Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-19
Chairman of the Strike Com
mission Expedites the Hear
ings at Scranton.
IRRELEVANT MATTERS DROPPED
Attorneys Told to Stick to the Matter
in Hand and Not Wander Too Far
Into the Field of Speculation and La
Dor Reform Theories-Mitchell Again
on the Stand.

today with the usual large crowd in the
sci for Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western road, resumed his cross-ex-
animation of President Mitchell, Chair
man Gray, for the commission, again
requested counsel to assist in expedit-
ing the proceedings. He said the COM
mission was loath to interfere, but they
hoped that Mitchell would not be asked
to give his opinion of matters of which
he had no personal knowledge.
Mitchell, answering questions by
Ross, said an increase in wages With
out adopting the weighing system
would not meet the demands OF the
miners. The eighthour day would III
crease the annual income of the men.
Ross was proceeding to analize the
constitution of the Illinois branch OF
the United Mine Workers with rela-
ton to it's bearing on contracts with
the bituminous operators, when Judge
Gray interrupted with an inquiry as TO
the object of this line of questioning
Ross replied it was for the purpose
of showing that since the advent of the
union bituminous operators had been
unable to employ any man until he
first Joined the union. He did not pro-
ceed further with the question When
Ross concluded his examination, Nit
chell was cross s-examined by Former
Congressman Wolverton, counsel for
the Philadelphia g. Reading Coal and
Iron Company. Mitchell said 1T would
be impossible for him to give in detail
the conditions at each mine or even
under each company He also declared
it would neither be possible nor desir-
able to divide the United Mine Workers
into two separate organizations, one
bituminous, the other anthracite. The
anthracite miners" he said, have had
several independent and seperate or
ganizations In the past. They have
gone They do not want any more of
the organizations to go the same way"
The reply OF Mitchell excited some
interest because of the fact that of the
suggestion of separate organization
made by Mr.. Wright in his report Of
the strike to President Roosevelt. VOL
verton's cross examination occupied
but five minutes, the counsel for the
other roads then taking up the cross
examination. Mitchell declared, with
emphasis, that the miners will carry
out to the letter the decision of the
commission. "or go out of the union"
Judge Gray announced that the COM
mission would allow the attorney for
the non-u union men to appear before the
commission and said the commission
yn Ynf fai r.
be made of the names Of non union
fsts
Mitchell said that when a man
strikes he does not voluntarily give
UP his job, but strikes for improve
ment in the conditions of his job II
he wins he gets back his position, ii
he loses he goes back with hat in hand
and asks for a job. Judge Gray here
to explain the understand
ing of the commission with respect to
to work of men who had
been in a strike. He said: II think
the understanding is that pending con-
sideration of the question by this com.
the strikers We're to return
to work, and I think the
further understanding is-don't let me
be misunderstood-is that non union
men should not be interfered with nor
displaced from employment generally
by return of union men,"
Brief redirect examination by Dar-
row brought out no new information,
and Mitchell, after being under cross
examination for four and one half |
days left the,witness stand Rev. Peter
Mahanoy City, who is author |
of a book on Anthracite Coal Industry,
took the stand and had just begun his
testimony when recess was taken.