The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-12-03

bnG S0V@TuEU@uVs court to fine Lewis and his United Mine Workers (A.F.L.) perhaps as much as $200,000 for each day of" the national soft coal strike. Such a fine would stop whenever Lewis told the miners to go back to work.
 Lewis immediately an- swered the verdict in a courtroom statement that constitutional rights of min- CTS are being violated.
 Strike Burdens Economy
 Goldsborough accepted all of the Governments argu- ments of fact and law in pro- nouncing Lewis guilty of con- tempt. The contempt was for ignoring the courts tenn porary order of Nov. IS di- recting Lewis to call of the strike of 100000 coal miners.
 The strike. now in its 18th day, has slowed down industry, forced the closing of many schools and has thrown more than 50AoO0 persons out of work.
 The union win appeal the verdicl and the sentence when it is i'm posed. Whether the sentence would be carried cut or held in-aesyancs pending outcome of the appeal ap. parently was a matter for Colds borough to decide. Legal opinions and precedents are conflicting on this matter.
 The union would initiate it's ap- peal in the Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Either side, however, then could inmedi- ately ask the Supreme Court to 1 take jurisdiction and hear the case without waiting for it to go through the Appeals Court.
 Immediately after the verdict, Lewis went to the bench and acc cused Ooldsborough of violating the miners constitutional rights.
 The Mine Workers chief broke a silence he has maintained ever since the Government obtained the Nov. is restraining order issued by Colds borough.
 Statement Read Dramatically
 Tn a torrent of denunciatory words he inveighed against what he called ''recrudescence of Government by injunction"
 He said the miners had quit work because of a labor dispute with the Government over terms of the con- tract under which they have been digging coal since last May p.
 Lewis read his statement slowly, his voice rising and falling with an almost theatEical quality.
 He accused Goldsborough fiatly of violating the constitutional guar antees of free speech. press and as- sernbly, and the constitutional pro- hibition of involuntary servitude.
 Supports Flea With Atcs
 "Your injunction. sir, respect fully submit, deprives the miners of these constitutional rights" Lewis told the court.
 Lewis asserted that the issue m the miners dispute with the Gov ernment was the deadly, brutal 54-hour work week underground"
 He dwelt upon the unions con" tention, rejected by the judge that the Nov IS court order was lleeal under the Norris-La0uardia AcI limiting use of injunctions in labor disputes. - which any intelligent person can understand" Lewis told ooiospoI. ough, says no court can issue an iniunction in any labor dispute.
 Appeals On Consultation
 Although the court had ruled the Norris. Guardia Act did not appiy in this case, Lewis said that the Federal Constitution does.
 "That Constitution" he said, "ap- plies even to the miners"
 Goldsborough deferred sentence | in order to avai himself Of counsel for both sides.
 He said such a course might "oe somewhat unusual, but both the Government and defense agreed 70 it. -, ...
 0oldsborough set no bail for Lewis when the Government agreed that none was necessary.
 Fight Just Beginning
 The Government originally con- sidered. as an alternative to Q jail sentence and heavy fine for Lewis, asking the judge to ''sentence" him and th union to negotiate with the Government. That Idea. however. has been abandoned. 1t was under stood.
 when the court agreed to hear Lewis, he rose sl0wly from his char on the outer rim Of his legal bat- tery andswalked slowly toward the center of his own group. He pulled his glasses from hts handkerchief pocket, deliberately adjusted them and then. taking the manuscript ] Continued Pase 7-lhEHNE1sl