Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-11-21
THE COAL STRIKE COMMISSION
Begins the Taking of Testimony in the Mine
Labor Troubles President Mitchell the First
Witness and Remarkably Good One Some
of the Points Taken Up.

The anthracite coal strike commits
sion began its hearing Of the miners
side of the case in the chamber of the
state superior court, county court
house. at Scranton. Pa. Friday Pres
ident John Mitchell of the Miners
Union. was the first witness and spent
the whole day on the stand, undergo
ing a severe cross examination by
counsel for the railroad coal compa-
MES. He stood the test we'll. The
seven commissioners occupied the
judges bench and 30 lawyers were pres
ent. n of whom were looking after the
interests of the mine owners. Besides
President Mitchell. the miners were
represented by Clarence S. Darrow of
Chicago. with five assistants. The
court room was packed. Judge Gray
was the only spokesman for the com
mission Among the questions he
asked Mr. Mitchell was whether his
organization approved the act of with
drawing from or denying the necessa-
ries of life to those who had offended
the organization and he replied; Il
should say emphatically, No. The
many queries put by the coal compa-
MES counsel tended to an attempt to
prove by Mr.. Mitchells own testimony
that the contention of the companies
that the miners union was an ire
sponsible organization and that trade
agreements therefore could not be
safely entered into. was well founded.
The statement was brought out that
since the last strike was lnaugurated
the union had disbursed 81, 800, 600
among the strikers The cross eXami-
nation was along lines tending to
show weakness in the constitution of
the United Mine Workers 1t devel
oped the fact that under constitution
Mitchell had full authority to decide
all disputes on the Interpretation of
the constitution, extreme power to
give one man. In answer to questions
Mr.. Mitchell said that a living wage
for coal miners should he not less than
5000 a year, to enable them to give
their children common school educa-
ton; and that under no circumstances
should a child under II be permitted
to work in mines.
Before taking the stand, Mr. Mitch
ell presented the miners side of the
case in a six thousand word statement.
1t made "A strong impression on those
present.
Wayne McVeigh, representing the
Erie company, cross examined Mr.
Monday. After the days bat
tie. he pronounced Mitchell the best
witness he ever faced. Mr. McNeigh
used very sharp language in regard to
dynamite and other outrages which
have taken place in the mine regions
lIri,,, III, Of ilyn for ty
"a veritable foretaste of hell. -
He asked Mr. Mitchell if he could say
it was none of his business that the
coal as a result OF his demands. Mr..
so: but that it was beyond the miners
ing to do with the selling price of coal.
think you have the right to ask for an
increase in wages which, if granted. /
would increase the cost of living to
hundreds of thousands of the poor:' .
rhe miners representative replied that
here are 800, 900 persons in the anthra-
ute fields who are starving, and it is
heir fundamental right to ask for liv-
ng wages in return for their labor. In
'egdru 10 Tie uN Ddllllt UuIIdStS, 4hilCu
I'll said he would present testimony to
show that the strikers had nothing to
10 with them and added with empha
lis that the operators could not have
Won the struggle if there had been not
single act of lawlessness. The exam
nation of Mr.. Mitchell was continued
Tuesday, and the question of violence
vas again gone over. Mr.. Mitchell
laid that he did not condone acts of
'iolence, that they hurt his cause and
hat he was always on the side of law
md order "The trade unionists.' he
"have no apologies to offer
o this country. Our men belong to
he militia and all national unions be-
ieve in anything that is lawful. The
then joined in the general
questioning.
"What is your objection to incorpo-
alton of the miners union asked
Watkins. There are
everal objections, answered Mitch
II. Il might mention that in order
o be financially responsible it would !
equire a large capital and our mem ;
ers are poor. If an employer were so {
isposed he could discredit our organ '
zation by keeping us continually in
curt in many minor instances where !
ONE individual miners had done some 5
hings. There have been no cases