The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-12-17
THOROUGH
INQUIRY IS
DEMANDED
Anderson Isstructs Federal
Grand Jury on Miner OPP
orator Investigation.
LINreaNAIIoNAl NEws sgRvIcEl

INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. Dec. l7.-With
instructions TO make a thorough investi-
cation of this criminal violation Of the
law Of this country" the special fed
raj grand jury summoned to delve into
he wartime activities OF coal opera
tors. miners and dealers and into coal
prices and profits. was impanelled today.
Let your INVESTIGATION be thorough
and searching and let your answer he
fun answer to the question uppermost
in the minds of the citizens cautioned
JLdge a. B. Anderson in instructing tho
jurors The. jury will be expected to
determine Whether this country shall
be run by the government of the United
States or by a group of men"
Charges that the operators and miners
were in league with each other and that
the operators maintained combination
among themselves. will be probed by the
jury as well as ali other phases Of the
coal industry during the entire period
from the entrance of the United States
into The war down to the present.
Peading from the Lever aet. Judge
Anderson explained TO the grand jury
how the miners strike was in direct
violation Of the law"
Full Investigation Of the defiant vio-
lation Of the criminal law of the country
by the miners in ignoring the injunction
issued against the miners leaders" was
ordered by Judge Anderson as well as
thorough and searching" probe of vio-
lation of antitrust laws by the oper-
ators.
Inform only to cancel the strike or
der was complied with and for a whole
month the injunction was ignored and
defed by the union -leaderss--IHzazs Am.
derson declared
Charges of combination between the
mine operators and mine workers have
been made frequently" said Judge An
dcrson. IN the public press and even IN
ths halls Of the congress Of the United
States"
an address hy member Of congress
IN which John L. Lewis acting president
Of the United Mine Workers, was quoted
rs saying at joint conference of miners
and operators that he understood that
the raj purpose Of this movement Is
that we jointly declare war on every man
outside Of this competitive field who
does anything in any way endanEering
the peace that exists between US" was
Chen cited in support of the governments
charges Of a combination
inns Nttat - tlldt Ale operators nave
violated the antitrust laws by com
bination in restraint Of trade Judge
Anderson instructed the jury to let it's
+ Investigation into all these matters be
thorough and searching.
1T Is charged that since the passa &c
of this act (the Lever acD the mine
owners have made enormous profits and
that these profits have been made by
handling The business in certain partic-
ulars in violation of the statute which I
have called g your attention" said
Judge Anderson.
1T is charged not only that the mine
worisers union conspired and did violate
! this act. but IL is also claimed that the
mine operators and mine workers asso-
ciation sided and abetted the violation
Of tho oct and conspired with members
cf the Mine Workers Union to violate
The same. the court explained. TN
other words. il IS charged that the mine
operators and mine workers conspired
and agreed and acted together TO violate
various provisions of this act"