Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-17
SHOCKED BY
CHILD LABOR
Strike Commission Urges
Legislative Action.
President of American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor Accuses
the Operators of Bringing
Foreigners to the Mines.

Chairman Gray opened yesterdays
proceedings Of the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission by saying that the
com missioners were impressed with the
spectacle of the little girls who were
before the commission the previous day
and testified that they worked all night.
He said the people of the community
and citizens Of the commonwealth
should not let the incident pass without
taking some steps to have the legis-
lature of Pennsylvania seriously con-
slider the enactment OF a law that will
forbid the employment of children at
night.
Several little girls, daughters of min
ers, were placed ou the witness stand
on Monday and told how they were
compelled to work all night In silk mills
for scanty wages. Annie Denks, 13
years old, said she worked at night from
6 80 p. N. until 80 in the morning.
She had to stand up all night during
her work and received 65 cents a night.
When the girl said she was employed
at night every member of the commits
sion seemed to be shocked.
| The miners sprang a surprise yester
day on the operators by presenting an
individual operator on the witness stand.
He is John C. Haddock, of Wilk esbarre,
president of the Plymouth Coal Com
pany. Mr.. Haddock said he had been
in the coal business thirty-fve years.
His company operates the Black Dia-
mond and Dodson mines, near Wilkes
barre. He explained that the miners
ton, which runs from 2,700 to 5000
pounds, was fixed years ago, so that the
employer could get out OF the ton 2,240
pounds OF pure coal above the size of
pea. Pea coal and all sizes below that
were waste" This waste is now being
utilized.
Regarding the prices of coal, Mr..
Haddock said middlemen in New York
are now paying $1l and S12 a ton.
Mr.. Haddock said that he believed in
the combination Of capital and of labor
|
labor as necessity, and he had no OBJ
| lection to dealing with labor unions, II
properly conducted. He believed that
the mine workers, because of the good
market for coal, were justified in asking
for an increase in wages. The witness
said he favored, before the strike. max
| ing a concession to the men under GER
tain conditions. He had no objection to
eight hours for the miners, and favored
nine hours for other classes Of mine
workers.
President Samuel Gompers, of the
American Federation OF Labor, testified
as an expert on the trade union move
ment. Regarding trade agreements,
Mr.. Gompers said they have always been
advantageous to both the workman and
his employer.
Chairman Gray, who is taking an es-
pecial interest in boycotts, asked Mr..
Gompers what he thought of such
methods. The witness said he would
boycott any person who is unfair to his
workmen, but would not boycott man
who chooses to do business with the per-
son who is boycotted.
The question Of the recognition of
unions was then taken up, and Mr..
Gompers said that employers made a
mistake when they refused to recognize
organized labor. The employer, he
said, has no moral right to refuse to
confer with committee of his en-
ployes. In reply to Bishop Spalding
Mr.. Gompers said he would not favor
| Incorporating union.
Mr.. Gompers was cross-examined by
James Torrey, counsel of the Delaware
and Hudson Company, who asked the
witness If he did not believe that mem
bers of the United Mine Workers of
America should be 81 years of age and
able to read aud write before they are
admitted to mem bership In the union.
To this the witness replied: Yes,
ten years from now, and when the COM
panes stop bringing illiterate foreigners
to this country. They are brought
here by the companies, and the labor
union must protect them and see that
they get their rights.
When one of the lawyers for the coal
companies asked him If he knew it from
personal knowledge, he said he could
prove it II necessary.
The miners made another attempt to
| h., 81 dpnit auiIanpa
a large mass of testimony tending to
show that the anthracite coal carrying