The Elbert County tribune., 1902-07-31
TRIED ron CONTEMPT.
Judge jackson Enforees Injunction
Against Striking Coal Miners.

Hmkersburg. Viva. July 2G.--Judge
Jackson. rendering his decision In the
Mother Jones contempt cases Thurs
day held that all the defcndnnts had
violated the injunction and were guilty
OF contempt OF court. The opinion
supported the right OF tie courts to use
Injunction and the right OF laborcrs to
work when they wish to do so, without
interference from organized labor or
any other source.
Judge Jackson In his decision said:
While ] recognize the right for all
l-lnborers TO combine for the purpose Of
protecting all their lawful rights. do
not recognize the right of laborers to
conspire together TO compel employees
who are not dissatisfied with their
work In the mines to lay down their
picks and TO quit their work. without a
just or proper reason therefor. merely
to crafty professional set OF agita-
tors. organizers and walking delegates
who roam all over the country as
agents for some combination. who are
vampires that live and fatten on the
honest labor OF the coal miners Of the
country, and who are busybodies, ere
ntlng dissatisfaction among a class OF
people who are quiet. well disposed
and who do not want to be Disturbed
by the unceasing agtafion OF this
class OF people. i.t
"In the case we have under consider
alton these defendants are known as
professional agitators organizers and
walking delegates. They have nothing
In common with the people who are
employed In the mine of the Clarks-
burg Fuel Company fN
The strong arm of the court of
equity Is Invoked In this case. not to
suppress the right OF free speech. but
to restrain and inhiblt these defend.
ants, whose only purpose is 10 bring
about strikes by trying TO coerce peo
pie who are not dissatisfied with the
terms of their employment, which re-
suits in inficting injury and damage to
their employers ns well as TO the cni
ployes,"
: The court then referred to @"Afotlper''
Jones' speech near the Kinnikinnlck
mines, saying her utterances were tic
oufgrowtii OF the sentiments Of those
who believe In communism and am
archy.
"The evidence shows that Mother
Jones called the miners slaves; said
she did not care anything for injunc'
tions; that IT was duty to urge the
men at work TO lay down their tools
and advise the men to strike; that the
judge was hireling OF the coal com
pany and the coal operators were all
robbers. She said In her speech to
pay no attention to Judge Jackson oi
to the court. but just make the miners
lay down their tools and come out
''It Is true" says the court, that
Lot fah nf "a
of the witness. but her de
NAL was not positive. but equivocal"
Judge Jackson suspended judgment
in the case Of Mother Jones for con
tempt. He said that she has been
found guilty of contempt but as she
was posing us Il martyr, he would moi
send her to jail. or allow her to force
her way into jnil." He said he would
hold conviction over her and If she
violated the injunction he would sen
tence her heavily.
Thomas Haggerty got ninety days
and five other got sixty days each In
the Parlsersburg JAN. The Hungarians
declared they had not understood the
Injunction and were released upon the
promise not to violate 1t again. Ane
Austro- Hungarian consul at New York
vas here to represent them. Including
some arrested later, there were twenty
four Hungarians released in the sam,
manner.
There was intense interest shown by
everyone as Judge Jackson earnestly
read his decision. Mother" Jones was
surrounded by the other defendants
and Vice President Lewis of the United
Mine Workers was present with them
The defendants were surprised win
both the decision and the sentiments
and expressed themselves bitterly.