The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-06
UNION OFFICIALS
ARE FACING CHARGES

MIL HOIuU oUHUQhU
Indianapolis, Dec. 3.-The United
States government today again in
roked the powers OF the federal
courts in an effort to end tte strike
Of 400, 900 bituminous coal miners Of
the country.
information charging criminal con-
tempt Of court was flied in the Unit
ell States district court here against
81 individual and district officers of
the United Mine Workers &C America
named in the court injunction issued
after the strike was called and ca
phases requiring their appearance TO
answer the charges were issued late
today. It is alleged that all of the
officers have conspired TO keep; the
strike in force and thus have violat-
ed the terms OF the injunction. Act
ing President John L. Lewis. Secre-
tary-Treasurer William Green, Percy
Tct,ow, sra+istician, and Ellis SearIes.
editor Of the United Mine Workers
Journal, the only officials OF the or
ganizatioD in Indianapolis We're noti-
4tSu VI LIlc attioit .tIiu sioAVSV ~ ~
port in court. tomorrow TO; furnish
bond, fixed :. $4,000 by Federal
Judge :. l.. Anderson.
= Other officials in the jurisdiction of
the federal court here, who include
Edward stewart and William Mitch,
Of Terre Hautc, officials Of district
No Il OF The mine workers. will be
served as soon as possible, govern
nrent officials stated and all be re-
auired to appear at 10 O'Clock next
Tuesday morning for hearings.
Dan w. S:rnrlS Of Lafayette, Ind,
special United States district attor-
ncy in ciaarge Of enforcement Of the
Injunction, stated today that the pro-
ceedings against the miners repre-
sentasives will be pushed and that re-
naoval proceedings to obtain the ap-
pearance in court here OF officers who
reside outside Of Indiana, will be in
stituted at once.
Mr. Sirnms announced that pro-
ceedings against officers Of the two
local unions at Clinton, Ind, also
would be instituted very soon, charg-
ing them specifically with violations
Of the injunction by payment of strike,
benefits to miners. Local NO. 2011
officials. he declared, had paid bene-
fits by checks attempting to "camou-
fage'' the real nature Of the action
by stating that they were for over
payment of dues. Local No. 80, he
said, drew one check for $500 and
distributed currency among = c1Q-
bers.
In connection with the issuance of
strike benefits Nj. S;mms again de-
clarcd that the injunction ctends to
W rcrsol. whether Or not miner
who in any way encourages the strike
and said that banks which honored
checks drawn against strike benefit
fund were liable to prosecution.
Mr.. Sinms stated that the cfta-
tons against the men named today
we're only q start in the prosecutions
against alleged violators OF tho in
iunc-'::n sd that n: aCtiC i Nigh:
b.. expected soon.
1T is the governments purpose
Mr.. SinlaS said, TO continue prose
cution as fast as evidence can be pre-
pared and !iled with the court against
all officers of every local who are
conspiring by concerted effort to Keep
the strike in force. Refusal to re-
turn TO work. if miner knows Of the
Injunction and the subsequent order
of the union officials resembling the
strike order, constitutes violation OF
the injunction. and the government
will proceed on the theory. regard
less of whether officers arc guilty Of
Gomc specific act Of encouragement. !
of Ghe strike.
."The government waited patiently
while the conference was going on III
Washington. hoping that some plan !
for avertins the impending disaster
on the shortage Of fuel |
would be evolved.
After the conference closed. the |!
directed the operators TO
reopen their mines and advanc" wages
IA per cent The government again |
waited for some action ON the part OF I
the miners toward resumption OF !
work. The officials not only failed
10 make an effort TO bring about an !
end to The strike bu! in numerous |
statements 10 representatives of the !
rrcss and newspapers. en-
its continuance. During e.
rrv moment OF this period Of walt
in- III :,iticsr.; Of the union have vio-
lated the Injunction and tho govern
mont has exhausted its patience.
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