Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-10
1B[ OPERATORS SIDE
Mine Owners and Railways
Begin Their Testimony Be-
fore Strike Commission
OPENING STATEMENT is MADE
OPENING STATEMENT is MADE
Attorney. Claim They Will Show Min.
ers' Union Has No Control Over Its
Members-other Claims Made-sup-
erintendent Rose Called to the Stand
Ante Strike Conditions. -


men having closed their case the coal
companies opened their side Of the con-
troversy today before the strike COM
mission. Chairman Gray is still con-
fined to his home in Washington, suf-
fering from cold. General Wilson
again presided.
The proceedings We're opened today
by the Delaware & Hutchinson Com
pany thru it's counsel. James II. Torrey.
who delivered an address, indicating
what the company would try to prove.
His speech was along the same lines
and supplementary to the general OPEN
ing of the case on Behalf Of the re-
spondents, already made He said they
would prove the miners union has no
control over its members; that no
blacklist was ever prepared or recog-
nized by the company; that evidence
produced by the company will tend to
indicate It's sincere desire to establish
and maintain amicable friendly rela-
tions with it's employees; that all claims
and charges made by the miners wou /
be proven either false or without merit.
Upon the conclusion of his address Tor
rey called to the witness stand Charles
c. Rose. of Scranton, superintendent of
the mining department of the company.
Rose said that prior to the 1900 strike
the relations between the company and
most of the company's men joined the
miners union, which resulted in con-
siderable discomfort among the men
and a break up of discipline in and
about the mines. So far he knew there
was no blacklist in the anthracite re-
gions. Rose produced letter written
to him by President Olyphant after the
strike. The letter told him to stand by
the men who stood by the company
during the strike and to take back all
men where places could be found for
them, but no man should be taken back
who had been guilty of committing
crimes.
Or, cross examination by counsel for
the miners Rose said that prior to 1900
contract miners earned $3.50 to $3.50 q
year. He considered eight hours fair
day for the miners, but the foremen
should work twelve hours, while the
law pernittad-12-year-o old boys to work
on the breakers. He Cid not think boys
of that age should be there. Two years
ago he did not think the 10 per cent In
crease given the men fair, but he had
since changed his mind. He could not
reconcile himself to the increase now
asked for by the miners. He said the
companies would have voluntarily paid
the increase in 1900 If the men had re-
manned at work.
Replying to the question by Commits
s!oner Watkins, Rose said 1t was not
necessary for the miner and laborer to
60 to saloons to divide their wages, as
alleged by the miners. The company
would give them room where the d.
vision could be made.
In reply to a question by President
Mitchell, Rose said the miners are put
ting less coal in now than they did two
years ago. Mitchell .eplied:
..You have the power to dock them,
haven't you?"
1--WE have. but we don't fully exer-
else it,
Abel I. Culver, comptroller of the
Delaware & Hudson Company, was the
next witness. He had the complete pay
rolls of the company, which he informed
the committee were absolutely correct.