Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-02-14
ATTACKS. MINERS UNION
]. T. Lenahan, Speaking For Non
Men, Makes Sensational Address.
JAMES H. ToRREY ALSO SPOKE

outrages and Lays Blame at Door
of Miners Union-Operators Lawyer
Presented Objections to Union.
Philadelphia, Feb. 1.-THE United
Nine Workers of America as an or
ganization was severely scored yester-
day by counsel before the anthracite
coal strike commission. The non-union
men, through their attorney, John T.
Lenahan, presented their side of the
controversy and demanded considera-
ton at the hands of the commission.
claiming the legal right to earn live
hhood as they might elect, without the
consent or dictation of the union.
James H. Torrey, counsel for the
Delaware and Hudson Company, claim
ed that the question of recognition of
She union was not an issue before the
commission, but he devoted consider
able time to the consideration of that
demand.
Major Everett Warren, counsel for
the Hillside Coal Company, answered
the demands of the miners in detail
and declared the Socialistic theories
OF the union or some of its leaders to
be responsible for unreasonable claims.
z Mr.. Lenahan's Address.
Mr.. Lenahan said in part:
Gentlemen of the COMMISSIONED Is
source of congratulation to the
whole country that so abiding is the
confidence of all the parties to this
controversy in the personnel OF this
Commission that, no matter what your
judgment may be, it will meet with
approval even by those on whom it
bears most hard. / am here asking
Mt your hands a redress for those
wrongs to which deaf ear has been
turned by the ordinary courts Of JUS
dce. We have been denounced as
traitors and as allies; and on what
ground, may it please this commission?
We never vowed allegiance to this or
ganization. We never owed it fealty.
We repudiated its doctrines; we dis
claimed its principles, and we con-
uemned its practices. And it is be-
cause we, in the exercise of our ina
ienable rights as citizens Of this coun-
try, refuse cooperation with them,
that we are to be stamped as traitors,
outlaws and outcasts?
Now, gentlemen of the commission.
to this commission. The first PROPOSE
ton is that crime was committed. and
that this crime was the result of the
acts of this organization. The second
is that a citizen of the United States
mas a right to sell his labor to whom
Soever or at whatsoever price he sees
mt. The third proposition is that no
finding of this commission shall be
made which shall cause this organiza-
uon, either through its individual
members or as a body, TO make con-
tracts which shall bind us.
Addressing myself now to the first
proposition, l stand here to arraign
the miners organization as guilty of
almost every crime known in the cata-
logue OF offenses. We have proven the
crime; and with equal certainty, in
many instances, we have proven the
identity of the culprit. What are
these crimes? Murder-four foul muir
ders And say the gentlemen, these
murders count for naught because ii
was announced by some irresponsible
party that 81 murders were perpe
trated.' What else have we shown
here? We have shown the house
burning in the dead hour of the night.
What else? Here in this room it
was declared, under the solemnity of
an oath, undenied and undisputed, that
the right OF sepulchre was denied to a
man because he thought fit to work.
The hate and vindictiveness Of this
organization pursues not alone the liv-
ing, but it cannot me satiated in its
vengeance upon the corpse Of the
dead.
And who were the perpetrators of
these offenses? Who were they, up-
der the undisputed evidence OF this
case? Union men. Men allied in SYM
pathy, men allied in membership with
the organization. And what steps have
been taken since to declare on the
part of this organization its protest
against this crime this high crime
The highest crime known to the laws
OF Pennsylvania? The only answer is
we have taken no steps because we
are awaiting what? Because we are
waiting the judgment of the tribunal
OF the law in the county of Lacka-
wanna
"Of what avail are the courts of
Justice of the anthracite region to the
poor lnonensive, and unoffending non
union MANI"
Mr.. Lenahan then proceeded to de-
scribe other alleged outrages, layiny
the blame at the door of the Miners
Union. In conclusion, he said:
we trust that the declaration that
will come forth from this commission
will be such as will teach the United
Mine Workers that the laws of this
land must be obeyed; that their in
traction will be visited with punish
ment alike upon the leader and the
lowly member; and that no mitigation
OF sentence will be made or urged in
their behalf; that they shall staad
alike and equal at the criminal bar
there to receive the Judgment of the
law for these crimes that they have
perpetrated against that law"
James n. Torrey's Address.
James II. Torrey counsel for tbo