Evening star., 1948-04-23
Court Delays Lewis Sentence
For Civil Contempt Indefinitely
To Ward Off New Coal Strike
$50 of Miners Back;
Full Production at
Pits Appears Near
By Jones Y. Newton

Justice T. Alan Goldsborough
today held in allegiance indefi-
nitely the sentencing of John L.
Lewis and the United Mine
Workers for civil contempt of
court.
Thus, the District Court jurist.
who son Tuesday dealt out heavy
fines for criminal contempt, main
tanned a club over the heads of Mr..
Lewis and the miners to prevent a
new mine shutdown over the pen
sion dispute. In the event of an
other strike, the court could haul
them in and impose additional
penalties.
Justice Goldsborough postponed
Indefinitely the sentencing on the
civil contempt count on recon-
mendation of the Government.
Assistant Attorney General H.
Graham Nor son told him that IS
per cent or nloIe of the 100000 soft
coal miners had returned to work
and it appeared that full production
at the mines was near.
Proceedings Short.
"The court thinks the suggestion
of the Government is emlnently
proper in every respect" Justice
Goldsborough said, THE court, as
citizen lis more than happy to know
that a normal situation is being
established at the mines
The proceedings took but 1e"
minutes. Mr.. Lewis and his large
group Of attorneys and UNIV Of
ficials left the court without com
ment. They are. however, appeal
ing the conviction and sentences
handed out by Justice Colds
borough. The formal appeal has
not been filed. but the case pos
sibly will bypass the Court OF Ap-
peals here and go directly to the
Supreme Court.
'The court Indefinitely post
pones any further consideration or
the issue of civil contempt, the
Judge said in ending the case Tor
the time being.
On Tuesday, when Justice Colds
borough fined Mr.. Lewis 5000 and
the UNIV $1400,000 for criminal
contempt, he left penalties on the
second count open so that ne coulo
see what the work situation was
In the coal fields today.
Mr.. Lewis then telegraphed an
appeal to the miners to return 10
work and the response was immedi-
ate.
A survey showed that fewer than
10000 we're still off the job today.
Most of those men we're idle because
there was no work for them, includ-
ing 10000 In West Virginia, where q
shortage of railroad cars closed 40
mines in the northern part OF the
State.
Miners Elated Over Delay.
The miners received warmly word
that a civil contempt sentence had
been postponed, the Associated Press
reported.
s.That makes everybody feel good,
said Frank Hughes, president OF
United Mine Workers District at
Greensburg, Pa.
Michael Honus, District 4 secre-
tarv-treasur in the UnlontoWn
coal and coke region, said:
II think it was a wise decision
because l don't believe John L.
Lewis was guilty. All of our men
are working now. This should
end It,"
Mr.. Lewis and the UNIV were con-
ycted of contempt for ignoring an
April 3 District Court order to call
off the strike. Two days ago Justice
Goldsborough extended the order
into a full Hartley Act lnJunc-
ton. The act provides for the stay
ing Of national emergency strikes
for 80 days.
Mr.. Morrison said today that as
long as the injunction is in effect,
any new strike over the miners pen
sion issue could be punished with
new penalties for both criminal and
civil contempt.
Contract Expires June 80.
The Government contends that
the 80 days of the injunction does
not start until full production OF
coal has been attained-that is pro-
duction on a scale prevailing before
the start of the strike March IS.
The present contract between the
UNIV and mine operators expires
June 30. Federal attorneys were
(See COAL, Page A-4D