AMERICAN MINERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 7

AMERICAN MINERS

3 9 500 9 000"Pollar Fine • for. Contempt LEWIS TO PAY 10,000 DOLLARS (Recd. 12.10 p.m.) ~~~ WASHINGTON, Dec. 4. The Federal Court fined John L. Lewis 10,000 dollars and the United Mine Workers of America 3,500,000 dollars for contempt of Court. A series of conferences in chambers between Judge Goldsborough and both counsel delayed the sentences. Crowds waited both in and outside the courtroom. ' The Court, which met this morning, adjourned at noon until 3 p.m. and upon resumption the Government attorney. Mr. Sonnett, asked the Court to fine the United Mineworkers 3,500,000 dollars for contempt. Mr. Sonnett said Lewis should be senjeeted to “substantial punishment,” but “at this time a gaol sentence can accomplish nothing.” Judge Goklsborough asked Mr. Sonnett whether the Government desired a permanent injunction against Lewis and the United Mine Workers. Mr. Sonnett replied that he thought a temporary injunction would suffice. ' ( . Judge Goklsborough said he wondered, in view of the fact that “this contempt may continue,” whether he could agree that the fine should be 250,000 dollars per day from midnight on November 20.

The American Federation of Labour counsel, Mr Padway, commenting on the Government recommendation, said there was no evidence showing damage to the extent of 3,500,000 dollars and added that penalties could not be founded on imagination. He declared the pronosed fine would be ‘cruel and inhuman.” He pointed out that there was no similar case on record, except one, which was reversed. Mr Padway argued that the Government’s case did not sustain a civil contempt verdict and the court’s criminal contempt finding violated the Constitution. . Defence Counsel’s Submissions Before sentence was imposed, Mr Padway told the court that the defence had been trying to ascertain whether individual miners were held in contempt, but had not received an answer. He added that a fine oi 3 500,000 dollars was nothing pore than an imposition against the individual miner. “It is his dues, his cents, his dollars, that will have to satisfy such a judgment as that, he Sa if it was the Government’s intention to put the U.M.W.A. out of business and destroy the union by a fine of such magnitude, he added, it might as well know now. that their purpose would not be accomplished.- ihe miners would remain as strong as ever The Government's proposed fine was “unjust, improper, and outrageous.” “Shame on the Government The union counsel, Mr Welly Hopkins, said the Government’s recommendations “will live in infamy. The Government was seeking to repress millions of men. “Shame on the Government for trying to perpetuate such an outrage,” he said. Fie added. I denounce the Government s action with all my heart and soul. Mr Hopkins said the proposed fine made him feel he should challenge physically the Government representatives who suggested it. ‘ Shame

upon you! Double shame!” he said. Lewis arose and shook hands. He said: “Sir, I asociate myself with every word you have uttered. 1 a not desire any mercy from the court. Lewis Speaks • Lewis told the court what property he possessed. He said that apart from it he had only enough money to pay expenses. “As far as I’m concerned don’t let that deter you from fining me any amount,” he said. Lewis, raising his voice, accused the Government counsel of lymg t the court about his expense account The Judge warned him not again to commit contempt. Lewis retorted: “I have, been adjudged guilty of < r°^ te ,^y’ hnt there The Judge replied Yes, but tneie are other kinds of contempt. The Judge said the case represented an unprecedented situation. “This is not an attack by a low lawbreaker,” he said. It is an evil, monstrous thing. inis coal strike is one of the most serious threats ever experienced by this country. It means hunger, cold, destitution. It is a threat to democratic government itself.”

He added that no one wanted to see the union dealt a mortal blow, nor anything done which would turn back labour conditions. “But if it becomes a question of the destruction of this union or the country s preservation, the country is going to be preserved,” he declared. . Appeal Notice riled At Mr* Sonnett’s request, the court granted an injunction against Lewis and the U.M.W.A. to replace the reSt indicated that further penalties would, be asked it the coal stoppage continued. The defence filed notice of appeal and moved .that judgment’be susP Mr Sonnett did hot object, provided the defence posted a bond. The court gave the defence until 3 p.m. to-morrow to post a bona. RIGHTS ANU DUTIES OF LABOUR UNIONS

(Rec. 1.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 4. The United States most serious problem was labour management and relations, said the Secretary for. Commerce (Mr. Averell Harriman),! addressing the National Association of Manufacturers’ annual meeting. “The power of labour leaders has grown to the point where we find one man defying the Government and the nation.” Therefore, he added, measures will be sumitted to Congress to clarify the relationship between the rights of labour unions and their responsibility to the public. ,

Moscow’s Allegations. The Red Star alleges that the United States authorities in Japan ' are using in the “state service’ officers of the former Japanese army and General Staff, including experienced men from the intelligence service.—Moscow, December 4.