Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-11-27
MAY BE ADJUSTED.
Operators and Miners to Set
tie Their Dispute.
An Increase In Wages, = Nine Hour
Day and Trade Agreements Be-
tween the Companies by whom
They arc Employed.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 19.-President
Mitchell, for the fourth successive
day, occupied the witness stand dur
ing the two sessions of the strike
commission and was cross examined
by three attorneys for as many coal
companies. While considerable
amount of information for the en-
lightenment of the commissioners
was brought out, the day was a rath
er quiet one, compared with those
which have preceded it. The arbitra-
tors are growing restless in conse-
quence of the long cross examination
which apparently does not bring out
the facts as quickly as the commits
sion would like to have them. Sever
al times during the course of yester-
days session, Chairman Gray remind
ed the attorneys of the value of time
and suggested that cross examination
be limited to new features of those
questions that have already been gone
over. The lawyers assured the com
mission that they, too, were anxious
to expedite matters. and would do
along without injuring their own case.
Mr.. Mae Teagn, who began his cross
examination of Mr.. Mitchell on Sat
urday, concluded at II o'clock yester-
day. The distinguished attorney cen
tered most of his energies in trying
to break down the miners reasons
for asking for yearly agreement
with the companies on hours of labor,
wages and other conditions, which, if
made, would be recognition of the
union.
Mr.. Gowan and Mr. Ross questioned
Mr.. Mitchell principally regarding
conditions existing at the collieries
of the companies they represent.
These ques tions were more or less
technical. Mr.. Mitchell's answers, as
n rule, differed very little from the
reasons given in his preliminary state
ment to the commission for the i'm
proved conditions for the mine work
ers.
Scranton, Pa. Nov. 20.-After being
on the stand for four and a half days,
President Mitchell, of the miners
union, completed his testimony at
noon yesterday before the anthracite
strike commission. During his ordeal
he was examined by his own attor-
ney, and those of the Erie Company,
VIC btIdN Ill Z " lllliSblls lHI lCNla-
ware. Lacllawanna & Western, the Le-
high Valley and the Philadelphia &
Reading Coal and Iron Co., and also
by the attorneys of the independent
operators. He was followed on the
witness stand by the Rev. Peter Rob-
erts, ID. D., of Mahanoy City, Pa,
Congre ational minister, who has
studied the anthracite coal industry
and has written a book on the sub
ject He was still on the stand when
the commission adjourned for the
day.
One of the most important things
brought out during the cross exam
ination of President Mitchell yester-
day was his emphatic declaration that
the miners were opposed to separat-
ing the bituminous miners from the
anthracite workers, thus creating two
organizations. He made this reply
to a question of eX-Congressman 81
mon p. Wolverton, counsel for the
Reading Company, as TO whether it
would not be better to have separate
organizations. Mr.. Mutchell's answer
was that sit would not be possible or
desirable. The anthracite mine work
ers have had Independent organiza-
tions in the past. They have had sew
eral. They have gone. They are not
here now, and the men do not want
any more of their organizations to go
the same way"
The non-union men, that is, those
who remained at work during the
strike, We're made party to the arbi-
tration plan yesterday by their coun-
sci agreeing to make public the names
of the men who petitioned the com
mission. When the attorneys for the
"non-striking" workmen, as Chair
man Gray designated them and who
number about 1000, made demand
to the commission for a 20 per cent.
increase in wages with no reduction
in hours, their attorneys desired to
withhold the names of the persons
they represented. The commission,
however, decided they could not be a
party to such a plan of secrecy.
In connection with the non-union
feature of the investigation, Mr..
Mitchell announced that he is also
representing thousands of non-union
men who struck with the unionists
and that all the worllmen would abide
by the award of the arbitrators ''or
get out of the union"
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 21.-The eco
nomic and sociological features of the
anthracite coal industry and the eff
feet employment in and about the
mines has upon the health of the
mine workers were the principal sub
iects brought before the arbitration
committee yesterday by the attor-
neys for each side of the controversy.
While there was an entire ;~1scncc Of
| oratory or brilliant cross examination
which marked the proceedings during
the last few days, the cross eXamina-
tion, nevertheless closely held the at
tention of the commissioners and
they gained much information on the
several features touched upon by wit
neSScS.
The afternoon session was particu-
New Fuel