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| Clarence S. Darrow. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, February 13, 1903.
DARROW'S ARGUMENT.
Miners' Chief Counsel Commenced Summing Up.
BEGAN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
Will Take Up All of Today's Session. Says Miners Will Gladly Accept Mr. Baer's Late Offer if Advance is Based on Operators' Statement of Present Earnings.
Philadelphia, Feb. 13.—Before an audience that filled a every inch of space in the United States circuit court room, President George F. Baer of the Reading company made his closing argument for the coal operators before the strike commission and Clarence S. Darrow, chief of the counsel for the miners, began the summing up for the men.
The greatest interest was manifested in Mr. Baer's appearance before the commission to plead the case of the mine owners. There were many prominent persons present to hear him, among them being President Truesdale of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad; Archbishop Ryan, judges of the federal and local courts, state senators, and many mining officials from the coal regions.
Mr. Baer concluded his address by making a proposition to pay the contract miners on the sliding wage scale, their wages to fall or rise with the market price of coal at New York but that in no case shall the wages fall below the present basis. The spokesman for the coal companies took up two hours and 29 minutes in delivering his address, and when he sat down he was congratulated by hundreds of persons.
Mr. Darrow spoke at the afternoon session for two hours and a half, and will take up all of today in closing the miners' case.
Wage Statements Unreliable.
The crowd that heard him was equally as large as that which listened to Mr. Baer and he, too, was surrounded by an admiring throng when he temporarily suspended his speech at adjournment time. His remarks were directed principally at the wage statements presented to the commission which, he said, could not be relied on.
Mr. Darrow in opening made a complimentary reference to the patience of the commission, reviewed the strike and all the sufferings it entailed, and said:
"I shall apologize for none of the mistakes of the men, but I do say it does not come with grace from their accusers to call them criminals."
Mr. Darrow went on to tell of the operators refusing to give the men more money, and said:
"As a consequence of this act, 147,000 men lay down their tools of trade and we have seen 750,000 men, women and children reduced to want and starvation for six long months. We have seen the president of the United States appoint the commission to settle the difficulty and then this afternoon, in the last hours of the proceedings, the man more responsible than any other comes before this commission and says we will do exactly that which these men demanded nine months before and which they in their blindness, their ignorance and their stupidity refused.
"Why did not Mr. Baer go to Mr. John Mitchell nine months ago as he came to this commission today?
"You can do just as you please about recognizing the union. If you do not recognize it, it is because you are blind and you want to bump against it some more; that is all. It is here to stay, and the burden is on you and not upon us. There is neither the power nor the disposition in this court, I take it, to destroy the union, and if these agents of the Almighty cannot see the union they had better blunder along still a few more years, and possibly after a while they will know it is here and recognize it themselves."
Passing to the wage statements handed to the commission, Mr. Darrow said the operators have been deceived by their own accountants, and that when Mr. Baer informed the senators of this state, the president of the United States and the commission of how much wages his men were getting, he gave them information at least 30 or 40 or 50 per cent beyond any facts that really existed.
Will Be Glad to Take Offered Raise.
"If at the end of all this time and labor, he is willing to give us five or 10 per cent upon the figures that he says correctly represent our earnings, we will be very glad indeed to take it. From the beginning of this strike until the end, whatever you may say about whether the miners knew what they were getting or not, these operators have never given out a correct figure or made a statement that would stand the light of day for a single moment when they talked to the public."
Counsel then spoke of the skill required by the anthracite miner and the dangerousness of his occupation. He brought in review the crippled and blind miners who took the witness stand and called the commission's attention to the fact that six out of every thousand are killed in the mines each year.
"Five hundred dollars a year is a big price for taking your life and your limbs in your hand and going down into the earth and dig up coal to make somebody else rich," he said. "I have had a computation made covering every company that has filed schedules with this commission and in Mr. Baer's company only about a third of the men got over $400 in the year 1901."
Speaking of the alleged fact that 58 per cent of the Reading's men received only $300 a year Mr. Darrow exclaimed:
"God knows that the conditions in this country and in this mining region are not so bad that men will be content to sit down and earn $300 a year."
Counsel then analyzed the statements of the other companies and said that as near as he could make it out the figures were at least 10 to 15 per cent too high, and said the wages paid by the Reading were the lowest in the region.
