The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-04
Patton Strike Called March %
Settled by Union.
Peace Came on Eve of Trial of
Mine Car.
STATE ASKS PEACE BONI
With Five of ssCabinet" Must
Face Court Wednesday.
Coal Company Pays 81, 200 to
Striking Miners.

Pittsburg, Kan, April 4.-Settle-
ment of the strike at the mines of the
Patton Coal and Mining company. in
progress since March %, was an
nounced today.
Alexander Howat and five other Of
ficials of the Kansas Miners union
are to be tried Wednesday morning
before Judge A. J. Curran in district
court here for contempt of court for
calling the strike in violation of an
injunction issued by Judge Curran
last fall
Union Claims Victory.
The settlement of the strike is said
by the miners union officials to have
been a. complete victory for the con-
tention of the union. This is not dis
puted by the company officials. altho
no statement was forthcoming from
them. The mines of the company are
to resume operation at once. the stipu-
lation being that they shall be in full
operation by next Wednesday.
The strike was called by Howat and
the. union district board because the
Patton company was not operating the
mines and it was alleged the failure
to operate was reprisal against the
: local union at a steam shovel mine
which had insisted on the discharge
of a foreman.
| The company discharged the fore
man but practically closed the mine.
In the settlement announced today,
provision is made for the return to
work of six men of the steam shovel
night crew and the payment to them
/ of $1,000 which they would have
earned, had they been allowed to
work.
| Goes to Trial Wednesday.
| Preparations are being made for the
trial of Alexander Howat and five
other district officials of the Kansas
Coal Miners unions before Judge A
j. .Curran in the Crawford county dis
trict court, Wednesday.
The union officials charged with
contempt of court in calling a strike
of the miners Of the Patton coal and
mining company two weeks ago are
j-due to face Judge Curran at 9ao'clock
/ As the evidence is expected to be
similar to that presented at the trial
| of Howat and the other officials ir
February for calling the Mackie
strike, it is not anticipated that the
trial will consume more than one day
l. 1t was not believed in mining cir
cles here today that the settlement OF
the strike would at all affect the pro-
secution OF Howat and his associates
wednesday for contempt of court
The settlement, it was pointed out
i would not lessen the contempt The
contempt was in calling the strike and
1t is pointed out, the Termination OF
the strike would not legally affect the
contempt.
Ask Peace Bond for Howat.
The state will ask Judge Curran OF
the Crawford county district court tc
place Alexander Howat under peace
bond. Howat and several of his lieu.
tenants are to appear before the dis
trict court in Girard Wednesday tt
answer second contempt charge.
One contempt order by Judge Cur
ran is now being contested before the
United States supreme court. TIVE
weeks ago Howat again won a con
tempt citation when he ordered a new
strike in the Pittsburg coal fields. II
| order to overcome the trouble which
Howat persistently carries to state of.
ficials, the attorney generals office
will ask that the mine union leader
be placed under bond to observe cour
| orders and maintain the peace.
Settlement of the coal miners strik,
at Pittsburg will have no effect ol
the prosecution of Alexander Howa
= and the other union officials in callin;
the strike, Governor Allen said thi
afternoon. Attorney General Hopkin
and Judges Crawford and McDermot
of the industrial court left today 70
the hearing Wednesday.