New-York tribune., 1919-12-05
Jury to Bare
Law Breaking
In Coal Strike
Federal Panel Is Called to
Consider Charges That
Conspiracy Was Formed
by Operators and Miners

Special CorresDcndence
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. A sweeping
investigation of alleged lawlessness
in the coal industry in the United
States, both by operators and United
Miners, will be made by the United
States government, the fundamental
purpose being to determine whether
this is a government of law or a
group of men,"
Judge A. B. Anderson, of the United
States District Court, to-day called a
special session of the Federal Grand
Jury to meet Monday morning at 10
o'clock to investigate alleged violations
of the Lever fuel control law and the
Sherman antitrust law, whether on
the part of the members of the United
Mine Workers of America or the BIZ
luminous coal operators.
The grand Jury was called primarily
to investigate the operators, but it's
investigation also will cover the min
will be countrywide.
Collusion TO Be Charged
public statement explaining the
scope of the investigation was issued
by L. Ert Slack, United States District
Attorney, and Dan W. Simms, special
assistant, appointed to look after the
enforcement of Judge Andersons in
junction against the striking miners.
The purpose of the government is
summed up in the following para
graphs from the statements
I'VE shall not only insist that the
coal operators are in league with the
miners to violate the Lever act, but
we SHALL further insist that the coal
operators themselves have combined
and conspired to violate the criminal
provisions of the antitrust acts passed
by Congress, and that they have vio-
lated such provisions.
"A most thorough, sweeping and
searching investigation will be made
by this grand jury, and all violators,
whether they be miners, mine officers,
operators or dealers, will be brought
to book.
"The time has come, it is here now.
10 have it determined whether or not
the government of this country rules
or whether lawless people shall have
their way, whether this is a govern
mens of law or of group of men,"
Union Leaders Arrested
Some OF the leaders of the United
wine w OrkerS OF America were ar
rested to-day on the charge of criminal
contempt in violating the injunction of
Judge Anderson and appeared in the
United States Marshal's Office and gave
bond.
1t is stated that the determination
to summon the grand jury came as
result Of disclosures in the proceed
ings against officials of the United
Mine Workers of America, which pro-
ceedings tended to show that the coal
operators, as we'll as the mine union
officials, were engaged in a conspiracy
to violate the Lever act. About two
weeks ago the government instructed
agents of the Bureau of Investigation
to look into alleged violations of the
Sherman antitrust law by the opera
tors.
Violation of the provisions of the
Lever act is punishable by a fine Of
not to exceed $4,000, or imprisonment
in the penitentiary not to exceed two
years, or both. 1t is declared in the
statement issued by Mr.. Slack and
Mr.. Simms that the government pur-
poses to insist that such violators
shall suffer the penalty as provided
by the law.
John L. Lewis, acting president of
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