By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did they state in what respect the agreement had not been carried out by the companies after 1872?
A. They did, sir; in the interview with Brisbin they did very clearly. It was in regard to the pro rata reduction. I didn't take interest enough in it to explain it to you thoroughly, sir. It was a matter between them more. While it was at my office, and the parties were got together at my suggestions, I was there during the whole time, but the matter was more immediately for them to discuss, as I didn't consider it my place to take any part in the discussion, and did not.
Q. What did you ascertain subsequent to the conflict of the 1st of August? What did you find out about the cause that induced that assemblage at the silk-works?
A. They were called together, as I understood, to hear the report of this committee of eighteen.
Q. In the interview with you, did the committee of eighteen state what their purposes or objects were for the future?
A. On this Sunday interview?
Q. Yes?
A. Nothing more than they believed that the companies had been cutting down their wages too much, that they had been extravagant in the management of corporations, that it had come a time for retrenchment, and the retrenchment was all coming over on them as laborers, that they believed they could, by a proper way of disposing of their coal and so on—they had some grievances in regard to that—that better wages could be paid.
Q. Did they intimate about what they intended to do?