Turning to the mine laborers he said more than five out of every thousand are killed every year "to say nothing of the maimed and the crippled and the blind who are turned out under the beneficent laws of the state of Pennsylvania to the alms houses and highways and by ways, because no man can recover in this state, and I say it advisedly that I believe there is not another state in the union where it is as difficult to recover as in this commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
In discussing the child labor question, Mr. Darrow said:
"If the work of this commission does not result in getting rid of this abominable, disgraceful evil in Pennsylvania, then I think the people may well say that it has been a failure. You may not get rid of it at once, but no man ever lived that could make an excuse for it. This custom has grown up in the state of Pennsylvania because there is money in it and the industries of Pennsylvania are dependent upon it. The evidence in this case shows that every single one of these industries is run by the labor of these children.
"When these railroad presidents are finally called to book [sic] before the president of the United States, one of them shed tears because the United Mine Workers allowed these boys to join their organization, because as it was claimed they taught these poor babes doctrines of anarchy and disobedience to law. This railroad president shed tears because the United Mine Workers were spoiling the souls of these poor children, and yet he was willing to take the earnings of these poor children, that he and his family might be richer because of their toil.
"These babes know their friends. There is not one of these children, ignorant though he may be, yet not one of them so lost to natural instincts that he does not know who loves him. There is not one that would not run from a railroad president to the open arms of John Mitchell; and they are right. I have no doubt the railroad president loves children. Neither have I any doubt that the wolf loves mutton. These men make a living out of these children; the little children get $165 a year."
Mr. Darrow quoted the late Abram S. Hewitt to the effect that during the Molly Maguire days he found men in the anthracite region "living like pigs and dogs under wretchedly brutal conditions," and then took up the famous order of the union for the steam men to strike, and closed by saying:
"If these gentlemen were stupid enough to let their mines fill up with water rather than grant this eight hour day, all right. But keep still about it. After you have done it, the more you talk of it the more contemptible it makes you look in the eyes of all men who think."
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| President Theodore Roosevelt. |
Indians Visit the President.
Washington, Feb. 13.—A delegation of distinguished Indian chiefs, headed by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces, and including Andrew John, a Seneca of New York, called upon the president, The Indians, robed in gorgeous blankets, were introduced to the president by General Leonard Wood and Colonel Scott, both of whom had campaigned against Chief Joseph in the West. The president gave his callers a cordial reception and delighted them immensely by inviting them to attend the army and navy reception at the White House as his guests. The Indians are in Washington to look after certain legislation pending before congress in which they are interested.
Professor Jenks Goes to Mexico.
Ithaca, N, Y., Feb. 13,—Professor J. W. Jenks of Cornell university has been invited by the Mexican government to go to Mexico to consult with the authorities there regarding the establishment of a new monetary system. The trustees have granted Professor Jenks leave of absence for one month, and he will leave for Mexico March 1.
A COMMUNICATION.
Some Pertinent Questions Asked of the Truxton Town Board.
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir: As town meeting approaches I and the merits of various candidates' are being discussed the question of our town expenses seems to have the most important bearing upon the result.
In looking over the abstracts of the several towns in the Supervisors' Journal in 1902 it will be found that with but one exception (Cortlandville) the town expenses of Truxton exceed any other town in the county by a large amount. With a tax ratio of nearly $3 on $100 the taxpayers have become dissatisfied and they now demand their rights.
The town board is being much criticized and justly too for the manner in which they have conducted the business of the town for the past few years.
Extravagant charges have been made. Bills have been audited and allowed which seem never to have been itemized or verified.
Why should the town law, Sec 167, page 186, Supervisors' Journal of 1902, have been disobeyed?
From the abstracts in the Journal of 1902 one is unable to obtain the true state of affairs as accounts audited and allowed by the town board have been omitted from the town abstracts in the Journal. Was this done in order that the taxpayers might be deceived?
For the benefit ot the taxpayers of Truxton a more complete explanation is required of the town board as regards several bills that have been audited and allowed.
