The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-09
COAL INQUIRY
NEAR AN end
Argument For and Against the
Miners Demands Will Oc-
cupy Six Days.
Mr.. Mccarthy Makes the Opening
Talk in Favor Of the
Miners.
President Baer Is on Hand-He
Will Make an Address
Wednesday.

Fnlladelphld, FEB. 9.-ArSunent for and
against the demands Of the urioi anthla-
cite mine workers, which will confirm; be.
fore the coal strike commission for the
mex six days, was begun to-day when the
miners. through Daniel j. Mccarthy Of
Hasleton, mada the opening talk Mr..
Mccarthy was followed by former Con-
sfessmai Bru nm of Mi1ersviiie WHO
made general argument, and by Henry
Den al est Lloyd of Lhicago, VINO ccnf1aed
his efforts to the question Of recognition
of the union and of yearly trade agree
ments.
The operators will begin their argument
to morrow. continuing three days and
closing with George F. Raer, president Of
the Reading company.
Then Clarence S. Darrow Of Chicago,
the principal counsel for the miners, will
take up all Of Friday and Saturday until
adjournment In summing up the case and
in answering President Baer.
President Mitchell Of the miners union
is expected here during the week.
Whether he will address the commissions
depends upon developments.
Baer Is on Deck.
Owing to the late arrival Of some of the
commissioners, the session was not
opened until 1890 o'clock. Among those
in the courtroom was President George f.
Baer of the Reading company. With the
exception of the opening day in Washing
ton last October, it is his only visit to the
commissions hearings so far. The only
other head of a coal company who hereto
fore attended the session was E. 3.
Thomas, formerly chairman of the Erie
company, but now president of the Lehigh
Valley railroad. He was present at some
of the hearings in Scranton. AS soon as
the hearing opened Mr. Mccarthy began
his argument. He prefaced his address
with a little personal history, during which
he said he went into the mines al the age
of years and was familiar with the in
dustry and all the labor troubles in the
coal regions since 1868. Mr.. Mccarthy
said.
Plea for the Miners.
America has been history making
nation since the declaration Of independ-
ence. The age in which we live is the
most progressive the world has ever
| known. Rapid development has been
made i'll every branch Of science and in
dustry. Not only along scientific and in
dustrial lines has progress been made but
also along sociological lines The condi-
ton of mankind Is steadily improving,
because of this phenomenal development,
| yet this development causes the condi-
tons which now confronts us. In all
ages there have been times when it be-
came necessary to redress certain griev-
| ances and wrongs and it always seems as
though providence provided the proper in
| strument at the proper time to accomp-
| lish the desired result. We find a Moses
| to deliver the people of Israel we find a
Napoleon; we finds a Washington, a Lin
| coin, Grant. a Mckinley, and a Roose-
! welt. These have all labored in the cause
of humanity and liberty. Just as the
clouds hung heavily over the mine work
ers Of this country q. new star appea red
| III the armament to dispel the clouds and
admit a ray Of light into the miners life
| This star has not risen in the east but in
| the west-John Mitchell.
THE first practical miners organiza ton
was effected at st. Clair Pa, in 1868 and
| was known as the miners beneficial asso-
| clatton. 1t entered into an agreement
| with the coal companies and established
the three-dollar basis. This continued for
some years and was broken by Franklin
| B. Gowen.
From this time until 1885 wages were
at very low ebb until the advent of the
! knights of Labor when they began to
| improve until the 1887 strike which
marked the end Of this organization This
was followed by the United States Mine
Workers of America who in 1900 succeed
ed IN organizing the entire region.
THE miner in his work requires an
enormous amount of energy The coal
must all be handled at least twice, the
slate and impurities picked out and all
work done in a foul atmosphere. The
miners work is exceedingly dangerous.
| Inc miner VINO would avoid all the dangers
which lurk in the depths of the mine
SHOULD never work a day. He is con-
stantly subject to accident and death from,
gases, gas explosions, powder explosions.
premature blasts, falling coal, props break
ing. cars running away, etc.
The companies made strenuous effort
to show that the miners were restricting
the output of coal since the strike but
from the preponderance of evidence in this
case it is shown without contradiction
that the miners could not secure anything
like a sufficient number Of cars to make
anything like a fair days wages
The subjects Of the weighing Of coal.
recognition of the union and the status
of non-union men were all exhaustfye1y
handled by Mr.. Mccarthy. In conclusion
the attorney said:
ION account of the great increase in the
cost Of living at least a 20 per cent in
crease in wages is imperative. With ali
[ the arguments in favor of the recognition
of the union there is none stronger than
the high character of the miners leader
John Mitchell has been through the fire
and has been tested. His honesty and sin
cerity Of purpose has never been ques-
I toned