The San Francisco call., 1903-01-09
ACCUSES MINERS
Of LAWLESSNESS
Coal Strike Inquiry De-
velops Spirited
Encounter.
Chairman Gray.and President
Mitchell Clash Regarding
Violence Used.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. S.-The prin-
opal feature Of the hearing before the
coal strike commission to-day was the
exception taken by President Mitchell 10
q remark made by Chairman Gray that
he would like TO see the Miners Union
come I'D out of the mire that is arounI
The baser part Of il into the sunlight. The
Miners Union president said that the
uion should not be indicted unless
connection should be shown between it
ana the acts OF lawlessness. The head Of
the commission replied that he did not
wish to indict the organization. but he
hoped it would disentangle itself. espe-
ciaIy from the violence and lawlessness
committed during the strike The Incl
dent came suddenly while a witness was
Upon the stand and caused quite a stir
among the lawyers on both sides Of the
controversy. Outside of this the entire
cay was taken up in hearing the stories
oI nOn-union men or their relatives of
alleged prosecutions during the period OF
The strike.
The Mitchell incident was brought
sbout by Commissioner Parker Anthony
Ferguson Of ALahanoy City outside fore
man ar the North Mahanoy colliery Of
the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
ea while on his way TO the works; that
he recognized two Of his assailants as
union men and that they were prosecuted
and convicted. Mr. Parker asked the
witness II the men were expelled from the
union for what they had done, but the
foreman did not know. Mr.. Mitchell had
stated upon the witness stand that all
members Of the union found guilty of
crimes are expelled from the union.
Noting the interest the commission took
ia Mr.. Parker's question. the lawyers for
the nOn-uniOn men called on Terrence
Ginley. a member Of the executive board
OF the union in the district where the as
sault was committed. for the information
desired Giuley said he did not know
whether the local union to which the men
belonged took any action and he went on
10 give long explanation Of how the To-
cal unions and Individual strikers used
every means 10 oisperse crowds and help
TaiItain the peace. The action taken by
the local union. he said. was principally
advisory. He told Of the attempts made
u keep the peace At Shenandoah before
the biz riot there and added that there
had been no disturbance until the coal
and iron police were sent to that place.
Chairman Cray asked:
DO you wait for conviction by the civil
authorities before disciplining your men?
DO YOU think you can have effective dis
CipliEe unless you make Investigations
yourself and bring the men up and pun
ish them in some way? / ask you, as a
member Of the order and as a man who
would be glad to see your order come out
o. the mire that IS around the baser parts
Of il into the sunlight and into the air OF
free government and a free country"
IF il is proven that our men have com
nlitted acts Of violence there is no ques-
ton about our disciplning them" replied
The witness.
Then followed a discussion over the
Shenandoah riot and the killing Of a man.
In reply to Mr- MitchelTs remark that il
was not the miners who did II, Chairman
Gray said:
But there was a crowd and as yet l
have heard no evidence of a disciplining
voice in that mob No man said. Shame
on The cowards,
Mr.. Darrow-YOu must not expect the
railroad companies 10 furnish that
The witness said the union would prove
that union men tried TO prevent the riots.
To which Judge Gray replied that he
hoped so. There was a further discussion
on this subject and then Mr.. Mitchell
arose and said TO Chairman Gray: