Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-09
PRAISE FOR MITCHELL
Mccarthy, for Mine Work
ers, Begins Arguments.
FOLLOWED BY BRUMM
RECOGNITION OF UNION DIS
CUSSED BY n. D. LLOYD.
barrow Will Make Principal Address
President Baer to Close for
the Operators.
FOLLOWED BY BRUMM

PHILADELPHIA, February 9.-Argu-
ment for and against the demands Of the
union anthracite mine workers, which will
continue before the coal strike commission
for the next six days, was begun today,
when the miners, through Daniel }. NC
Carthy Of Hazelton, made the opening ar
gument.
Mr.. Mccarthy was followed by former
CONGRESSMAN Brumm Of Minersville, who
made general argument, and Henry DEM
Arrest Lloyd Of Chicago, who confined his
efforts to the question of recognition Of the
union and yearly trade agreements.
The operators will begin their argument
tomorrow, continuing three days, and clos
ing with George F. Baer, president Of the
Reading company. Then Clarence s. OAR
row of Chicago, the principal counsel for
the miners, will take up all of Friday and
Saturday until adjournment in summing up
the case and in answering President Baer.
President Mitchell Of the Miners Union
Is expected here during the week. whether
he will address the commission depends
upon Developments
Mr.. McCarthy's Address.
America has been history making ma
ton since the declaration of independence"
Mr.. Mccarthy said. 1.-The age in which we
live is the most progressive the world has
ever known. Rapid development has been
made in every branch of science and in
dustry. Not only along scientific and in
dustrial lines has progress been made, but
also along sociological lines.
THE condition of mankind Is steadily i'm
proving because Of this phenomenal devel-
opment; yet this development causes the
condition which now confrontS US, that of
the equality of man.
I'm all ages there have been times when
1t became necessary to redress certain
grievances and wrongs, and it always
seems as though Providence provided the
proper instrument at the proper time to ac-
complish the desired result We find
Moses to deliver the people of Israel, we
find Napoleon. we find a Washington,
Lincoln, Grant, a Mckinley and Roose-
welt.
Cause Of Humanity and Liberty.
"These have all labored in the cause Of
humanity and liberty. Just as the clouds
hung heavily over the mine workers Of this
country a new star appeared in the firma-
ment to dispel the clouds and admit a ray
of sunshine into the miners life. This s,ar
has not risen in the east but in the west
John Mitchell.
The first practical miners organization
was effected at st. Clair. Pa, in 1868, AMI
was known as the Miners Beneficial Asso-
citation. 1t entered into an agreement with
the coal companies and established the
three-dollar basis. This continued for some
years, and was broken by Franklin B.
Gowen.
From this time until 1883 wages were at
a very low ebb, until the advent of the
Knights of Labor, when they began to i'm
prove until the 1887 strike, which marked
the end of this organization. This was fol-
lowed by the United Mine Workers of
America. who in 1900 succeeded in organic
ing the entire region.
Enormous Energy Required.
THE miner in his work requires an enor-
nous amount Of energy. The coal must all
be handled at least twice, the slate and i'm
purities picked out and all work done in a
foul and vitiated atmosphere.
1.-THE miners work is exceedingly danger
GUS. The miner who would avoid all the
dangers which Turk in the depths Of the
mine could never work a day. He is con-
stantly subject to accident and death from
gases, gas explosions, powder explosions,
premature blasts, falling coal, props break
ing, cars running away, etc.
1.-The companies made strenuous effort
to show that the miners were restricting
the output Of coal since the strike, but from
it is shown without contradiction that the
miners could not secure anything like suf-
ficient number of cars to make anything
like fair days wages
Praise for Mitchell.
The subjects Of the weighing Of coal, rec
ognition Of the union and the status of nom
union men were all handled exhaustively by
Mr.. Mccarthy. In closing the attorney
said:
ION account Of the great increase in the
cost of living, at least % per cent increase
in wages Is imperative With all the argu-
ments in favor of the recognition Of the
union there is none stronger than the high
character of the miners leader.
John Mitchell has been through the fire
and has been tested. Pure gold and no
dross In his composition, no yellow streak
in his blood his honesty and sincerity of
purpose have never been questioned. He
stands out boldly in his sterling integrity,
and. like the diamond in the rough, the
more you rub it the brighter 1t shines"