Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-11-20
M|TCHELES examination.
Cross Examination of President Mitch
ell Of Mine Workers Is at
Last Concluded.
President Gray Has 10 Urge Lawyers
to Expedite Matters by
Not Repeating.
Mitchell Was on the Stand for -Four
Days and Mahoney Next
Takes the Stand.

S~A-
thracite strike commission resumed its
hearing with the usual large crowd in
the courtroom. Before w. w. Ross,
counsel for the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western road, resumed his cross.
examination of President Mitchell
Chairman Gray, for the commission,
asked counsel to assist in expediting
the proceedings. He said the commits
sion was loath to interfere, but they
hoped that Mr.. Mitchell would not be
asked to give his opinion of matters of
which he had no personal knowledge.
Mr.. Mitchell, answering questions by
Mr.. Ross, said that an increase in
wages without adopting the weighing
system would not meet the demands
of the miners. An eight-hour day
would increase the annual income of
the men,
& Mr.. Ross was proceeding to analyze
the constitution of the Illinois branch
of the United Mine Workers with re-
lations to it's bearing on contracts with
the bituminous operators when Judge
Gray interrupted with an inquiry as
to the object 2of this line of question
ing. Mr.. Ross replied that it was for
the purpose of showing that since the
advent Of the union the bituminous
operators have been unable to employ
any man until he first joins the union.
He did not proceed further with the
question.
When Mr. Ross concluded his exam
ination Mr.. Mitchell was cross-exam-
ined by Former Congressman Simon p.
Wolverton, counsel for the Philadel-
! phia and Reading Coal and Iron COM
pany
Mr.. Mitchell said it would be impos-
sible for him to give in detail the con-
ditiOns at each mine or even under
each. company He also declared that
it would neither be possible nor de-
sirable to divide the United Mine
Workers into two separate organiza-
tions, one bituminous and the other
anthracite.
Position of the Strikers.
Mr.. Wolverton's cross-examination
occupied but five minutes and Ira H.
Burns, representing the individual op-
orators, questioned Mr.. Mitchell. The
latter, in reply to Mr. Burnsj said that
when man strikes he does not, vol
UNFAIRLY give up his job, but he strikes
for an improvement in the conditions
of his job. If he wins he gets back the
position, if he loses, he goes back with
his hat in his hand and asks for a job.
Judge Gray here interrupted to ex-
plain the understanding of the COM
mission with respect to the returning
to work of men who had been on
strike. He said:
II think the understanding is that
pending the settlement of the ques-
tions by this commission the strikers
were to return Immediately to work,
and think the furtner understanding
is-don't let me be misunderstood
that the nonunion men should not be
interfered withfnor displaced from en-
ployment generally by the return of
the union men. ~
Mr.. Burns was examining the wit
ness regarding unlawful acts commit
ted during the strike and had asked
Mr.. Mitchell if he approved OF them
when Judge Gray stopped him and
said that nothing could be gained by
asking the question because the com
mission had moral sense of it's own
which he presumed agreed with the
moral sense of the community and so
ciety.
Mr.. Mitchell declared with emphasis
in the course of subsequent examina-
tion that the miners will carry out to
the letter the decision of the commits
sion, "or go out of our union"
A brief redirect examination by Mr.
Darrow brought out no new informa.
tion.
The miners president, after being
under the cross-examination of more
than half dozen lawyers for four and
q half days, then left the witness stand
Rev. Peter Roberts, D. D., Of Ma
hanoy City, who is the author of a
book on the anthracite coal industry,
took the stand and had just begun his
Testimony when a recess was taken for
luncheon.
SCHOOL BOARD HOSTILE.