The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-20
Boycotting an 0ffense To Be Classed Under
the Head of Conspiracy Lam
guage Concerning Foreign AgitatOrs.
Provisions of the Arbitration Bill In.
troduced by Senator Logan.
A Cleveland Knight of Labor Says Hon. James
G. Blaine Is a Member of the 0rder-The
Coming Convention of Coal Miners.
BoycOtting Defined as COnspiracy--A Charge
That Causes Comment Among LawYers

BoycOtting Defined as COnspiracy--A Charge
That Causes Comment Among Lawyers.
MILWAUKEE, May 19.-The charge given by
Judge Mallory to day to the grand jury to con-
slider the cases against alleged instigators Of or
participants in the recent labor riots in this city,
while commended by the public in general, is the
legal fraternity After charging the jury to con-
duct its work in a spirit Of strict impartiality,
the Judge continued:
'No person should be indicted for the COM
mission of any offense unless such persons were
In some way, by word or act, connected with its
commission. 1t is not necessary that the person
should have actually participated in the commits
sion of the unlawful or criminal act to make HIM
responsible for it. But every person who coun-
sells, hires, procures or inctes others to the COM
mission of any unlawful criminal act, is
equally guilty with those who actually perpe-
trate the act. An agreement between two or
more persons wrongfully to injure or prejudice
third person, or any body of men, as. for in
stance, combination to injure a man in his
trade or profession, is conspiracy, and as such
is an indictable offense. If, therefore, two
or more persons conspire together for
the purpose of boycotting a man with
intent to injure or destroy his business,
they may be indicted for conspiracy. In view
of the labor troubles throughout the country,
think it wills be well for the grand jury to in
vestigate carefully and fully the nature and
character of the labor organizations which exist
in the midst of us, with a view of ascertaining
whether anything in any of their constitutions,
or in any oath which any officer or member is
required to take, binds officers or members &c
resort to violence or other unlawful means for
the purpose of accomplishing the objects sought
to be attained. ANY organization whose officers
or members are so bound is an unlawful organ
ization, and liable to indictment. A conspiracy
to prevent, by means of threats or other unlaw-
full means. an operative from obtaining employ
ment in his business, is indictable. 1t is also
indictable to conspire to molest and obstruct
workmen with view to induce them to leave
their employment, and any labor organization
having for its object the accomplishment Of such
purposes, by such means. is unlawful.
Il believe vast majority of the people who
come TO this country from foreign lands are
attracted by our free institutions and come for
the honest purposes of accepting and sustaining
them. and are here for the purpose of making
peaceable homes for their children. But unfor-
tunately for the cause of good government and
the peace of society, persons of another class,
comparatively few in number, bnt of a turbu-
lent and vicious temper have settled in different
States OF our Union and commenced from the
moment they landed upon or shores, to cry out
against our government and to advocate an
archy. These men, by their perncious doc
trines. have poisoned the minds of large num-
bers Of our oncecontented and prosperous
laboring people to an alarming extent-to the
extent of causing riot and bloodshed, well
general arrangement of the business of the
country, honest laborers suffering more than any
other class of our people. The men who, by
incendiarv speeches and wild haraneues, causl
breaches of the peace, must be held to strict
accountability. Our Constitution does not pro-
tect any such freedom of speech. Our people
have tolerated the reckless and criminal conduct
of Anarchists and demagogues quite too long.
1t is quite time that courts and iuries should
impartially but fearlessly use every lawful
means to enforce obedience to law, and punish
offenders. Every citizen must be protected in
the exercise of his rights, or we must admit that
we have no government. Mob law should be
tolerated no longer. The matters to come be-
fore you are of great Importance and it is your
duty to act up to full manhood"