The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-30
District IA Miners Union Con-
siders Leaving Kansas.
Court Law Only Part
of Cause.
PITTSBURG C. C. UNFRIEkDLY'
Executive Board VIII Consider
Proposed Move Soon.
Offices Being Sought in Liberal
Missouri Now.

Pittsburg. Kan. Jan. 30.-A deci-
sion as to the removal of the district
headquarters of the United Mine
Workers of America, District a. from
Pittsburg to some town across the
state line in Missouri will be consid-
cred al a meeting of the district board
soon, it was stated today Alexander
Howat. district president, last night
confirmed a report that the removal
was under consideration
While the removal would be caused
partly by the enactment of the Kansas
industrial court law. Howat said the
main reason for the removal, IL il il
decided upon, will be the attitude OF
the business men of Pittsburg in the
recent strike
Business Men UnfriendIy.
The Pittsburg business men and
Chamber of Commerce. he asserted
to-day, showed their unfriendly atti-
tude toward the miners by endorsing
Governor Aliens action in sending vol
unteer coal diggers and troops into
the district.
I'VE do not want to embarrass the
business men by keeping our offices
here where they are SO unwelcome."
Howat said.
fields are in District IA. Under the
laws of the union the district board
can maintain its headquarters wher-
ever it desires. Agents of the board
have been seeking office rooms and
residences for the officers in Liberal
Mo-, and other towns. Burgess, Min
den and Oskaloosa. are prospective To-
cations for the headquarters. About
1000 of the 1900 miners of the dis
| trict are in Missouri.
| The removal of the officials so as
to be without the jurisdiction of the
Kansas law in their work is being dis
cussed in mining circles today.
| Miners Arc Questioned.
| Pittsburg. Kan, Jan. 30.-Five min
| ers from the B. r. & H. steamshovel
! mine near Arcadia were closely Ques-
| toned yesterday by County Attorney
| A. B. Kellar, concerning the mine.
workers local having tied the mine up
| on strike since December Is, in all
| legged reprisal for the company refus-
| ing to discharge F. H. Guffey because
volunteers during the state operation
| of mines The local suspended Guffey
from the Union for ninety-nine years
| at the first meeting after the state
settlement. 1t demanded his dis
charge the next day and struck when
1t was refused.
| The men questioned frankly stated
these circumstances in their testimony.
| Keller said. The transcript of their
| testimony will be forwarded to At
torney General Hopkins.
/ Alexander Howat and his clan will
find little comfort and no escape from
the state industrial court act by NOV
ing to Missouri. That was the senti-
ment as expressed in the state house
today following announcement that
mine worker union officials might
withdraw from Kansas. So far as
aiding Howat and his associates TO
direct strike in Kansas, they might
/ be punished here whether they lived
in Missouri or some other state.
IF Howat should move to Missouri
and direct a strike in Kansas where
! would the crime be committed ?"
asked a we'll known lawyer today.
The courts say the crime would be
committed in Kansas" the lawyer
continued. Consequently extradition
might be secured and Mr.. Howat or
any other person might pc brought to
Kansas for trial.
The new law provides that the call
| ing of strike is a crime. And as q
crime Kansas would be able to punish
the offender by bringing him to Kan
sas for trial in the state courts.