Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-06-08
Nineteen Leaders Of United
Mine Workers of America
Indicted as Officers Of Com
bination,
CONSPIRACY CHARGED
IN W. VA. COAL STRIKE
Organized Effort Alleged to
Keep Products Of Paint and
Cabin Creeks Out of Com
petition With Other Fields,


Charleston. ". Va. June S.-prcs- =
dent John r. White and eighteen 9th
Cr officials of the United Mine Work
orH of America. were indicted In the
federal court here today, on charge
of violating the sherman antitrust
law. II is alleged the defendants
cunspired with the coal operators of
western Pennsylvania, Ohlo Indiana
and Illinois, to raise wages In the
West Virginia coal fields 80 as 60 pre-
vent its competition with the other
four states in the western market
Those named In the indictment are;
John NJ. White, president, Frank
j. Hayes. Vice president, Thomas
naggcrty. Jos. Nasey. Jas. Cantrell.
Chas. Hatlcy. Marco Roman. George
II. Edmonds and benjamin r. Nor
rs organizers OF the United Mine
Workers OF American. Thos Cairns.
president. Clarence H. Griffith. vice
president James NJ. CrnEo. secre-
tary of district No. n. United Mine
Workers of America, and Jas. Diana,
John Nutter, Rene Mitchell. W. s.
Recce, =. h. stanley. q. s. Cantley
and A. u. Lavender. subordinate Of
ficers Of district No. H.
The indictment charges that the
nineteen men. affiliated with the
United Mine Workers OF America, did
In Kanawha county West Virginia.
and within the jurisdiction of the fed
eril district court, eHnuge In. COM
hinution and conspiracy in restraint
Of trade and commerce in several
Ways. The onenso Is said Co have
started September /. 1912. and con-
tined since
II is charged that the indicted men
have been agenis and members of IAN
unincorpornted voluntary organiza-
ton Of individuals ~ labor union.
known us the United Mine Workers
of America having many thousands
OF members who eonspired by regu-
lntlng wages, 10 control the price at
which the coal mined Ia the state Of
West Virginia could compete with
coal mined IN Pennsylvania, ohio, In
diana and Illinois.
The indictments returned today are
said TO te the first ever made against
the officials of the United Mine Work
ers of America, charging them with
violating the sherman unti-tfust law.
II WAS commented that the Indictment
comes ut a time when federal legis-
lation Is pending exempting labor un-
ions from the provisions of the Sher-
man law
The Information upon which the in-
dictment is based is sald 90 have been
the result OF an extended probe into
conditions by District Attorney Har-
old a. Ritz. Of Bluefield, w. Va.
The Indicted men, IT s said. will be
summoned into court during the COM
ing week.
The Indictment alleges that coal
produced in West Virginia, especially
Kanaw1a county. Is shipped in CONF
petition with coal mined In other
stntos of the competitive field and
that the contemplated organization
of the West Virginia miners IL to re-
strain the sale Of the West Virginia
aoal In these markets.
II IS further stated that not more
than - per cent OF the output of tho
West virginia fields Is consumed
within the state and the balance is
shipped to other markets.
"Thc object and purpose Of the
mine workers is to fix wages to be
paid to the laborcrs and to refuse to
allow said laborers TO work unless
aid wages are paid the complaint
further reads.
II is charged that the mines in the
states are unloni2ed. dom
mated hy the United Mine Workers
IF America ana the coal operators of
ohio, Indiana and Iil-
inois have entered into a eombina-
ion and conspiracy with the miners
lnion wherein the alleged eonsplra-
ors have agreed to prohibit the coal
mined in West Virginia from onter-
ng the lake markets and Canada.
The alleged conspiracy, il is stated,
ias resulted in much Violence ana
awlesaness nt the mines Of the West
flrginia operators on Paint and Cab
n creeks. Loss of life and destruc-
ion of property nocessitated martial
aw.
The federal grand jury tonight re-
urncd Indictments charging peonage
gainst the w IT, Thomas Coal 4
'okc CO.. w. II. Pritchard superin-
endcnt. and Samuel Taber and VIII
lam Thomas, employees II is charged
he defendants arrested four miners
nd held them TO work out debt.
he coal company operates in Mercer
ounty. West Virginia
MON OFFICER SCOUTS IDEA
or VIOLATION or TRUST LAW