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| Wayne MacVeagh. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, January 15, 1903.
RECOGNITION OF UNION.
Principal Demand Attacked by the Erie Company.
Philadelphia, Jan. 15.—Recognition of the union, which the anthracite coal operators maintain is not an issue before the coal strike commission, was the principal demand attacked by the Erie company in its contest against the claims of the United Mine Workers of America.
Captain W. A. May said that had the region been free from terrorism, he believed the company would have been able to mine coal during the late strike. The company was making progress last September when the terrorism prevented the company from going any further.
Asked what his progress amounted to, he replied that the company had secured from 40 to 50 men out of 2,500 to blow down coal.
The witness then submitted to a long cross-examination on the amount of waste in the loaded mine car brought to the surface. He said it averaged about 21 per cent. Mr. May admitted that some of the foremen of mines were sometimes overbearing and concluded his testimony by stating that he thought $600 a year was a fair American living wage and that he would like to see all of his men earning at least that much [ref: one oz. of gold $20—CC ed.].
Alexander Bryden of Dunmore, a mining engineer, who was for many years superintendent, said the Pennsylvania Coal company gives all its miners an opportunity to earn $3.50 a day. He corroborated the testimony of Superintendent May regarding the lack of discipline since the miners' union came into the field, and also said the earning capacity of the men is restricted by the organization.
Samuel J. Jennings of Forest City a general foreman of the company, said he was able to earn $5 a day as a miner, but on cross-examination said he earned only $60 to $80 a month when he worked as a contract miner. He explained that he was not working full time then.
John F. Gallagher of Mayfield, in charge of three of the Erie's collieries, testified that the steam men went on strike without giving notice, and that he tried operating a colliery without a docking boss. The experiment was not a success.
Patrick Mitchell of Pittston and George M. Maxey of Forest City, both miners, testified that the union was directly responsible for restricting the earning capacity of the miners. Mitchell said he was fined $5 by the union because he worked on the night of the day the breaker did not run. He did not pay it and is now out of the union.
The only explanation he could give was that the union wanted all the men to have an equal distribution of cars. Before the 1900 strike more cars were loaded each day than now. He threatened to dismiss his laborer if he did not load more cars, and the latter replied if he did he could not get another to fill his place. The laborer was not discharged.
Maxey's experience was that a young, strong man was not permitted to send out more coal than an older or weaker man. If he did get 10 or 15 cars ahead of his neighbor he had to stop until the other man caught up. The president of the local union to whom he complained about the matter said it was done so that all men would get an equal amount of work.
Wayne MacVeagh and Major Everett Warren, counsel for the Erie company, expect to conclude their case this afternoon. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western will follow the Erie.
Chairman Gray is expected to attend today's sessions.
MUST GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
Fifty Saloonkeepers of Shenandoah, Pa. Lose Licenses For Harboring Rioters.
Pottsville, Pa., Jan. 15.—Deputy Sheriff Bedell has filed remonstrances against granting licenses to all Shenandoah saloonkeepers who harbored rioters during the strike and as a result more than 50 saloonkeepers there will have to go out of business.
Chief of Police Fry of Shenandoah testified to the court that shots were fired at the officers from these saloons during the riots. In the First ward, where most of the trouble occurred during the strike, it was shown that there were 60 licensed places and only 400 voters.
The court announced that all saloons there were rioting and will be refused licenses.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
Why the Difference?
Niagara Falls is forging ahead with the project to erect and equip a new Young Men's Christian association building. The leading business men of the place have taken the matter up, and a committee of fifteen has been appointed to solicit the necessary funds. Fifty thousand dollars will be raised, and it is expected that there will be no difficulty in securing the necessary amount, as several large sums have been promised and the business men of that city are awake to the advantage of such an institution in their town.
And yet in Cortland the Y. M. C. A. is having a tremendous struggle to keep alive and is even forced to consider the question of closing its doors and disbanding. Why the difference? Is not the Y. M. C. A. quite as valuable to the residents of Cortland as of Niagara Falls and other places where it meets with a cordial and hearty support? A meeting of the directors of the local association and others is to be held Saturday night to consider the future of the association. Unless some is assurance of immediate and continuing support is given the association will disband. Can Cortland afford to permit this? Will not all interested and all who will give financial aid be present or give assurance to some officer or director before that evening that they will aid. If the association disbands it will not be because the officers and directors have not done all they could for its welfare, but because the citizens in general have withheld their support, and upon the community at large will rest the responsibility.
SENTENCED TO ROCHESTER.
A Small Boy Who Cannot be Controlled at Home.
Leon Ballard, 11 years old, son of Dwight Ballard, a truckman who lives on Excelsior-st., was sent to the Rochester Industrial school this morning by City Judge James Dougherty. He was charged with vagrancy and also with being an incorrigible truant by Truant Officer J. R. Birdlebough. The lad's father consented to the commitment in the industrial school.
The youngster is perhaps the cleverest little faker that was ever seen in Cortland. His father stated this morning in court that Leon would not stay at home and that the boy was beyond his control. His method of securing money was to plead dire poverty in his father's family, caused by illness or other things that would be apt to appeal to the person from whom he solicited the money. His innocent, pinched little face aided him in his work. The closest scrutiny of his countenance would reveal nothing but genuine uprightness. He told his stories in a straightforward manner, and generally succeeded in getting money from the people he approached. He had been in school long enough to learn to write, and sometimes he presented orders that were claimed by him to have been written and signed by his step-mother.
