Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-11-21
QUESTIONING MITCHELL
Labor Leader Growing Weary From
Strain Of Cross Examination.
ANOTHER TILT WITH LAWYER

ANOTHER TILT WITH LAWYER
ArbItrators Are Growing Restless, Be-
cause Attorneys Do Not Limit Cues
tions to New Features-Reeognition |
Of Union Most Important Point.
Scranton. Pa. Nov. 10. = Presi-
dent Mitchell yesterday for the
fourth successive day occupied the
witness stand during the two sessions
of the strike commission. and was
eross-examined by three attorneys for
as many coal companies. The arbitra-
tors are growing restless in eonse-
nuence of the long cross-examination,
which apparently does not bring out
the facts as quickly as the commits
sion would like to have them present
ed. Several times during the course
of Yesterdays session Chairman Gray
reminded the attorneys Of the value
of time and suggested that cross-exam-
nation be limited to new features OF
those questions that have already
been gone over. The lawyers assured
/ the commission that they, too, were
anxious to expedite matters, and would
do everything possible to hurry mat
tiers along without injuring their own
case.
Mr.. Mitchell has been on the stand
since last Friday morning and is show
ing signs of WEAKNESS from the strain
Of four days cross-examination. Thus
far his attorney, c. S. barrow, and
David wilcox. for the Delaware and
Hudson; Wayne MacVeagh, for the
Erie; Francis l. Gowen, for the LIE
high Valley, and W. w. Ross. for the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Company, have examined the miners
president. The commissioners yester
, day for the first time entered into th'
discussion with the lawyers and th'
witness over disputed points which
J arose from time to time. Mr.. Mitchell
was still on the stand when the com
mission adjourned.
e Mr.. MacVeagh, who began his cross
examination Of Mr.. Mitchell on Sal
urday, concluded yesterday morning
i The recognition OF the union Is locke
). upon as the most important question
before the commission, and it is quit
4 evident from the trend of the proceed
, ings thus far that the companies wi
> oppose It to their utmost ability.
, Mr.. Ross line of examination wa
for some time directed toward testin
Mr.. Mitchell's knowledge of bitumil
S GUS mine working. the number of me
employed, the wages paid and con
parison of these with the wages pal
in the anthracite fields. Regardin
a. the number Of hours the men work
ID the hard coal regions, Mr.. Mitche
r said that when the breaker runs
{ hours, the men usually work seve
h. eight or nine hours. When Il
- breaker runs less the men work
!. proportion. On the average, howeve
! the men worked more hours than Il
breakers.
9 "As a matter Of fact" said Mr.. Ros
III has not your organization stopp
w the miners from working on the da
when the breakers were idle?'
es Mr.. Mitchell admitted that in IL
tn district the rule is that the men sh
~ not prepare coal on idle days. tt
la he said was for the purpose Of p
ms venting favoritism.
~ do any of these epithets and slur
inquired Mr.. Ross, you have made
= garding the horrible condition of
= miners apply to our company"
L. ''Will you tell me particularly wi
IN. slurs you refer to-" Mr. Mitch
=, asked. II do not recall having US
- language of that character"
Mr. Ross did not take any notice
- Mr.. Mitchelps remark, but instead t.
e up the line of his examination.
u "You have spoken Of the existei
m OF favoritism for one thing" Mr.. R
we said, "and you referred to the exc
lp- sive system Of docking. Do they e.
OF in our mines?"
The THAT is my information" was
M reply.
Ike After some unimportant testlmi
nm as to a comparison Of wages, the
h;s cial features of the coal fields
taken up, and Mr. Mitchell said
- could not see any other reason
"a child labor than that the families
iiS quire the money to live on, the exl
lhu ton being where the parents may
ma inhuman. He then reiterated his
vel mer statement that the minimum "
rec should be $500 a year.
ket I'VE might want to go to the
all shore" said he. Speaking with a
emf tie sarcasm, Mr.. Mitchell said
eo the company had some employees
,se- had visited Philadelphia once in
II, years, and that they thereby had
important event in their lives to re
to their grandchildren.
INN At this point Mr.. Ross took occa
LlhD to call attention to the fact that
company owned 2S4 houses, W
were rented to the miners on an q
age of So a month.
$50 you see," remarked Mr. F
1--WE haven't very many houses for
number Of employees. upward Of
600"
,.-n you charge enough for the
iFth, you do have" was Mr.. Mitchell's
response, which caused merril
Jo,1 among the miners in the court roc
'ullu' Mr.. MacVeagh read a list of IA nj
), the of men who were killed during
rt5.t time, and also submitted in evid
about rs printed pages of acts 0
legged violence, boycott and intin
who ton, and with the assistance of s.
Of other documents maintained tn
would be utterly impracticable 70
! coal companies he represents to
into agreements with an organic
l.0O that could not control its own me
clubs. Continuing, Mr.. Macveagh inqui
snts. 'Dont you think these acts des
on re- the statement 1 made that they
n any q fOretaste Of hell?"
Does our union commit these al
Mr.. Mitchell inquired.
1--WE will follow with the proof,
marked Mr.. MacVeagh. but ask
what language do you use to chara
- lze Shis situation?"
Il should say intolerable."
''Will you tell me of a single inst
- in which any one of the perpetr
was disciplined?"
There never have been Occa
== when the responsibility was p
arc. upon members of our organization
is the province Of the courts to pl
men who violate the law I d.
know that any Of our men have
convicted except in the case O.