The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-01-10
GOODPOINT'SFOR MINERS
President Mitchell Cross-Examined
Sheriff of Lackawanna County.
OPERATORS PAID HIS DEPUTIES
Mine Owners Attorneys Claim That
Under tho Law They Were Com
PEELED to Pay Surprised JUDGE GRAY.
Many Tales Of Persecution Told.

- wi AoC4 suAUG AraN.
Many Tales Of Persecution Told.
Philadelphia, Jan. 7. - TWENTY-FIVE
men, all but one of whom were nom
union mine workers, appeared before
ene anthracite coal strike commission
IN the United States circuit court room
IN this city yesterday and recited the
oft-told tales Of the prosecutions they
ana Others underwent during the late
coal strike because they chose to work
rather than join tho strikers. The sim
gle exception was Charles II. Schadt
or Scranton, the sheriff of Lackawanna
county, and his presence on the stand
under the cross-examination OF Pres
ident John Mitchell. of the miners
union, proved to be the principal fea-
ture OF the days proceedings.
The sheriff. in direct examination
SAID among other things that he issued
proclamation shortly after the strike
was inaugurated, calling upon all per-
sons in the county to keep the peace.
That II was difficult to get men to act
as deputy sheriffs; that in most cases
where there was trouble IL was usually
over when his men arrived: that he
attempted to keep the peace in all
localities and that the disturbances ae-
came so numerous and serious that he
had to call on the governor for troops.
he had appealed to Mr.. Mitchell.
whom he knew quite well, TO assist in
Keeping the peaceaDd the miners pres
ident promised to do so and in several
instances was Of material help to the
sheriff.
Sheriff Schadt was then turned over
to the miners for cross-examination
10 the surprise OF most persons. Mr.
Mitchell took up the cross-examina-
ton II was the first time that Mr.
Mitchell had attempted cross-examip-
auon 10 any extent. In answer TO the
questions of the mine workers leader.
the Lackawanna county sheriff said he
had employed about 40 or 90 deputy
sheriffs and admitted that they were
paid by the coal companies. Lead kv
Mr.. Mitchell. he said he could not say
that a general state OF lawlessness. ex-
listed in the county. but in answer to
another query said there was a reign
of terror in existence in some locali-
ties. Among other things he said that
as rule crowds dispersed when he or
dered them TO do SO. and that striking
mine workers whom he knew obeyed
his orders the same as other persons.
he also admitted that the second con-
tingent of troops sent into his county
was ordered there without his request.
This appeared TO satisfy President
Mitchell. and General Wilson took the
witness in hand and asked him why
the county did not pay the deputy
sheriffs. The sheriff replied that tho
companies had made the request for
protection. and counsel for the witness
explained that It was the law in Penn
sylvania that the company asking for
protection was compelled to pay for
It. This explanation rather surprised
Chairman Gray. who. as he straight
ened himself up in his chair. said: 81
am not fomiliar with sucha un-Amer-
lean law. When the county or state
relinQuishes the duty of maintaining
order and protecting life and property
and keeping the peace. then they arc
open TO criticism"
Twice during the proceedings Attor-
ney Darrow tried to get an admission
from witnesses that they did not en-
ploy the lawyers representing the non
union men before the commission.
The miners claim that the attorneys
are employed by the coal companies.
virtually giving the operators two sub
missions before the commission. Coun-
sci for the operators in each case OBJ
jected TO Mr.. Darrow's line of examin-
alton, and the objections were sus-
tained by Chairman Gray for the COM
mission on the ground that IL made no
difference who were employing the at
torpeys. so long as the commission got
the information it desired.
While the entire day was taken up
in hearing the stories told OF intimida-
ton. boycotting and personal violence.
the commission learned nothing new,
the evidence being mostly cumulative.
1t was stated by a member of the
commission that II is possible the
hearings Of the commission may take
up not above two more weeks. The
lawyers for the operators met late yes
terday afternoon and arranged matters
so as to expedite the hearings.