Evening journal., 1903-01-23
HEARING MAY LAST
TEN DAYS MORE
Darrow Attacks Veracity of
Witness Before the Coal
Strike Commission
WHO REFUSED TO GIVE NAMES

Philadelphia, Jan. 23.-The question
Of who is responsible for the apparent
shortage in the supply Of anthracite
coal was the subject of considerable
debate yesterday by the attorneys rep
resenting the parties before the strike
commission 1t was testified to that
the miners are not obeying President
Mitchelps request to make extra effort
to produce more coal to relieve the sit
uation. This was followed up by
James Fl. Torrey and Everett Warren,
both of Scranton. who represent sew
eral of the large companies, challeng-
ing the correctness OF Mr.. Mitchell's
statement that 5000 men are idle and
ready to go to work.
Superintendent Mercur, of the Le-
high Valley Coal company, was called
to the stand for cross-examination.
Mr.. Darrow. resorting to his sweet
est tones, said: "Mr. Mercur, you told
this commission that you had attempt
ed to mine more coal during the past
two months. and that the union min
ers refused to work longer time each
day."
"Yes, sir"
"Give me the names of the men who
refused"
81 won't give them." replied the wit
ness bluntly.
Il demand them. Give me the name
OF one man. 1 want the names, for, to
be perfectly frank, we don't believe
you
At this iuncture Attorney Francis 1.
Gowen, counsel for the Lehigh Valley
company, protested.
Your Honor" said Mr.. Darrow, ad-
dressing Judge Gray, there isn't any
use to mince words. We don't believe
him. We object to this man giving
irresponsible and false testimony here
and then refusing to give names"
I'VE can't compel him to give the
Names" Judge Gray remarked, after
witness had said he didn't want to
divulge the names because the men
might be prosecuted by the union.
Mr. Torrey, of the Delaware and
Hudson company, then said he was not
present when Mr.. Mitchell made the
statement that 5000 miners are now
without work. His remarks" con-
cluded Mr.. Torrey, were certainly
more irresponsible than any that our
witnesses have made"
Il wasn't here either when Mr.
Mitchell made the remarks alluded
n to-" retorted Mr. Darrow, "and it is
4 just possible that Mr.. MitchelPs lone
associations with Mr.. Markle and Mr.
Baer may have impaired his response
bility."
4 Neither Mr.. Markle nor Mr.. Baei
made any unwarranted statement" IN
terjected Major Warren.
"They made a statement to the pres
= ident OF the United States that wal
absolutely false" replied the miners
counsel, pitching his voice high.
Major Warren further said: Il chal
lenged Mr.. Darrow to give me thu
names Of 200 miners refused employ
ment by the company represent, an'
% repeat the challenge"
"I have here the names of 100 mel
who were refused work, Mr.. Darroy
replied, waving a paper.
Mr.. Darrow responded again:"I an
M IlleQ 10 utdlu ActlAh5 lAS obDAASo "
the operators that their poor humal
slaves drowned out the mines and ar
responsible for the restrictions upoi
the output Of coal. II 1 don't prove b,
their own reports and figures present
ed to this commission that the oper
ators who are parties to these proceed
ings have restricted the output c
coal. and that their unwarranted at
tempts to put the blame on the min
ers' unionare for the purpose of throw
ing dust into the eyes Of the America
public. then I shall go back to Chicag
and request this commission to rende
a verdict against us"
The Lehigh Valley Coal compan
then closed its case and the Lehig
and. Wflkesbarre company consumed
few hours in presenting its evidenc'
This company closed shortly befoT
adjournment. and the independent OF
orators of the upper region then too
ND the operators side Of the contrC
versy.
II is expected the hearings will La
ten more days. The commission II
formed the attorneys on both side
Yesterday that it would like the
10 eonfne their final arguments
about four or five days. The lawyer
will agree among themselves as TO Il
division of time. The miners wal
half the time allowed by the commi
sion.