Grand Forks herald., 1919-12-22

growth OF charges OF contempt against
eighty-four international and district
officials of the Mine Workers, brought
prior to the agreement reached in In
dianapolis December 10. Hearing of
the charges first was postponed on
December 8 to permit the miners
general committee to- consider the
presidents proposal for ending the
strike and again last week, except as
to Howat.
Opening the case for the govern
ment this morning, Dan W. Simms.
special United States district attor-
ney, declared that Howat had kept in
force local strike begun last July
and merged with the general strike
Howat has openly defied the court in
statements and interviews with the
press to the effect that there was no
power in the country to force the
miner, to return to work.
Quotes From Newspapers.
Mr.. Simms quoted from newspaper
interviews and from a purported
strike history of the Kansas district
to show that there had been 304
strikes in Crawford county, Kansas,
in the last 33 months and that while
Howat probably did not call all OF
them, that he was responsible for the
organization which made this possi-
BILE. Mr.. Simns also quoted newspaper
articles to show that Howat was fear
ed by the operators and business men
Of the Kansas district and declared
that no court or other agency had yet
been found in Kansas strong enough
to fight Howat
Judge Anderson was vehement in
his .denunciation of the conditions
existing in the Kansas field and told
Of having received number OF
"scurrilous'' letters and editorial
clippingS from tho district denounc-
ing him for his action in connection
with the coal strike. Some OF the let
tors, he said, were signed, and others
were anonymous. but practically all
Of them. he asserted, were in VIOLA
ton Of tho United States postal laws.
Response insufficient.
sponse to the charges in which it was
stated that at the time Howat was
ordered into court the miners in Kan-
sasf and their officials were In the act
Of returning to work in compliance
with the agreement reached by the
miners general committees, except al
to 1000 miners on local strike. Judge
Anderson declared the response In
sufficient, in view Of the charges, but
SAID ne a0mltto0 Ine TASnL OF faOWAt
to full hearing and allowed the re-
quest for postponement until Howat'ss
attorney from Kansas might be sum-
moned. e ~ ;S
I, Z. Z In his presentation OF the govern
sment.s case, Mr.. Silnms referred to q
$fepotted agreement hetween Howat
and David Frampton, president Of the
MiaDoun miners, to contribute tho lo-
cal strikes in their districts and stat
ed that the government probably
would NE N 4 information Against
Frampton. During the hearing. how
ever, Z, telegram was received stating
that tho Missouri strike had been st
tied ana fthAt the mon retnrned to
work this morning and Il Wa, indi-
Gated that the chArges Galnst Tramp
ton would be dropped. ~ 3 a 81 ~
Tho court objectSd % the kind OF
bond furnished by Howatta . check for
$10.ooe, drawn on q Kansas bank. and
stated tlat he would have to furnish
bail moro acceptable II he wanted to
retain hin liberty until ttse hearing
sns1t Monday. He also snjs,ned Howat
to chnnxs his genexal attituds toward
the court II he wished to- et&y. ont cf