The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-16

| at two different bfeasts TO do that. and as
you would hsve t6'comply With the law of
PennSy,vania in locking after til; safety OF
Commissioner Watkins followed by asking
| Mr.. Mitchell IL the union permitted a miner
to employ three laborers.
The organization is opposed said Mr..
Mitchell. TO miners employing more than
one laborer. 1t is not the execution of any
well-defined policy. 1t is simply regula-
ton that the miners of the anthracite, field
find necessary to protect themselves AGAINST
and hiring a lot of laborers and bringing
them in and having them work for him."
In reply to question as TO whether he
believed that all miners should be paid BY
the day rather than by. the car or ton, Mr
Mitchell said he did not know whether 1t
line of questions on the paying of wages
by the ton. The miners leader said that
every miner should he paid for every pound
CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
MI. Mitchell denied any knowledge OF
the organization having inaugurated a
strike because of the employment OF non
union men. but he had heard that local
unions had suspended work on this ac-
count.
He had no personal views to offer on the
subject of members of the union Joining
the National Guard; but he felt that they
privileges that every one else does in that
When nIr. wr,cox concluded his cross
Wayne MacVeash, representing the Penn
sylvania Coal Company and the Hillside
Coal and Iron Company.
Mr.. MacVeagh said to Mr. Mitchell that
ne did not wish to have him suppose that
ne .(Mr. MacVeagh) was opposed to the
proper & 9rganfzation ;at of labor He thought
as employers, it may be to the interests of
the employed that they should be organized.
Mr.. MacEeagh added that the gentlemen
he represented knew they were not infaIIi-
BILE. ana that In the management of their
property they might have made mistakes.
an exact statement of the grievances which
the miners had against the companies rep
resented by him. Mr.. Mitchell stated these
to be that the companies have failed to pay
wages sufficiently high; that they have
failed to establish conditions OF employment
that were fair: that they have wrong sys--
tenn OF measuring the earnings OF the min
ers. and that their opposition to the treat
ment of the men as organized men had not
DEMAND FOR WAGES.
MI. MacNeagh repeated the demand for
~ per cent increase over the wages paid
before the strike and asked Mitchell II he
Mitchell answered that he did in a general
way. but that he would have to examine
have in front of him. But you are not
now prepared to ask for an increase OF
those wages; said Mr.. Macveagh. be
wages are
Mr.. Mitchelrs reply that he was prepared
TO ask LOT the increase. even though he did
not have the tables before him.
After further questioning. involving mat
ter; or detail. a recess was announced.
AT the afternoon session Mr. MacFeaEh
continued TO examine Mr.. Mitchell confin-
ing his queries to the conditions prevailing
at the collieries of the two coma Mr.
MacVeagh represents
PRESIDENT Mitchell could not give the av-
erage vases paid to workmen generally
throughout the United States, and Mr.. Mac
Veagh added:
Then you are rot competent to tell the
commission on what you base a fair Ameri-
can standard of living, except in sent.-
Il think am" replied Mr.. Mitchell.
MIR. MacNeagh asked numerous questions
regaTdlhg the wages earned by other work.
men, such as farm iaborers
BURDEN OF INCREASE.
turning to the question of who would
carry the burden of the increased price of
coai II an advance was granted, Mr..
he mad nothing to do with that
Wno should stand for this increased
cost. Don You think the poor would be
tne .e real suferers?' Mr.. MacVeagh asked:
suppose the operators will make the
poor stand for 1t. We are not responsible
The witness was next examined in regard
20 the demand for shorter wcrkday and
also the demand for the weighing of mer-
cEantap.e coal at 2.<i5 pounds to the ton
rms line of questioning brought out moth
Mr.. Macyeagh then took up the fourth
demand OF the union for trade agreements
between the mine workers and the employ
ers. 9nd examined Mr.. Mitchell at great
length on It
The commission adjourned until Monday,
with Mr.. Mitchell still on the stand.