The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-07
H0WAT FACING
JAIL CHANGES
HIS PLEA THRICE
"Not Guilty." Then "Guilty,"
and Last "Not Guilty.
For Second Time Held on Con.
tempt Charges.
WAS FORCED INTO COURT
With His "Cabinet. He Defed
Kansas Tribunal.
District Court Writ Issued
Against Five Chiefs.
WAS FORCED INTO COURT

Pittsburg. Kan. April After a
plea of guilty to the charge OF CON
tempt had been made for Alexander
Howat and two other Kansas miners
union officials when they faced Judge
Andrew J. Curran in the Crawford
county districtc ourt today, their at
torney withdrew the plea. The Off
cials will face trial Friday morning at
9 O'clock
Howat and August Dorchy, vice
president and Thomas Harvey. secre-
tary-treasurer. were admitted to bond
OF $500 each pending the hearing Erie
day. They arranged to give it,
Howat, Dorchy and Harvey were
taken before Judge Curran a writ
of attachment issued by the judge
shortly before ten o'clock this morn
ing. They were charged with disobey-
ing the order issued by Judge Curran
yesterday for their appearance before
| the court of industrial relations to tes-
tify in the investigation of mining con-
ditions now being conducted.
The order was also directed against
Thomas Cunningham. travelling audi
| tor, and Robert Foster. district audi
tor. Cunningham was out of the city
and the order was not served on him.
Foster had not appeared this morning
and the writ was not served on him.
Changed Their Minds.
| When the three miners officials ap-
peared before Judge Curran shortly
before IL o'clock this morning under
the escort of Milt Gould. undersheriff
of Crawford county, p. II. Gallery,
counsel for the miners organization,
announced a plea of not guilty to the
lcontempt charge and Judge Curran
lset Friday morning at 3 o'clock as
the time for the hearing and an
lnounced bond. Within a few minutes
Gallery announced the officials had
Lob md
ia plea OF guilty.
I'VE have no defense to offer" cal
tery announced. rt
/ Judge Curran then accepted the
lplea and started to enter his findings.
when he had completed that act, CAL
llery addressed the court.
/ "Since reading these papers," he
said, Il desire to withdraw the plea
lof guilty. The court allowed the
with drawal and the case will come up
Iregularly Friday morning.
Faces Jail Second Time.
For the second time Alexander
tHowat, president of the Kansas-Mis-
souri, United Mine Workers today
will stand before judge charged
with contempt of court. The first
time was in Indianapolis. where Fed
eraI Judge Anderson sent Howat to
Jail to think over his defiance OF a
court order. Howat yielded to Ander-
son.
Howat and his cabinet yesterday
decided they would not recognize the
industrial court. And when served
with court order to appear, Howat de-
clared he wouldn't go. unless taken.
Attachment Order Issued.
Judge A. ]. Curran of the Crawford
county district shortly before ten
O'Clock this morning issued a writ
OF attachment for Alexander Howst
and four other officials Of the Kansas
miners union.
The order for the writ followed the
filing of an application with the court
by Richard J. Hopkins. attorney gen.
| erai of Kansas. and A. B. Keller. coiln-
tty attorney, charging Howat and the
others with contempt of court in re-
fusing to obey the courts order TO ap-
pear before the court of Industrial re-
liations. now sitting here, to testify.
Practically all of the miners who
struck Monday in protest against the
recent wage commission award at
washington have returned to work.
Allen VIII Not Interfere.
Governor Allen, who has kept IN
close touch with proceedings in Pitts
burg. is confident the rank and file
of mine union members will refuse to
follow the Howat-Dorchy leadership in
the present fight Following long dis
tance telephone talks with industrial
court members today. the governor
lventured the opinion that a bresk
might be expected IL Howat and his
llieutenants did not submit 10 court
action.
"Howat and Dorchy must yield or
the union members will not follow
lthem,"" the governor said this after
noon Already a number of minor
cases have been brought before the
industrial court by the mine union
workers. These cases have all been
Ifiled during the present stay in Pitts
burg.
THE mine workers who want to
work are not anxious to follow Howat
to Jail. And IL Judge Curran doesn't
change his mind, he has made clear
THAT he will not permit foolishness in
handling the present contempt cita-
Etion''
| Governor Allen does not expect to go
I Ito Pittsburg or TO interfere with the
present case He will permit the
courts to act and Howat can dispose
of his troubles before the bar OF JUS
: tice. 1t is the belief of persons in To-
: peka in touch with the case that un-
! Hess decision is rendered in favor of
Howat and his associates when the
cases are called Friday. that all of ths
. mine union heads will be sent to Jail
: iunti1 they are willing to testify.