Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-18
MITCHELL UNDER FIRE
Labor Leader Cross Exam
ined All Day.
KEPT HIS / COMPOSURE
WHOLE COMMISSION AFTER HIM
AT TIMES.
He Managed, as Rule, to Meet Their
Interrogatories With Sharp
Replies.

on the stand since last Friday, took his
place in the witness box, and his cross
examination by Wayne MacVeagh for the
Erie company was resumed 1t was the
general opinion Of attorneys today that
some arrangement VIII have to be made to
shorten the inquiry. TAT the rate progress
is now being made it VIII take many weeks
to hear both sides to the controversy. IL
counsel takes no action it is likely the
commission will suggest that something
be done. The commissioners recognize
that President Mitchell is the most i'm
portant witness the miners have, and they
are loath to have matters hurried while
he is on the stand. He being the presi-
dent of the union his opinions are looked
upon official and also as rejecting the
policy of the organization
John T. Lenahan's Clients.
Before proceeding to the examination,
John 7. Lenahan of Wnkesbarre, one of
the attorneys for the non-union men who
want the commission to take up their case,
handed to the commission a list of 1000
names of non-union men as his authority
for appearing before the arbitrators. He
did not wish the commission to make the
names public at this time, but as Chairman
Gray said everything filed with the com.
mission is public matter the names were
unotticially handed in and were not given
out for publication. He also filed state
ment or the non-unt0n demands which were
published this morning.
Mr.. MacVeagh. inzresuming his cross-ex-
animation, said he would be glad to get an
expression as to the influence 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 alleged acts of violence are
true. If" he said. Forest City. which
had been referred to, would be an example
of all towns and cities in the anthra cit e
field it would indicate that we were very
biding, religious people
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 occurred.
He did not care, he said, by whom these
were committed, what l am trying to
show" he continued. lis. that there is
growing spirit of violence and disregard of
law in your organiza tfen and that your in
fluence over them is insufficient to keep
them law-abidirg and peaceable, as you
desire them to be-"
Mitchell Keeps Cool.
Under this arraignment of the union Mr.
Mitchell retained his complete composure.
The question met with a ready response.
1.-THE fear that my influence" said he. sis
not sufficient to deter men from the COM
mission of crime is a contradiction of the
claims often made about me-
He was free to say that some men may
cause of violence, but the strike itself lost
more in public opinion by reason of that
than it could possibly gain.
The crOSs-eXaminer and the witness then
plunged into a spirited colloquy 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 any one committing an
unlawful act
Mr.. MacVeagh read statement regard
ing the right to strike as belonging to the
personal freedom of workingmen. He also
took the view that in exercising that free
dom those who cease to work must not in
terfere with the liberty Of others who wish
to work
Discussion Over Anarchy.
I'VE do not want anarchy" said Mr..
Mitchell, land that is anarchy, pure and
simple-the right of every man to do abso-
lutely as he peases, regardless of its eff
fects society,""
This is the language of a very carefully
disguised anarchy" Mr.. MacVeash re-
marked, because it is the language of
Archbishop Ireland"
Archbishop Ireland never expected it to
be used in that sense. l might say Arch
bishop Ireland is member of committee
of which l am also member. which has
declared for trade union idea.
Answering further question, Mr.. Mitch
ell declared that If Archbishop lreland's S
statement meant that men have no right to
picket he disagreed with him. Mr. Mitchell
added that he did not know that the arch
plsnop' was regarded as supreme court on
trade union matters.
The attorney and the witness wandered
from the rules of cross-examination and in
dulged In an argument over the proprlety
OF any one criticising acts and decisions OF
courts
follow such a course, and that it tends to
breed anarchy. Mr.. Mitchell said he was
pleased to say the courts, as a rule, are
faiT, but he regretted that in the course OF
his experience he had found some judges
against labor He referred to Judge Jack
son of West Virginia. who, he said, had
made great many serious reflections on
men who gave up their lives to the cause
of labor. He added that there were no
anarchists in the trxde. unions. Replying to
Mr. MacVeagh'S questions regarding union
men belonging to the NRtioal Guard, Mr.
Mitchell said no local In his union had ever
expelled man from the Eunfon for belong
ing to the guard, and that no national
labor union of any kind had ever done such
thing. A little union in New York state.
ne said, had taken such action, and 1t had
been heraided over the country. He was
moi responsible for what some other organi-
cations did.
Mr.. Macveagh concluded his cross-exami-
nation at this point.
Judge Gray's Announcement.
AS soon as Mr.. Macveagh had finished
Judge Gray announced that the commits
sion did not wish to- limit the liberty of any
one appearing In this case as representing
others. but they believed they had obtain
ed as much information as they are likely
to get on the subjects touched upon.
Judge Gray announced, however, that II
there was any new line Of examination the
commission would notobject to hearing the
testimony.
Former Congressman Simon P. Wolver-
ton. representing the Philadeiphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company, informed
the commission that future examinations
would be very brief
Francis h Gowen. representing the Le-
high Valley Coal Company. followed Mr.
Macveagh. and questioned Mr.. Mitchell
regarding his comparison of wages paid in
the bituminous fields as against those paid
In the anthracite
Mr.. Mitchell was unable to say how many
mines are so equipped as to snabie them to