For example: The bill of the supervisor. We find upon examination of his bill filed in the town clerk's office and audited by the town board that he was allowed $303.83 while the abstract in the Journal (No. 3 , page 159) gives only $203.93. From what fund and by what authority did he receive the difference in amount $100, which on his bill he credits by draft Oct. 23, 1902? Why was it omitted from the Journal? Was it in order that the taxpayers might he again deceived? Why should the claimant of this bill be an exception to all others, not being required to itemize or verify his accounts?
Will Mr. O'Donnell explain why the money (highway) was not deposited at Muller & Son's bank as instructed by the board and save the town expense of $3 to settle with bank at Cortland?
Will the town board explain why bills audited Nov. 7, 1901, were again audited and allowed Nov. 6, 1902?
Many other items similar to the above might be given which for lack of space we omit.
At the town meeting Tuesday the interest of the taxpayer is paramount and it rests with each individual voter to do his duty by going to the polls and casting his ballot for men who are interested in the welfare of the town.
Do you want the affairs of this town to continue as in the past? If not, go to the polls and vote the straight Republican ticket which if elected will give the town a clean administration. It remains with the tax payers to bring about this much needed reform and we urge every voter, whether Republican or Democrat, who has the welfare of the town at heart to come to the polls on town meeting day and cast his ballot on the side of right and justice.
A Taxpayer.
Truxton, N. Y., Feb. 12, 1903.
NEW PASSENGER STATION
To be Built at Homer—Surveyors Taking Measurements.
Surveyors of the Lackawanna railroad have been in Homer today taking measurements preparatory to the building of a new passenger station about twice the size of the former one. It is said that the station will be a fine one and an ornament to the town.
DEATH OF H. C. HOWLAND.
A Long Time Resident of McLean Widely Known and Respected.
Mr. Henry C. Howland died this morning at 2 o'clock at his home in McLean, of pneumonia and heart disease, after an illness of five weeks. His age was 71 years and 2 months. From the first his sickness was severe, and but little hope was entertained for his recovery, although he rallied at times and for a while seemed to grow better, only to have a nervous relapse.
Mr. Howland had long been a resident of McLean, having lived in the house in which he died for over forty years, and was well known, not only in McLean and vicinity, but in Cortland as well, where he had many friends. He was honored and respected by all who knew him for his sterling honesty and loyal friendship. He was every inch a man.
Besides a wife, he leaves two children, Mrs. Hattie M. S. Steele of McLean, and Mrs. W. H. Mineah of 72 Prospect-st., Cortland, three sisters and two brothers, three of whom reside in Ohio.
The funeral services will be held from the Universalist church of McLean, of which the deceased was a regular attendant, next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the pastor, Rev. U. S. Milburn, officiating.
TO BUILD A HOTEL.
Sig. Sautelle to Conduct one at Lake View—Good Fishing.
Sig. Sautelle, showman, hotel keeper and dealer in real estate in general, has now purchased of Charles S. Rowe the site of Lake View hotel, 6 miles from Cincinnatus. The hotel, which burned three years ago, will be rebuilt this summer by Mr. Sautelle, who will conduct it as a summer house. The place is pleasantly located near a small lake, in which is excellent fishing. He will put up a substantial 40 or 50 room building.
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| Julia E. Hyatt. |
A PARLOR SOCIAL
At Mrs. Hyatt's—Auspices of W. C. T. U. and Political Equality Club.
A parlor social will be held at the home of Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt, 182 South Main-st., Monday evening, Feb 10, under the auspices of the Political Equality club and the W. C. T. U. A fine program has been prepared and all interested are cordially invited to attend.
The W. C. T. U. takes this opportunity to thank the ministers of Cortland for presenting the petition against Sunday baseball and golf games and also against opening the saloons on Sunday. The congregations representing a membership of over 3,000 unanimously responded by a rising vote, thus signifying their opposition to any law that would allow Sunday games or legalize the sale of liquor on Sunday. Cortland is to be congratulated in having pastors who are so bravely meeting the issues of the day and are always ready to cooperate in anything to advance Christ's kingdom. Committee
BREVITIES.
—Cornell university dropped 122 students at the mid-year just past for failing to keep up their work.
—The city clock, which has been exceedingly steady for many months, balked last night at 9:22 o'clock.
—New display advertisements today are—G. H. Wiltsie, Saturday specials, page 6; Perkins & Quick, Borated Talcum powder, page 5.
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