Evening star., 1868-08-28
The LEGAL RIGHTS OF TRADES
Unions.

An important decision was rendered by the
Quarter Sessions Court at White Plains, N.
Y, on Wednesday last, As affecting the legal
rights of trade unions. Eight members of the
BrIcklayers' Union of Morrisania Were tried
tor conspiracy, in having conspired together TO
prevent from working a bricklayer a bow
who refused TO comply with the rules of the
Union. II appears that IN August last VIM
NJ. Dawson, a boy of eighteen, was EMPLOYED
by Mr.. Dunham, a master mason. to work at
brickisying, and to receive instruction in the
trade, the boy to be paid according to his skill
and Industry. Mr.. Dunham employed also
several members of the Bricklayprs' Union
The constitution of this Union provides that
''no member OF this Union shall work with a
ncn-menber; and the number of apprentices AL
lowed to an employer shall be two" one of lts
rules requires every person learning the trade
to be regularly ''apprenticed" for four years
The agreement between Mr.. Dunham and
Mr.. Henry b Dawson, the father of the bow
was merely verbal; and although Mr. Dun
ham AZ the instance of his workmen, trIcd to
have the boy indentured TO him a. an appren-
tice, Mr.. Dawson persistently reused to per-
mt It. The Union wOrkmen threatened to
leave Mr.. Dunham if the boy should be re-
tanned, and the foreman, Mr. Van Nostrand.
did finally leave, e-rly in November last, in
pursuance Of this threat, and expressly on the
ground that the rules of the Union required II
Mr. Dunham then sent the boy, DawJon, home
TO MS father. Upon this, Mr.. Henry Il. Daw-
son wrote long letter to the President of the
Union, pointing out alleged inconsistencies
and illegal features in their conduct, and
requesting the removal of the difficulties
they had thrown in the way of his son.
He received an answer stating that his COM
munIcaiion had been laid before the Union,
where it was resolved that his son could not
learn the trade Of a mason without being regu-
iarly indentured to serve until he is TWENTY
one years of age; and il was further resolved
that Dir. Dawson be allowed one week to have
the Indentures of his son made ont. He was
notified that unless he acquiesced in these
rules no Union man would work with hum.
and he was informed that there was another
rule established by the Unio2 that the inden
lures of his son would have to be submitted O
the MON for approval ana be recorded on their
books.
Mr.. Dawson did not contest this dicuaiion of
terms immediately, and his boy was EMPLOYED
by Mr. Dunnam only on work done by work.
men VINO do not belong TO the Union. But such
work failed IN January: the boy was sent home
again. and in March Mr.. Dawson brought an
action for damages against three members of
the Union for the 10 Of the wages OF his SON
for one week. Having obtained favorable
Judgment in this case from Justice Hauptmaup.
OF horrisania, Mr. Dawson again applied to
MT. Durham for work for his boy. The appli
cation was defeated by the opposition OF the
Union men; and Mr.. Dawson accordingly
brought an action for conspiracy against the
workmen who had interfered One of the de-
PENDANTS was dismissed, there being NO eyi.
denee against him; the others were convicted
The charge of the Court limited the G 50 for
tIe jury 10 single point. Admitting the ex
cellence of the general aims of the trade unions,
the question for them YVES whether the Defend
ants, by quitting the service Of Mr. Denham
or threatening TO do so, on the ground that the
boy Dawson was not, as the rule of the JJnion
required, an indentured apprentice, was an
act injurious 10 public trade, and indcatad a
conspiracy TO do an act injurious 10 t.ade.
The jury retired, and, after a short consult:
ton. returned a verdict against all the Defend
ants of guilty, and the prisoners were re nand.
ed for sentence.
This decision will have an important bearing
upon the question al issue, between the master.
masons and the bricklayers of New York, in
the pending strike there, and the bosses will
probably endeavor TO Immediately avail them.
selves OF II. In matter of so much lmpor-
tance 10 their interests, the workraen will
doubtless, howey'-, contest the Issue further
IN the Cour:s. The final result will be looked
for with general interest by werkmen aad en-
ployers throughout the country.