Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-20
LEWIS HOTLY
EVER
limiting pact
Repudiates the Quotation
Linking Miners and
Operators Together.

Indianapolis, Ind, Dec. 20.-John
L. Lewis, acting president Of the
United Mine Workers of America,
denied "in every particular" a state
ment attributed to him by q mem
Der of congress and used by United
States District Judge A. B. Ander-
son in his charge to the federal
grand jury, summoned to investi-
gate the coal strike, in a statement
today.
Mr.. Lewis, as a part Of the state
ment, also made public letter he
had written to Congressman Schuy-
ler Merritt of Connecticut, request
ing "that you make amends for
your mistake by making public ad-
mission of the fact"
Did Not Make Statement.
Mr.. Lewis statement says:
Some one has done q very great
+, injustice, and l feel that the public
should know it. 1t has been charg-
ed against me that l made certain
statements that I never made, and
would not make. In his instruction
to the federal grand jury, which
is now investigating the coal in
dustry, Judge Anderson called at
tention to q speech made by q MEM
Der of congress on Oct. 20, in which
that congressman said: -
"'John l.. Lewis, now acting
president of the United Mine work
ers, when attending one of the joint
conferences with the operators re-
ferred to the purpose Of the con-
ference 90. follows:
! Hinted Common Cause.
GAS understand it, It is for the
purpose Of wiping out competition
between us as miners flrst, viewing
lit from our side of the question;
next, for the purpose of wiping out
competition as between the opera
tors In these four states. When We
have succeeded in that and We have
perfected an organization ON both
sides of the question, then II I
understand the real purpose Of this
movement it is that we will jointly
declare war on every man outside
lof this competitive field, who will
do anything in any way endanger-
ing the peace that exists between
us.
"'What is necessary to do this
iOrganize our forces in the compet-
| ing fields as far as the United Mine
workers are concerned. Go into
these outside competing fields and
tell your competitors that they have
to join this movement, whether
:, they like it or. not, give stability
to the. coal business of the United
States"
| No Ground For 1t.
This congressman was Schuyler
Merritt OF Connecticut. known to
be one of the most implacable en-
emies of organized labor. Why he
made such a statement about me
passes my understanding, for he
had not the slightest grounds for
doing so. At no time, at no place
and under no circumstances did
II ever make the statement which
he charges to me. Congressman
Merritt could have learned this
truth before making the speech II
he had wished to do so.
Judge Anderson had a right to
rely on the speech Of Congressman
Merritt as containing the trut.' for
the speech was published liz the
Congressional Record, thus giving
j it official standing. But say now
that Congressman Merritt's quota
ton of statements alleged to have
been made by me is false and Who'll
ly unwarranted.
Il have written Congressman
Merritt q letter demanding a re.
traction Of the false charge which
he made against me and which now
forms one Of the important bases
Of the federal grand jury investga-
tion."