Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-15
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Despite an almost complete absence
Of adequate financial records, the La
Toilette Civil Liberties Committee es-
tablished today that the Harlan Coun-
ty, KY, Coal Operators Association
Kept its Golfers well filled with funds
to fight unionization efforts in the
rich soft coal mines of that area.
Taking in as much as $4,000 a
year through assessment of its mem
bars, the ASSOCIATION spends less than
half of this sum on routine activities.
This conclusion was reached on the
basis of persistent committee ques-
tioning of George S. Ward, secretary
of the association, who said ne pur-
posely kept few records but admitted
that assessments were doubled when
ever union membership drives loomed.
Patching together the partial figures
for 1885, the committee established an
income of 5000 for that year, with
about $4,000 in expenditures &C
counted for and $4,000 uncovered as a
bank surplus. Under further question:
ing, Ward accounted for part of the
remaining $4,000 by gifts of $1,000 to
the Boy Scouts, $500 to the Girl Scouts
and miscellaneous expenses such as
supplies and insurance.
Ward then told of an expensive trip
TO Frankfort, the State capital, to OPP
pose legislation. One of the bills de-
feated would have forced operators to
redeem scrip at its face value. The
committee was told by a witness yester-
day that Harlan miners were paid in
scrip and that companies reduced this
by as much as 20 per cent if an en-
ploye insisted on redemption in cash.
L. NJ. w. Organizers Watched.
Faced with a collection of can
celed checks drown this year. Ward
said most of the expenses involved in
those cases were devoted to keeping
surveillance of U. M. w. organizers in
the county.
Ben Unthank, whose whose salary
was $3.50 month, received two checks
totaling S2,325 for this purpose in
February. 1t was said.
> How do you know what Unthank
does with this money!" La Toilette
psked.
3 81 don't know" Ward replied.
Does he Just come in and say ne
needs a Thousand and you give 1t to
him?"
Yes, and I take no receipts. I don't
want to know who is working for
him"
why not?"
II don't know, just don't want the
Information"
Does the testimony we heard yes
terday explain why you don't want to
know what Unthank does with your
money!"
Witnesses yesterday said Unthank
hired men to dynamite a union or
fanizer's home and attempt his
murder.
NO" Ward insisted.
Although denying the association
participates in politics, Ward disclosed
in response to questioning that he is
chairman of the Republican County
Committee. while S. J. Dickinson, as
ISOLATION president, is chairman OF the
Democratic Committee.
Supported by Tonnage Assessment.
! Ward, who has been an employe of
the association since 1915 and its
secretary since 1881, testified that the
organization is supported by a ton
mage assessment on its members, the
normal rate being one-half cent a ton.
Explaining periodic increases of the
assessment rate to cent a ton, Ward
said the double levy was imposed in
1888 and again at the first of this year
because of organization drives by the
United Mine workers
Ward estimated that the associa-
tons yearly income averages between
$4,000 and $4,000. It has seven or
eight regular employees, he said, in
cluding Unthank, the deputy sheriff
whom committee agents have been
seeking for month.