The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-01-08
BEFORE COAL COURT
Twenty-Five Witnesses Testi-
fy In Philadelphia.
MITCHELL As CROSS EXAMINER.
Men who. Remained mt Work During
the strike Tell of Suncrings and
Persecution-scranto sher-
ID on the Stnnd.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. Twenty
two men, all but one of whom were
employed in and about the coal mines,
appeared before the anthracite coal
strike commission at its first session
n this city and recited the oft told
'ales of persecution they and others
Underwent during the late coal strike
jecause they chose to work rather than
DIN the strikers. The single exception
was Charles ii. Schadt of Scranton,
the sheriff of Lackawanna county, and
his presence on the stand under the
cross examination of President John
Mitchell of the miners union proved
TO be the principal feature Of the days
proceedings.
The sheriff in direct examination
said among other things that he issued
a 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 he or his men arrived; that
be attempted to keep the peace in all
localities and that the disturbances be-
came so numerous and serious that he
had to call on the governor for
troops. He had appealed TO Mr.. Mitch
ell, whom he knew quite well, to assist
in keeping the peace, and the miners
president promised to do So
Sheriff Schadt was then turned over
to the miners for cross examination. To
the surprise of most persons Mr.. Mitch
ell took up the examination. 1t is not
known whether he decided to do so be-
cause his principal attorney, C. S. Oar
row of Chicago, had not arrived from
the west or whether if was because Mr..
Mitchell was personally well acquaint-
ed with the sheriff. 1t was the first
time that Mr.. Mitchell had attempted
cross examination to any extent.
In answer to the questions of the
mine workers leader the Lackawanna
county sheriff said he had employed
about forty or fifty deputy sheriffs and
admitted that they were paid by the
coal companies. Led by Mr.. Mitchell,
he said he could not say that q general
state of lawlessness existed in the coun-
ty, but in answer to another query said
there was a reign of terror In existence
in some localities.
Among other things he said that as a
rule crowds dispersed when he ordered
them so to do and that striking mine
workers whom he knew obeyed his Or
ders the same as other persons. He
also admitted that the second contin-
gent of troops sent into his county was
ordered there without his request
This appeared to satisfy President
Mitchell, and General Wilson took the
witness in hand and asked him why
the county did not pay the deputy sher-
IFS The sheriff replied that the COM
panies had made the request for pro-
lection and counsel for the witness ex-
planned that it was the law of Pennsyl-
vania that the company asking for
protection should pay for it. This ex-
planation rather surprised Chairman
Gray, who, as he Strengthened himself
up in his chair, said: Il am not famil-
lar with such an un-American law.
When the county or the state relin-
quishes the duty of maintaining and
protecting life and property and keep
ing the peace, then they are open to
criticism