The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-15
KANSAS MINERS
APPLAUD HOWBT
IN CONVENTION
District No. IA SoIidly
Behind Leader.
BY TOM TTPPETT

international President John l..
Lewis, United Mine Workers of
America, will not come to Kansas
and debate with Alexander Howat,
! deposed president Of District IA,
whose convention is in session here.
A wire from President Lewis said
that any information on information
al policy that the delegates wished to
know could be obtained from inter-
national men attending the conven-
ton. The telegram was reply to
one inviting Lewis here to debate the
Kansas trouble with Howat.
Rank and File Wins.
These are gala days for the rank
and file delegates attending this con-
vention. They have won victory af-
ter victory hands down from OPPOSE
ton forces. More laurels were added
to their number when word reached
the convention that the U. S. SUI
preme court had dealt another blow
at the Kansas court Of industrial re-
lations, by reversing the action of
the Kansas supreme court in the Au-
gust Dorchy case. This decision
frees Dorothy from further Jail SEN
fences and concludes the funeral rites
to the "slave law" that was killed
long ago by these same delegates
and their fellow coal 'diggers who
persistently deied it by direction.
The day following the court deci-
sion Alexander Howat addressed the
convention by special action of the
delegation taken the day before. The
large convention hall was full when
the hour for Howat's speech arriv-
ed. Women as well as men came in
from the camps to hear the man who
has been expelled from union mem
bership two and a half years by ac-
ton of the international organization.
Howat was given a splendid recep-
ton, the undivided attention OF his
listeners and an ovation at the con-
clusion of his address. He made
mention Of his own trouble only by
inference, saying that he would be
in the union when many oS those
who are now fighting him are for
gotten; that no man could keep him
out of the labor movement and that
his faith is $50 strong that, regard
less Of the obstacles that stand in
the way, in the end justice must and
shall prevail"
Other highlights of Howat's speech
were:
"The coal operators and all other
large employers of labor will respect
the workers only when the workers
are powerful enough to force their
respect"
"Kar1as coal operators say they
will not sign contract for three
years if / am re-instated into the
union. l thank them for that COM
pliment."
Howat Hits Slave Law.
Speaking of the industrial court
act which Howat termed a "slave
law he said: "The coal diggers of
Kansas killed that law by refusing to
recognize it and they prevented such
law from being enacted in other
states by their action. {. f. Law max
ers must wake laws to respect the
people if they want the people to re-
spect the laws"
Howat paid his respects to ex-gov-
ernor Allen, author of the law by
calling him a miserable failure and
beautiful liar. When the industrial
court fight was on Howat said a
preacher came to see him from To-
peka, the state capital. He told Howat
it was his duty to love Allen and
Howat said: al do love him; like he
loves me, or like these miserable coal
operators love the coal diggers who
produce their coal"
The man of God asked Howat what
he thought Jesus would do if he were
suddenly to come upon earth. Howat
said: IF Christ were to come here
tomorrow the first thing he ought to
do would be to go to Topeka and
clean Governor Allen and the crooked
legislators out Of the capitol build
ing" The minister left, Howat told
the crowd that was beside itself With
laughter. Allen now runs a news
paper and Howat finished his refer
ence to him by saying: 'If Allen tells
as many lies in his paper as he told
the people when he was in this dis
trict, God help the folks that read
that miserable sheet Of his"
Howat concluded by pleading for
an independent political party Of the
workers and farmers so that govern
ment corruption may be eliminated
and so that "85 per cent Of the
people who produce the nations
wealth might come into their own"
He ended by saying that if ever in
his life he is confronted with another
law that strikes at the workers
rights as did the industrial law he
will fight it "just as we did this
one" He does not regret single
thing done against the "slave law"
he said and thanked those present
who stood by him so Loyalty in the
fight. Howat has spent 16 months
in jail for violating the industrial