The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-31
ORDER BANS
ORGANIZING
OF MINERS
Anderson's Injunction Re
strains U. M. w. A. in
Williamson Fields.

Indianapolis, Ind, Oct. 81
An injunction directed al stop
ping the United Mine Workers
OF America from efforts to un-
iOnize the Williamson coal
fields in West Virginia, where
miners have been on strike for
more than IL year. was issued
today by Federal Judge 4. B.
Anderson, on the ground that
the union was seeking 10 re-
strain trade.
After Judge AndeTson's an
nouncement of the order. some de-
lay in its formal issuance was oc-
casioned 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
miners efforts in West Virginia
were in furtherance of a conspir-
acy with operators in organized un-
ion fields. to shut off the competi-
ton of the non-union mined coal.
In discussing with counsel the
text of the order, Judge Anderson
said he would not enioin peaceful
efforts of the union TO organize
West Virginia.
Further in the discussion the
judges aid:
VIII Stop "Check- on"
81 am holding the effort to IN
ionize West Virginia is unlawful in
itself because it is an effort to sup
press competition.
The Judge also said he would en-
ioin the "check-off'' system Of oper-
ators deducting union dues from
miners wages.
In a statement of reasons for is
suing the order made before he be
gan the discussion of the text OF
the order, Judge Anderson said:
This court can not police West
Virginia nor does it hold that the
United Mine Workers union is it
self an unlawful organization, nor
will it in any way attempt TO cur
tail its lawful activities; but 1t
can enjOin the unlawful activities
of the parties mere in Indiana, who
are here now under the jurisdiction
of this court. and a temporary in
junction to that effect will be is
sued.r
Judge Anderson, preceding a dis
cussion of the text of an Injunction
against the United Mine Workers OF
America, which was asked by the
Borderland Coal corporation and
sixty other operators of the West
Virginia field, made statement III
which he said:
Tie bill AYERS and the proof
h iV1a n n y
arrangement - conspiracy - be
tween the United Mine Workers Of
America and the coal operators in
the so-calIed central competitive
field to destroy what some Of the
conspirators call the vicious COM
petition OF the West Virginia mines.
Bumps Sherman Act
almost all of the coal produced
in West Virginia is shipped out Of
the state in interstate commerce
and the business OF the plaintiff is
shown to be interstate. 1t lifts its
coal oW Of its mines in one state
and places it upon cars Tor ship
ment in another. The evidence
shows that the competition com
planned of, and sought TO be de-
stroyed. is competition in the sale
+ of bituminous coal throughout the
/ several states. A conspiracy TO de-
stroy such competition is in direct
'contravention CT the Sherman anti
trust act, as section l, OF that act
provides:
Effort at Monopoly.
Every contract, combination in
the form OF trust or otherwise, or
conspiracy i'll restraint OF trade or
commerce, among the several
states, OF with foreign nations, Is
hereby declared 10 be illegal
The bituminOus coal fields Of the
United States are already unionIZcd,
except a portion of West Virginia,
and a small portion Of the south
western part Of the country. and an
effort 10 Unionize. the West Virginia
mines is part of an effort to mon
CpoIize the coal industry in the
United States, until, as one Of the
conspirators says, the Union Miac
workers Organization shall cover
/ every coal producing state in thu
republic.
EnNmA VEIIEna3