The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-06
TESTIMONY
 AT SCRANTON Witnesses Testify Before the
 Strike Commission
ON THE STAND
Testimony on Both Sides to Be Pre-. scented Before Effort for Amicable
 Conference as to Award of
 Commission Will Be Held

Scranton, Pa, December 5.-The law yers of the mine workers continued to call witnesses today before the strike commission to testify to the alleged blacklisting methods pursued by several coal companies in refusing to re-employ strikers who took more or less promi- nent part in the affairs of the Mine Workers union during the recent sus- pension. All of them said they had been employed before the strike, but were refused their old places after the strike was ended. In most cases, according to the testimony no satisfactory reason was given why they were not taken back. Two blind men who were also otherwise badly injured by undergrown explosions, were presented as living evidences of the dangers in the mines.
 When the commission adjourned for the day the Rev. J. J. Curran, the Roman Catholic clergyman of Willkesbarre, who took a prominent part in the miners cause during the recent strike was on the witness stand. Only one session will be held tomorrow, adjournment to be taken at 1 D. m
 Nothing could be learned here today with reference to the reported efforts at a settlement outside the commission. None of the attorneys for either side professed to know anything about any contemplated move in that direction. Wayne McVeigh, who is representing the Erie coal properties, was the only at torney in a position to know who would
  companied by Commissioner Parker this afternoon over the Lackawanna rail- road for New York, as the testimony now being presented to the commission does not concern MT. McVeaghs client to an extent which makes his presence necessary.
 MT. MeVeaeh Talks.
 MT. McVeagh before leaving said to the correspondent of the Associated Press that majority of the operators thought 1t better to adjourn all efforts to reach by amicable conference a basis for the award of the commission, until both sides had presented the testi- mony to offer. Whether the efforts to reach such basis will be then resumed can be decided only after the testimony is closed
 MT McVeagh added that he personally thought. in view of the extraordinary conditions existing in the anthracite re- zion, that 1t was mistaken attitude for the operators to assume, as he feared each days work would tend to increase the bitterness of feeling. But it was not only the right but the duty of the ope- rators to act on their judgment of the situation, and he sincerely hoped the re- suit would fully justify the conclusion they reached.
 MT. McVeagh and MT. Parkers depart ure gave rise to a rumor that the distiu- euished attorney was going to New York to consult with the operators on the set clement scheme, but when seen just be- fore he left the city he said he did not know who he would see there. He denied all knowledge of any effort being made by the large coal companies to absorb the independent concerns. Individual op- orators who were approached on the sub ject also said they knew nothing of such a move.
 Before the examination of witnesses was resumed at the afternoon session Chairman Gray said the commission had decided to present to both sides tonor- row certain blank forms which would in- dicate what information regarding wages the commission wanted.
 A half-dozen witnesses all of them mine workers, were called to the stand in rapid succession to testify to the al- legged blacklisting of themselves by the companies.
 Blind Witnesses Introduced.
 MT. Darrow for the miners, then pre- scented two witnesses who had been in- Jured by an explosion in the mines. Beth were stone blind and had to be led to the stand.
 In response to protest from the attor- neys for the operators against the in- troduction of such witnesses MT. Darrow said he did not intend to overdo the presentation of such witnesses. but he wanted to bring the commission to | realizing sense of the dangers of coal | mining.
 Chairman Gray here broke in and said | he hoped the thing would not be over | done. We have a realizing sense of the | conditions he said, "and may say | that I never saw a sadder spectacle than that presented by these two men,
 The Rev. J. J. Curran, who was the | last witness of the day, read a state | ment in which he said he made every ef- | fort possible to prevent the recent strug- gle and that after the men had con cluded to strike he came out and strongly | espoused their cause, because he thought | they were being unfairly dealt with, and | uSSeINtu HlOIe money TOT tnef ldDOr.
 Father Curran then gave a description | of the conditions under which the mine workers live, which Is somewhat similar to that given yesterday by Father Illus sie of Hazleton. In answer to questions put by Judge Gray Father Curran said he was opposed to the boycott and black list. This sentiment raised the approval of the chairman. who said that if boy cotts were permitted the country would go to pieces
 Father Curran will resume the stand morning
 When today's session of the strike com mission was opened a long colloquy was begun over the objection of Lawyer Everett Warren of Scranton to hearing the testimony of William Markowick, an engineer employed before the strike by the Delaware and Lackawanna company This witness was on the stand when was taken yesterday He struck when the steam men were called out and was refused his place when the etrike was over because it had been filed MT. Warren said the witness should not ..f< r., f.x.