The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-02

wv SAhOAS Vic duOAAOAAty W NAidl
agreements to suit itself. Off
GERS and members of a union
engaging in a strike were made
liable to fine and imprison-
ment. An injunction was also
issued prohibiting strikes.
The Kansas miners fought
the Industrial Court Law in the
1920 election campaign, and
engaged attorneys to try to get
It declared unconstitutional by
the courts. But shortly after
the passage of the Law in
1920, the Convention Of Dis
trct IA adopted as a policy in
reference to this law, that IL Il be-
came necessary to strike in violation
Oh tnis law, as many strikes should
be called as necessary to protect the
interests of the miners, and the
Convention pledged the full snp-
port of the Kansas miners Ia their
officials in case the latter should
be prosecuted under the Industrial
policy. w
Howat for Rank and File.
After the passage of the Indus
trial Court Law, there were sew
eral strikes of the miners but the
Law was not invoked against them
Tor nearly year and q half. until
May, 1921. At that time. Howat
hao ordered strike against coal
company which failed to pay to
one Carl Michmash, some 5000
claimed by him on the grounds that
ne had attained the age of nineteen
and was entitled to mans nav.
The company disputed the Young
mans age and the case has been
IN controversy prior to the passage
OF the Industrial Court Law. The
case had already been settled ac
cordlng TO contract procedure and
young Michmash had won his case
but the company would not pay the
money claiming it had new evidence
to show that he was younger than
ne claimed. But the company failed
to present this evidence and Howat
FIR" lly in May, 1921, called a strike
wi.-ch soon resulted in the money
being paid to Michmash.
Allen now got busy with his In
dustrial Court Law and the anti
strike injunction issued as a part
of the same policy. Howat was SEN
fenced to jail on various counts
and on Sept. 80, 1921, began to do
his time, which totaled up to six
teen months before he was finally
released in January, 1923. Vice
President Dorchy was fellow pris-
oner of Howat's.
HOwat Kills Slave Law.
The day that Howat went to jail.
the Kansas miners went on strike
for the purpose Of proving that altho
their leaders could be sent to Jail,
strikes could not be prevented by
legislation or injunction.
After some four months, the strike
on the advice of Howat, was dis
continued, its purpose having been
accomplished. Not a single arrest
under the Industrial Court Law
after the falling Of Howat was made
because Of this strike and since the
day of its inception the Industrial
Court Law in Kansas has been
dead letter and all efforts to imi-
tate it in other states have failed
because of its total defeat at the
hands of the Kansas miners.
At the time that Governor Allen
prosecuted Howat under his Indus
trial Court policy, the latter was
involved in a controversy with
President Lewis. On March &c, 1921,
a dispute arose at the Dean strip
mine. The pit was not loading any
coal and the company wanted some
dirt moved to make a track. They
wanted the coal-loading shovels to
do this work with four men. The
men demanded that the laboring gang
be given work also, claiming that
the custom at the mine was to en-
ploy the laborers when the coal
loading shovel was used on such
job. The company claimed that the
custom at the mine allowed them
to use the shovel for this work with
out the laborers being called out.
According to the proceedings of
the International Convention, How
ats statement shows that the coal
loading shovel broke down while be-
ing moved to the place where the
company wanted the work DONE
Howat also claimed that the big
excavating shovel was laid idle
shortly afterwards because Of the
company's endeavor to violate the
contract, and their action in sending
the crew home when they requested
that the contract be lived up to.
Company at Fault.
Turnout the whole discussion Of
his case, Iiowat has consistently
maintained that the mine was laid
idle thru the fault Of the company,
which endeavored TO introduce new
customs at this mine, and which al
lowed this broken-down shovel to
remain unrepaired for months while
| NJ the Same time IL was endeavorin0