New-York tribune., 1903-01-09
MINERS AND VIOLENCE.
MITCHELL DEPENDS MEN
Resents Imputation that Union as IN
Nfire of LGzclesSness.


Philadelphia, Jan. S.-The principal feature OF
the PROCEEDINGS before the Coal Strike ComInis-
sion to-day was the exception taken by Presl-
dent Mitchell to g remark made by Chairman
Gray that he would like to see the miners union
rome UP out Of the mire that is around the oaser
parts Of il into the sunlight. The miners union
president said the union should not be indicted
unless 2 connection could be shown between 1t
and acts Of lavvlessness. The head of the COM
mission replied that he did not wish TO indict the
organization. but hoped it would disentansle
itself entirely from the violence and lawlessness
committed during the strike.
The incident came suddenly while witness
was on the stand. and caused a stir among the
lawyers on both sides Of the controversy. out
Size Of this the entire day was taken up In hear
ing the stories Of non-union men or their rela-
tives Of alleged prosecutions during the perloo
of the strike .-...--
The Mitchell incident brought about oy
Commissioner Parker. Anthony Ferguson OF
Nahanoy City, outside foreman at the North
Nahanoy coIliery Of the Philadelphia ana heao-
ing Coal and Iron Company. testified that ne
was beaten while on his way to work. that ne
recognized two of his assailants as union men,
and that they were prosecuted and convicted.
Nr. Parker asked the witness if the men were
expelled from the union for what they had done,
hut fbe foreman did not know. Mr.. MitchelI
had stated On the witness stand that all mem
bers OF the union found guilty Of crime are e1-
PEELED from the union
WERE MEN EXPELLED?
Noting the interest the commission took In MI
tsrker's question, the lawyers for the non-union
men called on Terence Ginley. member OF the
executive board OF the union in the oistrlcl
where the assault was committed for the IN
formation desired. Ginley said he did not KNOW
whether the local union to which the men oe-
fonged took any action, and he went on 10 give
long explanation Of how the local unions ana
Individual strikers used every means TO dis
rerse crowds and help maintain the peace. The
actions taken by the local unions. he said, were
n-incinally advisory He told of the attempts
made 10 keep the peace at Shenandoah before
the big riot there, and added that there hao
been no disturbance until the coal and iron DO
ice were sent to the place
Chairman Gray then asked;
so Won wait for conviction by the civil au-
thorities before disciplining your men? do you
thint, Won can have effective discipline unless
you make investigation yourself and bring 'ne
men I'D and punish them in some way? ask
,,o,, as = member Of the order and as man VINO
vyo,,la be glad 10 see your order come up out OF
,be r1ire and the clouds that are around the
haser parts Of it. into the sunlight and into 'ile
cir Of free government and q free country
-.Tf # is proved that our men have committed
scte Of violence. there is no question about our
6isciplining them replied the witness
Then followed a discussion over the Shenan-
6osb riot and the killing Of a man. and in reply
20 Mr.. Nitchel's remark that 1t was not the
.4-s-e ,,-l7o did II Chairman Gray said:
..F7,7- there was q crowd, and as yet l have
hsard no evidence of a dissenting voice in that
rnoh No man there said. shame on the cow
srdsr -,
Mr. Darrow-You must not expect the rail-
road company 10 furnish that
The witness said the union would prove that
,7nion men tried TO prevent the riots TO winch
5udge Gray replied he hoped so;
MITCHELL MAKES PROTEST
rba-e was a further discussion on this sub
sect and then Nr. Mitchell arose and said to
Chairman Gray;
Il do not know whether 1 quite understood
1-o,, in expressing yourself 10 the witness as TO
1-our solicitude for the organization, that 1t
should rise above the mire or that part OF 1t
should rise above the ulire-
chairman Gray-Perhaps 1 may have been
misunderstood. 1t was not an unfriendiy WISH
that was expressed. said / hoped 1t Woulo
1if+ itself out Of the mire and Of the conditions
created by these things which have peen lesu-
fed 10, around its baser parts.
Mr.. Mitchell, in reply. said that while the
commission is going TO determine all the ques-
4ions that are being presented here there Is
GREATER Jury passing upon the attitude Of the
strikers las 20 the action Of our organization
sn5 the position Of the coal operators" he SAID
there IS no doubt in my mind that many ot
che witnesses ara brought here, and DO not come
as witnesses ordinarily do, TO testify against
the strikers and indirectly against the United
Mine Workers II does seem to me that until
there is some connection shown between the
If OF
1swlessness the organization should not oe
rlaoed under any indictment at all
Chairman Gray said that he did not wish Mr.
Mitchell 10 understand that anything he said
indicted the organization
"T cid hope" continued the commissioner
that It would disentangle itself entirely from
these scenes Of violence and lawlessness with
which the strike was attended. They may have
been exaggerated, as you contend I am not
passing upon that now. we have heard isolate
instances OF outrage which we must all admit
We are not saying that the organization is