Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-23
KANSAS men
MINES
At Same Time Court Frees
Their Leader Held
for Contempt.

Alexander HOwat, president OF
the Kansas district Of the Unit.
ed Mine Workers Of America,
was released from the Marion
county iail today by United
States District Judge A. b. An.
dersOn. Howat agreed to Join
the international officials Of the
Mine Workers in sending tele.
grams to the district executive
board in Kansas in an endeav.
or to have all strikes In the
Kansas coal mines ended.
HOwat was released on his
previous bail and II the agree
mont is carried out in good
faith, the contempt hearing, set
for next Monday, probably WIN
be continued against Howat, as
In the cases Of the other inter.
national and district officials Of
the mine workers organization.
The kilograms to the Kansas
miners executive board not only
will ask the return of the men out
on the Central Coal and Coke
company strike" since last July
but will order the return Of the
men who struck yesterday and to-
day in protest against Judge An
derson's action in sending Howat
to Jail.
William Green, secretary-treas-
urer OF the miners, represented the
international organization in court,
and urged Howat to agree to the
plan. :
Howat was remanded to Jail yes
terday by Judge Anderson, shortly
after he had continued to next Mon
day the hearing on the contempt
charges against the president Of the
Kansas district.
Pittsburgh, Kan, Dec. 23.-Sev-
enteen Kansas coal mines, where
approximately 5000 miners are en-
ployed, were idle this morning.
The miners went on strike In pro-
test against the action Of Judge
Anderson at Indianapolis yesterday,
sending Alexander Howat, presi-
dent of the Kansas district, United
Miners of America, to jail.
News to Officers.
Indianapolis, Ind, Dec. 23.-Om-
cials at the headquarters Of the
United Moine Workers said today
that they had not heard of the
strike Of the Kansas miners as q
protest against the action Of Unit
ed States District Judge A. B. An
derson, who yesterday ordered Al
exander Howat, president Of the
Kansas miners. remanded to Jail.
There was nothing today to indi-
cate when a decision will be an
nounced IS to the amount of bond
to be required of Alexander Howat
Of Pittsburgh, Kan, president Of
district No. IA of the United Mine
Workers, who yesterday was COM
mitted to jail by United States Dis
trfct Judge A. B. Anderson, pend
ing hearing next Monday on charg-
es of criminal contempt. Howat is
alleged to have violated the federal
court Injunction against further
ance of the coal miners strike by
keeping in force a local strike
called in Kansas last July.
Goes Over Holidays.
Washington, Dec. 23.-The con-
troversy between the operators and
Attorney General Palmer regard
ing the coal strike settlement terms
probably will go over until after
the Christmas holidays.
The statement of Mr.. Palmer
that the government will not as
sumo that the operators will break
faith. and. indeed. ways will ba
found to keep faith in this vita1D
important transaction" was con-
sidered important today by those
directly concerned in the coal sit
uation.
To just what extent the state
ment could be taken as a cue to
the attorney generals future ac-
tion was subject of wide discus
sion. In some quarters it was re-
garded as an indication that At
torney General Palmer planned to
bring the full pressure Of the gov
OTuHlCut " UcdI IL ACCCSSA1y "
carry out President Wilson's pro-
posal for the settlement of the coal
controversy.
No Dispute in Illinois.
Chicago, Dec. 23.-Members OF
the Illinois Coal Operators associa-
ton met here today to consider
questions growing out Of the appli-
cation Of the IA per cent increase
in wages recently awarded miners
under the strike settlement.
A committee was appointed to in
vestigate the different questions in
volved and report to the associa-
tion later.
DR.. F. C. Honnold. secretary OF
the association. said that the oper-
ators have no dispute with the
miners in Illinois.