The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-17
Tells Com missiOners Coal Companies
Are Responsible for Importing
Illiterate Foreigners.
HE IS IN FAVOR OF BOYCOTTS
BUT OPPOSES THE INCORPORATION
OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.
Testimony of an Independent Opera
tOr-Mr. Baer Accuses Independ-
ents of Rapacity.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 16-Notwithstand-
ing the fact that the mine workers an
nounced yesterday that they had closed
their case with the exception of calling
one more witness, the entire two sessions
Of the strike commission to-day were con-
sumed in hearing three witnesses for the
men. They were John c. Haddock, an in
dividual operator. Rev. DR.. Peter Roberts,
who is assisting the miners, and President
Samuel Gompers. Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. The principal point in Mr..
Haddocks testimony was that he favored
giving the mine workers concessions un-
der certain conditions. President Gompers
testified as an expert on the trade union
movement. He created a stir when he
strongly implied during his examination
that the coal companies responsible
for bringing immigrants to the coal regions.
When one of the lawyers for the coal COM
panies asked him if he knew it from per-
sonal knowledge, he said he could prove
it If necessary.
The miners made another attempt to-
day to have the commission admit as evil
dence a large mass of testimony tending
to show that the anthracite coal carrying
roads charge extortionate and discrimin-
ating freight rates and that a monopoly
exists in the anthracite mining industry
which keeps the wages of men at un-
naturally low level. The commission again
decided that the evidence must be limited
to the scope of the commission and that
if it did take up the claims made in
the evidence proposed to be submitted the
justifiableness of the mine workers de-
mands would still remain.
Mr.. Gompers began his testimony by CIV
ing the history of the Federation of Labor
and followed this with brief sketch of the
progress and influence of organized labor,
which, he said, had been very great. The
throughout the country, he continued, have
been materially reduced. Regarding trade
agreements. Mr.. Gompers said they have
always been advantageous to both the
workmen and his employer.
Chairman Gray, who is taking an especial
interest in boycotts. asked Mr.. Gompers
ness said he would boycott a man who
chooses to do business with the person that
is boycotted.
The question of the recognition of unions
was then taken up and Mr. Gompers said
that employers made a mistaken when they
refused to recognize organized labor. The
employer, he said, has no moral right to
refuse to confer with committee of his
employees.
In reply to Bishop Spalding Mr.. Gompers
said he would not favor Incorporating a
union.
Mr.. Gompers was then cross-examined
by James Torrey, counsel for the Delaware
& Hudson Company. Mr.. Torrey asked the
witness IL he did not believe that members
of the United Mine Workers of America
should be twenty-one years of age and
able to read and write before they were ad-
mitted to membership in the union
To this the witness replied: Yes; ten
years from now and when the companies
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"
Mr.. Torrey asked him If he can prove that
coal companies were guilty of such thing,
and the witness replied that he felt certain
it was true, because he had seen copies of
circulars which have been sent around in
southern Europe asking people to come into
Pennsylvania, and stating there plenty
of money to be earned in the mines.
Mr.. Torrey asked him If steamship COM
panies were not the authors of those cir
culars, to which Mr.. Gompers replied that
he had seen ten, twenty and thirty men
huddled together In huts in the anthracite
coal fields and he noted that 1t was not
long after they arrived here that they Were
given employment in the mines. He Of
fered TO give to the commission the name
of man who could give the facts. He did
not care to make his name public.
The cross-examination continued until
4:30 o'clock, when the commission adj
journed until tomorrow morning.