The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-12-26
KANSAS HEAD OF
MINE WORKERS HELD
BY ORDER OF JUDGE


Mine Workers of America, is in jail
here awaiting hearing on the charge
of contempt of court for alleged
violation of the federal court in
junction against furtherance of the
strike of coal miners. Hearing has
ben set for the next Monday.
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 bank. Judge Anderson dis
approved of this form of. bond and
Immediately after the afternoon
session of court began at 2 o'clock
demanded the miners official to
Jail until he reached decision as to
the amount and kind of bond which
will be acceptable.
Judge Anderson this morning de-
nounced Howat for his attitude in
connection with the courts in
junction against the strike and de-
clared:
EITHER 1 have to vindicate the
law or abdicate in favor of Mr..
Howat."
Dan W. Simms, special assistant
district attorney, representing the
government outlined the evidence
against Howat. He declared the
Kansas miners official had issued
several statements or given news
papers interviews in violation and
asserted that the local strike was
merged with the general strike on
October 81, and thereafter was af-
fected by any action which had to do
with the general 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 on the war time pro
!hibition law as parallel case, up
,;olding the theory that the war
measures still are effective. He said
he had defined the law on November
g, and that the miners officials had
knowledge of that definition
"This defendcnt,," he declared,
according to the statements in the
verified bill of information which
was filled here on December 3,
violated this order (the courts in
junction) and the Lever law every
hour since that time. Now
the question is, what shall | do? 1t
lis perfectly plain that this man had
not in good faith attempted to CON-
ply with the order of this court. 1t is
quite apparent that there is ample
ground for the grand jury to bring
ia bill against him for a felony. What
should I do under the circumstances?
Why hold him, of course. That is
what I would do. Now I have con-
tinHed this case to time when he
could get counsel as he wants, and
the government can get its witnesses
here to prove as to whether he has
beer contumacious and in the mean
time I am going to hold '"i' 's'''"
right here under the juris H. ioI o.
this court. -
During the outline of the govern
ment's case by Mr.. Simms, it was
declared that during 80 months be-
fore December 81, 1918, there were
364 strikes in the Kansas field un-
der the leadership of Howat. 1t was
stated that Howat probably did not
call all of the strikes but that he was
responsible for the organization
which made them possible.
Judge Anderson asserted that he
considered the situation in the Kan
sas field as intolerable and said that
Howat would have to change his at
titude toward the law and the court
jif ne expected to secure his liberty.