The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-16


Endeavors to Bring 1t Up to the
Present Day Standard-Mr. Nc
VeaRh's Cross Examination of the
Workers Friend Very Keen and
Far Reaching as "A Rule.
Scranton, Pa. Nov 15.-President
| occupied the witness stand throughout
both sessions of the coal strike COM
mission to-day. For four hours and
! half he took the cross-fire of the two
! brilliant attorneys of the coal opera
! tors and ended the day with few scars
as a result of the battle. David Will
cox of New York, general counsel for
the Delaware and Hudson Company,
and Wayne Macveagh of Philadelphia,
who is representing the Pennsylvania
| Coal Company and the Hillside Coal
and Iron Company, We're the principal
| questioners, and they put hundreds OF
questions to Mr.. Mitchell. Harmony
prevailed between the lawyers and the
witness. The members of the commits
sion continue to take the same in
tense interest in everything done, and
frequently interrupt with questions in
order that they may have a better
understanding of what is be-
| ing said. The afternoon session
was the more interesting. Mr.. Mac
Neaghs cross examination was, as a
rule, very keen, and while he assured
| Mr.. Mitchell that he was not radically
opposed to him. he did not miss an op-
portunity to place MIR. Mitehells rea-
sons for better conditions in the an
thracite field in a bad light before the
commission. When he began his cross
examination of Mr.. Mitchell at noon he
Informed him that he was not opposed
to proper organized labor.
| He took up the demands of the
miners seriatim. He questioned Mr.
Mitchell on the demand for an increase
In wages and pressed the national
| president hard when he asked him If
| he cared to carry the responsibility
| of increasing the living expenses of
the great mass of our people of the
| Eastern states who would ultimately
have to carry the burden If the de-
mands of the miners for his wages
| were granted. Mr.. Mitchells reply In
| substance, was that the miners could
not assume the responsibility. as 1t was
| a situation over which they had 10
| control. Mr. MacVeagh made the most
| OF his opportunity to picture the great
burden that would fall on the peo-
| pie IL the demands of the miners were
| granted. From this question he
passed to the demands for shorter
work day and the weighing of coal by
the ton of 2,240 pounds, and then took
| up the fourth demand of the men for
| trade agreements which practically
means recognition of the union. He
asked Mr. Mitchell what sort of con-
| tract he would draw up, and the latter
| replied he would favor an agreement as
outlined in his suggestions to the COM
mission yesterday.
After going over the demands OF the
miners Mr.. MacVeagh took up the con-
dtions existing in and about the col
lieries of the companies he represented
and tried to show that the conditions
| spoken of by Mr.. Mitchell We're not
, borne out by Investigation. He took
Forest City, where the mines of the
companies are situated. as an example
and produced photographs of houses in
the town, and also referred to the large
deposits of money in the local bank,
to show the prosperity of the commu-
nifty. Mr.. Mitchell although not adj
hitting that the conditions as present.
ed by Mr.. MacVeagh were true, said
he could not, for lack of familiarity
with the community, deny his asser-
tons. The constitution of the United
Mine Workers of America was also
taken up by the lawyer, and he and Mr.
Mitchell several times spared for
points regarding the references contain
ed In 1t to an eight-hour day. Mr.. Mac
Veagh commended that no one had the
right TO deny man the privilege of
working more than eight hours a day
II he so desired. He said not one mem-
Der of the commission would be occu-
plying his present high place If he mad
limited his own labors to eight hours
a day. With reference to this argu-
ment Mr.. Mitchell thought 1t was not
fair to compare the mine workers with
the arbitrators. Mr.. Macyeagh md
himself started out in life by WORKING
fourteen hours day on a farm ana
for more than forty years he had
worked more thar ten hours a day
To the direct question as to whether
he, as president of the union.
had a right to curtail fha
hours of employment each day OF the
miners, Mr.. Mitchell said he thought
he had, and made an explanation by
saying that IL one miner worked more
than eight hours day 1t would prob
ably result in the other men being
compelled to work the same number
of hours.
During Mr. Mitehell's examination
by Mr.. Wilcox the fact was brought
out that If the increase in wages was
granted it would increase the expenses
of the companies about S12.000000 a
year. In regard to child labor Mr..
Mitchell said he was in favor of a
state law which would make the mini
mum age for a boy to go to work a
the collieries IA years instead of H.
Mr.. Mitchell's attention was directed
to the demand that the operators
should make an agreement with the
United Mine Workers. and Mr.. Mac
Veagh asked If he had prepared a
draft of such agreement which he
would have the commission compel
them to execute. Mr.. Mitchell replied
that he had suggested in his opening
address to the commission form that
would be practicable and acceptable
to all interests in the anthracite field.
Mr.. MacVeagh declared that there was
nothing in Mr.. Mitchell's suggestions
that the companies must enter into
partnership with the United Mine
Workers. and inquired II that was one
OF the miners demands. Mr. Mitchell
answered 1t was, whereupon MIR. Mac
Veagh said his company was endeav-
oring TO ascertain and would continue
70 ascertain what reasons there were
for attempting to compel them to en-
ter into that agreement.
II is expected that all Of next week
Will be- taken UP by the miners In pre-
senting their case. The same great ar
ray or lawyers was present to-day
and they took notes as the axamina-
ton OF Mr.. Mitchell proceeded. II Is
| possible he may occupy the witness
box for several DAYS next week