Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-10-30
ANTHRACITE COAL
STRIKE COMMISSION
F irst Inquiry Will be Made To-
day at Scranton.
Mr. BAER IS AGAINST THE UNION
He Announces That the OPERA
tors Refuse to Recognize
Mr.. Mitchell as Its Head.
The Commission Intends to Personally
Investigate the Conditions in the strike
Region, and All the Meetings of the Body
Probably Viii he Held There.

Ihe tnnlniSSipn lntenuA 10 ierSonhiy 4
Investigate the Conditions in the strike |
Region, and All the Meetings of the Body I
Probably Viii he Held There.
Washington, Oct. %. The Anthra-
site Coal Strike Commission hold its
Iirst meeting yesterday afternoon,
having heen in session an hour and a
half. This time was occupied almost
entirely Dy purely formal proceedings.
Aiter the transaction of routine bust
ness adjournment was taken, to meet
ut Scranton, Pa, at 8 q. m. next
which day will be spent in
visiting the mines. 1t is intended that
the commission shall make personal
OF the situation and con
ditions in the strike region, and in all
probability the meetings Of the body
from now on will be held in that
locality.
Only one event in the proceedings
yesterday was of particular Importance.
That was VIXEN President George +.
Raer Of tho Philadelphia 4 Reading
Coal and Iron Co. announced tnat the
operators did not purpose recognizing
President Mitchell of tho United Nine
Workers in the capacity Of the head Of
that organization before tho commits.
sion. Mr.. Mitchell, who was present,
stated TO the commission that he did
not represent that organization, but
acted as the agent of the anthracite
ccal diggers, who Lad taken part in
tho strike.
The incident served to shcw that the
operators arc still intense in their
opposition to the union.
The meeting of the commission YVES
held in The Baltimore Sun Builiing,
on F street, beginning at = O'Clock
and lasting until 3.3G o'clock. The
room was crowded when the proceed.
ings began, A spirit of Difference was
shown by representatives of both sides,
and the utmost courtesy was displayed
by all in points over which there was
contention.
Ths commission, headed by Judge
George Gray, entered the room prompt j
assistant recorder, announced their
presence, whereupon the transaction Of
business was Immediately begun.
The persons most directly concerned
in the hearings sat in front of the COM
mission. Those present representing
the operators were:
phia Il Reading Coal and Iron Co.
L. b. Thomas, chairman board Penn
sylyania Coal Co. and Hillside Coal
and Iron Co.
Alfred Walter, president Lehigh
Valley Coal Go.
w. Ii. Truesdale, president Della
ware, Lackawanna & Western Railway
Go.
David Wilcox, vice president Della
ware y Hudson Co.
John B. Herr, vice. president Scran-
ton Coal Co. and the Elk Hill Coal
and Iron Co.
James Ii. Torrey, attorney for the
Delaware d Hudson Co.
Francis |. Gowan, attorney for the
Lehigh Valley Coal Co.
The miners were represented by:
John Mitchell, president miners
union.
John Fahy, district president miners
union.
Walter Edward Weyl.
The first item of business was the
reading by Chairman Gray Of kilograms
received from President Mitchell and
President Haer accepting the member.
ship upon the commission of Carroll
ID. Wright The commission and wit
nesses tnen sat for group photograph,
after which, at the request OF Chair
man Gray, Mr.. Wright read the letter
of President Roosevelt defining the
duties of the commission. Judge Grry
then announced that the commission
met in accordance with the agreement
of last Friday to consider all matters
pertaining to the subject under consid.
GRAFTON, and that the commission would
strive to so arrange the duties devoly
ing upon it as to meet the convenience
OF all concerned. He also announced
that the commission would regard the
representatives of the miners as the
plaintiffs in the case. The chairman
then asked if there were any sugges-
tions TO be made.
Mr.. Mitchell arose Mt this point and
stated that the miners would be pre-
pared to submit their side Of the case
on Monday next. He said he had pre-
pared copy of the formal demands
which the miners had made upon the
operators, which wefe submitted to the
court. Judge Gray stated that he
wished q statement of facts from each
! side of tina controversy on soon as pos
| sible. He explained that it was NO.
| necessary that there should be any in
| dulgence in rhetoric or argument what
| the commission wanted vas a succinct
and plain statement of facts in order
that a fundamental understanding oi
the case might he secured at once. He
suggested that the claims Of the miners
be submitted and that tine answers
upon the part of the operators Should
fellow. The statements, he said, shoulC
be confined to tho real issues involved
Judge Gray also declared that he wal
anxious for suggestions as to thl
method of procedure which ought to b,
pursued,
AT this iuncture Mr.. Baer arose.
am anxious to have one thinj
clearly understood before we get int
complications, and it might rs we'll b
stated now." he said, addressing tn
commission. I'VE have no objection
to Mr.. Mitchell's appearance befor
this commission as a representative O
the miners in the Schalykill region
, But under the terms We have expressl
, indicated we do not recognize him q
the head of the United Mine Worker
of America. That is bituminou
: organization, and We cannot consent t
Mr. Mitchell appearing here as the rer
resentative of that concern. We do nc
want MIN to appear upon the record a
the president Of the union because v
have distinctly stated that we will nc
? deal with that organization. -
Mr.. Baer added That he did not cor
slider it necessary to make a genera
statement upon the strike at this tim.
He made the suggestion that it woul
= no we'll for the commission first to Wis
the anthracite region.
] think the commission ought
> get some ideas of the actual working
3 of the coal region by examining SON
reprosentire mines. = he declared
r Then it can take up the case of eac
y company or companies separately.
: Ipant Ii IrInrstnIad thnr rn n.