Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-17
MITCHELL UNDER FIRE
Wayne McVeagh Cross Exam.
ines the Labor Leader for
Coal Companies.
MlTcHELL's ANSWERS SPIRITED
The Miners Representative Able to
Hold His Own with the Brilliant
Lawyer - Much Interest Manifested
in the Hearings and the Court Room
at Scranton Crowded.

at Scranton Crowded.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 17.-President
Mitchell resumed the stand today upon
the convening of the coal strike COM
Wayne MacVeagh. which was begun
Saturday, was continued. MacVeagh
represents the Erie Company, which
operates the mines under the names Of
the Pennsylvania Coal Company and
Hillside Coal and Iron Company. Mitch
ell brought with him number of docu-
ments and books, which he frequently
referred to In order to refresh his men,
ory. There seemed to be no falling Oft
in interest in the proceedings, the linn
tied accommodations being almost en-
tirely taken up by counsel for both
sides, mining officials, representatives
of mine workers and workmen who are
employed in the mines.
MacVeagh began his examination by
reading from a newspaper clippings OF
the methods of the labor organization
known as the Operative Plasterers' As
sociation of New York against the en-
ployers DO you approve or do you
heartily disapprove of these methods" 2
MacVeagh asked
'I should say that my union has no
such rules and in the absence of k11owl-
edge as to the causes which made them
adopt such resolutions, I am not compe-
tent to pass upon the fairness or unfair
ness of them. On the surface and with
the information you convey to me l
should say they are unfair.
MacVeagh referred to the subject OF
placing the responsibility for the in
creased price of coal and inquired:
.Do you still feel at liberty to say tnat
it is none of your business what add
t.onal cost the people will have TO pay
for the coal if that additional cost Is the
immediate result of your demands
81 have not said at any time it is none
of our business" replied Mitchell.
have stated IL is beyond cur control ana
that we have absolutely nothing 70 40
with the selling price of coal.
"Won't your men have to work nVe
wears to make up the loss they have
sustained during the strike"
Not by any means.
"Do YOU think you have right to ask
for an increase in wages which, II
granted, would increase the cost OF nv
ing to hundreds of thousands OF peo-
ple?"
.erhere are flve hundred thousand
nersons in the anthracite fields VINO.
are starving and it is their fundamental
right to ask for living wages in return
for their labors," said Mitchell me
for few minutes became
very spirited on this phase of the con-
of the strike. Then Mac
yeagh turned to the matter of pro-
tecting properties during the strike.
Replying to the questions or the rlRnt
to prosecute the parties and protect
their property, Mitchell said the pro-
vision in the miners constitution
against pickets grew out OF the Home
stead strike, when the number OF pri-
yate detectives We're employer as
most of whom he declared had
been recruited from the slums OF large
cities. Mitchell insisted the city, county
and state authorities We're competent
10 handle the matter.
Raising his voice to pitch ana
speaking with great fervor MacVeagh
asked the witness: "Dont you know
as we'll as you know your name is
John Mitchell that in spite of the au-
thorities of the city, county and state
this whole region has been treated for
five months to veritable foretaste OF
hen?"
Mitchell calmly replied: II don't know
anything of the kind.
well, you will before we are thru
with you," was Macyeagh's retort.
MacVeagh read Governor Stones
calling out troops in
which the governor said there was
reign of terror in the region. Mitchell
denied the correctness of the COVER
nor's assertions. The eight-hour day
question was taken up and in reply
to the query as to whether he had tho
right to limit mans labor to eight
hours a day, Mitchell replied: I'VE
favor a maximum of eight hours, but
we will accept whatever award the
makes and that award will
have precedence over the laws of the
union"
The commission has decided to send
invitations to representatives of the Ill
inois Coal Operators association TO ap
pear before the commission to tell of
conditions in that state under the sys-
TEN of a yearly agreement with thus
union.
MacVeagh said: abraham Lincoln
was splitting rails, and he did not limit
himself to eight hours and you demand
it not only for men in the mines, but for
all men above ground, as well. He was
doing infinitely harder work than nine
tenths of our men do in the mines or
he, as boy, was trudging along the
path Of the canal, and so was Mckinley
in his early life. / only mention these
because they are three victims of the
spirit of anarchy, which is the curse of
this country today, and the only serious
curse affecting it,
Mitchell took quick notice of the
word anarchy and with considerable
spirit promptly inquired:
Trade unions are not held RESPONSE
BILE for it, are they?"
mo, certainly not" said MacVeagh
"Trade unions are most admirable, but
you make a demand upon us that we
shall prohibit every man in our employ
from working more than eight hours.