South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-21
Marjorie Barker OOerthrO70 HOu'at
Asks Court order For Refusing TO
In Unique Action Call off Strike

KANSAS CITY, Mo, Dec. 20
Overturning of the administration of
Pres't Alexander Howat of the
Kansas miners union took place on
~ after Howat had been given re-
peated opportunities to present his
case and to meet the wishes of the
International union by calling off a
strike then in progress, John l..
Lewis, president of the international,
testified Tuesday in the suit brought
here by the deposed officials TO re-
strain the international from setting
up or continuing a provisional ad-
ministration in thc Kansas coal
fields.
The Howat government was sue
! ceeded by a provisional organization
established by Lewis. Early this
month a temporary injunction was
granted against the international Of
ficials and the present proceedings
are to determine whether the order
shall be as permanent.
Lewis Chief Witness.
Lewis was the principal witness
Tuesday afternoon and at the con-
clusion of this testimony the session
was adjourned until Wednesday.
Mr.. Lewis testified that he had
sent a commission OF two members
into Howat's district TO present an
unprecedented report before ne took
any action whatever on formal
complaint of breach of contract
made 10 him by w. /. A. Johnson,
general commissioner of the south
western operators association.
This complaint, Lewis said, reach
ed him in April after a strike had
been ordered by district officials
against the Dean and Reliance mines
in the Kansas field.
Ordered by Convention.
He said the district officials had
] been directed to call off the strike
, by the international executive board
and that their position had been
backed up later by the international
convention at Indianapolis last Sep
TENDER
Questioned "a 10 what Howat said
about complying with the orders OF
the executive board. Lewis testified
"He said. in substance and effect,
that he was out OF harmony with
the international executive board. He
said he had not complied with its
orders in the matter Of the Dean and
Reliance mines"
1t had been previously testified al
the hearing that the order Of the IN
ternational board TO Howat has been
TO order the men back 20 work, and
adjudicate TO his controversies with
the coal companies through a local
arbitration board provided or that
purpose by a contract signed be
tween the district IA board Howat
himself signing. and the Southwest
ern Interstate Coal Operators asso-
citation.
| "To He'll with Somebody.
Mr.. Howat said further" Lewis
I testified that they could go 20 hell"
! I don't know TO whom he referred
but I took il. he meant that the in
I ternatiOnal organization and the in
ternational executive and the conven-
tion could so TO hell. Anyhow he
said somebody could go 20 hell
Another witness Tuesday was
John Fleming, acting president OF
/ the suspended organization during
| the Incarceration in Jail at Columbus
of HOwat and August Dorchy. union
vice president, for calling strikes In
violation Of the state industrial
court law
Fleming particularly as 20 the
present strike in the Kansas field
which followed the sending to Jail OF
Howat and Dorchy. He said that the
strike was called by the men "a a
protest and said ne had no immedi-
ate intention OF issuing orders de-
clarinS u ended