The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-29

goes on to tell us how the Workers
Party, at that time lead in the Pitts
burg district by Fred Merrick, had
met with considerable success in the
newly organized mine fields, particu-
larly those controlled by the Fl. G.
F'riek Coal and Coke Co, Their in
fluence within the ranks of certain
elements Of the miners from this field
has been very embarrassing to the
so-called reaetionary leaders Of Dis
triet No. 5, Of the United Mine Work
ers."
Strikebreaker Lewis.
The story reviews the calling off
of the strike in this field by the In
ternational and the formation Of the
Miners Relief Committee through
which food was distributed to those
workers who remained out and who
refused to be trapped back to work
by the Lewis order. 1t tells about
the conference of militant miners to
protest against the action of the ma
chine.
H0wat on the Job.
"These various conferences" the
document continues, resulted in form
ing the Miners Progressive Commit
tee and the calling into the field Of
Alex Howat of Kansas strike fame
Howat is an expelled officer of the
United Mine Workers. as a result of
his defiance of the Kansas Industrial
Court and Incarceration in Jail for
defiance of this court. The Miners
Progressive Committee Immediately
started to coordinate the work of all
the disgruntled factions of the United
Mine Workers of America, centering
their activities in the Prick field"
1t then tells how several conferences
Of the militants "were broken up by
the officers and followers of the regu-
lar officers of District No. s." How
ever, it admits that Howat and 9th
ers had developed quite a following
and had arranged for a national con-
ference which was to convene in Pitts
burg June 2. This made the official
dom Of the miners union desperate.
This is how the employers document
puts it:
Enter Justice"
Naturally, all this has resulted in
considerable embarrassment to the
regular officers of the United Mine
Workers with the result that a few
weeks ago, they called upon the Pitts
burg office of the United States de-
partment Of justice with complaint
against Merrick, Howat, ct al. with
kbu{ I.
ted because of their activities in the
Workers. Party. 1t was explained to
these leaders that there was no fed
eral violation by citizens in partici-
pating in the Workers Party activi-
ties, but that there was a state viola
ton under the anti-sedition act. It
was suggested to these leaders that
they use their influences with the
county and city officials and the state
police and if they could get these Of
ficials to act the government agents
would lend all of-the expert assistance
possible"
The statement of the employers
association continues:
"Mr. Mitchell Palmer" Lewis.
"The Mine Workers officers fol
lowed these suggestions-som of the
International officers coming to Pitts
burg TO push this prosecution. (italics
ours). As usual, in cases of this kind,
where politics is the ruling force, the
aid of the county, city and state Of
ficials was easily secured, particularly
when the possible votes of the United
Mine Workers in elections were
dangled before their eyes. When
these officials agreed to act, the head
of the department of justice was Of
ficially enlisted with the result that
arrangements for the raids were made
by the department of justice men who
instructed the city, county, and state
police as to whom to raid, the man
ner Of making the raid, etc"
This n xuill ha racaIlad ;~ s,,ct