The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-20

but went out. John MusgoZZi, a union
man, told his wife, and she told him
afterwards, that the union had passed
a resolution to blow up his house. This
testimony was not allowed to go on
the record, as 1t was hearsay.
Mr.. O'Brien asked District President
Il. D. Nichols to stand up. Mr.. Mich
oils complied. Mr.. O'Brien then had
the witness say he knew Mr.. Nichols
and had received letter of recon-
mendation" from him.
A Photographic copy of a letter was
shown District President Nichols and
he admitted it was u copy of a letter
he had written. Thus, incidentally, was
Mr.. Nichols for the first time heard
to make an utterance before the COM
mission. The witness also identified the
letter, and then Mr.. O'Brien read it,
with appropriate emphasis. 1t follows:
Office of the United Mine Workers.
District No. l.
Officers and Members of the L. NJ. w. of
A., JeSsup:
Dear Sirs and Brothers.: The bearer,
Dominick Bertaki. has. decided to quit
work at the Peoples Coal company. Ok
ford colliery. and become a good union
man. l advise and trust that you will
as he behaves himself accordingly.
Yours truly
n, ID. Nichols.
Seal of District No. /.
Hearty laughter followed the reading
of the last part of the letter.
Wanted Them Discharged.
james Conlon, a mine foreman for the
Delaware and Hudson company at
Plains. and president of the Plains
township school board testified that in
June a committee of the United Mine
Workers demanded the discharge, or
more exactly protested against the re-
employment of Miss Mckay, Miss Win
terstein and Charles Brandt each of
whom had relative working in or
about the mines. The committee ap-
peared openly at the meeting at which
the teachers We're being chosen for the
ensuing year and put forward their de-
mand, There was no question as to
their competency or qualifications, the
miners said
Nh. Darrow sought to excuse the
committees conduct on the ground that
they We're acting, not with any animus
towards these school teachers, but for
VIC Schciti Soou IL thc SNioois, ~ beiiiS
dlsadvantageous 10 have. the teachers
disliked by the pupils.
isn't it advantageous that the teach
ers are liked by the pupils?" Mr.. Dar-
row asked.
Yes" the witness answered. "and
these teachers We're the best liked Of
any in the schools"
President Mitchell whispered some-
thing to Mr. Darrow and the latter pro-
ceeded to ask questions with view of
emphasizing the fact that the commit
tee did not ask the board to discharge
the teachers, but to not re-employ
them.
Frank Mccarthy was principal of the
Miners Mills schools for six years, told
of being refused re-employment by the
school board last August, He alleged
ii was because his brother Is a mine
foreman. One of the directors told him
II was because he had voted wrong for
the office of squire at the spring cleo
tion. His fathers and brothers names
We're printed on o banner containing a
list of "scabs" and admonitions to the
people to not send their children TO
school to relatives of "scabs."
Miss BGsrett, who taught for seven
years and whose brother continued TO
work in the mines was the only other
teacher not re-employed. She is now
working as a clerk I'm dry goods store
in another city.