The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-12-26

-AleAoHoer doWat, president of the |
Kansas district of the United Nine
workers, was released from jail yes
terday and allowed to return to Kan
sas, when he agreed to call off the
strike OF miners in his district.
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. 25.-Alex-
ander Howat, President of the Kan
sas District (No. la of the United
Mine workers of America, Monday
night is In Jail here, awaiting hearing
on charge of contempt of court for
alleged violation of the Federal
Court injunction against furtherance
of the strike of coal miners. Hearing
has been set for next Monday at 3
p. m.
Howat appeared in Federal Court
this morning at the order of United
States District Judge A. B. Ander-
son. He was under bond of $4,000
provided in the form Of a check on
a Kansas City bank. Judge Ander-
son disapproved of this form of bond
and Immediately after the afternoon
session of court began at 2 o'clock
remanded the miners official to Jail
until he reached a decision as to the
amount and kind of bond which will
be acceptable.
Judge Anderson Monday morning
denounced Howat for his attitude in
connection with the Courts injunc-
ton against the strike and declared:
Either l have to vindicate the law
| or abdicate in favor of Mr.. Howat."
The hearing Monday morning be-
gan with response by Henry War
rum, chief counsel for the United
Mineworkers of America, in which
the position was taken that Howat
in keeping in force local strike of
1000 miners in the Kansas district,
which was called last July, did not
violate the injunction against furth-
erance of the general strike, but COM
piled with instructions Of the miners
| General Committee in that opera
ton of mines of Kansas was resumed
on the same basis as obtained On Oc-
tober 81, the date the general strike
became effective. r.
Dan w. Simms, Special Assistant
District Attorney, representing the
government, followed with an outline
of the evidence against Howat. He
| declared the Kansas miners official
had issued several statements or
given newspaper interviews in vio-
lation of the injunction, and asserted
that the local strike was merged with
the general strike on October 81, and
thereafter was affected by any &C.
| ton which had to do with the gen.
eral strike.
In reviewing the miners case
Judge Anderson declared that the
Lever act, under which the action
was brought, was still in force and
pointed to the United States Supreme
| Court decision in the wartime pro-
hibition law as parallel case, up
holding the theory that the war meas
ures still are effective. He said he
had defined the law on November 8
and that the miners officials had
knowledge of that definition.
"This defendant" he declared,
according to the statements in the
verified bill of information, which
was filled here on December 8, vio-
lated this order (the courts injunc-
tion) and the Lever law every hour
since that time. y Now, the ques-
ton is-what shall do?
"It is perfectly plain that this man
has not in good faith attempted to
comply with the order of this court.
It is quite apparent that there is
ample ground for the grand jury to
bring a bill against him for fell
ony.
"What should I do under the cir
cumstances? Why, hold him, OF
course. That is what I have to do
Now I have continued this case to q
time when he could get counsel, as
he wants, and the government car
get its witnesses here to prove as to
whether he has been contumacious
and in the meantime / am going tt
hold this man right here under the
jurisdiction Of this court"
During the outline Of the govern
ments case by Mr.. Simms it was de-
clared that during thirty-thret
months before December 81, 1918
there were 364 strikes in the Kansa!
field under the leadership OF Howat
1t was stated that Howat probabl!
did not call all of the strikes, but N
was responsible for the organization
(which made them possible and tina
he was feared by both operators ant
business men in the Kansas distric
as welding a power too great TO-
them to combat.
Judge Anderson asserted that N
considered the situation in the Kan
sas fields as intolerable and said tina
Howat would have to change his at
titude toward the law and the Cour
if he expected to obtain his liberty
He declared that Howat had breathet
defiance right here in Indianapolis
and that he was going to show hin
that there is a government in thi
country.