The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-09
With His "Cabinet' Is Sen
fenced by Judge Curran.
Stays There Until He Will
Testify Before Court.
DECLARES HE WILL NOT YIELD
Denies ConstitutiOnality of In
dustriaI Tribunal.
Goes Immediately to Cell in Jail
at Girard.

Girard, Kan, April 9.-Alexander
Howat and the three other miners
union officials sentenced to the Craw-
ford county Jail for contempt of court
by Judge A. J. Curran at Pittsburg
this morning were landed in the Jail
at 1928 o'clock this afternoon. Milt
Gould, under sheriff of Crawford
county, brought the men here in a
motor car.
Four coal miners serving time in the
Jail for violation of the prohibition law
formed an impromptu reception COM
mittee for Howat and his associates.
Pittsburg, Kan, April alexander
Howat, president of the Kansas coal
miners, was sentenced to Jail for con-
Curran of the Crawford county dis
trict court this morning.
The Judge sentenced Howat and
three associate union officials to the
county jail until such time as they will
testify before the Kansas court of in
dustrial relations.
Under the order OF Judge Curran,
Howat and the other officials will be
taken to the county Jail at Girard, i'm
m ediately.
Defied Court Order.
Howat was found guilty of contempt
for refusing to obey an order of Judge
Curran issued Tuesday that he appear
with four other officers of the U. M.
w. A. of the Kansas district, and
testify in the Investigation of the coal
mining industry now being conducted
by the Kansas court of industrial rela-
tons here.
In addition to Howat, Judge Curran
found August Dorchy, vice president;
Thomas Harvey, secretary-treasurer.
and Robert Foster, district auditor,
tence he gave Howat.
| Thomas Cunningham, travelling au-
| ditor. was included in the order of
Judge Curran issued last Tuesday but
| Cunningham was not found Tuesday
night and therefore was not made a
contempt defendant Wednesday.
Attacked Court Bill. r
| Gallery, in an amended answer filed
this morning, made numerous attacks
on the Kansas industrial court law
| alleging that it violated not only the
/ Kansas BILL but declared that it vio-
| lated the federal constitution. After
the sentencing of Howat and his as
sociates. Gallery declined to say what
/ further legal moves would be made.
| Scores of friends of Howat were in
! the court room when Judge Curran
called the contempt case. There was
a tense situation during the ten min
utes the judge consumed in writing
! his judgment. There was no demon
stration of any kind on behalf of the
| friends of Howat Commitments for
| the union leaders admission to the
county Jail were made out immedi-
ately and it was announced that the
men would be taken to Girard at noon
| Howat and the other officials were al
/ lowed to go to the unions headquar-
| ters until time to take a car for Gil
rard. Scores of friends of Howat sur
rounded him as he went from the
court house to the headquarters.
Won't Recognize Court.
| Howat shortly after he reached his
office made this statement: Our
position is unchanged. We stand
where We stood. We refuse to testify
| before this court because we do not
recognize the court. 1t is an institu-
ton founded to enslave the working
man."
| The law creating the court of in
dustrial relations was enacted at a
special session of the Kansas legisla-
ture last January. The session was
called by Gov. Henry J. Allen for that
purpose from his temporary executive
Office in a Pittsburg hotel. The COVER
nor was here directing the state opera
tion of mines during the coal strike
and the proposal for a court was a
result of the strike.
/ The law created the court of three
members and provides that industrial
disputes where twenty-five or more
employees are involved shall be adjust
| ed by the court, If the employer and
employees shall fail to agree. The law
forbids strikes and 1t is this provision
! against which Howat is most bitter.
Four mines of the district were idle
this morning on account of the Howat
| hearing, 1t was announced at the
headquarters of the operators.