The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-08
Chairman Gray's Comment on the
Testimony Regarding Strike
Lawlessness.
He Adds That He Would Like to
Sec the Union Disentangle
Itself.
President Mitchell Takes Exception
to These Remarks-Testimony
Of Outrages.

Philadelphia, Jan. S.-The first witness !
called by counsel for the nom union miners |
before the coal strike commission to-day |
was Mrs. Lilly Stevenson Of Schuylkill I
county, whose husband worked during the |
strike in the Silverbrook colliery Of the |
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
company. She was an eyewitness to an
assault made upon her husband by
strikers. She said that after her husband
had been knocked down twice she picked
UP a stone and threw it at the men COM
hitting the assault. She was seized and
held while the beating continued. Her
husband was internally injured.
Mrs. Robert Robinson of Tower City
told Of an attack being made on her home
because her husband worked during the
strike. She was particularly bitter against
her brother law, James Lewis who, she
said led the mob.
Harry Curnow of Hazelton, an extra en-
gineer, said he struck, but as the union
gave him no relief, he returned to work
on Aug. %. On Aug. rs, while on his way
to work. he said he was attacked by
crowd of unknown men and beaten I'M
conscious
Michael Weldon Of Mahanoy City, a fire
boss employed by the Reading company,
said the strikers refused to allow him to
60 to work. and that his house was dam
aged by dynamite.
. Thomas Feeley, another Reading COM
pany fire boss said he was dragged from
n street car and severely beaten while on
his way to work.
4Anthony Ferguson, outside foreman at
the North Mahanoy colliery. said he was
beaten while on his way to work. On
cross examination he said he had never
cheated the men under him.
The Union Is ain the Mire.'
Ferguson said he recognized two Of his
assailants and that they were arrested and
convicted. NJ
Commissioner Parker asked if the two
men had been expelled by the miners
union, and Terrence Gtnley, member OF
the executive board of the United Mine
Workers, was called and asked if the men
had been expelled. He replied that he
did not know. He explained that the
union had done all in its power to pre-
vent lawlessness. Ill.
Chairman Gray asked what had been
done to raise the organization out OF the
nire and darkness that the testimony had
tended to snow. fs.. g 80
President Mitchell took exception to
Judge Gray's remarks and said the coal
companies we're bringing witnesses here
TO testify against strikers and indirectly
against the miners union. No crime had
been fastened on the union, Mr.. Mitchell
said that he did not want the Impression
to 60 out that it was dragging In the mtre
Chairman Gray said the testimony be-
fore the commission certainly involved tht
union and he would like to see the unioi
6isentangle itself. Judge Gray men
TONED the Shenandoah riot and said he
had not heard a word Of evidence thai
of one union man in the crowd of a thou
sand men and boys present when Beddel
was killed cried Shame on you .
=. Man Discharged for TestIfylng..
Mr.. Ginley said that many men woult
not testify before the commission To-
fear Of being discharged and cited the
case Of a. man named Clark employed q
the Bast colliery near Scranton Who wa:
infused work after he had testlhed. IN!
commissioners made a note OF this cas-
IND said they would look into It, Mr.
Ginley, in answer to a question, by Com
missioner Wright, said many Of the Goa
and iron policemen had bad characters
several having served time IN JAIL
Counsel for the non union men the
called President Mitchell to the stand an
asked him what action the union too
against the three men who Killed ma
named Sweeney near Mantlcoke. MltcEe
said the men were not members Of tn
union at the time.
Shenandoah told Of being attacked by
mob. Lauterrnan was riddled with buck
shot and permanently injured.
A Call for Mr.. Baer.
After several other witnesses had tef
. titled to acts Of violence alleged to HAY
been committed by the strikers, couns
for the miners interrupted the proceeding
by saying that President George F: Bal
Of the Reading company. and John Mark
- had told President Roosevelt that twent.
one murders had been committed in tt
coal regions during the strike and
wanted the operators to have an oppo
funity to prove this assertion. Mr.. Mitcl
ell said: - 81. -. 10 ~ -
1--WE request them to prove It." . ~
Chairman Gray replied
1--WE will also request them to do S
We want to hear all the cases where mi
der was involved" $3.50 go &