The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-18
SOME SEARCHING
: QUESTIONS ASKED
Carroll D. Wright Shrewdly Ans
wered by President Mitchell
.. This Morning.
-
Bishop Spalding and Commissioner
Watkins Also Take
Hand. ~
Wayne MacVeagh Finishes Cross
Wayne MacVeagh Finishes Cross
Examination-Others Will
Be Shorter.

opinion or attorneys To-Day Iilde SONio
will have to be made to
shorten the inquiry. At the rate progress
is now being made it will take many
weeks to hear both sides to the contro-
ve1sy. If counsel takes. no action it is
likely the commission will suggest that
something be done. The commissioners
recognize that President Mitchell IS the
most important witness the miners have
and they are 10th to have matters hur-
ried while he is on the stand. He being
the president Of the union his opinions
are looked upon as official and also as
the policy of the organization.
Before proceeding to the examination
John r. Lenahan Of Wilkesbarre, one Of
the attorneys for the nonun1on men who
want the commission to take UP their
case, handed to the commission a list OF
two thousand names Of nonunion men as
his authority for appearing before the
arbitrators. He did not wish the commits
sion to make the names public at this
time, but as Chairman Gray said every
thing filed with the commission is public
matter the names were unofficfally handed
in and were not given out for publication.
He also filed a statement Of the nom
union demands, which are given below.
Acts Of Violence. -,
Mr.. MacVeagh in resuming his cross
examination said he would be glad to get
an expression as to the influence Of acts
of violence.
The witness said that he would not
assume that the acts Of violence are true.
IT," he said Forest City, which had
been referred to, would be an example Of
all towns and cities in the anthracite field.
it would indicate that we were a very
aw-abiding,- religious people,
'"The question: Mr.. Macveagh said, "s
whether Or not you have taken the
proper methods to prevent repetition Of
violent acts when they have occurred.
What l am trying to show" he continued,
sis that there is growing spirit Of vio-
lence and disregard for law in your or
gan1zat1on and that your influence over
them is insufficient to keep them law
abiding and peaceable as YOU desire them
to be- - 5s,z.45 -
Under this arraignment of the. union Mr..
Mitchell retained complete >composure.
The question met with a, ready response.
1.-The fear that my influence said he,
is not sufficient to deter men from the
commission OF crime is q contra diction Of
the claims often made about me-" He
was free to say that some men may have
been deferred from going to work because
of violence, but the strike itself lost more
IN public opinion by reason of that than
1t could possibly gain. - .
The cross examiner- and the witness
then plunged into a spirited colloouy over
the question Of whether one man has a
right to prevent another man from selling
his labor
The best answer that Mr. MacVeseh
could draw from the miners chief was
that ne did not approve of anyone COM
hitting an unlawful act. e.
Mr.. MacVeagh read a statement regard
ing the right to strike as belonging to
the personal freedom of workingmen. He
also took the view that in exercising
that freedom those who cease to work
must not interfere with the liberty of
others who wish to work.
Archbishop ireIand's Views.
we do not want anarchy said Mr..
Mitchell, land that is ANARCHY n,1re and
simple-the right of every man to do
absolutely as he pleases regardless OF it's
effects on society,"" -
ms Is the language Of very care
fully disguised anarchy Mr.. Macveag oh
remarked, because it Is the language of
Archbishop Ireland
Archbishop Ireland never expected II ia
be used in that sense. I might say Arch
bishop Ireland is g. member of a COMMITTEES
of which am also a member which has
declared for a trade union idea :
Mr.. Mitchell declared that If Archbishop
1reland's statement meant that men have
no right to picket he disagreed with him
Mr.. Mitchell added that he did not know
that the archbishop was regarded as q
supreme court on trade union matters.
The attorney and the witness wandered
from the rules of cross examination and
INDUCED In an argument over the propriety
of any one criticizing acts and decision.
of courts.
Mr.. MacVeagh thought it was wrong ia
follow such a course and that it tends to
breed anarchy. Mr.. Mitchell said he was
pleased to say that the courts as a rule
were fair. but he regretted that in the
course Of his experience he had found
some judges against labor. He referred
to Judge Jackson of West Virginia, who
he said, had made great many serious
reflections on men who gave up theil
lives to the cause of labor. He added thai
there were no anarchists in the trades
unions. Replying to Mr.. MacVeagh's ques.
lions regarding the union men belonging
to the National Guard, Mr.. Mitchell said
no local in his union had ever expelled
man from the union for belonging to the
guard and that no national labor union OF
any kind had ever done such thing. A
little union in New York state he said haG
taken such action and it had been heraldeG
over the country. He was not responsible
for what some other organizations did.
Mr.. MacVeagh concluded his cross-ex.
animation at this point.
Limit to the Range OF inquiry.
| 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 repre-
senting others, but they believed they
had obtained 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 examina-
ton, the commission would not object tc
hearing the testimony.
Former Congressman Simon p. VOL
verton, representing the Philadelphia a
Reading Coal and Iron company. informed
the committee that future examinations
would be very brief.
/ Francis r. Gowen, representing the Le-
4 high Valley Coal company, followed Mr.
Macveagh and questioned Mr. Mitchell re.
garding his comparison of wages paid In
/ the bituminous field as against those paid
1 In the anthracite.
] Mr. Mitchell was unable to Say, how