The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-19
MITCHELL STILL UP
LAWYERS KEEP HIM ON STAND
BEFORE STRIKE COMMISSION.
ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSION BEGINNING TO TIRE OF
SUCH SLOW PROGRESS.

Represented in the Hearing Take
Turns in Examining the President
of the UniOn-Interest in the Pro-
ceedings Continues strong-Mitch-
ell Declares Labor Unions Do Not
ExpeI Members for Membership in
National Guard.
Scranton Pa, Nov. 1S.-Mr. Mitchell.
for the fourth successive day, occupied
the witness stand during the two ses-
sions of the strike commission. and
was cross-examined by three attorneys
for as many coal companies.
While a considerable amount of in
formation for the enlightenment of the
commissioners was brought out, the
day was rather quiet one. compared
with those which have preceded it. The
arbitrator are growing restless in con-
sequence of the long cross-examina-
ton, which apparently does not bring
out the facts as fully as the commits
sion would like them presented. Sew
eral times during the course of the
days session. Chairman Gray remind
ed the attorneys OF the value of time
and suggested that cross-examination
be limited to new features of those
questions that already have been gone
over
The lawyers assured the commission
that they, too. were anxious to expe-
dite matters and would do everything
!" possible to hurry them along without
injuring their own case.
Mr. Mitchell has been on the stand
since last Friday morning. and is
showing signs of WEAKNESS from the
strain of four days of cross-examina-
ton. Thus far, Attorneys c. S. OAR
row and David Wilcox for the Della
ware and Hudson. Wayne MacVeagh
for the Erie; Francis I. Gowan for the
Lehigh Valley, and w. W. Ross for
the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern Company, have examined the min
ers' president. The commissioners. for
the first time to-day, entered into the
discussion with the lawyers and the
witness over disputed points which
arose from time to time.
Unfit to Enter Into n Contract.
Mr.. MacVeagh, who began his cross
| examination of Mr.. Mitchell on Sat
urday, concluded at IL o'clock to-day
most of his energies in trying to break
down the miners reasons for asking
for a yearly agreement with the COM
| panies on hours of labor, wages and
! other conditions, which, If made, would
| be recognition of the union. Mr.. Mac
| Veagh's principal aim throughout his
| questioning of Mr.. Mitchell was to
show that the Mine Workers Union,
because of alleged acts of intimidation,
| violence and the use of the boycott by
| its members, proved itself unfit to be
| a party to a contract.
Mr.. Mitchell would not admit nor
| even assume for the sake of illustrat-
| ing points, that a reign of terror ex-
! listed in the anthracite coal fields dur
| ing the last six months. The recogni-
ton of the union is looked upon as the
most important question before the
| commission, and it is quite evident
from the trend of the proceedings thus
! far that the companies will oppose it
to their utmost ability.
Mr.. Gowan and Mr.. Ross questioned
Mr.. Mitchell principally regarding con-
ditions existing at the collieries of the
! companies they represent. These ques-
| lions We're more or less technical Mr.
| Nitchells answers as a rule, differed
! very little from the reasons given in his
| preliminary statement to the commits
! sion for improved conditions for the
| mine workers.
Interest in the proceedings is not
waning. The large crowds which have
! been Wedged in the court room in the
preceding days of the hearings were in
evidence. Neither is there a falling off
in the attendance of the attorneys, of
whom there are almost two-score pres
ent at each session.
Before proceeding to the examina-
ton to-day, John T. Lenahan of
Wilkes barre, one of the attorneys for
the non-union men, who want the COM
mission to take up their case. handed
to the commission a list of 1000 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 commits
sion is public matter, the names were
unofficially handed in and were not
given out for publication. He also
filed a statement of the non-union de-
mands.
Mitchell Called 1T Anarchy.
Mr.. MacVeagh made a statement re-
garding the right to strike as belong
ing to the personal freedom of work.
ingmen. 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
I'VE do not want anarchy" said Mr.
Mitchell, and that is anarchy pure
and simple-the right of every man to
do absolutely as he pleases regardless
of it's effect on society"
This is the language of a very care
fully disguised anarchy" Mr.. Mac
Veagh remarked, because it is the
language of Archbishop Ireland. Arch
bishop Ireland never expected it to be
used in that sense. might say Arch
bishop Ireland is member of a COM
mittee of which / am also q member,
which has declared for trade union
idea"
Answering a further question, Mr..
Mitchell declared that If Archbishop
Ireland'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 a supreme court on trade
union matters.
Union and National Guard.
Replying to Mr.. MacVeagh's ques-
tons regarding union men belonging to
the National Guard. Mr.. Mitchell said
no local in his union had ever ex-
PEELED a man from the union for
belonging to the Guard. and that no
national labor union Of any kind had
ever done such q thing.
Francis /. Gowan, representing the
Lehigh Valley Coal Company, follow
ed Mr.. MacVesgh and questioned Mr..
Mitchell regarding his comparison Of
wages paid IN the btuminous fields as
against fhoae maid GA tho anthracite