The labor world., 1921-12-03
0USTED FROM OFFICE FOR ONE
REASON; IN JAIL FOR ANOTHER
Officers Of United Mine Workers Tell Why Howat and Asso.
ciates Were Removed; Not Square with Cause

indianapolis, Ind, Dec. H.
Alexander Howat, former presi-
dent Of the United Mine Workers
Of America, District II, is in Jail
at Columbus, Kan, for one reason
and he was removed from office
as president by John L. Lewis,
international president, for an
entirely different reason, accord
ing to all article appearing in the
current issue of the United Mine
Workers journal, official publi-
cation Of the international union.
The Journal says:
Only Kick Up Dust.
Some Of those men who are in open
rebellion against the laws Of the
union are spreading the word that the
autonomy Of District IA was suspend
ed by the international organization
and the officers of that district re-
moved from office because those dis
trict officials were making a fight
against the Kansas Industrial court
Law.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth and, OF course, those who make
such statements know they are I'M
true. 1t is only an attempt on their
part to kick up a. lot Of dust to hide
their illegal and indefensible conduct
in violating the fundamental laws OF,
the union and the basic provisions
OF their agreement with the coal op-
orators Of that district. There is
nothing else to it.
Union Law Breakers.
These district officers were not re-
moved from office because OF their
fight against the Kansas Industrial
court law. They were removed be-
cause they refused to obey the laws
Of their own union and the decision
Of their own international union, They
called strikes that were violations Of
the Joint agreementss.; 49,. =:
The international union directed
them to put the striking miners back
at work and then take up the griey-
anceS in the regular way, as pro.
vlded by the Joint agreement. They
refused to do this, but defied the in
ternational officers and international
union. Then the international con-
Ventlon' the highest authority in the
organization, decided by am over
wheaming vote that they should put.
the striking miners back at work.
Still they refused and defied the con-
vention.
For that reason, and that reason
alone, they were removed from Of
flee and the autonomy Of District II
was suspended. The Kansas indus
trial court was not involved in the
case In any manner whatever, al
: though some Of these men have at.
tempted to hide behind their avn
shadows and mako the people believe
that they were being prosecuted be-
cause they were fighting the Kansas
industrial court law.
Never Fought Kansas Law.
The bald fact is that the officers
OF District IA never have fought tho
Kansas industrial court law. They
have fought the court, but they have
not, even up to this hour. made any
attack upon the law creating the court
nor have they made any effort what
ever to have the Kansas Industrial
court law set aside or repealed.
Throughout all Of their dranatics
and heroics they have merely de-
nounced and defied the Kansas in
dustrial court and then paraded be-
fore the public, with the spotlight
turned on beating their breasts and
shouting, Il am a hero.' It was a
clear case OF playing to the grand
stand, all of which was at the ex-
pense OF the Kansas miners and the
good name Of the union.
Validity Not Tested.
Som etimes the thought arises that
perhaps the officers of District Ia
were not as anxious to have the Kan
sas industrial court law knocked out
as they appeared to be from their
declarations. AS above stated, they
never made any effort to have the
law wiped out.
"They violated the Industrial court
law numerous times and had them
'gelves arrested. but in no case did
they start any proceedings that could
test the constitutionality of the law
itself. And when the international
union offered to cooperate with and
assist Alexander Howat to make q
"NooA IcSL VI IAc IA " 41O""I OAO
not accept the offer Of assistance.
sincerity Of purpose would have
prompted him to accept the help OF
the international union, instead OF
&. s.3.s completely ignoring the offer. just
"a Why he ignored the offer no one ex-
cept Howat himself knows.
Recent developments. however
would seem to indicate that he had
burning desire to go to jail instead
and thus attain the self imposed dis.
tinction Of being martyr with the
limelsht shining brightly upon him
..rr. Indulge in Deception.
"Howat and those who support him
are indulging in bare-faced deception
of the membership when they make
= the statement that the officers Of
District II were removed from office
because of their activities against th.
Kansas industrial court. The Kansa!
industrial court law had nothing tt
(Continued ON page 2.)
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