The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-11-20
TO HASTEN END
JUDGE GRAY MAKES SUGGESTION
TO SHORTEN COAL STRIKE
INVESTIGATION.
MITCHELL STILL ON STAND

Attorney Macveagh Concludes His
Cross-Examination and the President
of the Commission Proposes That
Other Lawyers Touch on New Sub.
jects only-Members of the Board
Ask Many Questions of the Witness.
Scranton, Pa, Nov 19.-Another
large crowd was in attendance when
the arbitration commission began its
fourth days sitting. Mr.. Mitchell,
who has been on the stand since last
Friday, took his place in the witness
box and his cross-examination by
Wayne MacVeagh, for the Erie COM
pany, was resumed.
Mr.. MacVeagh, in resuming his
cross-examination, said he would be
glad to get an expression as to the in
fuence of acts of violence upon the
temper and disposition of the union
men said to have committed them.
The witness said that he would not
assume that the acts of violence are
true. eff" said he, Forest City; which
had been referred, to, would be an ex-
| ample of all towns and cities in the
anthracite field. it would indicate that
we were very law-abiding, religious
people,
1.-The question" Mr.. MacVeagh said,
"is whether or not you have taken the
proper methods to prevent a repetition
of violent acts when they have &C.
Cured" He did not care, he said, by
whom these were committed.
What l am trying to show" he con
tinued, lis that there is a, growing
spirit of violence and disregard of law
in your organization and that your in
f1uence over them is insufficient to
keep them law-abiding and peaceable
as you desire them to be-"
Under this arraignment of the union
Mr.. Mitchell retained his complete
composure The question met with a
ready response. THE fear that my in
fuence," said he, sis not sufficient to
deter men from the commission of
crime is a contradiction of the claims
often made about me-"
Setback to the Strikers.
He was free to say that some men
may have been deferred from going to
work because of violence, but the
strike itself lost more in public opin
ion by reason of that than it could pos
sibly gain.
The cross-examiner and the witness
then plunged into spirited coMoquy
over the question of whether one man
has a right to prevent another man
from selling his labor.
The best answer Mr.. MacVeagh
could draw from the miners chief was
that he did not approve of anyone
committing an unlawful act.
Mr.. MacVeagh read a statement re.
garding the right to strike as belong
ing to the personal freedom Of work
ingmen. He also took the view that in
exercising that freedom those who
cease to work must not interfere with
the liberty of others who wish to work.
1--WE do not want anarchy" said Mr..
Mitchell, land that is anarchy, pure
and simple-the right of every man to
do absolutely as he pleases regardless
of its effects on society"
"This is the language of very care
fully disguised anarchy" Mr.. Mac
Veagh remarked. Because it is the
language of Archbishop Ireland"
Answering a further question Mr..
Mitchell declared that if Archbishop
Ireland's statement meant that men
have no right to picket he disagreed
with him. Mr. Mitchell added that he
did not believe Archbishop Ireland was
regarded as a supreme court on trade
union matters.
Mr.. MacVeagh concluded his cross
examination at this point.
Judge Gray Makes Suggestion.
AS soon as Mr.. Macveagh had. fin
ished Judge Gray announced that the
commission did not wish to limit the
liberty of anyone appearing in this
believed they had obtained as much
information as they are likely to get on
the subjects touched upon.
Judge Gray announced, however,
that If there was any new line of ex-
animation the commission would not
object to hearing the testimony.
Former Congressman Simon P. VOL
verton, representing the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron company,
informed the commission that future
examinations would be very brief.
Francis r. Gowen, representing the
Lehigh Valley Coal company. followed
Mr.. MacVeagh and questioned Mr..
Mitchell regarding his comparison of
wages paid in the bituminous field as
against those paid in the anthracite.
For the first time during the session
the members of the commission then
entered into general cross-examina-
ton of the witness on points which the
previous testimony had not brought
out.
Replying to Bishop Spalding Mr.
Mitctcll said that operators could form