The first evidence of the little chap's plan to get money was seen shortly after Christmas. He dropped into The Standard office about 10 o'clock one night and presented a note which was written with a lead pencil on a scrap of read paper. It was as follows:
"Will you let me have 50 cents and I will pea [pay] when Mr. Ballard gets his penchon [pension]. Mrs. Ballard."
On the other side of the paper was this inscription:
''I am sorry to say Mr. Ballard is out of work."
When asked more in detail concerning the order by those at the office the boy said that his mother had sent him to the office for money, as there was nothing in the house to eat and his mother expected company the next day. The lad looked so pleading and he told such a straight story that the amount asked for was given and the lad went away looking happy indeed.
From The Standard office he went to Watson's drug store and asked for 25 cents. He pleaded poverty at that place and told the proprietor that if he failed to get money for his mother she would thrash him when he went home.
At the York barber shop he renewed his application for money upon the ground that his father was ill and that there was nothing in the house to eat. He was told by Mr. Potter that if he was hungry he could go to the bakery with him and get something to eat.
This offer was rejected by the boy on the ground that he wanted money.
Yesterday morning Leon went to Nourse's jewelry store with an order written by him and bearing Mrs. Ballard's name, to secure a silver watch that had been left at that place by his father for repairs. This watch is a silver-cased one and was left at the store two years ago. When asked about the timepiece the boy said that it had been left there some time ago and afterwards remembered that it had been in the store about two years. The order presented was:
"Please send the watch and I will be in next week and pay for it. Send it by the boy. Mrs. Ballard."
This morning Mr. Ballard did not remember that he had left the watch at the store. Mr. Nourse had a memorandum of the transaction, however, and the boy had kept it in mind and was ready to get hold of the watch to make capital of it.
The lad left home last Sunday and his father did not know where he was until yesterday, when it was discovered that he was staying with some boys in the Squires block.
In city court this morning the youngster seemed not a bit disturbed over the matter. He answered all questions by nodding or shaking his head, but that he understood all that was going on was very evident. He will be taken to Rochester tomorrow.
L. C. B. A. INSTALLATION
And Banquet Held in Empire Hall—An Enjoyable Affair.
At a regular meeting of Branch, No. 317, of the Ladies' Catholic Benevolent association held in their rooms in Empire hall last evening, the following officers were installed by Past President Mary Maher:
President—Mary C. Dowd.
First Vice-President—Katharine Ellis.
Second Vice-President—Elizabeth Haben.
Recorder—Elizabeth Quinlin.
Assistant Recorder—Margaret McMahon.
Financial Secretary—Mary E. Maher.
Treasurer—Anna M. Haben.
Marshal—Anna McAuliff.
Guard—Bessie Burns.
Trustees—Margaret Campion, Katharine Otis, Anna Maher.
Board of Appeals—Elizabeth Corcoran, Catherine Colgan, Mary Maher.
At the close of the business meeting occurred the sixth annual banquet of the branch and invited friends. The following menu was served by Caterer McDermott:
Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, spiritual adviser of the branch, was the guest of honor and gave a short address on the good work of the organization. At the conclusion of Father John's remarks the retiring president, Catherine Corcoran, was presented by the branch with a small favor as a mark of their appreciation of her as an executive officer.
Ą program followed, consisting of recitations and vocal and instrumental solos. Music for the banquet was furnished by the Cortland orchestra.
At a late hour the company left for their homes, all feeling that the sixth annual was one of the most enjoyable events since the organization of the Cortland branch.
Eight Day Switch Lights.
The Lehigh Valley R. R. has been making an exhaustive test of a new switch light oil and has found it so satisfactory that it is about to install eight day switch light all along its line. These will burn day and night for eight days and an inspector will only need to visit them once a week to fill them and see that they are all right instead of every day as formerly.
House in Scott Burned.
The house of Daniel Cottrell in Scott was burned to the ground at about 1 o'clock last night. The family escaped and part of the contents of the house was saved, but nothing but ashes remained of the building itself.
No Contagious Disease.
Health Officer Carpenter this morning fumigated the residence on Railway-ave. where there had been a mild case of scarlet fever, the patient having fully recovered. He states that now there is not a single case of any contagious disease of any kind in the city. A pretty good record and a very satisfactory state of affairs.
BREVITIES.
—New display advertisements today are—Bingham & Miller, Clothing sale, page 8: Perkins & Quick, Baking powder, page 7.
—A new trolley line from Ithaca to Geneva is being talked up in Ithaca by a party who claims to represent a company of Boston capitalists.
—The Normal Athletic association will present the farce "Ici on Parle Francais" in Normal hall next Monday night for the benefit of the association.
—The Cortland County [bicycle] sidepath tags for 1903 have been received and will soon be placed on sale. A large "3" proclaims the genuineness of the badge.
—The Standard is indebted to Mr. Benjamin Smith of Cortland, who is spending the winter with his daughter in Chicago, for late copies of the papers of that city.
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