The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-14
.Mr. DarroW Made a Brilliant
Speech for tho Miners.
WAS LOUDLY APPLAUDED
Chairman Gray, Of the Commission.
Expressed Regret at Parting With
Counsel. and Congratulated
Each Side on Good Feeling.
tny AssocInted press.l

PHILADELPHIA. PA. February ID
The Anthracite Coal Strike Commission,
after being In session for moro than
three months. opened It's hearing here
to-day With an all-day argument by
Clarence Darrow on behalf Of The min
ers. The commission will meet In secret
IN washington next Thursday, and be-
gin the consideration OF Its awards. It
Is said that by the end Of this month
the arbitrators will be ready to make
their announcement
II an Increase in wages Is determined
upon the increase Is to date from the
ilrst OF last November, the commission
having decided upon that date on Octo-
Der 31st, After the session to-day the
commission held short conference with
the lawyers for the several sides and
ness IN case they are called upon by the
commission.
The crowd that heard Mr. barrow
speak to-day was fully as great as that
which listened to Mr.. Baer and Mr..
tpo et He took up the en-
half hours. He touched upon almost
every phase Of the strike, and when he
closed he was greeted with long APP
plause, which Chairman Gray did not
suppress. President Mitchell was in
court all day, but did not have any
thing to say
Mr.. barrow. first discussed the cause
OF the strike. The responsibility for the
coal famine. he said, rested with those
who We're responsible for the strike If
the men struck without just reason, then
they were responsible; but II the men
We're right and the operators not broad d.
minded enoungh to see the business Of
their claims. then the latter we've re-
sponsible for the trouble. He believed
the strike was due to the blind. auto
cratic, stupid spirit OF the operators.
They believed the issue was who should
be the master-the operators or the men.
I say neither should be tho master Of
the other
Taking up Mr.. Beer's sliding scale pro-
position made yesterday. Mr.. barrow
said the one per cent. raise on five cents
suggested by Mr.. Baer would give the
operators nm increase OF three and one
half per cent In profits and the miners
$3.50 basis Mr. Darrow.s remarks on
the proposition plainly indicated that the
miners fatty reject the proposition.
TRIED TO AVOID STRIKE.
Mr.. barrow asserted that the miners
resorted to every means to avert a
strike. Every appeal and every prayer
Of tho men,. he said, was contemporary
rejected by the operators.
Mr.. barrow said It was wonder af-
ter the operators had insolently and
cruelty rejected the requests Of the men
that there was not more violence In the
coal region. He paid tribute to tho
miners. whom he said were war1n-hearted
emotional sympathetic and religious
Mr.. barrow then took up the thirteen
language that was extremely strong he
pictured the eviction Of a sick wife and
Of a blind woman 100 years old. you
may roll together all the cruelty and
violence committed In the anthracite re-
gion," he exclaimed. land You cannot
equal the fiendish cruelty Of John Mar
kle when he turned these people into
the streets simply to satisfy his hellish
hate"
NO EFFORT TO sHIRK.
Regarding the demand for eight hours
MS day, Mr. barrow said:
This Is not a demand to shirk work,
as Is often claimed to be the case 1t
Is demand for the right of the individ-
ual to have better life fuller life.
a completer life, and this. like every
thing else. depends upon your point Of
view. There Is only one standpoint
from which you have the right to mp
proach this question, and that 1t what
will make the best men, the best Amer.
lChn Clt1EPnS, 10 up d NAHUM III
which there will be no more strikes,
no more violence
After the long applause which was
accorded Mr.. barrow, Mr.. Gray. the
chairman. said:
1T Is due to counsel and to those
who represented both Sides that I should
say that We leave you. or rather yon
leave us. with feeling on our part Of
regret that the long association which
hns been so pleasant to US IS about to
be broken. It speaks well for counsel
on both sides that no unpleasant cpl
sodc has occurred-nothinE that should
mar the situation in which reasonable
men md citizens ola great country find
themselves In mutually endeavoring to
arrive ut Just conclusion and a just
verdict In a great controversy,
"The work Is now over, and 7 know
that VIC have your: best wishes that
we may have safe. and righteous de-
liverance." 95i6.