The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-17

by the workers was fixed at six. After
the union came into the field the limit
was reduced to four cars. s..~ - p; ..~s
John Aitken, outside district Esuperin-
tendent of the Scranton Coal company,
testified that the miners are more in
clined to disobey orders since the advent
of,the union. The Delaware. Lackawanna
& Western Railroad company followed
with a statement by John D. Wilson, their
counsel. -.
|. T.. The Lackawanna's Reply.
The Delaware, Lackawanna & West
ern Railroad company will show that the
mine employees of our company prior to
the strike of 1900 were -contented; that the
relations of employer and employe were
amicable and friendly to a marked de-
gree; that repeated conferences have
taken place between the officials Of our
company and its employees in which any
matters at variance between them have
been adjusted without friction; and that
the employees have always received wages
commensurate with their duties and re-
sponsibilities. fl -: =. 4 - 49,
1--WE will show that since the strike of
1900 and the advent of unionism 1T has
been extremely difficult to maintain dis
cipline; that our company has still. con-
tinued to follow out q course of treat
ment of it's employees along humane lines
and has endeavored at all times to pro-
mote the interests of all concerned. We
believe and think we can show that at
least 80 per cent of our employees voted
against the Inauguration, of the recent
strike, and that when such, strike took
place our employees suspended work, not
by reason of any grievance or fault with
either their hours of labor or, the rate of
remuneration, but by reason Of the fear
born within them that if they failed to
submit to the dictation Of the officials of
no Cd hS'
and traitors and their wives and fam
lilies ostracized and their lives made bur-
densome. We will show that the av-
erage number of hours spent by contract
miners in the mines have'not been exoes-
sive and in fact that they. have been less
| than the hours for which they ask
through Mr.. Mitchell.
The system of payment in. vogue by
our company is one which has been tried
and proven: for a great number Of years
and has resulted we believe and shall
show, In the adoption of such methods, as
secure q, just equivalent of wages in re-
turn for labor performed. We pay on tn
car basis. This system is eminently fair
and equitable. ,...3.,| ~ 49, .Es-r,--,,, ga
1--WE feel justihed in denying in the
strongest terms possible that the mine
workers have proven. specifically Upon
the. witness stand any of the complaints
which they have heretofore alleged ex-
listed against our company in common
with other anthracite mine operators, and
that any disagreement has at any time
! taken place between this company and
it's employees such as would warrant any
foundation for any part Of such COM
plaint.'' ;.'
Mitchell on LaWIessness.
The hour of adjournment having az
| rived, Mr.. Mitchell asked to be permitted
L~ ~,~1r- e.. -
| mission adjourned until Monday. He said
| that this would probably be the last SEES
sion he would be able to attend because
| next week he would be in Indianapolis
attending the session Of the national con-
vention Of the mine workers. He thanked
| the commission for it's efforts so far and
| said the conduct of the investigation had
been entirely satisfactory to the mine
| workers. He said that a, large time of the
| commission had been taken up in hearing
| testimony on alleged lawlessness in the
coal regions during the strike, and that
the non-union men brought here were
used for a double purpose. They were
put in the mines to destroy the miners
| case before the commission. He person
ally bore no ill-will toward the men who
testified as to the lawlessness, or malice
| toward the men who took strikers places
| He was against lawlessness. The Amer
| lean people did not believe in lawlessness
and he felt sure they would not support
any body Of men who committed it.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke Of the efforts Of the
miners to produce all the coal they can
His reports from the coal regions were
| to the effect that the men are not being
! supplied with cars rapidly enough to take
up all the coal the miners cut.
4. Why Not Use the Idle Men.
Major Everett Warren. one of the law
yers for the operators interrupted Mr.
Mitchell to say that he ought to bring
proof of his assertions that there is
scarcity of cars. ~ 100. - ..--a....gs
The miners president closed by stating
that 5000 men who were on strike hav
been refused work and are still idle The,
are impatient for work and that If tn
companies are" anxious to relieve the dis
tress produced by the coal famine let tn
operators take back these men, &