The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15

the outset that the differences would go
to board of arbitration it would have
asked for more, so that while the arbi-
traitors were settling the question they
would settle it right. - ,--...a
Restricting Production. -.-
Mr.. Mitchell denied that his organiza-
ton restricted the quantity Of work a man
should perform, but said it did believe in
regulating the hours of the work. Judge
Gray asked: IF blast and throw down
enough coal to employ three laborers to
load and you only throw down enough to
employ two, am I not to be allowed to
employ the third laborer?"
Mr.. Mitchell replied:
You would not be- because your labor
ers could not do all the work in the same
place. You should have to work at two
different breasts to do that, and as you
would have to comply with the law of
Pennsylvania in looking after the safety of
your laborers, you can only do that by
being with them and working with them"
Commissioner Watkins followed by ask
ing Mr.. Mitchell If the union permitted a
miner to employ three laborers.
THE organization Is opposed" said Mr..
Mitchell. Ito miners employing more than
one laborer. 1t is not the execution of
any we'll defined policy. It is simply a
regulation that the miners Of the anthra-
cite field find necessary to protect them
selves against favoritism and against one
man going out and hiring lot Of laborers
and bringing them in and having them
work for him.
Pay by the Day or by the Ton.
In reply to a question as to whether
he believed that all miners should be
paid by the day rather than by the car or
ton. Mr.. Mitchell said he did not know
whether it would be practicable. Here
followed a long line of questions on the
Jyj, Of h1,f Ho inv o;,,1r
leader said that miner should be paid for
every pound of merchantable coal pro-
duced by him. .-..
Mr.. Mitchell denied any knowledge Of
the organization having inaugurated a
strike because Of the employment of non
union men, but he had heard that local
unions had suspended work on this &C.
count.
He had no personal views to offer on
the subject of members of the union join
ing the national guard, but he felt that
they should exercise the same rights and
privileges that everyone else does in that
respect.
Wayne MacVeagh's Views.
When Mr. Wilcox concluded his cross
examination the witness was examined by
Wayne MacVeagh representing the Penn
sylvania Coal company. and the Hillside
Coal and Iron company Mr.. MacVeagh
said to Mr.. Mitchell that he did not wish
to have him suppose that he (Mr. Mac
Veagh) was opposed to the proper or
ganization of labor. He thought that
where there are large corporations as en-
ployers it may be to the interests of the
employed that they should be organized
Mr.. MacVeagh added that the gentlemen
he represented knew that they were not
infallible and in the management of their
property they might make mistakes. Mr..
Macveagh held Mr.. Mitchell down to an
exact statement of grievances which the
| miners had against the companies rep
resented by him. Mr.. Mitchell stated
| these to be that the companies have
| failed to pay wages sufficiently high; that
| they have failed to establish conditions
| of employment that were fair; that they
! have a wrong system Of measuring the
| earnings of the miners and that their op-
position to the treatment of the men as
organized men had not been for the best
Mr.. MacVeagh repeated the demand fol
| a 20 per cent increase over the wages
paid before the strike and asked Mr.
Mitchell if he really knew what those
| wages were. Mr. Mitchell answered tina
he did in a general way, but that he
would have to- examine the scale from
| the mines and this he did not have ir
| front Of him. = .-.-~ -,
but you are not now prepared to ash
! for increase of those wages" said Mr.
MacVeach, because you don't know
what the present wages are?'
MI GMitchelfs reply was that he wa!
prepared to ask for the increase, ever
though he did not have the tables befor,
him. IT, .<@,=
After somessfurther questioning, in
volving matters of detail, recess wa
announced. .s,..3