The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-06
Mine Leader Refuses to Go Be-
fore Industrial Body.
''We viii Not Recognize Court"
He Declares Today.
NO PROSECUTION, SAYS ALLEN
Governor Does Not Consider
Monday Affair a Strike.
Six of Nine Mines Were Under
Operation This Morning.

| Pittsburg. Kan. April e.-7Alexan-
miners. definitely refused shortly be-
fore noon today to go into the indus
trial relations court and participate in
the investigation OF the coal mining
industry now being made here.
! I'VE will not recognize the indus
| trial court" Howat declared
! Howat said that the resolution
adopted by the recent district conven-
| ton of the miners had made the po-
sition of miners clear.
| ->Howat. president of the Kansas coal
miners. and other district officials OF
1.-THE sunion~ had not appeared before
the Kansas court of industrial rela-
/ tions at L O'clock this morning. The
courts information had been that
Howat and the other officials would
take part in the investigation into
mining conditions which the court
started this morning
I AT the suggestion of w l. Huggins
presiding judge. an attorney for the
court called up p. II. Gallery. lawyer
for the miners organization, and asked
If the officials intended to appear
Gallery said he had not been author
J lied to appear Earlier in the morn
ing 1t was stated that district officials
4 were in conference in the city hall in
which the court is holding it's sessions.
The court began hearing witnesses
this morning concerning old cases filed.
with the court two months ago involv-
ing trouble at several mines.
Mines Operating.
Pittsburg, Kan, April 6.-Six OF the
nine mines made idle yesterday by the
strike of miners in protest against the
awards of the national coal commits
, sion were at work this morning IL was
I announced at the headquarters OF the
, operators association.
: three that were idle yesterday were
: idle today.
About 1000 men are idle today.
Y The mines involved are Central Coal
2 ana Coke company mines As and 81:
/ Wear, Coal company mine number 81,
D Clemens Coal company mine number
' II; Sheridan Coal company mine
j number 8.
! Award Outrage Says Hovat.
Declaring the recent awards of
President Wilson's coal wage com
5 mission to be IAN outrage" Alexander
aoWat: president of district IA, United
Mine Workers of America, last night
ADMITTED here, that between 1900 and
1000 miners of Crawford and Chero--
kee counties were on a strike as a di-
rect protest to the award.
They came out of their own voli-
tion." Mr.. Howat said land were not
ordered out by the union officials
There is much discomfort thruout the
district regarding the awards and T
consider them en- outrage. don't
: know how long the men win be out for
they have acted entirely on their own
initiative
, NO Joint Debate. Says Allen.
5 Il have this to say The law is yerv
= plain on the powers of the industrial
8 court to conduct Investigations and
Q subpoena witnesses. II Mr.. Howat
Q doesn't desire to go before the court.
Q the state Of Kansas will not go into
q any Joint debate with him"
Of That was Governor Aliens comment
today when he learned thru The state
: Journal that Alexander Howat had re-
s fused to participate in the investiEa-
t tfon of the coal industry being made
: by the court of industrial relations in
. Pittsburg.
State house officials did not know
q today whether Howat had been SUBJ
poenaed and refused TO obey the sum-
} mons and thus made himself liable to
prosecution for failure to obey the Law
or whether he had been requested"
to appear before the court. It was
known that the court had issued .
number OF subpoenas for union lead
ers as well as operators and II was
: presumed that Hovat, the leader
: among the union forces. was included
;. in the subpoena list.
No Prosecution Says Allen.
Governor Henry Allen announced
to-day that there would be no prosecu-
!: ton of union labor leaders for tho
u walk-out in certain of the coal mines
in southeastern Kansas. Monday.
In a telephone message from off,
Z GERS o. the industrial court today
4 learn that II was not a strike and the
: walk-out was used as a method Of
Q protest against findings of the national
coal commission" the governor said.
II IT was informed that all the meg
g were back al work this morning, ex-
Is cepting in three mines. Tho walk -out
e was not for the purpose OF showing
d defiance to the industrial court in ses-
e sion down there and could not be
d fcalled strike
y No Ill Feeling.
Instead of any I'll feeling existin 9
U against members of the court in Pitts
burg today. Judge George II. Wark
q told me over the telephone this MORN
= ing that the court room was filled with
II miners and mine officials who ap-
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