Evening star., 1946-11-25
Postponement Pleo
OfUnion Is Denied
By GoIdsborough
By james Y. Newton

dered by Justice 7. Alan Colds
borough to stand trial at 10 am.
Wednesday for contempt of court
after a brief hearing in District
Court.
In ordering Mr.. Lewis held for
the offense resulting from the Ma
tion-wide soft coal strike, Justice
Goldsborough denied plea by Mr..
Lewis counsel for postponement of
the trial 'in the public interest. /"
The justice held he had already
provided ample time for Mr.. Lewis
and Government counsel to pre-
pare their cases.
The hearing today, held in a
courtroom packed mostly by news
men, lasted only 40 minutes. 1t be-
gan 5 minutes before the scheduled
time with Justice Goldsborough's
entrance at 9:55 and ended at l0:35.
Little Defense Presented.
Mr. Lewis presented little in the
way of defense today when the op-
portunity was afforded him and the
United Mine Workers to purge
themselves of the contempt citation
which Justice Goldsborough had
handed down last Thursday after
the strike began. 1t was indicated
that his counsel were saving their
arguments for the trial.
From the cautious approach dis
played by Justice Goldsborough to
the big problem before him and the
remarks of counsel for both sides, 1t
was indicated the trial may be a
long one. The justice said that wnen
he reconvenes court he will pass on
the contempt citation first and then
on the merits of the Government
application for a strike injunction.
The present restraining order ex-
pires Wednesday afternoon.
President Truman, who ordered
the finish fight" with Mr.. Lewis
over the contract and strike issues,
maintained silence. His press Sec
retary. Charles G.. Ross, said there
was nothing" at the White House
on the coal situation. He refused to
comment on whether a move was
under way to confer with leaders of
both parties in Congress about the
coal crisis.
Courts Jurisdiction Denied.
WelIy r. Hopkins, chief defense
attorney, told Justice Goldsborough
Mr.. Lewis and the union had the
greatest respect for the court, but
denied that Justice Goldsborough
haI iy1rfcdtnffn11 rs
straining order of last Monday in
which Mr.. Lewis and the union were
told to recall a contract "termina-
ton" notice which caused the walk
out of 100000 miners and to take
no other action which would bring
on strike.
''The United Mine Workers and
Mr.. Lewis have no desire or interest
or intent to refuse due and proper
recognition of this court and it's
authority" Mr.. Hopkins said. "They
desire to accord full and complete
respect to this and all courts
Government Opposes Delay.
A highspot of the hearing came
when Mr.. Hopkins, making his plea
for a postponement, outlined a va
riety of reasons in support of his
appeal. The postponement, he
said, would be beneficial to the de-
PENDANTS, the court and the -expedi-
tious conduct of the court.
At that time Justice Goldsborough
interrupted him. Can you say
that it would be in the public in
terest also?"
"Yes," Mr.. Hopkins replied
quickly, Gin the public interest also.
The public interest runs all through
this case"
Then Assistant Attorney General
John H. Sonnett, chief counsel for
the Government in the prosecution
of Mr.. Lewis, intervened to say that
the Government was opposed to
any delay beyond Wednesday be-
cause it believed that contempt
has been committed, is being COM
mitted and will continue to be
committed to the detriment of the
public interest" until the court acts.
Mr.. Sonnet added, however, that
the Government would agree to
continuance if the miners would re-
turn to work.
Justice Goldsborough broke In
again to say:
II don't believe any thinking per-