The Connecticut labor news., 1921-11-04

The suit on which the injunction was given and which serves as a screen for powerful interests, was in stituted by an obscure coal company. The. court has a unique system whereby he can break the Mingo county strike This is his theory . The miners are financing this move ment and the union coal owners are making the collection of dues possi ble. If the ''check off" is outlawed, the miners will not pay dues vo1un- tarily and the strike will collapse for lack oi financial assistance! This Is the estimate an injunction judge places on men who have waged some ot the most heroic battles for indus trial justice in this country, and who, together with their wives and chil- dren, are now facing a winter, housed in tents, in the mountains of West Virginia, that they may have the right of collective action, free speech, and ire assenblage.
 Judge Anderson laid great stress on the first section of the Sherman anti trust law:
 Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or con spiracy in restraint of trade or com merce among the several states, or with foreign nations, is hereby de- clared illegal"
 The court ignores the controversy that has ragged for years-whether that section applies to labor unions. He also ignores the fact that in 1914 congress ended the controversy ,as far as fair-minded men are concern ed, by passing the Clayton amend ments to the antitrust law. Section 6 of these amendments provides:
 Nor shall such organizations (of workers and farmers), or the mem bers thereof, be held or construed to be illegal combinations or conspir- acies in restraint of trade under the antitrust laws"
 The "check of'' injunction is an order to the coal owners to break their contract with employees. The miners show that the check off, was recognized by the governments bitu- minous commission appointed by the President of the United States in 1919. This award was the basis for present agreements. Officers of the United Mine Workers presem their compliments to Judge Anderson by this notice to afiliates in I6 states:
 Any abrogation or setting aside of any part or section of this agree ment, including the section providing for the checking off of union dues and assessments, can not be regard ed as other than a violation of the agreement and should be treated ac- cOrdingly by the district officers and local unions within your jurisdiction"
 The states into which the message was sent were Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Mis- souri, Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Wyoming, Montana and Washington. The message did not go to officials of the three anthracite districts of Pennsylvania or to partly organized check off, is not used there.
 While no course of conduct for union officials was outlined by the telegram, 1t was said authoritatively that the international officers regard ed the strike as the unions only weapon to enforce a contract. The telegram was sent to officials in I6 states, where the "check off, provis- ion prevails and where 35o,ooo of the 55O,OoO union miners are employed.
 Suspension of Judge Anderson's temporary injunction was toxbe asked today of the circuit court of appeals at Chicago by counsel for the United Mine Workers of America. Counsel for the Indiana operators, who op- posed the in junction suit before Judge Anderson did not join in the appeal
 (Contin1,ed on Pace Fiobt