The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-19
MANY QUESTIONS ASKED.


SCRANTON, Pa. Nov. 1s-When Wayne
Macveagh resumed his cross-examInation
of Mr.. Mitchell he took up the alleged acts
of violence in the mining region. After
the mine workers president had answered
several questions Mr.. MacVeagh said:
'What am trying to show is that there
Is a growing spirit of violence and disre-
gard of law in your organization and that
your influence over them is insufficient to
keep them law-abiding and peaceable as
you desire them TO be-"
Under this arraignment of the union Mr.
Mitchell retained his complete composure.
The question met with ready response.
THE fear that my influence" said he lis
not sufficient 10 deter men from the COM
mission Of crime is contradiction of the
claims often made about me-"
The cross-examiner and the witness then
plunged into spirited colloquy over the
question Of whether one man has the right
TO prevent another man from selling his
labor. The best answer Mr.. Macveagh
could draw from the miners chief was that
he did not approve of any one committing
an unlawful act.
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 free
dom 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 its
effects on society.
This is the language of a very carefully
disguised anarchy Mr.. MacVeagh re-
marked; because It is the language of
IEol nd
Archbishop Ireland never expected tn he
used In that sense. / might say Archbishop
Ireland is member of committee of
which i am also a member which has
declared for a trade-union idea
Answering a further question Mr. Mitch
ell declared that II Archbishop Ireland's $
statement meant that men have no right 10
picket he disagreed with him. Mr.. MitcbeIl
added that he did not know that the Arch
oisnop ,,,,nn ~sS ,nae1ars supreme Court
questions Mr.. Mitchell said there were NO
Anarchists in the trade unions Replying
10 Mr.. MacVeagh's questions regarding
union men belonging to the National Guard
Mr. Mitchell said no local in his union had
ever expelled a man from the union for
belonging TO the Guard. and that no nation
al labor organization OF any kind had ever
done such thing. A little union I'm New
York State. he said. had taken such action.
and IL had been heralded over the country
He was not responsible for what some other
organizations did. Mr.. MacVeagh conclud-
ed his cross-examination at this point
high Valley Coal Company. followed Mr..
Macveagh and questioned Mr.. Mitchell re-
garding his comparison of wages paid in
the bituminous fields as against those paid
an the anthracite. Mr.. Mitchell was unable
to say how many mines are so equipped as
10 enable them to weigh coal. but he did
not think the expense OF equipping them
would be very great.
Replying 10 Bishop Spalding. Mr.. Mitchell
said that operators could form a coalition
end stop the mining of coal throughout the
United States. They could dc the same
as we do" he said. land especially now
when the coal fields OF the country are
passing into the hands OF few men,"
Commissioner Watkins thought the law
would prevent operators from doing that
by reason OF their Incorporation. but Mr..
Mitchell said they had the right TO shut
down their mines.
Judge Gray asked the witness IL his So
ciety did not depend. after all. upon the
Old economic truth that all great forces
which tend 10 uplift and carry On social
Advancement and civilization depend upon
the average desire of the individual TO bet
ter his own condition and TO work for
wages. and upon the desire OF q man who