davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
COMMISSIONERS ASK QUESTIONS
Bishop Spalding Brings Out a Fact as to
stoppage of Coal supply.

Bishop spalding Brings Out a Fact as to
stoppage of Coal supply.
During the examination the commits
sioners asked questions quite frequent
ly. Bishop Spalding asked a question
that enabled Mitchell to say that OPP
orators could form coalition and stop
the mining of coal throughout the Unit
ed States. They could do the same
as we could" said he, land especially
now when the coal fields of the coun-
try are passing into the hands of few
men,
Commissioner Wright asked: do
You consider it justifiable for the en-
ployers in a certain district, in order
to resist the demands of the labor
men, to paralyze that industry or any
group of industries?' Mitchell re-
piled: mo; do not think it proper"
would the same answer be made If
/ should substitute unions instead Of
emplOyers?" II think in either case"
of adjustment than the paralyzatlon
of the industry should be sought"
In reply to a request to define what
he meant by recognition of the un-
ion," mitchell said: 1T means that
employers shall make agreements, reg
ulating hours of labor, wages, ETC.,
with the union, and that the union as
such would be held responsible for a
rigid compliance with these agree
mentS."
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
CHAFI EE AND WHEATON
Heroes Meet at . Chicago Banquet and
Warmly Greet Each Other-Chaf-
fees Panegyric.

Chicago, Nov 19.-"AS soldier who
has served many years l know how
honors such as those that have been
bestowed upon me come. They come
to individuals as they have come to
me, through the loyal devotion and
service of other officers and soldiers
that great mass of men who compose
the army of the United States. They
have helped me to my honor and they
helped my loyal friend Wheaton to his
honor, and no man is more free to ac-
knowledge it than that prince of SOL
diers." With this panegyric on the
United States soldier Major General
Chaffee fitted a climax to a touching
demonstration of the comradeship Of
barrack and camp life at last nights
banquet at the Union League club.
The hero of Ell Caney and General
Lloyd Wheaton, conquerer of the Mo-
ros. had met for the first time since
they parted in the jungles of Luzon.
When they met last night Chaffee
threw his arm over the others shoulder
and hugged him. What they said was
drowned by the cheers and salvos.
The banquet was at the end of day
of entertainment by Chicagoans. Dur
ing the day General Chaffee had a
visit from Admiral Schley, who was
passing through the city en- route west.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
Of MitchelI's Cross.Exanination
and Testimony in the
Strike Inquiry.
HIS FINAL REPLY TO MAOVEAGH
Denial of a Summarized Indictment
of the u. n. w.
Some Interesting Passages Of the
Testimony, and a Sharp Ex-
change with Law
yer Ross.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 19-President
Mitchell for the fourth successive
day occupied the witness stand during
the two sessions of the strike commits
sion yesterday, and was crOSs-exam-
ined by three attorneys for as many
coal companies. MacVeagh, who be-
gan his cross-examination of Mitchell
on Saturday, concluded at IL a. IN.
yesterday. The attorney centered most
of his energies in trying to break down
the miners reasons for asking for a
yearly agreement with the companies
on hours of labor, wages and other con-
ditions which, if made, would be ''rec-
ognition of the union" MacVeagh's
principal aim throughout his question
ing Of Mitchell was to show that the
mine workers union, because Of al
legged acts of intimidation, violence
and the use of the boycott by its men,
bers proved itself unfit to be party to
q contract
Question of Mitchelrs Influence.
Mitchell would not admit nor even
assume for the sake of illustrating
points a reign of terror existing in the
anthracite fields during the last six
months. In the early part of his cross
examination yesterday MacVeagh said
to Mitchell: What / am trying to
show is that there is a growing spirit
of violence and disregard Of law in
your organization and that your infiu-
ence over them is insufficient to keep
them law-abiding and peaceable as you
desire them TO be-" Mitchell's reply
was: THE fear that my influence is
not sufficient to deter men from the
commission of crime is a cOntradic-
ton of the claims often made about
me-" In an argument as to the right
of one man to prevent another man
working Mitchell would only say that
he did not approve unlawful acts.
Agreed to with Qualifications.
MacVeagh tried to get Mitchell to
say that 1t was the inalienable right
of every man to sell his labor to whom
and for what he desired. "There are
qualifications" said the miners pres
ident. IF man who sells his labor for
81 day reduces to that sum the wages
of other men who had been getting
81 day, say that man has no moral
right to sell his labor in such a way.
We all have certain obligations to our
fellow men which we must observe"
Mitchell and Archbishop Ireland.
MacVeagh read a statement from a
newspaper declaring the right of every
man to strike or work, as it pleased
the individual. "That statement is in
contradiction Of every principal of the
American government. 1t is anarchy
pure and simple" replied Mitchell.
When told that the statement was
made by Archbishop Ireland, Mitchell
declared the archbishop did not intend
the words used in the sense intended
by MacVeagh.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
THEY HAVE A LITTLE SPAT
Mitchell Resents an Imputation-Contra-
dieting Information.

