The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-09
Six Day Talk Inauguratsd By
Strike Commission.
Daniel J. Mccarthy, Of Hazel
ton, Makes First Address.
BAER WAS PRESENT.
Probably Will Address the Com
mission Later in Week.
MitcheII's Work and Character
Were Highly ExtolIed.

.
Philadelphia. Feb s.-Arguments for
and against the demands OF the union
mine works. which viii continue before
the coaI strike commission for the next
six days was begun today when the
miners. through Daniel J. Mccarthy Of
HazeIton. made the opening argument.
Mr.. Mccarthy was followed by former
Congressman Brumm of Minersvile.
who made a general argument and
Henry Demarest Lloyd of Chicago, who
confined his efforts TO the question OF
recognition Of the union and yearly
trade agreements The operators will
begin their argument tomorrow, con-
tinuinE three days and closing with
George F. Baer. president OF the Read
Ing Then Clarence 5. Darrow Of Chi
eago. the principal counsel for the
miners, VIII axe all of Friday and Sat
ur1ay until adjournment in summing up
znd in answering President Baer- Presi-
dent Mitchell is expected here during
the week Whether ne VIII address the
commission depends upon Developments
Among those present when the seS-
sion opened was President Baer of the
Reading who was present for the second
time since the investigation began Mr..
Mccarthy Immediately began his argu-
nent.
He said in part.
America has been q history king
nation since the Declaration Of indie
pendence. The age in which we live IS
the most progressive the world has
ever kown. Rapid development has
been made in every branch of science
and industry Not only along scientIc
and Industrial lines has progress Deea
made. but also along sociological lines.
The condition of mankind is steadily
improving because Of this phenomenal
development yet this development causes
the condition when TOW conITOnIs US
that Of the equality Of man. In all ages
there have been times when it became
necessary TO redress certain grievances
and wrongs, and it always seems a.
though Providence PROVIDED the proper
instrument at the proper time TO ac-
compIish the desired result. We find
Moses to deliver the people Of Israel, q
Napoleon, Washington, Lincoln, q
Grant. q Mckinley and 4 Roosevelt.
These have all labored in the cause or
humanity and liberty Just as the
clouds hung heavily over the mine
workers OF this country new star ap-
4 peared to dIsDeI the clouds IN the
miners life This star has not risen
IN the east. but in the west-Joh1s
Mitchell
The first practical miners organiza-
Tion was effected at St Clair, Pa, in
1868, and was known as the Miners
4 Beneficial association 1t entered into
an agreement with the coal conpa MES
and established the three dollar basis
This continued for some years and was
broken by Franklin B. G0wen- From
this tine until 1855, wages were at .
very low ebb until the advent of the
knights Of Labor. when they began to
: iU14OVe until the 1857 strike. which
marked the end Of this organiza ton
This was followed by the United Mine
" orkers OF America. who IN 1899 sue
eeeded in organizing the entire region
The miner in his work requires an
enormous amount of energy The coal
must all be handled a ( least twice. the
slate and impurities picked out and all
work done in foul and vitiated at
noSp here. The miners work Is exceed
ingly dangerous The miner who would
avoid all the dangers which Turk in the
depths Of the mine could never work a
DAY He is constantly subject TO acct
dent and death from gases, explosions
( premature blasts, falling coal props,
break king. cars running away. etc.
The companies made a strenuous ef-
fort to show that the miners were re-
stHicring the output of coal since the
strike. but from the prepOnderance OF
evidence it is shown without cOutradic-
anything like sufficient number of cars
to make anything ike a fair days
wages
The subjects of the weighing of coal.
recognition of the union and the status
of nOnuniOn men are all exhaustiVeiy
handled by Mr.. Mccarthy
In conclusion he said
on account of the great increase in
the cost of living at least q 20 per cent
T increase in wages is imperative With
all the arguments in favor Of the recog-
milton of the union there is none strong
er than the high character Of the min
+ ers' leader John Mitchell has been
through the fire and tested. His hon
esty and sincerity of purpose has never
been questioned He stands out boldly
in his sterling integrity and like the
diamond in the rough the more you rub
it the brighter it shines