Evening star., 1946-12-02
By jones Y. Newton

Justice r. Alan Goldsborough
indicated in District Court today
that, in the event of conviction
of John L. Lewis and the United
Mine Workers for contempt of
court, the punishment would be
lighter" if the defendants
showed they did not "willfully
disregard" his strike-reStraining
order.
| The court recessed for lunch after
completion of the testimony of only
of IL witnesses, the Government
said it would call in prosecuting Mr..
Lewis for contempt. The witnesses
include Secretary of the Interior
KSug.
Navy Capt. N. H. Collision, Coal
Mines Administrator for the In
terror Department, completed his
testimony this morning as the Fed
eral attorneys introduced more eyi-
dence in an effort to show that the
soft coal strike interferes with a
sovereign function" of the Gov
ernment.
To Rule Later on Film.
Just before the recess Assistant
Attorney General John F. Sonnet
sought to introduce evidence from
Alfred Oeth of Paramount News
who made newsreel OF Mr.. Lewis
at the White House May 29, right
after the signing of the Government
contract which officials say Mr..
Lewis has violated by calling the
Nation wide coal strike.
Mr.. Sonnett said he would prove
by Mr.. Lewis own words that the
Krug-Lewis agreement was intend
ed to last for the entire period of
Government possession Of the seized
coal mines and could not be re-
opened or terminated, as MFR. Lewis
now contends.
Justice Goldsborough said he would
rule later on a defense objection to
introduction of the newsreel evil
dence. One of Mr.. Lewis counsel
said that in event the court denied
the newsreel evidence was relevant,
they would agree to its admission
without imposing on the courts
time" to show the reel.
Long Trial Indicated.
The fact that only one of II
prosecution witnesses have been
heard so far gave further indica-
ton that the trial of Mr.. Lewis
would be long one.
Mr.. Sonnet said that he wished
to introduce the newsreel as evi-
dence of Mr.. Lewis "willfullness" IN
| ignoring the restraining order JUS
tice Goldsborough issued November
18 against the strike.
Just before the luncheon recess
Justice Goldsborough said that he
would call the court stenographer
to the stand later to determine
whether Mr. Lewis individually or
as head of the union had any COM
ment to make about certain state
ments" that appear in the record of
the case for last Monday.
While the precise object Of the
justice in ealing for re-reading of
the transcript was not known, it
was interpreted as possible move
to shorten the trial One portion
of the transcript mentioned was a
formal statement by defense coun-
sci to the effect that Mr.. Lewis and
the union had taken no action of
any kind since issuance of the re-
straining order.
Statement Held Guilty Plea"
Late last week Justice Colds
borough remarked that the defense
statement that nothing had been
done" was tantamount to plea Of
guilty from Mr.. Lewis if the Norris
La Guardia anti-injunction act was
found not to apply to the Govern
ment was not bound by that law.
The defense attempted at this
mornings session to show through
Capt. COLLISION that the Govern
n1ent in operating mines sometimes
changed working conditions at
mines without submitting changes
for the Wage Sterilization Board
approval es provided in War Labor
Disputes (Smith- Connally) Act.
Authority of that law was cited
when President Truman seized the
mines last May. The act also for
bids strike against the Govern
ment, and may be used to prose-
cute Mr.. Lewis further.
u. S. Regulations Read.
After defense examination Of