The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-01-16
SALON AND JUDGE
BOTH GOT OFF ON
THE WRONG FOOT

gresham Schuyler Merritt, of Con-
necticut, made a speech in Congress
on October %, in which he quoted
an extract from a speech purported
to have been made by John L. Lew
is, President of the United Mine
Workers of America. Merritt said
the speech Of Lewis was proof of
combination between the coal min
ers and the operators to control
wages and coal prices as against the
public. He cited the Lewis speech
Tor the purpose of showing that the
policy of the United Mine Workers
was such as to make the organiza-
ton illegal and violator of the
antitrust law. He said there was
no question but that there was
conspiracy between the miners and
the operators with this end in view.
During the progress of the recent
soft coal strike, Judge Anderson, of
the Federal Court at INDIANAPOLIS,
called the Federal grand jury in
session and instructed it to make a
| thorough investigation of the coal
industry, with a view to ascertain
ling whether there was a conspiracy
between the miners and the operat-
ors in restraint to trade. The
Court called the attention of the
grand jury to the speech made by
Congressman Merritt and quoted the
extract from the Lewis speech as it
was given by Merritt.
When President Lewis read the
instructions given by Judge Ander-
son he said he never made the
speech in question, nor did he ever
utter the sentiments quoted by Mer-
rift. He said the statements did
not represent his views, and that
Merritt was mistaken in saying that
he had ever made such a speech.
Lewis wrote Merritt a letter in
forming him of his mistake and de-
handing a retraction. He insist
ed that Merritt acknowledge on the
floor of Congress that he was mis-
taken, also that he communicate
this fact to Judge Anderson.
Merritt has written Mr.. Lewis
letter admitting that he was mis-
taken and that Lewis never made
the speech He said that investiga-
tion disclosed that the statements
which he charged 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 he
would apologize on the floor of Con-
gress, or that he would so advise
Judge Anderson, but President
Lewis believes he will do so. When
he was informed of the contents of
Congressman Merritt's letter MAX
ing the retraction, President Lewis
said:
81 was astounded and mortified
when | read Merritt's speech where
in he quoted something that | was
supposed to have said OF course,
never made any such statement,
and it is unfortunate that Merritt
should have charged it to me. He
misled Judge Anderson into calling
the attention of the Federal grand
Jury to the statement, and the judge
issued instructions to the grand jury
to make a thorough investigation.
But Merritt now admits that he was
mistaken, and says the statement
was made 10 years ago by Tom l..
Lewis, instead of myself. Tom L.
Lewis has been out of the miners
union for many years, and is now
the commissioner for the coal oper-
ators of West Virginia. His efforts
in recent years have tended toward
destruction of the miners union,
therefore ] do not feel that any
thing he might say now or anything
that he said in 1901 can be regarded
as representing the present policies
of this organization. Congressman
Merritts admission of his mistake
also is further proof of how the pub
lie has been misled and misinformed
about the coal miners throughout
all of the recent controversy. 1t
should convince the public that it
cannot believe all of the things