The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-28
S1RIKERS IN JAIL FOR CONTEMPT.
Learn from n Federal Judge in Arkansas
That Injunctions DO Go.

Five members OF a striking labor union at
Deming. Ark. were sentenced by Judge John
H. Rogers on May Is to imprisonment In the
Fort Smith Penitentiary for contempt OF court.
Judge Rogers had granted an injunction for
bidding the strikers to interfere with the
operation OF the DeminG mines.
The Demihg mines are owned and operated
by a Missouri corporation. The miners disre-
Rarded the injunction utterly. They openly
made fun OF it. They said that a United States
injunction was a farce. William Langford.
Thomas Shirley. Len Martin. Burke Douglas
and Perry Jones were detailed. one at Il time.
to assault non-union men on their way to work.
All but Langford were arrested by United
States Marshals and were taken before Judge
Rogers. The miners were confident that tho
entire proceeding was an elaborate bluff. The
strikers who were arrested had gone into
the State courts and had pleaded guilty
TO assaults upon the non-union workmen.
They thought that they could thus evade the
United States jurisdiction and take the penalty
for assault provided by the State law. which.
rs they knew. could be evaded. They had Pc
titioncd the State courts to enIoin the nom
union workmen from taking their places on
the ground that the strikers would be COM
PEELED to interfere with them and that strikes
would result.
The language OF Judge Ro gers in sentencing
the five men has been commented upon in
Western papers for its clearness on the points
regarding which the offending miners seemed
to have been misinforlned. The right Of men
to labor and the right OF a CORPORATION TO carry
on u. legitimate business were guaranteed by
the Constitution of the United States. Judge
Rogers said. He continued:
The men who are at the head OF the union
are to blame. They nre not fit to govern. and
while they have not melted men to deeds OF
lawlessnesS. they countcnanced them by their
actions. me TACT that men commit an assault
and go before q court and plead guilty and are
fined does not relieve them OF the consequences
OF their acts in cases OF this kind. The assault
was an offence against the State. and when
they have been subjected to the penalties pre-
scribed by the State. Their they are responsible
for their cOntumacya and contempt of this court.
The leaders are to blame for much OF this. and
! do not know. but what it is my duty to cite
the President OF that union to answer for con-
tempt without any proceedings being entered
against him. II THE men who it is intended
injunction is n farce; they vii! soon find them
selves mistaken, This court Is not here to en-
gage in farces. 1t is here to administer the law
as It is IHid down: and i is going to perf1rm It's
Government should be brought forward to pro-
tcct the rights OF individuals Whv should the
sovereignty OF the, Stat" he given over TOT
these men, and I am going. TO do it.
much as / regret the necessity. I an
going, to punish them in such a way
that they will bear ia mind that the, injunc-
provisions must be oheyed. lam going to SEN
tonce. ench one Of these men to Tour
months imprisonment in the Federal Jail and
they will lie IN Jail until costs are paid. Lang
ford will b" sentenced to six months In lail
and costs, ana my Marshal in the country is
empowered 70 arrest him and bring him here
for service OF his sentence. The orders of this
court must be ohcycd. and this court is going
to see that they are Ohoycd.'