The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-09

SHOULD RISE
FROM MIRE
Judge Gray Scores the
Miners Union.
JOHN MITCHELL REPLIES
Takes Exception to Remarks
of the Chairman.
Breeze Occurs In the Hearing Before
the Strike ,Arbitrators-Non-
Unionists Continue to Tell
Tales Of Woe.
JOHN MITCHELL REPLIES

Philadelphia, Jan. s.-President Mitchell
today took exception to a remark made
by Chairman Gray of the coal strike
commission when Judge Gray said that
he would like to see the miners union
come up out OF the mire and into the sun
light.
The miners President said the union
should not be indicted unless a connection
could be shown between it and acts of
iawlessness. The head of the commission
replied that he did not wish to indict the
Organization but hoped 1t would olsen
tangle itself entirely of the violence and
Iawlessness committed during the strike.
The incident came unexpectedly while a
witness. was ON the stand and caused a
stir among the lawyers for both SIDES of
the controversy. Oulslde of this tilt the
entire day was taken up in hearing nom
union men or their relatives, VINO alleged
prosecutions during the strike.
The remarks Of Chairman Gray was
brought about by Commissioner Parker.
Anthony Ferguson OF Mahoney City,
collIery OF the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company, testified that he
was beaten while on his way to the
works. he recognized two Of his assail-
ants as union men, who later were prose-
cuted and convicted.
Mr.. Parker asked the witness IL the
men were expelled from the union for
what they had done, but the foreman did
not know.
Said They Were Expelled.
Mr.. Mitchell had said on the witness
stand that all members Of the union found
guilty of crime were expelled from the
union.
Noting the interest the coupais sIon took
IN Mr.. Parkeris question, the lawyers for
the non-union men called on Terrence
Gingley, member Of the Executive Board
Of the union In the district where the as"
sault was committed. for the information
desired. Gingley said he did not know
whether the local union, to which the
gnen belonged. took any action, and he
went on to give long explanation OF
how the local unions and individual strik-
ers used every means to disperse crowds
and help maintain the peace.
The actions taken by the local unions,
ne said, was principally advisory. He told
of the attempts made to keep the peace
at Shenandoah before the riot there and
added there had been no disturbance un-
III the coal and iron police were sent to
that place.
chairman Gray then asked:
I'D, YOU wait for conviction by the CIV
II authorities before discipling your men2
Do YOU think you can have effective dis
cipline unless you make Investigations
yourself and bring the men up and pun
ish them in some way? / ask you as
- nj who
would be glad to see your order come
TN out of the mire aud the clouds that
are around the baser parts of 1t. into the
sunlight and into the air OF free govern
ment and a free country"
''If It is proved that our men have COM
yn,,ted acts of violence, there is no ques-
tion about our disciplinlng them" replied
the witness.
The Shenandoah Riot.
Then followed a discussion over the
shenandoah riot and the killing OF
man and in reply to Mr.. MitchelPs re-
mark that it was not the miners who did
It. Chairman Gray said, but there was
= crowd and as yet have heard no evil
Nance Of a disciplining voice in that mob
No man there said. Shame on the cow
ards A..
M Darrow-You must not expect the
rsilroad companies to furnish that.
ma witness said the union would prove
tbst union men tried to prevent the riots,
20 which Judge Gray replied he hoped So
There was further discussion on this
suhiect and then Mr.. MltcheH arose ana
said TO Chairman Gray:
s.T 40 MT know whether I quite under
100 Won in expressing yourself to the
.,Jtness as to the solicitude q the order
stat n should arise above the mire. or
80 aert of Il should rise above the
''i -haI-nan Gray-Perhaps I may have
- misunderstood. 1t was not an un-
SrIsndIv wish that was expressed salo
wish II Would lift itself out OF the inlre
and out Of the conditions created by these
things which have been tesuneu To-
around its baser parts. It'll
Mr. Mitchell in reply said that WINE
.ha commission was to determine al tIle
r,,,estions that were presented here tnere
Syas a greater jury passing on the atti-
tude Of the strikers
"Aa TO the action Of our organization
"a tbe position of the coal operators
Sa said there is no doubt in my mino
vat many OF the witnesses are brought
bere and do not come as witnesses ordl-
narily do, to testify against the strikers
"a indirectly against the United Mine
WALKERS. 1t does seem to me that unless
Az 1rnited Mine Workers of America
ava acts OF lawlessness, the organisation
sbonId not be placed Under any lndict-
uent at all.
chairman Gray said that he did not
wish Mr.. Mitchell to understand that any
thing ne had said to indiet the organiza-
II do hope" said Judge Gray, that It
zilI disentangle itself entirely from these
scenes of violence and lawlessness with
Svhich the strike was attended. They
nav have been exaggerated as you con-
tend. I am not passing upon that now.
We have heard isolated instances Of out
rage which we must all admit
The Unions Responsibility.
1--WE are not saying the organization is
reauonsible for every act of violence and
We wanted only 70 see whether the organ
IL alton has interested itself in maintain
ing the order which you have advised.
and whether it has disciplined those who
actually we're convicted Of disorders''
Mr.. Mitchell said - - ass know that