The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-20

Dr. Roberts eaid II was far Irom the
truth to characterize the operators as
hard hearted and unjust and as seeking
constantly to grind men down 10 the last
penny OF wages, as had been charged
TO STAND BY. THEIR BROTHERS
DR. Roberts declared that the men in
the southern anthracite district voted 20
stand by their brothers In the northern
district on the question OF insisting on the
recognition OF tho union and on all other
points raised In the shamokin convention.
Or. Roberts understood that dissenslons
had occurred between miners and their
helpers. the latter claiming that the miner
left him at an unreasonable hour and i'm
posed on him the whole OF the labor
After reading from an article written
by him and printed in the Yale Review on
the labor situation In the hard coal fields
prior TO the strike. the witness said that
his investigation regarding the movement
looking TO the formation OF an indepen-
dent organization by the laborers showed
that IL was chiefly a rising by the nom
unioh men.
INsTIGATEO TO ACTION.
''I do not know the motive for their ac-
ton" said he, but IL appeared that they
were instigated 60 movements OF this
kind by parties opposed to the organiza-
tion OF labor"
"If the conditions in the bituminous re-
gions." inquired Mr.. Woiverton, ARE bet
ter than IN tho anthracite fields why did
the men who left the hard coal regions
during the strike return after the strike"
The response was that they did so be-
cause OF social and family ties
The examination burning on the amount
-.
work. Judge Gray remarked that there
is always a margin OF human careless
ness which must be taken into account.
Mr.. Wolverton read long abstract
from DIR. Roberts writings which recited
numerous instances OF violence. intimida-
tion and boycott committed by the mem
bers OF the union. particularly the Slavs,
during the 1900 strike.
LAWYER IS CORRECTED.
'aThe effect of putting the control OF
contracts between employer aud em-
ploye under the local unions" said Mr.
wolverton, would be 10 put them In the
hands OF an organisation which you say
is controlled by slavs who have no re-
epects for persons or property.
II did not say the organization was
controlled by Slavs." was the reply, "or
that they were In the majority"
q He added that from 80 10 - per cent or
the rnsne workers are slavs.
YESTERDAY AFTERNOONS SESSION.
AT Yesterday afternoons session of the
coal strike commission the Rev. Peter
Roberts. u. D., OF Mahanoy City, who Is
lhe author OF a book on the anthracite
3oal industry. took the stand and had
!ust begun testimony when a recess was
taken for luncheon.
In the course Of his examination 10y Mr.
Darrow I'm the afternoon Mr. Roberts fur
nlshed statistics showing that the snthra-
cite fields covered ls0 square miles. out
OF a total population OF $4,000 people, he
said that $4,000 were directly dependent
on the mines.
Answering questions by Mr.. Nolvcrton
DR. Roberts said that there were -FOUR
methods OF payment in the anthracite re-
gion, by the car. by the weight, hy the
yard and by the day. The wages paid
are far from uniform. he said. and no
q then went on 10 describe the changes
\ which had been made In the size OF the
cars from - cubic feet until they now
vary from 50 TO ~ feet
ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS.
In moving the car from the breast of
the mine 90 the shaft. Mr.. Roberts said
there was ave per cent shake down.
The miner VINO put more than six inches
OF topping on his car received no addi-
tional compensation for II. The witness
said the question OF mining c'al and bs-
ing paid by the car r. one o. the com
plants that have existed since 1850
Answering a question by Commissioner
Watkins DIR. Roberts said there was an
effort made by the Individual operators
20 import cheap labor into the antnra-
cite fields. 1T was done" said he.
through ship agents who got men in
/. New York 10 watch vessels coming I'm and
turned the current OF lmmigra 'on-that 9
r. the slav lmmigration-info the coal
feids"
Have miners been obtaining homes 70
any extent during the las; ten years7'
the witness was asked This excited the
response that they had bean. with the
possible exception of the Italians. who d.d
not settle in The United States.
STANDARDS OF LIVING.
Mr.. Roberts here compIrof thr slav
standard of living with that ~ the ma D.
ffrn- Horn ArnarIrar ahrrNlag A. - D.. t..r