Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-06
MINES DANGERS
Plainly Represented to Strike
Settlement Commission.
Witness After Witness Called BY
Lawyers Of the Miners.
And Rumors of Outside Settlement Go
MerriIy On.

NoNidhtOii, I'd, lee. O.-1 lie lawyers
for the mine workers continued to cal
witnesses, today, before the strike ar.
bitratiOn commission to testify to tn,
alleged blacklisting methods pursued
by several coal companies in refusins
TO re-employ strikers who took a more
or less prominent part in the affair.
of the United Mine Workers Unior
during the recent suspension All OF
them SAID they had been employed be-
foer the strike but were refused thei,
old PLACES after the strike was ended
In most cases. according to the tes-
timony, no satisfactory reason was
given who they We're not taken back
TWO blind men who were also other
wise badly injured by under ground
explosions We're presented as living
evidence of the dangers in the mines
When the commission adjourned tOr
the day, the Rev. J. J. Curran. the Ro-
man Catholic clergyman of Wilkes
barre. who took prominent part in
the miners cause during the strike
was on the witness stand. Only one
session will be held. tomorrow, ad-
journment to be taken at l P. NJ.
Nothing could be learned here. to-
day.-with reference to the reported eff
forts at a settlement outside the COM
mission.
Wayne MacVeagh before leaving for
New York, stated to the correspondent
70 The Associated Press that "A ma
jority of the operators thought it bet
ter to postpone all efforts to reach by
amicable conferences basis for the
award of the commission until both
sides had presented all the testimony
they wished to offer. Whether the eff
forts to reach such basis will be re-
sumed can only be decided after the
testimony is closed.
Mr.. MaCVeagh added that he person.
ally thought, in view of the extra
ordinary conditions existing in the an
thracite RECON that this was a mistaken
attitude for the operators to assume
as he feared each days testimony
would tend to increase the bitterness
of feeling but it was not only the duty
of the operators to act on their own
Judgement of the situation and he sin
cerely hoped the result would fully
justify the conclusion they reached.
From this expression it is taken that
Mr. MacVeagh was opposed to the call
ing off of the negotiations. last week.
1t is his sincere hope that an agree
ment will be effected and it is known
that the commissioners still hope for
an agreement on many if not all the
important points at issue.
Mr. Darrow, for the miners at the
afternoon session presented two wit
nesses who had been injured in the
mines. Both were blind and had to be
led to the stand One of them besides
losing both eyes in an explosion. lost
one arm and the hand of the other
arm was rendered useless. The other
blind man lost part of his ears in the
explosion IN which he was caught.
After the witnesses left the stand
the attorneys for the operators pro-
tested against calling these unfortunate
men. They were injured before the
strike, they said. and the injuries had
no direct bearing on the matter before
the commission. They sympathized
with the men but thought it was not
the right thing to have them appear
| before this commission.
Mr. barrow said he did not intend
| to overdo the presentation of such wit
nesses but he wanted to bring the com
| mission 10 q TedllZiIIS ScItN vi thN N"i'
gers of coal mining. Chairman Gray
here said he hoped the thing would
not be overdone I'VE have a realizing
sense of the conditions he said, "ant
| may say | never saw "A sadder spec
tacle than that presented by these two
men,
Rev. j. j. Curran. the Roman cam
Ole clergyman of Wilkesbarre. occu
ried the witness stand during the re
mainder of the session. He read
| statement to the effect that every e1or
| possible had been. made to prevent tn'
recent struggle and that after the mel
had concluded to strike he strongly es
| reused their cause. because he though
they were being unfairly dealt VIII
and deserved more money for thei
la Dor
Father Curran then gave descrip
tiop of the conditions under which tn
mine workers live. which was some
what similar to that given. yesterda!
by Father Hassie of Hazelton. In an
swer to questions put by Judge Gray
Father Curran said he was opposed I
the boycott and the blacklist.
This sentiment met the approval o
The chairman who said that II boy
colts we're permitted the "countr
would go TO pieces.
| Father curran will resume the stahc
tomorrow morning.