Mitchell Resents an Imputation-Contra-
dieting Information.
During his examination Ross asked:
you have made regarding the horrible
condition of the miners apply to our
company?"
"Will you tell me particularly what
slurs you refer to-" Mitchell asked,
and with some spirit repeated his
query, saying: Il would like you to
refer specifically to what you mean by
slurS. l do not recall having used
language of that character"
You have spoken of the existence of
'favoritism,' for one thing" Ross said,
land you referred to the excessive
system Of docking Do they exist in
our mines?"
THAT is my information" was the
reply.
In reply to another question Mitchell
declared that the rule OF ihe local un-
ions not to prepare coal when the
breakers were idle did Eot nave for its
object the restriction of the output.
Il don't know whether your company
wanted more coal than the miners pro-
duced or not"
I'VE have wanted for several years
all the coal we could get. We have
never been able really to supply our or
derS."
THAT information" Mitchell an
swered, ais much different from what
1 usually got from the men you rep
resent, because they said their sales
were limited entirely by the cOmpeti-
ton of bituminous coal" 1--WE are
not discussing the competition at pres
ent," Ross remarked. During this era
of prosperity we worked all the min
ers we could to advantage"
81 say" said Mitchell, further an
swering the question, ''that that in
formation is contrary to the statements
made by the presidents of your compa-
MES"
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20

ployed to protect mine property were
very largely roughs from the slums
of Philadelphia, and some time later
Watkins took hand in the examina-
ton and 1t was brought out that none
of the pickets employed by the COM
panies represented by MacVeagh had
been recruited outside of the COM
munity. hfacVeagh then read Govern
or Stones proclamation calling out
the troops, i'm which the governor said
there was a reign of terror in the re-
gion. Mitchell denied the correctness
of the governors assertions.
During another lively rally Mitch
ell said this was a country of ma
jorities, whereupon MacVeagh replied:
"Yes, but God with one is a majority.
If man is doing right He is on his
side" The court room was convulsed
when Mitchell answered that he would
be willing to leave the whole dispute
to God.
MacVeagh asked the witness why he
could not use his influence to put an
end to boycotting and to further in
timidatiOn Of men, women and chill
dren whose lives have been made un-
endurable. Mitchell responded that 1t
was the very fathers and husbands of
these people who had themselves made
their families lives uncomfortable.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
GOT NOT EVEN A SHOT
Presidents Bear Hunt Has Been
Good Exercise, but His Game
Is Still Running.
BRUIN KEEPS WE'LL OUT OF RANGE
Distinguished Trailer Lays 1t to
Hunters Luck" and Leaves
the Woods.

