Milford chronicle., 1903-01-09

rnnadelpnia, Jan. z - Twenty-Five
men, all but one Of whom We're nom
union mine workers. appeared before
the anthracite coal strike commission
IN the United States circuit court room
IN this city yesterday and recited the
oft-told tales OF the prosecutions they
and others underwent during the late
coal strike because they chose to work
rather than join the strikers. The sin
gle exception was Charles H. Schadt
Of Scranton the sheriff of Lackawanna
county, and his presence on the stand
under the cross-eXamination Of Pres
ldent John Mitchell Of the miners
union, proved to be the principal fea-
ture OF the days proceedings.
The sheriff, in direct examination.
said among other things that he issued
q proclamation shortly after the strike
was inaugurated, calling upon all per-
sons in the county to keep the peace;
that it was difficult to get men to act
as deputy sheriffs; that in most cases
where there was trouble it was usually
over when his men arrived; that he
attempted to keep the peace in all
localities and that the disturbances DC
came so numerous and serious that he
mad to call on the governor for troops.
He had appealed to Mr.. Mitchell.
whom he knew quite well, to assist in
Keeping the peaceand the miners pres /
ldent promised to do so and in several
instances was Of material help to the
sheriff.
Sherin Schadt was then turned over
TO the miners for cross-examination.
10 the surprise of most persons. Mr..
Mitchell took up the cross-examina- |
tion. 1t was the first time that MI.
Mitchell had attempted cross-examin- /
atlon to any extent. In answer to the |
questions of the mine workers leader.
the Lackawanna county sheriff said he
had employed about 40 or so deputy
sheriffs and admitted that they were
paid by the coal companies. Lead by
Mr.. Mitchell. he said he could not say
that a general state of lawlessness ex-
listed in the county, but in answer to
another query said there was a reign
of terror in existence in some locali-
ties. Among other things he said that
as a rule crowds dispersed when he or
dered them to do so, and that striking
mine workers whom he knew obeyed
his orders the same as other persons.
He also admitted that the second con-
tingent Of troops sent into his county
was ordered there without his request.
This appeared to satisfy President
Mitchell, and General Wilson took the I
witness in hand and asked him why I
the county did not pay the deputy
sheriffs. The sheriff replied that the a
had made the request for
and counsel for the witness c
explained that it was the law in Penn
sylvania that the company asking for b
protection was compelled to pay for ?
it. This explanation rather surprised 1
Chairman Gray, who. as he straight o
ened himself up in his chair, said: u v
am not fomiliar with such an un-Amer-
can law. When the county or state F
the duty of maintaining Il
)rder and protecting life and property Y
md keeping the peace, then they are b
open to criticism"
Twice during the proceedings Attor-
ley Darrow tried to get an admission
rom witnesses that they did not en- 3
10y the lawyers representing the non q
Inion men before the commission. p
The miners claim that the attorneys -
re employed by the coal companies, :
irtually giving the operators two sub .
MISSIONS before the commission. Coun- "
ell for the operators in each case OBJ 10
ected to Mr.. Darrow's line of examin- "
tion, and the objections were sus- o.
aimed by Chairman Gray for the COM "
lission on the ground that it made no ~ ~
Inference who were employing the at ~ ~
)rneys, so long as the commission got ai
le information it desired. p'
While the entire day was taken UP
! hearing the stories told of intimida- cI
on boycotting and personal violence, M
le commission learned nothing new
le evidence being mostly cumulative