South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-18
ALEXANDER HOWAT
OPPOSES ACTION
OF KANSAS COURT
Court of Industrial Relations
is Attacked by Union
Leader.


PTTTSBURG. Kans-. April IT,
When Gov. Henry J. Allen entered
the coal fields OF the Pittsburg dis
trict last November 20 ask the idle
miners 10 work for the state under
the receivership which the governor
had Instituted, the question asked
on every hand was:
What will Alexander Howat say
about IT,"
The governor was told frankly
that Howat, district president OF the
United Mine Workers. would reject
the plan. HOwat was IN Washington
attending the negotiations In prog
ress for the settlement Of the ma
tion-wfde strike OF bituminOus min
ers. A close friend Of Howat's volun-
teered 20 20 TO Washington and seek
his consent for the men 20 return %
work. Not only did Howat reject the
offer. but he issued a statement in
which he bitterly condemned the
Lian az an Invasion OF the governor
IN an attempt 10 disrupt the Union.
The campaign 20 work the mines
under a state receivership. however
continued A call then went out for
volunteers. Scores OF husky young
Kansas. many war veterans an
swered the appeal They started 20
work in the face OF a blizzard but
they turned out coal. State troops
were brought into the district 70
guard the workers. with federal
troops at hand for reserve duty.
Tentative Plan
The Kansas governor organized a
temporary executive Office in Pitts
burg and while here formed a ten
tative plan for a court OF industrial
relations. W L. Higgins, then chair
man OF the Kansas state public utili-
ties commission. and Judge +. G.
Price, leader In the state senate
and chairman OF the judiciary com
mittee were called into conference.
A dav or two later the governor is
sued a call for an extraordinary ses-
sion OF the state legislature and IN
January the law creating the court
OF Industrial relations was enacted
UOWat. meanwhile at meetings OF
the miners I'm Indiana. Ohio and iii
uois. declared the law was designed
TO enslave the working people or
Kansas" He threatened a fresh
strike OF the Kansas miners
After the new industrial court had
begun fuuctioning Il was announced
an Investigation OF the coal mining
Industry OF the state would be held
here The court assembled and
HOwat and other officials OF the
mine workers were summoned TO
appear Is witnesses. The order was
ignored.
The presiding fudge then applied
70 Judge A J. Curran of the Craw-
ford county district court 20 order
Howat 10 appear before the indus
trial court When HOwat and the
other officials did not appear, Judge
Curran found them in contempt and
frqc u
jail until such time as they consent
70 appear before the Kansas indus
trial relations court and answer all
questions asked them"
Long An Official.
Howat IS serving his 18th year as
an official or the United Mine Work
ers. he was born In Scotland and
came u the United States when
three years old At 10 years old he
vent 20 work in a coal mine. A foe
20 compromise when the nation wide
bituminous strike was settled m
November. 1919. Howat denounced
some phases OF the settlement. ON
Dec. %. 1919. he was sent 20 Jail
IN indianapolis for contempt because
strike IN the mines Of the Cen
trail Coal and Coke Co. I'm Kansas,
called the previous July. was still IN
progress after the nationwide set
Element Howat was released the
next day upon his promise. 10 was
said. that he would endeavor 90 in
duCe the miners 20 return 90 work.
The court OF industrial relations
which launched into am entirely new
field Of legislative eudeavOr. was att
tackled before the Kansas Legislature
bv representative Of capital and
labor Ample time was given both
sides 20 present arguments. and the
biiI was condemned as inimical TO
the interests of capital and labor
alike Mr. Higgins presented the
views Of the public. Both houses of
the Legislature adopted the measure
a. overwhelming majoriIcs.
New Law Operates
The ue.r law has been i'm operation
only q Few months but petitions have
been filed under its provisions by
local state and national labor union
organizations. as well as by groups
Of workers and by Individuals. To no.
only prohibits strikes and lock-outs
In essential Industries hut 10 re-
ouires essential Industries 20 operate
with "a reasonable continuity ncccS-
slrv for the protection Of the pub
lie"
The court which 81 created is en-
powered 20 regulate wages hours
and WORKING conditions, pending
agreement between employer and
employe. labor officials or employ
ers violating provisions of the law
may be charged with felony sub
let 20 PENALTIES reaching a maxi