Smede's, Miss,> Nov. 19.-President
Roosevelt's bear hunt in Mississippi is
ended, and he has not had even a shot
at bear. The last day of the chase
was simply a repetition of the three
preceding days, so far as his luck was
concerned. Try as the hunters would
they could not get bear within range
of the presidents rife. The dogs got
a fresh trail early yesterday morning,
and the president and Holt Collier fol-
lowed it half dozen miles to the Big
Sunfiower river. The bear crossed
mile below the ford they went to, and
believing that he was making for the
canebrake on the other side they en-
deavored to head it off. When they
got into the brake, however, they were
disgusted to find that the bear had
doubled on his track and crossed the
river still farther down.
Deer Hunters Get Game.
1t was then / %. m. and as arrange
ments had been made to break camp
compelled to abandon further pusuit
Of the elusive quarry. While the pres
ident was out after bear Major Helm,
DR.. Lung and Secretary Cortelyou had
a more successful deer drive on this
side of the Great Sunfiower river. They
jumped up buck and a doe. Major
Helm killed the latter from his horse.
Although the president has failed to
kill bear on this expedition he has
enjoyed his outing, and speaks In high
praise of the hospitality that has been
accorded him. He philosophically at
tributed his i'll fortune to the tradi-
tional hunters luck, and says the next
time he goes after bear he will ar
range to stay long enough for the luck
to change.
Rapid Ride Out of the Woods.
The deer killed yesterday and the
bear killed Monday will be taken to
Washington on the special train. Old
Remus, the greatest dog in the pack,
whose last hunt was ahead of the
president Of the United States, was
badly used up. The presiden and the
members OF the party rode into
Smede's. The president is hard rider,
and the pace was rapid in spite Of the
bad trails. The distance, which Is full
ly twelve miles, was covered In less
than an hour. Upon the presidents
arrival here he found fully 500 peo-
pie, practically all the negroes from
the surrounding plantations, assembled
to greet him. He thanked them for
their demonstrations, but made no re-
marks They waited around his car
on the siding until dark, hoping he
would make speech.
|, Farewell Dinner at Smede's.
Fish last night gave a dinner in his
private car to the president and men,
bers of his party. At $50 p. m. the
special train started for Memphis, hav-
ing added the record of presidential
bear hunt to the fame of Smede'S,
which first became known to the out
side world through the story that here
the experiment of teaching monkeys
to pick cotton was to be tried.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
MACvEAGH CALLS 1T CAILDIsH
To Suppose That the Militia Controlled til
Situation-His Reasons.

To Suppose That the Militia Controlled the
Situation-His Reasons.
MacVeagh declared it to be utter
childishness for any one to suppose
that in a strike like the last, with the
intimidation that had been practiced,
the militia controlled the situation. He
related instances of assault and MUIR
der which had been committed, and
We're no evidences of crime, and the
troops returned to their camps only to
have other acts of violence occur. some
where elese with the same result Rails
ing his voice and with finger pointed
at Mitchell, MacVeagh, after repea ting
his remark about the militia, exclaim-
ed: But you could have prevented this
intimidation, and you would not"
"Do you say" MacVeagh asked,
that these employers had any chance
whatever of succeeding in this strike
after this re4,n of terror was inaugu-
rated?'
Il do not admit that a reign Of ter
ror was inaugurated." Mitchell re-
sponded.
But assuming that 1t was inaugu-
rated, and these outrages were perpe-
trated, will you say that in your opin-
ion these operators ever had ghost
of chance to work their mines with
out your consentT" Mitchell repeated
his incredulity as to the reign of ter
TO. and added that the mines could
not havebeen started even If there had
been no act of lawlessness.
MacVeagh then asked Mitchell If
fifteen men had been assaulted in one
day, as he would prove, it could be ex-
pected Of a man to return to his work
the next day.
Every likely that would deter him.
Mitchell answered.
Therefore this reign of terror was
an element In your success"
81 deny that there was this reign
of terror" said Mitchell, with some
warmth of feeling. He added a gen.
eral declaration that people who com
mitted any kind of violation Of the
law should be punished. Later he in
timated that the companies were re-
sponsible for the dynamiting of bridges
in order to make sentiment against the
strikers. At 4 p. m. the commission
adjourned.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20

Can Tell just About Whose
Graves Have Been Robbed
in the 10 s er State.
TALys WITH nAYoR BooKwALTER
Woman Who Would Marry in Trou-
BILE for Contempt of Court
State News Items.

