The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-02
from the temptation to drink liquor should
they go out TO lunch.
THE FIRST STRIKE.
The Issues Between Journeymen and EN-
pIoy ers In 1906.
Philadelphia Ledger. !

Philadelphia Ledger
The first instance in which the rights OF
journeymen and employers were involved
occurred in this city In the year 1906. The
case is generally known by the title Of "The
trial of the Journeymen boot and shoemak-
ers of Philadelphia" 1t is the leading case
and IL was reported In shorthand by Thomas
Lloyd. In his dedication of the pamphlet
TO Governor Mexican he asserted that it
was the most interesting law case which
has occurred in this State since our revolu-
ton with the hope of attracting their par
ticular attention at the next meeting OF the
Legisature-'it is better that the law be
known and certain than that il be right"
| The indictment was tried in the Mayors
Court in this city before Moses Levy, Re-
corder, and John Inskeep, Mayor, and Aid
ermen Petit, Douglas and Carswell. The
Commonwealth was represented by Jared
lngersoll and Joseph Hopkinson, and the de-
PENDANTS by Caesar A. Rodney and Waller
Franklin. The defendants were George
Polls, Peter Pollan and six others, who
were charged TO the indictment with "being
artihcers, workmen and journeymen In the
art and occupation OF cordwainers, and not
being content to work and labor in that art
and occupation at the usual prices and rates
Tor which they and other artiticers, workmen
and journeymen in the same art and occupa-
ton we're used and accustomed to work and
! labor, contriged and intended TO increase and
augment the prices and rates usually paid.
sums of money"
The indictment then set out that these per-
sons insisted on being paid for their future
work and labor certain prices, according to
quality and fashion OF the various styles, and
that they conspired tegether to compass
their purpose.
The second count of the indictment made
the same charges, and averred that the con-
spiracy was "to nrevent by threat menaces
and other lawful MEANS" other workmen
from working and laboring for other compen-
sation than the prices fixed by the conspiracy
of the defendants.
The third count charged that the defend
ants perniciously and deceitfully designed
and intended 'to form and unite themselves
into a club and combination, and to make
unlawful and arbitrary bylaws, rules and
orders to govern themselves and other work
men in the same trade" Also that they
agreed that they would not work for "any
master or person who would employ any
workman who would break any of the said
rules, and that they would, by threats, men,
ares and other injuries, prevent workmen
from working for such masters"
MIR. Hopkins, in his opening speech, said:
Let il be well understood that the present
action is not intended to introduce the doc
trine that aman is not at liberty to fix any
price whatsoever upon his own labor. 8
| Our position is that no man is at liberty to
combine, conspire and unlawfully agree to
regulate the whole body of workmen in the
| city. The defendants are nat indicted for
regulating their own individual wages but
| for undertaking. by con binatiOn, TO regu-
late the prices of labor of others as well as
| their own
The principal witness for the Common
wealth was Job Harrison, ar English man,
| who testified that he had come TO Philadel-
| phia in 1874, when he was informed that
| there was society among the jOurneymen
boot and shoe makers called the Federal So
ciety of Journeymen Cordwainers; that upon
his asking for work he was informed that if
| he did not join the society he would be
| 'scabb'd." The meaning of being scabb'd
| was explained TO him, that if he did
not join the society the other journeymen
| would not work in the same shop, nor board
nor lodge In the same house nor work for the
same employer. Harrison worked for Mr..
| Redford entirely on shoes. In time there
came turnout TO raise the wages on
boots. He was ordered to stand out with the
| Others. He said that be was getting fair
wages for his work, and that he did not
| why he should leave work and expose his
| family to want and distress because the
| boOtmakers had some cause of complaint.
| From that moment Harrison said ms wants
| compelled HIM to "scab it." He was a scab
| working for his employer at the regular shoe
| makers prices, but concealed the fact from
| his companions. The shop where he worked
was pronounced a scab shop. Finally Hsrri-
| son gave in to his companions and was taken
| n.
was another turnout. The society then
| undertook to support his family while he re-
manned on the turnout but the payments
| were much less than he could have earled if
| lie had been at regular work.
The defense was that the jOurneymen had
| right under the constitution ito assemble
together in a peaceable manner for their
| common good" that they had right to de-
| termine for themselves the value of their
own labor; that the master boot and shoe
makers had set an example to them by COM
| bining to settle the rates at which Journey
| men should WORK, and that the wages claim
| ed ty the shoemakers and bootmakers Of
| Philadelphia were no more than they had
| been allowed and paid for several years in
| New York, Baltimore and Albany.
On the argument it seemed to be generally
| agreed that there was no precedent govern
| ing the case in this country. On either side
| the citations were altogether from English
decisions.
Recorder Levy, in his charge to the Jury,
| said OF the defendants: mo matter what
| their motives were, whether to resist the sup
posed oppression of their masters, or to insist
| upon extravagant compensations; no matter
| whether this prosecution originated from
| motives OF public good or private interest,
| the question is whether the defend
! ants are guilty OF the offenses charged against
| them" He pointed out that 1.-The usual
| means by which the prices of work are regu-
| lated are the demand for the article and the
| excellence of the fabric. To make an arti-
| fetal regulation is not to regard the excel
lence OF the work for quality or material,
| but to fix a positive and arbitrary price,
| governed by no standard controlled by no
| impartial person, hut dependent on the will
| OF the few who Ire interested. Thi is the
unnatural way of raising the price of goods
or work"
The jury brought in verdict of guilty
/ against the defendants on all commits The
| punishment was light. The court fined the
| defendants IS each and the costs of the suit.
/ Parable of the Burglar.