Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-10
Testimony Before the Commits
sion Shows the Markles in
Bad Light
sEAMY SIDE OF MINERS LIVES
Death of Wife as Result of Eviction
Struggle of Mother, Whose Hus-
band Was Killed in the Mines, to
Pay Rent and Coal Bills--other Gen.
eral News. ssa...sekr4i.

Markle & Co., the narration of the
forced removal from her home, and the
story of mother whose husband was
killed in the Markle mines, of her and
her two boys struggle for thirteen
years to pay the Markles the back rent
and coal bill she owed them, were the
principal features of foday's sessions OF
the coal strike commission. The tes-
timony as presented by some of the
witnesses whose lives are given up to
the coal mining industry was at times
pathetic and surprising to the commits
sioners, who listened to it with I'M
divided attention.
The miners concluded the calling of
witnesses against the Markle company.
In the absence of Samuel Dickson of
Philadelphia. and George r. Bedford of
Wilkesbarre. attorneys for the Markle
company, who are reported to be UNI
avoidably absent, only a perfunctory
cross examination has been carried on
by j. H. Torrey, of Scranton, who is
representing another company before
the commission, and who had been
asked to take care of the interests of
G.. B. Markle & Co. as best he could.
There has been considerable surprise
expressed that the company has not
made greater efforts to refute some of
the seemingly damaging testimony
that has been presented.
1t is expected, however, that the
company will do so later. The attor-
neys for the large coal companies have
nothing to say regarding the character
of the testimony being presented, but
those representing the miners are well
pleased.
One Of the latter, speaking of to-
days proceedings, said:
THE independent operators in their
meeting with the big companies in New
York two weeks ago, when they sue
ceeded in blocking the proposed set
Element. said the whole matter should
go before the commission so that the
country at large would know who is
right and thus vindicate the coal COM
panies. We are willing to go ahead
with the proceedings If they are salts
fled with the 'vindication' they are now
getting"
After closing the Markle case the
Representatives of the miners called
witnesses who had formerly been en-
ployed in the mines of several compan-
les to show that blacklist exists and
that some of the companies had broken
the agreement which ended the strike
and resulted in the appointment Of the
arbitration commission.
= II &c tho iufnptton of fhe 1awyarS f0y
the miners to take up tomorrow the
conditions OF the collieries of the Lee
igh Valley company and others in the
anthracite region.
B. D. gallagher. another Markle
miner, testified that the company
charges him 80 cents gallon for oil
that sells in Hazleton. few miles
away, for Is cents, and 80 cents for
q quire of blasting paper that can be
had for Is cents.
Chairman Gray asked what the out
side market price for powder was
Some of the independent operators
said $1.20 keg, but attorneys for
the miners said 80 to 95 cents keg.
The companies are selling it to the
miners at $3.50 keg
Henry Coll, another MarlSle miner,
told how his family, including his
mlother-in-law, who was about 100
years old, We're set out on the road
with their household goods. He gave
a graphic description of how he was
injured many times in the mines. He
said one of his legs was no better than
q wooden one, he has only one eye,
his hands had been crushed, and ribs
and skull fractured. The company
gave him nothing until after the en-
ployes took up a collection for him. |
then he was given $50 after being on
the Injured list for two years. The |
company took out of the collection the
rent he owed them.
In answer to other questions he said |
that he was one of the thirteen evicted |
by the Markle company. The only rent |
he owed was for the months during the |
strike. The company gave no reason |
for evicting him.
Then followed the most pathetic story |
yet told the commission. The old miner
decrepft from many injuries told under
examination of how the eviction was
carried on. The wife was sick and her
100 year. old mother was blind and UNI
able to walk. The day on which they
were thrown out was rainy. He took
them best he could to Hazleton. seven
miles away, and placed them in a cold,
damp, empty house. This was last
month, when the atmosphere on the
Hazleton mountain was quite cold. His
wife became worse Medical aid was
Kindly furnished free by Hazleton
Doctor, but it did not help her much.
We We're greatly worried because of
,ur having been turned out of the
house, and one night he said, be-
.ween sobs, "she died"
She died?" said Judge Gray, who
was pacing to and fro across the
'oom, as he quickly turned when he
aeard the mans last words
Yes, sir: she died, and 1 buried her
All the commissioners and
many of those in the court room were
much affected by the old miners story
lhe witness went on to say that he did
lot know whether the centenarian was
alive today. She was in a bad con
iition owing to her daughters death
when he left the house last night. No
me cared to cross examine and Judge
Gray said:
That is ALL Mr.. Coll, and that's
nough."
Two more witnesses told of how they
we're refused work by the Markle com
amy, and then ]. B. gallagher, ma
ional board member of the United b
Zine Workers of America for the Ha-
Teton district, took the stand ana TOLD b
{ conditions as he found at the II