The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-18
Another Interesting Battle between
Counsel for Operators and the
Miners Representative.
BOYCOTT, ALLEGED VIOLENCE
AND PROPOSED YEARLY AGREE
MENT UNDER DISCUSSION.
LawIessness Regretted by Mr.. Mitch
eII-Demands of Nonunionists Filed
with the Commission.

SCRANTON. Pa, Nov. 17.-In the pres
ence of as many persons as could be
jammed into the Superior Court room to-
day, 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 two men. the one in his
thirties and the other in his seventies. were
followed with intense interest by both the
commissioners and the crowd throughout
the day, and the contest will be resumed
In the morning.
The fourth demand OF the union, which
calls for a yearly trade agreement. and
which means a straight-out recognition of
the union. was the bone of contention. and.
although four hours were taken up in
discussion of the question, not much ma
terial progress was made. Wayne Mac
Veagh. skilled in the art OF cross-examina-
ton. attempted to show the utter irrespon-
sibinty OF the union and its unftness to
make contracts which IT could not live up
to. His principal argument was the alleged
boycott, and he often pressed the miners
president for an answer. The latter. how
ever. slowly and deliberately gave some
reply. but he did not always satisfy the
inquisitor. Mr.. MacVeagh. in the presence
OF the assemblage, expressed his admira-
tion Of the ability OF the witness, and on
one occasion. when Mr.. Mitchell parried
a question regarding the boycotting of a
coal and iron policeman by a hotel keeper.
the distinguished attorney threw up his
hands. laughed and said:
''Mr. Mitchell. you are the best witness
for yourself that / ever confronted
Mr.. MacVeagh weighed heavily on what
he said was a reign of terror in the anthra-
cite 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 evidence about seventy-five
printed pages of acts of alleged violence,
boycott and intimidation, and with the
assistance of stacks of other documents.
maintained that IL would be utterly i'm
practicable for the coal companies he rep
organization that could not control its own
men.
STRIKERS WERE WARNED.
Mr.. Mitchell stoutly maintained that the
discipline in the organization is as good as
II possibly could be where 147,OO0 men were
involved. He asserted that the strikers
were not entirely responsible for the acts
of lawlessness that were committed. He
regretted 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 excitement 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 in
sosa,so solersble or 'unfortunate." Replying to
MI MacNeagh, where men had been de-
terreu from going 10 work through fear OF
personal harm or social ostracism for them
selves and families, Mr.. Mitchell said that
In some cases men may have been deferred
but denied the assertion that such alleged
acts prevented the mines from being operat-
ed He said that when the strike was de-
clared every mine worker in the region
quit work and remained out even after the
entire national Guard of the State had been
thrown into the coal fields. In short he
said that the men would not have gone
back TO work under any condition.
Tne miners president. no matter how
dragged into fiat admission that he as
president OF the union. approved of the
boycotts complained OF by the companies
He had his personal opinions of some phas-
es or the boycott, but would net EXPRESS
them as being the sentiment or noIicv Of
his organization During the cross-exam-
fnatfon the commissioners often interrunted
with questions In order to stop a long col
loquy over some disputed point. While the
examination was was at times quite spirited.
once Mr.. Mitchell showed signs of irrits Nj
ity This was when Mr. MacVearh raalirr
the long list OF acts Of violence. would take
vicious act. and say, sharply: You could
have prevented this"
THE EIGHT-HoUR DEMAND.
In the course OF the forenoon session Mr.
Macveagh examined Mr.. Mitchell regarding
the eight-hour demand, and referred to tho
fact that Abraham Lincoln, James A. Gar
field and William Mckinley worked more
than eight hours day. and were thus en-
abled to climb the ladder to the presidency
Mr. Macveagh grew eloquent in the course
of putting one OF his questions to Mr.
Mitchell regarding the martyred Presidents
and added: '.I only mention these because
they are the three victims OF the spirit OF
anarchy which is the curse OF the country
to-day and the only serious curse affiict-
ing IT,.
The miners president. quick as a flash,
came back with the inquiry. Trade unions
are not held responsible for IT, are they?'
TO which Mr. MacVeagh quickly responded
that they were not, and supplemented this
with the remark that labor unions are most
admirable. The bringing OF the word AN
archy'' into the examination caused a dis
tinct murmur OF disapproval from the many
mine workers in the courtroom.
While the discussion OF the effect a
yearly agreement would have on the coal
Industry in the anthracite region was in
progress frequent reference was made TO
the workings OF agreements in soft coal re-
eions This led TO the announcement by
Chairman Gray that the commission had
decided 10 invite Herman Justi. commits
sioner of the Illinois Coal Operators Asso-
citation. 10 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. gen.
erai counsel for the Delaware a. Hudson
Company. after a conference with other at
torneys. handed up a suggestion that such
ether Witnesses. II any, as the Illinois Coal
0DerStors Association. may deem proper