Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-03
HALTS UNIONS
IN W. VIRGINIA
Federal Judge Anderson Restricts
Mine Workers in William
son Field.
SAYS THEY RESTRAIN TRADE
Declares Proof Shows Working Ar
rangement Plot Between United
Mine Workers and Opera
tors of Central Field.

Indianapolis, Nov. IAN injunction
directed at stopping the United Mine
Workers of America from efforts t.
unioniZe the Williamson coal field In
West Virginia. where miners have
been on strike for more than year
was issued by Federal Judge Anderson
on the ground that the union was
seeking to restrain trade.
After Judge Anderson's announce
ment of the order, some delay in Its
formal issuance was occasioned by a
discussion between court and counsel
as to the exact text Of the order.
The court did not deny the right of
workers to organize, but held the min
ers' efforts In West Virginia were In
furtheranee of a conspiracy with 0per-
ators In organized union fields to shut
off the competition of the nonunion
mined coal In discussing with coun-
sci the text OF the order, Judge An
derson said he. would not enjoin
peaceful efforts" Of the union to or
ganize West Virginia.
Further i'm the discussion, the judge
unionize West Virginia is unlawful In
itself because 1t Is an effort to sup
press competition" The judge also
said he would enjoin the "check-off"
system of operators deducting union
dues from miners wages.
Can Enjoin Unlawful Acts.
In a statement of reasons for issu-
ing the order made before he began
the discussion of the text of the or
der. Judge Anderson said:
'This court cannot police West Vir-
gania, nor does II hold that the
United Mine Workers union Is itself
an unlawful organization, nor will IL
In any way attempt to curtall its law
full activities; but Ii can enjoin the
unlawful activities OF the parties here
In Indiana, who are here now under
the jurisdiction OF this court and
temporary injunction to that effect
will be issued"
Judge Anderson, preceding dis
eussion of the text of the Injunction,
which was asked by the Borderland
Coal cooperation and GO other operators
of the West Virginia field made
statement In which he said
The bill AYERS and the proof shows
combination and working arrange
ment--a conspiracy-betwee the
United Mine Workers of America and
the coal operators in the so-called cen
trail competitive field, To destroy what
some of the conspirators call the
vicious competition OF the West yir-
ginia mines.
THE bituminous coal fields of the
United States are already unionzed
except portion Of West Virginia
ana small section of the southwest
ern part of the country, and an effort
to unioni2e the West Virginia mines
Is part Of nm effort 10 monopolze NIL
the coal industry In the United States,
until, as one of the conspiratorS says.
the United Mine Workers organiza-
ton shall cover every coal-producing
state In the republic.
Organize to Raise Prices.
"Ihe method agreed upon aud adopt
ed by the conspiators To thus destroy
lie the West Virginia field These
West Virginia operators desire Ia run
their mines on nonunion basis
"'rhe effort ON the part of the de.
PENDANTS To unionlze these mines, and
thus compel the operators to unwill-
ingly run upon the union basis. would
result either In the suppression of
this nonunion mining altogether or
would put such restrictions on II ms
to accomplish the objects of the con.
spirators, namely, raise the price of
the West Virginia product so that It
could not compete with the so-called
competitive field
"'fhe attempt 20 to this was con-
tlnued for some tllne by the usual in
cidentS of violence and exhibitions Of
force, and matters progressed until II
state of war existed In West Virginia
which the state government was I'm.
able ia put down, and upon the call
of the state authorities the President
of the United States declared martial
law. sent federal troops into West
Virginia ana restored order.
"'rhe evidence shows that members
of the mine workers union pur.
chased firearms and ammunition and
otherwise financed the violent actlv.
tiles In behalf of the unloniziug forces
In West Virginia, and this state OF
war continued until the President son,
troops into the state. AMI Il Is only
held In allowance because of the act
"rhe evidence clearly shows that
the mine operators know--at least
they know now-that this money thus
contributed by them through the
'check-ofr system Is used In this un
lawful manner. II therefore follow,
that the use OF such money should b,
enjoined. and the carrying ON of IN,
'checkoff' system MS a means for rails
ing II should likewise be eniolned,"
r. n. Wadleieh Appointed by Hoover
Washington, Nov. 1.-Anpointmen