Supreme court UPHOLDS CONVICTION UP JOHN L. LEWIS

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 March 1947, Page 5

Supreme court UPHOLDS CONVICTION UP JOHN L. LEWIS

Washington, March 6 The Supreme Court has upheld the contempt, of court convictions against John L. Lewis and the United Mine workers, but ordered the 3,500,000 dollar fine against the union 'to be re•duced to 700,000 dollars . The fine of 10,000 dollars against Lewis was upheld. Chief Justice Fred Vinson wrote a report, on behalf of the seven to two majority. Outright dissents were registered by two Justices and partial dissents by three others. The union and. Lewis weer cited for contempt by Justice Alan Goldsborough, of the Federal District Court, for ignoring his order directing them to cancel the coal strike called on November 29, in defiance of the Federal Government (which had taken over the mines) and the courts. The Supreme Court majority to-day ruled that neither the Norries-La Guardia Act nor the War Labour Disputes Act barred, the Government from obtaining the injunction which resulted in the contempt, proceedings. It was this injunction that the union and Lewis were accused of flouting. After the case had been appealed directly <o the Supreme Court. Lewis suddenly ordered the miners back to work on December 7. The majority opinion dec'ared that the trial court proper!v found th? defendants guilty of both criminal and civil contempt.