indianapolis, Nov. 19.-Mayor Book
walter and Rufus Cantrell the grave
robbery had conference in the grand
jury room yesterday. The mayor went
to see Cantrell in answer to an appeal
from a mother who feared that her
sons body had been stolen. Before
he left Cantrell made a confident of
him. IF what Cantrell told me was
true half of this grave-robbing busi-
ness has not been disclosed" said the
mayor. when he returned to his Office.
Minnie Weddell, of st. Louis, had ap-
pealed to the mayor to find out wheth-
er the body of her son Walter had
been stolen from Mount Jackson ceme-
terry. She could not afford the trip to
indianapolis. Cantrell gave the mayor
an exhibition of his unusually reten-
tive memory.
Did Not Steal That Body.
He Immediately recalled the date Of
the lads burial and the location of
the grave. But we did not take that
body" said he. 1T was too small I
could only sell four bodies of chill
dren in a year, for the colleges only
needed that many"
Are you sure of this caseT' the
mayor asked.
''Sure. Well, / should say l am"
answered the grave robber. ''If you
will go to Mount Jackson you will find
a lump of coal at the head of the
grave. That is to notify any one in
the business that the body is undesira-
BILE. The night after the boy was buried
l went to Mount Jackson TO get an
other body. l took the coal along as
a marker. 1t is sign understood by
all grave robbers
Nothing Stays in the Cemetery.
When the mayor told Cantrell that
Mrs. Weddell had said she had lot
in Garland Brook cemetery, at Column
bus, Ind, the ghoul broke into a laugh.
''The body never would have stayed
there" he declared. They get them
all from Garland Brook" Cantrell was
before the grand jury for more than an
hour yesterday.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
COULDN'T PUT HIM DOWN
Mitchell Too Shrewd To Be Led Into Ad-
missions-How Big Men Worked.

Mitchell Too Shrewd To Be Led Into Ad-
missions-How Big Men Worked.
The miners president, no matter how
skillfully he was questioned. could not
be dragged into a fiat admission that
he, as president of the union, approved
Of the boycotts complained of by the
companies. He had his personal opin-
ions of some phases of the boycott,
but would not express them as being
the sentiment or policy of his organiza-
ton. Once Mitchell showed signs of
irritability. This was when MacVeagh,
reading the long list of acts of vio-
lence, would take Mitchell to task for
some particular vicious act, and say,
sharply: You could have prevented
this"
In the course of the forenoon ses-
sion MacVeagh examined Mitchell re
garding the eight-hour demand, and
referred to the fact that Abraham Lin
coin, James A Garfield and William
Mckinley worked more than eight
hours a day and were thus enabled to
climb the ladder to the presidency.
Macyeagh grew eloquent In the course
of putting one Of his questions to
Mitchell regarding the martyred presi-
dents, and added: ''. only mention
these because they are the three vic
tins of the spirit of anarchy, which
is the course of this country today and
the only serious curse affecting it"
The miners president quickly repudi-
ated anarchy for trade unions and
Macyeagh disclafmed any imputation
If that kind on them.
There were several scenes that might
be called dramatic At one time. rails
ing his voice to a pitch and speaking
with great fervor, MacVeagh asked th,,
witness: "Don't you know as well as
you know your name is John Mitchell
that in spite Of the authorities of the
city, of this county an of this state
this whole region has been treated for
five months to veritable foretaste Of
hell?"
Mitchell calmly replied: II don't
know anything of the kind" "Well,
you will before we are through with
you," was Macveagh's retort.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
Was Yesterday in the Strike In.
qu'ry for Wayne Mcveagh
and Mitchell.
THEIR CONFLICT WAKES WARM
Lawyer Pays a Compliment to the
Strike Leaders Ability.
Questions of the Day Deal Mostly
with BOycOtts and Violence
and Their Effects.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. Is. - In the
presence of as many persons as could
be jammed into the superior court
room yesterday Wayne Macveagh, for
the Erie company, and John Mitchell,
for the miners, continued their struggle
in the cross-examination before the
anthracite coal commission. The
fourth demand of the union, which
calls for yearly trade agreement, and
which means a straight out recOgni-
ton of the union, was the bone of
contention, and when Mitchell parried
a question regarding the boycotting of
a coal and iron policeman by hotel
keeper, the distinguished attorney
threw up his hands, laughed, and said:
'Alr. Mitchell, you are the best wit
ness for yourself that 1 ever con-
frOnted."
Point Macyeagh Was Trying to Make.
MacVeaghs point was that a union
that could not control its men had no
right to demand recognition and he
bore heavily on what he said was
reing of terror in the anthracite region
during the period of the strike. He
read a list of fourteen names of men
who were killed during that time, and
also submitted in evidence about sew
enty-five printed pages of acts of vio-
lence, boycott and intimidation. Mitch
ell maintained that the discipline in
the organization is as good as it pos
sibly could be where 147 900 men We're
involved. He said that the strikers
were not entirely responsible for the
acts OF lawlessness, and made the ex-
cuse that in time of great excitement
there was always more or less disor-
der.
Reply to Specific Instances
In answer TO questions he said that
where there was reign of terror
ano he had no information that such
was the case during the late strike
conditions arise that are ''intolerable"
or unfortunate" Replying to specific
instances pointed out to him by Mac
Veagh, where men had been deferred
from going to work through fear Of
personal harm or social ostrac.. Il for
themselves and families, Mitchell said
that in some cases men may hare been
deferred. but denied the assertion that
such alleged acts prevented the mines
from being operated. He said that
when the strike was declared every
mine worker in the region quit work
and remained out even after the en-
tire National Guard of the state had
been thrown into the coal fields
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
UNION LABOR NOT A MONOPOLY
But q Pure Democracy, Mitchell Says
"Reign of Terror" Again.

