The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-15
MITCHELL FACES A
SMALL LEGAL HOST
Twenty Four Lawyers Repre-
sent the Coal Barons.
MITCHELL PUSHED HARD
But Calm and Cool he Goes Through the Or.
deal, Strengthening Rather Than Weak
ening his Causc---He viii Testify
Again To-day.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 14.-The Anthracite |
Strike Commission appointed by President |
Roosevelt to arbitrate the differences ex-
listing between the mine workers of the
hard coal fields of Pennsylvania and |
their employers, today, began the hea, %
ing of testimony by which it will determ- |
Inc whether or not the worllingmen are |
receiving fair and just wages for their |
labor and whether their conditions should |
not be improved
The star witness for the miners-Presi- |
dent John Mitchell-tooll the stand I'm
the forenoon and when the commission
adjourned at 4 o'clock in the afternoon
he still was under the fire of cross-cx-
animation by David w Wilcox, general
counsel of the Delaware and Hudson
Company. 1t was a trying day for the
miners leader, but he seemed to stand
the test we'll The heaviest fire of cross
questions was aimed at him late in the
afternoons session. and when the hour
| of adjournment was reached Mr.. Wilcox
was still propounding questions and test
| ing Mr.. Mitchell memory.
The opening OF the sessions was
notable day in the annals of the law In
| the upper anthracite region. Such an ar
ray of lawyers never has been seen In
| this part of the State, and it is doubt
| full whether attorneys ever have been so
| numerous on one side of a case in this
| State as were present in the interests
| of the coal companies today.
| The commissions sessions are being
| held in the beautiful room of the Penn
! sylvania Superior court, which is now
! sitting in Philadelphia. Ranged around
three tables in front OF the seven com
| missloners, who occupied the judges
bench, were no less than thirty lawyers
| tWenty-four of whom were looking after
the interests of the mine owners.
In addition to these, there was large
number of members of the bar present
who came merely to look on. The court
| room al both sessions was packed almost
| to suffocation and scores of persons were
unable to gain admittance Only one Of
the heads of the large coal companies.
Chairman Thomas, of the Erie. was
| present. There were among the specta-
tors quite large number of general su-
perintendents and district and mine su-
perintendents, all of whom took a deep
interest in the proceedings and some of
them frequently made notes.
Grouped about Mr.. Mitchell were Dis
trict Presidents Nichols, Duffy. and
Fahy, the three district secretaries. the
three national board members, the men,
bers of the three district executive boards
of the anthracite field. Scattered through
the spectators were many practical miners
who will be called upon to take the
| l-E, t..
The attitude of the commissioners was
followed closely by every one in the
court room. Then appeared to be greatly
interested in the cross examination of
Mr.. Mitchell, but at times seemed to
grow restless under the ceaseless fire
of questions aimed at the mine workers
leader.
Judge Gray, as chairman of the COM
mission, being versed in court proceedings
and the law, was the only spokesman for
the commission. He at times asked
questions and at the very close of the
afternoon session directed a query at Mr.
Mitchell which Mr.. Wilcox had been lead
ing up TO for some time. The chairman
asked Mr. Mitchell whether his organi-
zation approved the act of withdrawing
from or denying the necessaries of life
tion, and he replied
'I should say, emphatically, no.,
During the day Mr.. Wilcox asked Mr..
Mitchell many questions as to the,policies
Of the union, the method of calling
strikes, the ability of the union to main
tain discipline and prevent the members
of the union from violating the law, and
also as to the liability of the union
breaking contracts. 1t was apparent to
many of those present who understood
the situation that Mr.. Wlcox's object
was to attempt to prove by Mr.. Mitchells
own testimony that the contention of the
companies that the miners union was
an irresponsible organization and that
trade agreements therefore could not be
safely entered into, was well-founded.
During the hearing the statement was
brought out for the first time since the
late strike was inaugurated that the
union had disbursed $t,50o,O0O among the
union and non union men who were on
strike.
One of the questions which came up
before the commission was the advisa-
blity of hearing counsel on behalf of the
non-union men who remained at work
during the strike. Attorney John +.
Lenahan. one of the attorneys for the
nom union men, asked the commission
what his status before the arbitrators
was Judge GRAY informed him the ques-
tion would be taken under consideration
and that an answer probably would be
given him tomorrow.
Mr.. Mitchell. before taking the wilt
ness stand in the forenoon. presented the
miners side of The case in a siX-thous-
= and word statement. 1t took him forty
minutes to read his address and he was