Evening journal., 1903-01-15
RECOGNITION or
UNION THE ISSUE
Erie Company's Principal
Point of Attack at Coal
Strike Union
DEFENDS COAL AND IaON POLICE

Philadelphia. jan 15.-Recognition
OF the union, which the anthracite
coal operators maintain is not an issue
before the Coal Strike Commission, was
the principal point OF attack by the
Erie Company yesterday in its contest
against the cloims of the United Mine
Workers Of America. General Super
intendent May gave testimony tend
ing TO show that since the advent of
the union into the anthracite regions
the workmen were less efficient, that
a lack of discipline has resulted, that
1t has interfered with authority. caused
tyranny to prevail against other work
men, and limited the earning capacity
of the employees
Superintendent May was emphatic
in saying that the employment of coal
and iron policemen was most essential
in time of strikes The sheriff, he
said, was unreliable, and from HIS ex
perience he found that deputy sheriffs,
as rule. sympathized with the strik
ers. He said the coal and iron police
men in the eompany's employ were Of
good character.
The witness also said that if the
region had been free from terrorism,
he believed the company would have
been able to mine coal during the late
strike. The company was making prog
ress last September when the terror
ism prevented the company from going
any further. Asked what this progress
amounted to. he replied that the COM
pany had secured from 40 to so men
O. out of $500 to blow down coal.
The witness did not think that the
10 per cent. advance given the men
two years ago was deserved, but he
has since changed his mind. He did
not think the present advance asked
for was reasonable, and gave a nom
committal answer when asked if he
might change his mind again two
years hence.
The fine distinction between Mitch
ell, the man. and Mitchell the miners
representative, which was drawn by
Mr.. May, resulted from the following
questions put by Mr.. Darrows:
would you object to meeting Mr..
Mitchell on a business question If he
was asked by your employees to repre-
sent them?" asked Mr.. Darrow.
eyes, sir"
you wouldn't object TO meeting Mr..
Mitchell as a man?"
mot to meeting Mr.. Mitchell So
eially."
He repeated that the company was
always ready to meet its employees. He
was asked that in case one of his own
employees gave up cutting coal for the
Of the company's 5000 men, if he
would meet him for the purpose Of
settling differences. and he replied that
he was not prepared to answer the
question
Commissioner Clark asked the wit
ness in case the two parties failed to
agree If the men could call in an agent,
and Mr.. May replied that he thought
they could.
Mr.. Clark-"Dont you think that IL
this policy were followed it would re-
suit in much good?"
Mr.. May think possibly 1t
would"
Samuel ]. Jennings, Of Forest City,
a general foreman of the company, tes-
titled that the occupation of a miner
is healthy and that he never saw a
miner suffering from asthma. He cor
roborated testimony already given to
the effect that the relations between
the company and the men before the
advent of the union were cordial, and
related instances Of the inability of
those in authority to always maintain
discipline about the mines. He charg-
ed that this was due to the union, the
men feeling safe in resisting authority.
The witness said he was able to earn
SIS a day as a miner, but on cross ex-
animation he said he earned only $50
to $50 month when he worked as a
contract miner. In reply to the min
ers' attorney, he admitted that he did
not know what miners asthma was,
and that there might be men in his
colliery who are suffering from it.
George Maxey. a miner, testified that
the union was directly responsible for
restricting the earning capacity Of the
miner. His experience was that q
young. strong man was not permitted
. TO send out mere coal than an older OF
weaker man. If he did get ten or ff-
teen cars ahead Of his neighbor he had
10 stop until the other man caught up
The president of local union tc
whom he complained about the matter
said it was done so that all men would
get an equal amount OF work.
President Mitchell cross-examineo
Maxey on the restriction OF the out
nut. but he did not make much prog