The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-11-20
STRIKE HEARING BEGUN.
John Mitchell, the Miners Presi-
dent, Is the First Witness Be
fore the Commission.
The CONTEST IS OVER Tue UNION.
The Witness Denied That the Orsana-
ssAion HAD. Ever Vioha1ed . Con-
tract u Conditions In the Coal
Fields Out1inea-Nakes . DenAn1
for Trade Agreement.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 15.-The an
thracite strike commission yester-,
day began the hearing of the min
ers' side of the controversy. For
five hours John Mitchell. president
of the United Mine Workers, was on I
the stand, under oath, giving testi-
mony and responding to q trying
cross-examination.
The operators attacked the Unit
ed Mine Workers as an organization,
ignoring for the present all other
points and passing over all Mitch,
ellis claims for better wages and
shorter hours.
Blames Operators.
They tried to force Mitchell to adj
init that the union has violated con-
tracts, drew from him the reasons
of the strike, tried to get him to
admit that he is possessed of arbi-
trary power, to declare strikes. He
denied positively that the United
Mine Workers have ever violated a
contract, laid the blame of the strike
on the operators, who, he said, have
increased the size of cars, added to
the amount Of topping, and other
wise forced the miner to produce q
greater amount of coal at the same
price, and he declared that he had
no power to call strikes.
During the hearing the statement
was brought out for the first time
that the union had disbursed $780,
900 among the union and nonunioD
men who were on strike.
Fight IL Over Union.
It was evident from the first that
the fight for the recognition of the
miners union is the great point at
stake. The first skirmish was pre-
cipitated as soon as the commission
was seated. Lawyers representing
the nonunion workers demanded that
they be allowed to participate in the
proceedings. Clarence S. barrow
filed a fierce objection and Judge
Gray took the matter under advise
ment.
Reah. a Statement.
President Mitchell opened by read
ing statement of the miners side
of the case. He outlined the con-
ditions in the coal fields, the num-
Der of men employed, their classified
ton, and the percentage belonging
to the union. He told of the dan
gers, saying every day the anthra-
cite mines are worked Clio persons
are killed and three times as many
injured. He said there is scarcely
a miner in the field who is not suf-
.fering from miners asthma. He
said these men receive less wages
than skilled artisans in any other
line Of work.
He argued the demands for ten
per cent. increase in wages for con-
tract workers and an eight-hour day
for day laborers. He presented fig
ures to show that, more coal is pro-
duced under an eight hour rule.thaD
under present conditions.
Demands Trade Agreement.
"We demand recognition" he said.
because we know that permanent
peace and friendly relations can be
best maintained through a trade
agreement with the organization
which our people have elected to join.
Fully 80 per cent. of the employees of
the anthracite coal mines are members
of it from choice; they desire to re-
tain their membership in it.
Mr.. Mitchell concluded with q ples
for the children.
.s5s