Arizona republican., 1919-12-23
HOWAT JAILED FOR CONTEMP |; BAIL |S REFUSED
Continuance Of Kansas Coal Strikes, In Defiance To F e d eral Court Order, Lands Union Leader Be- hind Bars-Heafing Set For Next Monday
[RepubIican A. p. Leased wire1

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec. 22. - Alexander Howat- president of the Kansas district No. IA of the United Mine Workers of America, is tonight in jail here awaiting hearing on a charge of contempt of court for alleged violation of the federal court injunc- tion against furtherance of the strike of coal miners. Hearing has been set for next Monday at p. m.
 Howat appeared in federal court this morning at the order of United States District Judge A. B. Anderson. He was under bond of S10O0O pro- vided in the form of check on a Kansas bank. Judge Anderson dis approved of this form of bond and immediately after the afternoon ses- mine union official to jail until he reached a decision as to the amount and kind of bond which would be accep- table.
 Denounced Howat Attitude
 Judge Anderson this morning de- nounced Howat for his attitude in con nection with the courts injunction against the strike and declared: Either | have to vindicate the law or abdicate in favor of MT. Howat."
 The hearing this morning began with a response by Henry Warrum chief counsel for the United Mine Workers of America, in which the posi- ton was taken that Howat, in keeping in forcS "a local strike of 1000 miners in the Kansas district which was called last July. did not violate the in junction against furtherance of the general strike, but compiled with fn- structions of the miners general com- mittee. in that operaSSn of mines in Kansas was resumed on the same basis as obtained on October 31, the date the general strike became effectiye.
 Dan w. Sims, special assistant di.-
 
 ernment, followed with an outline of the evidence against Howat. He de- clared the Kansas miners official had issued several statements or given newspaper interviews in violation of the injunction Snd Ssse.sSd that the local strike was merged with the gen. eral strike on October 31 and there after was affected by any action which had to do with the general strike.
 Hold Lever Law Still Operative
 Tn. 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 wartime prohibition law as parallel. upholdfng the theory that the war measures still are effective He said he had defined the law on Novem- Der and that the miners officials had knowledge of that definition.
 This defendant" he declared, "ac- cording to the statement in the veri- fled bill of information which was filed here on December 3. violated this order (the courts injunction) and the Lever act, every hour since that time. Now the question is, what shall l 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 a felony. What should I do under the circumstances? Why. hold him of course. That is what to do. I<have continued this case to a time when he could get counsel, as he wants, and the government can get its witnesses here to prove as to'I whether he has been contumacious and in the meantime I am going to hold this man right here under the jurisdic- ton of this court
 Has UnequaIed Strike Record
 During the outline of the govern ment's case by MT. Simms. 1t was de- clared that during B months before December 31, 1918. there were 364 leadership of Howat. It was stated that Howat probably did not call all of the strikes, but that he was respon- sible for the organization which made them possible and that he was feared by both operators and business men in the Kansas district as yielding power too great for them to combat.
 Judge Anderson asserted that he considered the situation in the Kansas fields as intolerable and said that HOwat would have to change his atti- tude toward the law and the court if he expected to secure his liberty. He declared that Howat had "breathed de fiance" right here in IndianaJolis and that he was going to show him that there is government in this country.