New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-19
IN CONTEMPT OF COURT.
JUDGE PARDEE's DECISION AT DALLAS
THE TEXAS PACIFIC STRIKERS sUBJEcTING THEM
SELVES TO AN UNLIMITED PENALTY.

THE TEXAS PACIFIC STRIKERS sUBJEcTING THEM
SELVES TO An UNLIMITED PENALTY.
DALLAS, Tex. April 1S tSDeciaD Judge
Don Pardee yesterday. IN the United states Circuit
Court at the trial OF tho arrested for interfering
with the Texas and Pacific trans after referring TO tho
railroad company bankrupt corporation In the
hands OF the said the employees and property
should have full protection. He then said 1.-The en-
poyes OF the receiver although pro hoe rice officers OF
thecourt may quit their employment can employees
OF private parties or corporations. provided
they do not thereby Intentionally disable the
property; but they mus quit peaceaby and
decenuy; where they combine and
spre 10 quit. with without notice. with the object
ami intent OF crppling the property or s operation
have no doubt that they thereby commit contempt
and all those who combine and conspre with employees
thus to quit or officials OF labor organizations issue
pretended orders to quit to strike with intent
embarrass the court in administering tho property,
der themselves liable for contempt TO the court
Labor organizations lawful and generally auda-
bic associations but they have legal 7or
thority. lsand before the law better
footing than other social organizations aud It prrpo
terous that they should attempt issue orders that
freemen are bound to obey. No man stand in
court Of justice and shelter himself behind such
ganzston from the consequences OF his unlawful
acts. II is part OF this case. and been established
by evidence taken under the direction OF court,
that among all the employees Of the receivers In operat
ing 800 miles OF railway there complaint
made the the by any employe Of
bad treatment, insufficient other
grievances, and yet orders were ssned from
secret organization to all the employees to
quit work. strike cripple the operations OF great
thOrOughfare for travel AMI commerce. aud many
poyes, confederatng and combing did quit and induced
and forced others quit and did hinder and delay tho
operation OF the railway and did damage the property
IN the possession OF the court many thousands OF dol
lars This action gross contempt OF court. wholly
unreasonable and unustihabe. The court has learned
from the newspapers and from certain scandaous and
anonymous circulars that this wrong was committed
bee the agents OF the had DISCHARGED
Incompetent anu for absence without leave certain EN-
poye aud refused to renstlte him at the demand OF
aOor organization which claimed that the discharge
violation Of agreeme ut forced upon the man.
ayers OF the road prior the receivershp However
this may be, deem 1t proper to say that II true, tho
reason is potent and such demands cannot be tole-
rated. The Texas and Pacific Railway property IA In
the hands Of the recognized constitutional
court OF the United States, fully abe and
willing to enforce its lawful authority
and to protect Its officers and that court cannot listen to
the demands Of any secret organization whether alleged
to be social religious, political economical IN char
acter. II any employe was improperly discharged by
their agents. the court was open to
near him and willing to see justice done.
such complaint has been made AMI doubt much II
such case exists But the Investigation made under
since the strike ordered satisfy mo that such
alleged reason was snam and pretence and that
the real motive for the order TO strike
was to compel recognition OF certain secret
labor organz aon which by evidence has been shown
TO be about as arbitrary and autoeratc In
dealing with labor tho famous SIX
Companies OF China 1t Is iudisputable
fact that nne-tenths Of the obcying the order to
strike were not aware OF the alleged real reason which
was at the bottom OF the arbitrary order which was to
result much injury to them aud damage to the
| public
"These present show that peaceable rlnng Win
the courts OF the land sufficiently criminal In tho
eyes Of many the leaders OF these misguided men, and
they with Others undertaken to order that railway
property In the OF the United states Court should
not be operated and managed ALL unless with their
consent aud upon their terms, and violence and
intimidation and bulldozng have been resorted to
to prevent the officers Of the court from performing
criminal contempt Of court and ths domain OF eIoni
GUS crimes but FAR the court has now 10 det with
IT, it is OF criminal contempt OF court lt may
not be generally known but tAe power ~ thc court anu
the law in Furnishing sLch eases Is uiiiIntea
in terms imposing fines or imprisonment.
within the OF the Judge. IL Is unnecessary 10
sa, that has desire for mere punishment
and has other Interest In the mater thai
10 yndicate the dignity OF the court prOtect
the property in its cha gc and that the Judge sha
fearessy aud honestly discharge the duties ncunoeht
on him under the Constitution ani laws OF IN, country
Considering the offences. the sentences now Imposed arc
light. They are. however, a substantial warming.
list sentenced telegrtD1et ycster-
day Tue terms OF imprisonment were from three 10
nye months for various odenses.