The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-16
Waiting Some Official
Statement From Court
On Question
LEWIS AND VINSON
Statements From Men on
Opposite Sides in
Case

cen placed on the recent order {
40 federal appeal court at CHI
ago directing the injunction o
le check-otf to be recast. In fac
iametically opposite views hav
cen expressed in newspaper CON
lent so that th ematter Is more O
,ss chaos until Official court OF
ers have been made. Quite a fe'
pal operators believe here tha
ne check off may be retained bu
nat under the order none OF tn
loney can be used to do union ol
work in the non-unio
elds of southern West Virginia.
Although having no official
opinion at hand, Attorney 2.
Taylor Vinson. Huntington.
one OF the. counsel of the
plaintiffs in the issue tho
BorderlaRd Coal Corporation,
said this afternoon that he
interpreted the newspaper
dispatches to mean victory
for the nou-union operators
of West Virginia.
His understanding OF the
recent ruling of the appeal
court at Chicago is that the
check off under the existing
contract will remain in force
but. that none of the moneys
collected by this system can
be used to unionize the non
union fields of West Virginia.
"We have gained all that
we had hoped for" said Attor-
ney Yinson, who added that
is to keep the United Mine
workers, OF America from or
Canl2ing the non-union fields
of West Virginia" so far
as we are concerned we do
not care H. they collect taelr
fund as long az fiiey are stop
nad from using it to organize
: the non-union fields OF West
Continuing Attorney Tay-
lor said From my interPreta-
tfon Of news dispatches the
court has found that a gtgan-
tic conspiracy exists between
the coal operators Of the cen
trail competitive field tunioAD
and the UnItel Mine Wor><!s
of America in order to keep
out competition from that see
tion Of the country from coal
produced in the non-union
fields of West Virginia /" This
the plaintiff contendAd all
through the case.
Lewis Views.
Interpretation of the court d
ision by John L. Lewis, IndiaI
nolis, president Of the Unite
line Workers of America, is tht
, is a complete victory for II
1iners, and permits the miners
Vest Virginia to join the union.
Late this afternoon the follow
ne wire was received by The We!
from President Lewis:
"The decision Of the United
States circuit court of appeals
mt Chicago in the Borderland
Coal Corporation case puts a
stop to the brazcn attempt of
coal companies to choke the
United Mine Workers of
America to death by abolish
ing the check off. The report
says the check off is legal and
that the miners have a right
to pay their union dues. In
that way the decision also
says the United Mine Work
ers have the right to carry
on their organization CAM
paign in West Virginia by
lawful methods and that men
have the right to join the un-
ion if they so desire. Thus
the strangle hold Of the non
union operators has been bro
ken and West Virginia miners
are free to exercise their con-
stitutional rights to come into
the union. The decision is
highly important and sustains
every contention of the United
Mine Workers in regard to the
check off and the right to or
ganize."
Buying Is Limited
Very limited quantity OF coal
eing purchased in the east. a
ording to a number OF reports r
eIved hera from coal tradesme
rho have been in that directto
ncently. Excuses generally use
J the elimination Of war tax Q
rcfght after January /, which
per cent. on freight shipment
nd there IS also an impressio
hat freight rates will be revive
arly In the new Srnr, which,
purse. Is hardly probable. althoug
his idea has gone broadca'
hrough the east,
Mining School
This evening at 1880 o'cloclSs
.airmont mining extension
ill hold its session,
Q the last Of the
lass work will b
ry 9th. ToniE
dam CrawfoT
xaminntion
afety lampS
tCoutip