The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-12
THE COMPANY STORES
coMl61ssroNARx SYSTEM BE-
 FORE THE AnDITEHs.
Many Prominent Citizsns Are At tentive Audttors--Miners Con- clude Their Evidence In- side the Time Allowed
 Them.

e
 Birmingham. Aug. l1.--(speciai. J --rhe attendance at the second days sitting of the Board of Arbitration, which is to de- eide the differences between operators and miners in this State, was larger than on yesterday Many prominent citlzens of Birmingharn and the northern part of the State are present and are watching the proceedings. General Benjamin. F. Tracy of New York, Is close observer. Don. H. Bacon. President of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company, was present this morning and was also a close listener. Most of the testimony adduced today was in reference to the company stores or commissary, the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company stores at Pratt City. Ensley and Wylam being dis cussed. The check system was thorough iy threshed over. Adam Pow, IA years a miner in Alabama, with a family of eleven children. all of whom are receiving a col- lege education, was on the stand. He told of the operations of the stores. He himself took up no checks from the com pany. but bought them on the outside. He said that when he paid cash for his goods in the stores he got them at IS per cent discount. He knew of regularly hired agents who bought and sold these checks, the object being to swell the store re- ceipts.
 Patrick Barrett of wylam was on the stand and told of store operations also.
 Both of these witnesses do extra work in the mines, the first attending to mar row work. making as high as so per month, and the other being pillar butler and receiving s60 per month. Both testi- fled to surplus of men at some of the mines. Pow stated that on the second or third day of each month the company is- sued the store checks and that just as ~. day that money was paid out.
 The witnesses are being cross-exemined closely by the attorneys for the operators. The miners announced that they had but few witnesses to introduce and offered the annual reports of several of the compa- nies in this district showing profits on coal. coke, iron and stores, as to the claim of the miners for an advance of 5 cents per ton. The miners also offered the of ficial proceedings of the joint conference between the operators and miners in June and July when efforts were made to get . contract. giving figures from the opera tors side as to iron, coal and coke prices. This was offered in substantiation of the demand for cents per ton advance in prices.
 The attorneys for the operators offered objection on the grounds that the figures quoted then and statements made then were for the purpose of effecting a com- promise. Judge Gray decided that the proceedings could be presented but of course would be acted upon as the arbi- ters saw fit. The miners finished inside their allotted time. President Ed. Flynn of the district organization of the miners. is prosecuting the case and he is doing well.
 According to the plans, the operators have five days in which to present their answers and evidence. In admitting what other witnesses would swear to in ref erence to commissarY or store checks, the attorneys for the operators announced that when their time came they would show that the companies made no money on the buying and reselling of the checks or in giving discount to the outside cus- toners, except in the legitimate operation of the store. |. bers of the board of arbitration, and mem- bers of the United Mine Workers of America, asked witnesses today many questions, as did Judge Gray.
 At the afternoon session of the board of arbitration L.. B. Evans testified as to the commissary at Graves Mines operated by the Lacey Buck Company. He said the company issued a check each day and men who wanted cash before the regular pay day discounted these check at 25 per cent. He also said goods in the Graves store were higher than in the city stores.
 The miners announced that they would offer no other witnesses, but would press the objection made as to several matters brought up by the operators for arbitra- ton.
 There was much argument on this mat ter.
 The board will render its decision on this subject tomorrow morning. J. w. Mcqueen, second vice-president of the Sloss-Shenield Steel and Iron Company, was the first witness put on by the operators. He said his company ran about eight stores and they sold goods fresher and cheaper than other stores. He said his company does not buy cheeks from its miners. He gave some figures as to miners earnings in the mines. He was still on the stand when adjournment was taken until tomorrow.
 Organizers Roughly Treated.
 At Horse Creek. Walker County, today Joe HoIlier. white, district organizer, and Ben L. Greer, colored. district vice-presi- dent of the United Mine Works of America, were roughly treated by A posse of white men. The two union men were organizing locals,
 Last night they organized a small local at Empire, nine miles from Horse Creek. They stopped at the latter place en route to Birmingham. At the depot they were approached by several white men and Greer was beat on the head then Hol- Her was approached and he knocked down the assuperintendent of the place.
 At the points of pistols the two men were forced to leave the place. On. the road uot of town Hollier was compelled to kiss Greer and other more horrible doings were suggested by the posse. Then Hollier and Greer were forced to run and the posse fired on them. Hollier was struck in the arm, an artery being severed. He almost died from loss of blood. He was brought to Birmingham on a litter and Is now at an infirmary. His condition is serious.
 Horse Creek is 8 non-union mining camp. Greer claims that the men who assaulted h@n and Hollier were not miners
 There was great indignation expressed over the occurrence by the citizens. Sheriff Frank Moore and a posse of