Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-07
Atty. Generals Statement

Washington, April s = Attorney
General Daugherty according to a
letter written by him to Representa-
tive. Bland. Republican. Indiana, and
read into the house labor committee
bituminous coal operators of the
country need have no fear of prose
cution under the Sherman Act should
they participate in conference with
union miners.
The attorney generals letter was
placed in the record by Represen-
tative Bland after reference to state
ments of some mine operators that
in view of indictments recently re-
turned by a federal grand jury in
Indianapolis against operators and
miners, they feared to meet miners
representatives in conference
The letter written by Mr.. Daugh-
erty follows:
II have your letter of this date
making inquiry of me as to the at
titude of the department Of justice
with respect to conference be-
tween the operators and the miners
of the central competitive fields.
IT beg to advise you that indict-
ments were found in the Indiana
federal court against large num-
Der of operators and a large number
Of miners for things charged to have
been done by them at meetings where
conferences similar to those now pro-
posed took place. The indictments
We're found prior to the time of my
assuming the office Of attorney gem
eral of the United States Some of
those indicted were residents of
states other than the state of In
diana. In practically all OF the
states outside Of Indiana certain de-
PENDANTS resisted removal proceed
ings and these removal proceedings
are still pending.
"While the department Of justice
has not been officially asked by any
body to state the position of the de-
partment in regard to these indict-
ments or in regard to seeking other
indictments in case such a meeting
as had been under discussion recent
~ should be held. I have. in public
statements and private conversations
very frankly stated that considering
the agreement of two years ago be-
tweef the miners and operators in
this particular field. and, it may be
said. the government participating in
that agreement. that meeting
should be held prior to the 31st day
Of March 1922. I felt it the duty Of
H. b., g., ~
a meeting Both sides have known
all along informally that it was my
judgment that a meeting should be
held, because of the peculiar situa-
ton with reference to the meeting
which had previously been held
which provided upon adjournment for
subsequent meeting. and to which
agreement the government was more
or less a party.
"Now, having taken that position
is it likely that the department of
Justice would undertake the 'prosecu-
ton against men for doing a thing
which is advised under the circum-
stances should be done? Nobody
connected with this department has
made any statement to the effect
that a prosecution would he under
taken il meeting. such s was con-
templated by the resolution provid-
ing for the same. were to be held.
The question as to fear of the gov
ernment's action was never, to my
knowledge raised until the recent re-
fusal of the operators to hold such a
meeting. To my knowledge the ques-
ton was not raised when the oper-
ators, some months ago were willing
at least. If they did not urge, that a
meeting should be held, at which
time, as am advised, the miners re-