr demand an
referre TO the fact that Abraham Liz
coin. J-.oes A. Garfield n Williar
Mckinley worked more than eight hour
a day and were thus enabled 10 clim
the ladder to the presidency. Mr.. Mao