But Pure Democracy, Mitchell Says
"Reign of Terror" Again.
lIitchell declared that a labor union
is not a monopoly, and does not de-
sire to be. Its membership, he said,
is voluntary. 1t did not seek to ex-
clude any one.
But doesn't it put halter about
their necks and drag them in?" re-
marked MacVeagh. "No;" it is a de-
mocracy in the purest and broadest
sense"
Referring 20 the boycott again Mac
Veagh read long list of cases of boy
colt and violence, and referring to one
of the cases Mitchell said that any re-
fusal to supply men and their families
with the necessaries of life was wrong.
He defended the calling out of the
pumpmen in a demand for better
wages, etc., the wOrkman's one re-
course when his demand is refused is
to strike.
MacVeagh again referred to his pa
pers, and mentioned a number of in
stances of intimidation and mob viO-
lence on the part of the miners. but
Mitchell declared that in most cases he
had never heard of them. NacVeagh
cited the commission of fourteen mur-
ders in the anthracite region. "How
do you explain the coincidence be-
tween the Inauguration of your strike
and the killing Of more men than were
killed in the battle of Santiago" Mac
Veagh asked. Mitchell insisted that a
number of them were killed by the coal
and iron police stationed at the mines
by the operators. Looking over the
list Of dead Mitchell mentioned the
names of four who We're members Of
the union.
The number of persons seriously in
tured during the strike was next gone
into by MacVeagh. Can you account
for that" said he, except upon the
theory that the violent spirit was en-
couraged by your officers?"
'I do not think our officers encour-
aged violence" Mitchell replied.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-11-20
WANTS MITCHELL's OPINION
Asks Him to Characterize the Situation
Described.

Described.
MacVeagh, still reading from docu-
ments before him, referred to the re-
fusal of a hotel in Forest City, Pa,
to board a nOn-uniOn man. Much
amusement was created when Mitch
ell remarked that the union was not
running hotels. MacVeagh leaned
back and was unable to suppress his
laughter at the miners presidents
retOrt, but inquired: Don't you think
these acts deserve the statement /
made today that they were a foretaste
of hell? l ask you what
language do you use to characterize
this situation?"
Il should simply say" said Mitchell,
''that those who committed crimes
ought to be punished"
Il am not asking your opinion of
criminal law" Macveagh interjected.
Il am asking your opinion of the con-
dition Of society in which those acts
occurred, no matter who was reSpOnsi.
ble."
Il should say intolerable."
"Will you tell me of a single in
stance in which any one Of the per-
petrators was disciplinedY"
There never have been occasions
when the responsibility was placed up
on meno)ers of our organization. 1t is
the province of the courts to punish
men who violate the law"
Referring to a case where a striker
b 4 murdered a non-union man, Mac
Veagh said lie had been ''only" sent
tc prison. Mitchell retorted that ii
was "better than promoting militia
man who shot a man." This referred
to a case where sentry was guard
ing a house threatened with the
wrath of the strikers, and shot a man
who attempted to pass him at night,
after having been duly halted, to
which he paid no attention. The man
was deaf, but the guardsman did no,
know it. In reply to this Macveagh
went over the duties of a soldier
Qtc