The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-15
Mr.. Mitchell's Examination Preceded
by a Statement of Grievances and
Demands of Miners.
MANY ATTORNEYS PRESENT
OPERATORS REPRESENTED BY A
GREAT ARRAY OF LEGAL TALENT.
One Million and a Half dollars Dis
bursed by the Mine workers'
Union During the Strike.

SCRANTON. Pa, Nov. 14-The anthracite
coal strike commission appointed by Pres
ident Roosevelt to arbitrate the differences
existing between the mine workers OF the
hard coal fields of Pennsylvania and their
employers to-day began the hearing of tes-
timony by which it will determine whether
or not the workmen are receiving fair and
just wages for their labor and whether
their conditions should not be changed.
The star witness for the miners, President
John Mitchell. took the staLd in the fore
noon, and when the commission adjourned
at o'clock in the afternoon he was still
under the fire of cross-examlnation by Da-
vid w. Wilcox. general counsel of the Del
aware & Hudson Company. 1t was a try
ing day for the miners leader, but he
seemed TO stand the test well, The heaviest
fire of cross-questions iaimed at him
late in the afternoon session, and when
the hour of adjournment was reached Mr..
Wilcox was still propounding questions
and testing Mr. Mitchells memory.
The opening of the sessions was a notable
day in the annals OF the law in the upper
anthracite region. Such an array of law
stiS hdS HCNtl Dttu SctI III lulS part Oh
the State, and it is doubtful whether at
torneys have ever been so numerous on
one side of a case in this State as were
present in the interests of the coal COM
panies to-day. The commissions sessions
are being held in the room. OF the Penn
sylvania Superior Court, which is now sit
ting in Philadelphia. Ranged around three
tables in front of the seven commissioners.
Nv lad ba ind
less than thirty lawyers. fwenty-feur of
whom were looking after the interests OK
the mine owners. An official list of the
attorneys was handed to the commission.
and is follows:
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company-Former Congressman Simon p
Wolverton, Sunbury; III. T. Eewcomb, Phil
adelphla; j. F. Whalen.
Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Companv--
Deforest Brothers, New York; A. III. Nc
Clintock, Wilkesbarre
Temple Iron wallard. Warren
* Knapp, Scranton.
PENNSYLVANIA Coal Company and the Hill
side Coal and Iron Company-Wayne Nc
Veagh, Philadelphia; George +. Browneli,
New York; Everett Warren, Scranton
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western Coal
Company-Walter w. Ross. New York; j.
r. Wilson, Scranton.
Scranton Coal Company and Elk Hill
Coal and Iron Company-John b. Kerr.
New York: Hon. Alfred Hand. Scranton;
james Burr. OdrDOnQdle.+ Ia.
Delaware and Hudson Company-David
! Wilcox, New York; James II. Torrey,
Scranton.
Lehigh Valley Coal Company-Francis I
Gowen, Philadelphia; Willard Warren 4.
Knapp.
Independent Operators-Ira ii. Burns and
III. G.. Reynolds, Scranton.
Nonunion Miners-John IT Lenahan.
Wilkesbarre; Jos. O'Brien, Scranton
Besides President Mitchell of the miners
union, the mine workers were represented
1
counsel; Henry d. Lloyd, Chicago; John
+. Shea and James II. Shea, wilkesbarre:
James F. Lenahan, Wilkesbarre and John
j. Murphy, Scranton.
In addition to these there was a large
number of members of the bar present who
came merely to look on.
COURTROOM CROWDED.
The courtroom at both sessions was
packed almost to suffocation, and scores
of persons were unable to gain admittance
Only one of the heads of the large coal
companies. Chairman Thomas, OF the Erie,
was present There were among the spec
tators quite large nImber OF gen.
eral superintendents and district and
mine super!ntendents. ak of whom
took a deep interest in the pro-
ceedings and some of them fire.
quently made notes. Amoag them were
/ E. +. Loomis, vice president OF Lacka-
wanna; G c. Rose, general superintendent
| of the Delaware & Hudson: Superintend-
| ent ]. r. Dryden. OF the Ontario & West
/ ern: General Superintendent May OF the
| Erie; Colonel Phillips. of the Lackawanna;
| Superintendent Thorpe. OF the Temple Coal
/ Company; General Superintendent Rich
I ards. of the Lehigh & Wilxesbarre Com
pany, and General Superintendent S. ID.
/ Warneck. of the Lehigh Valley Company
Grouped about Mr.. Mitchell were District
/ Presidents Nichols. Duffy and Fahy. the
! three district secretaries, the three nation
al board members and the members Of the
! three district executive boards OF the an
/ thracite field. Scattered through the spec.
tators were many practical miners who will
| be called upon TO take the stand I'm behalf
of the miners
The attitude of the commissioners was
| closely followed by every one In the court
room. They appeared TO bG greatly inter-
ested in the cross-examinAtion OF Mr.
/ Mitchell. but at times seemed TO grow rest
less under the ceaseless fire Of questions
/ aimed at the mine workers leader Judge
Gray, as chairman OF the commission. be-
| ing versed In court proceedings and In
the law, was the only spokesman for the
| commission. He at times asked questions
and at the very close OF the afternoon ses-
sion directed a query at Mr.. Mitchell which
Mr.. Wilcox had had been leading up to for
! Mitchell whether his organization approved
| the act OF Withdrawing from or denying
/ the necessaries OF life TO those who had
| offended the organization. and he replied:
/ ''I should say. emphatically. sno"
During the day Mr. willicox asked Mr.
| Mitchell many Hutsuons az 10 the pcllclcS
| of the union. the method OF calling strikes.
the ability OF the union 10 maintain disci-
| pline and prevent the members of the union
| from violating the law and also as 20 the
\ liability OF the union breaking contracts.
| II was apparent 10 many of those present.
who understood the situation, that Mr..
Willcox's object was 10 attempt 10 prove
by Mr.. Mitchelrs own testimony that the
! contention OF the composites that the
| miners union was an irresponsible organl-
zation was well founded and that trade
/ agreements. therefore. coulc not be safely
| entered into with the union.
During the hearing the statement was
CONTINUED on PAGf' .. COZ -