Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-08-15
THE STRIKING LAW.

and the abandonment by them OF their
engines and trainsa at points other than
their schedule destination, endangers
I. .aallIk js6s0sssnesss1nyG
therefore,
SECTION |. Be il enacted, etc., That II
any locomotive engineer or other rail-
road empIoyeO upon any railroad with.
in this State, engaged in any strike or
with view to incite Others to such
strike, or in furtherance of any combi-
nation or preconcertcd arrangement
with any other person to bring about
strike, shall abandon the locomotive
engine in his charge, when attached
either to passenger or freight train,
at any place other than the schedule
or otherwise appointed destination OF
such train, or shall refuse or neglect to
continue to discharge his duty, or to
proceed with said train to the place OF
destination, as aforesaid, he shall be
deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof shall be fined
not less than one hundred nor more
than five hundred dollars, and may be
imprisoned for a term not exceeding
six months at the discretion OF the
court.
SEQ. 2. If any locomotive engineer
or other railroad employee within this
State, for the purpose Of furthering the
object of or lending aid to any strike
or strikers, organized or attempted TO
be maintained on any other railroad,
either within or without this State,
shall refuse or neglect, IN the course OF
his employment, to aid in the move
mont over and upon the tracks OF the
company employing him, of the cars
of such other company, received there
from in The course of transit, he shall
be deemed guilty Of misdemeanor,
and upon conviction thereof shall be
fined not less than one hundred nor
more than five hundred dollars, and
may be imprisoned tor q term not ex-
ceeding six months at the discretion
of the court.
SEC. 3 If any person, in aid or
turtherance of the objects of any
strikes upon any railroad shall inter
fere with, molest or obstruct any loco
motive engineer or other railroad en-
ployeo engaged in the discharge and
performance OF his duty as such, every
person 10 offending shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall be fined not
less than one hundred nor more than
five hundred dollars, and may be inn
prisoned term not exceeding six
months, al the discretion Of the court,
SEC. 4. If any person or persons, in
aid or furtherance of tho objects ol
any strike, shall obstruct any railroad
track within the State, or shall injure
or destroy the rolling stock or any
other property OF any railroad com.
pany, or shall take possession of or re-
move any such property, or shall pre-
vent or attempt to prevent the use
thereof by such railroad company OF
its employees, every such person SO
offending shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined not less than five
hundred nor more than one thousand
dollars, and may be imprisoned not
less than six months nor more than
one year at the discretion Of the court
APPRovED-The 22d day OF March,
A. ID. 1877. J. +. HARTRASFr.
The law on the subject of strikesi;
tree from all ambiguity. 1t will be
found in the first section of tho Act Of
14th of June, 1875 pamphlet Laws
p. 1l75), and Is as follows:
II shall be lawful for any iabOrer or iabOrers
workingman or workingmen, journey man Of
journey men, acting either as individuals or al
the members Of any club, society or association,
to reisse to work or labor for any person or per.
sons whenever In his, her or their opinion Tho
wages paid are insufficient, or the treatment Of
such laborcrs, workingman or workingmen, jour.
neyman or journeymen, by his, her or their EN-.
ployer, Is brutal or offensive, or the continued Ia
Dor by such laborer or laborers workingman OIL
workingmen, journeymsn or journeymen, would
be contrary to the rules, regulations orby-laws o
any club, society or organization TO which he
she or they might belong, without subjecting an,
person or persons 90 refusing TO work or labor Il
prosecution Of indictment for conspiracy undei
the criminal laws Of this Commonwealth Pro
rided, That this sctshall not be held to apply tS
the member or members Of any club, society Of
organization, the constitution, by laws rules an.
regulations Of which are not In strict conformity
to the constitution Of the State Of Pennsy lyania
and to the constitution Of the United States
Provided, That nothing herein contained shai
prevent the prosecution and punishment, uader er
istiRg iars, Of any person or persons who shall q
any poy, hinder persons wko desire 10 labor Jo
hsir employers from doing, or other person
from being employed as laboros.
1t will be seen that a peaceabl'
"strike," or refusal of any laborer OIL
combination of laborers TO work, is ,
lawful right. The law guarantee
every citizen in the absolute right :,
dispose of or to withhold his services
in all the legitimate pursuits Of life
according to bis own judgment, an'
there can be no conviction. for con
spiracy, IL laborers shall associat
themselves for the purpose of pro
noting the interest of labor, but sucl
associations must aim only at Lawful
purposes, or the protection of the stat
ute is expressly refused them AM
the same law that protects laborcrs il
the right to strike, either individual,
or collectively, unqualifiedly protect
the right OF every individual lahore
to work when, where, for whom an
on what terms he or she shall deer
satisfactory, and they who hinder o
attempt to hinder persons from doin
so, are guilty of crime for which th
laws provide severe and just punish
ment. There can be no violence NOR
inexcusablc than for men who refus
TO work themselves. TO prevent other
from working who desire to earn
living in their own way, and all VIII
attempt it are guilty of both mori
and legal crime. 1t was this festure {
the late strike that made it utterly il
defensiblc; that led to the destructio
of millions of property, and that gav
tho country several hundred of killo
and wounded as the cost of lawles
ness.
A STRONG GOVERNMENT.
II is very true that regular trooT
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