The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-08
Remarks Judge Anderson
Referred to Were Made.
10 Years Ago.
tom LEWIS IS OPERATOR.
Massachusetts, Congress.
man Writes Acknow-
Lodging His Error.


INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Jan. s-con-
gresham Schuyler Merritt of Connec-
ticut, made n speech in Congress ON
octo3er 20 In which he quoted ar,
extract from speech purported TO
nave been made by John l.. Lewis,
President of the United Mine Work
ers OF America. Merritt said the
speech of Lwis was proof of a COM
bination between the coal miners and
the operators 10 control wages and
coal prices as against the public. He
cited the Lewis speech for the purpose
4 OF showing that the policy of the
UnAted Mine Workers was such as to
make the organization Illegal and
yiolator OF the anti4tr;ist law. He
SAID there was no question but that
there was conspiracy between the
miners aDc the operators with this end
in view. During the progress of the
recent soft coal strike Judge Anderson
Of the Federal Court at Indianapolis,
calls the Federal grand Jury in session
and instructed 1t to make thorough
Investigation OF tine coal lndll try,
with a view 10 ascertaining whether
there was a conspiracy between the
miners and the operators in restraint
TO trade. The Court called the atten-
ton Of the grand jury TO the speech
made By Congressman Merritt and
quoted the extract from the Lewis
speech asst was given by Merritt.
Whom President Lewis read the
instructions given by Judge Anderson
he said he never made the speech IN
question. nor did ne ever utter the
senttnertg quoted by Merritt. He said
The statements did not represent his
views, and that Merritt was mistaken
IN saying that he had ever made
such a sroech. Lewis wrote Merritt a
letter informing him OF his mistake
and demanding retraction. He insist
ed that Merritt acknowledge on the
floor Of Congress that he was mistak-
en-, also that he communicate this fact
to Judge Anderson.
Merritt has written Mr.. Lewis let
ter admitting that he was mistaken
md that Lewis never made the speech.
He SAID that Investigation disclosed
that the statements which he charg-
ed to John l.. Lewis were made 10
Years ago by Tom l.. Lewis, who was
then an official OF the United Mine
Workers
Merritt did not say in his letter
that ne would apologize on the floor
of Congres or that he would so adj
wise Judge Anderson, but President
Lewis believes that he will do so.
When he was informed of the contents
"a Congressman Merritt's letter max
ing the retruction, President Lewis
said:
II was astounded and mortified
when / read Merritt's speech wherein
he quoted something that l was SUP
posed &c have said. or course have
never made such statement, and 1t is
unfortunate. that Merritt should have
charged 1t to me. He mfsled Judge
Anderson into calling the attention
Of the Federal Grand jury to the state
ment, and the judge issued instruction
10 the grand jury to make thorough
Investigation. But Merritt now ad-
mites that he was mistaken, and says
the statement was made 10 years ago
by Tom l.. Lewis instead OF myself.
Tom L. Lewis has Gheen out Of the
miners union for many years, and Is
now tho commissioner for the coal op
orators Of West Virginia. His efforts
IA recent years have tended toward
destruction of the miners union, there
fore / do not feel that anything no
might say now or anything that he