Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-11-17
President Mitchell Quizzed by
Attorney Macveagh.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LIVELY
Brussels Police Made a Mistake In
Arfesting an Englishman.
PRESIDENTS BEAR HUNT UNSUCCESSFUL

ONi ohlOh WV
Mitchell of the Miners union, resumed
the stand on the convening of the coal
strike commission and his cross exam
ination by Wayne MacVeagh, which
was begun on Saturday. was resumed.
MacVeagh represents the Erie compa-
ry, which operates mines under the
name of the Pennsylvania Coal compa-
ny and the Hillside Coal and Iron COM
pany. Mitchell, who has been on the
stand since last Friday morning,
brought with him a number of docu-
ments and books which he frequently
referred to in order to refresh his
memory. MacVeagh began the exam
ination by reading from newspaper
clippings the methods of a labor organ
ization known as the Operative Plas-
terers' association of New York against
the employers.
DO you approve or do you heartily
disapprove of these methodist" asked
Mr.. MacVeagh.
81 should say that my union has no
such rules" answered Mr.. Mitchell.
MacVeagh repeated his question and
Mr.. Mitchell said: 81 can only say that
in the absence of knowledge as to the
causes which made them adopt such
resolutions am not competent to pass
upon the fairness or unfairness Of
them. On the surface and with the
information you convey to me, should
say they are unfair - ~ 20
MacVeagh referred to the subject of
placing the responsibility for the in
creased price of coal and inquired:
''Do you still say it is none Of your
business what additional cost the peo-
pie will have to pay for their coal if
that additional cost is the immediate
result of your demand?"
81 have not said at any time it was
none of our business, replied Mr.. Nit
chell 81 have stated it was beyond
our control; that we have absolutely
nothing to do with the selling price of
coal"
"Mr. Mitchell. do you think you
have the right to ask for an increase
in wages which, if granted, would in
crease the cost in living to hundreds
OF thousands of poor?"
The miners representative replied
that there are hundreds of thousands
of persons in the anthracite field who
are starving and it is their fundamen-
tai right to ask for living wages in re-
turn for labor.
The examination for a few minutes
became very spirited on this phase of
the consequence of thes trike, and then
MacVeagh turned to the matter of pro-
tecting properties during the strike.
Raising his voice to pitch and speak
ing with great fervor, MacVeagh asked
the witness: Don't you know. as well
as you know your name is John Nit
chell. that in spite of the authorities
of this city, this county and this state,
this whole region has been treated for
five months to veritable foretaste of
hell?"
Mr. Mitchell calmly replied; 81 don't
know anything of the kind"
We'll you will before We are through
with YOU" was MacVeagh's retort.
The commission allowed MacVeagh
the greatest latitude in his questions,
many of which had no apparent bear
ing on the matter in hand.
The strike investigation commission
decided to send invitations to repre-
sentatives of the Illinois Coal Operat-
ors' association to apear before the
commission and tell the condition in
that state under the system of yearly
agreements with the union.