Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-23
Judge Armstrong; Boycott Decision
Severely Criticised-Speeches By
Labor Union Men.
AT A MASS

Mr.. ShnOOrn opened the proceedings IN
brief but vigorouslyworded speech. He
said they had met for the purpose of in
forming the workingmen of the city as to
some CT the differences that had arisen be-
tween the Bee publishers and the Typo
graphical Union. That paper, he said, had
for some time past been the recognized
enemy Of organized labor. While pre-.
tending 10 be the latters friend, il
had stabbed it in the back whenever
it could. The differences eliminated when
its Union employees were told to sever their
connection with the Typographical Union
or leave its employ. They chose the latter
alternative. They had not, he said, intimi-
dated, bGlidoz,d CT overswed any one
They had not attempted to interfere with
the men whom the Bee had brought from
abroad TO fill their places, and to whom he
applied the terms rats and "scabs.n
all that paper had to do 10 stop the diff
cultv tomorrow, he said, was 10 Unionize
its office Contrary to its published state
ments, not dollar had been contributed
from any source outside the local organiza-
ton for the support of the men who had
LETT the Bee The Trades Unions, he de-
clared, had waged an honorable warfare;
on thtsether hand the Bee had whined like
whipped schcolboy, and had gone TO q
Judge of the Superior Court crying out for
him TO save them.
He quoted from the Constitution of the
State to show TO what rights citizens were
entitled, and then reviewed the proceedings
in the boycott case and Judge Armstrong;
decision, which latter he denounced as
the most dsmnabie injunction that had
ever Issued from any Court OF justice" a
search of the records of the country for a
period Of 200 years, he said, would fail TO
find its parallel. 1t was the duty Of work
ingmen to protest against the outrage, and
to show that they are not covering ours to
be coerced by any illegal order OF Court.
They would obey the law, but would resist
the most infamous outrage ever perpetrated
by any Court.
Throughout his remarks tie speaker was
frequently applauded
The next speaker was c. NJ Harrison, 8
member of the Sacramento Typographical
Union. He spoke al considerable length
reviewing the circumstances leading up to
the present difficulty between the Bee and
its employees, and exhibited section OF
slereotype-plste matter, and explained the
position of the Typographical Union re.
garding its use. The Bee, he said, had
struck organized labor a slap in the face
the consequence of which its manager:
had not realized. 1t was thrust at al
classes of labor-the machinists, the tin
ners, the plasterers, the carpenters, the
teamsters. He then severely criticised the
quality of matter published in that papel
and denounced il ss unfit reading. There
are no better friends of capital, he said
than the members of the Trades Unions
His remarks were also applauded.
Charles Grainbreth, ex President of the
San Francisco Council OF Federated Trades
was then introduced. His speech was gen,
eral in scope, and was confined to discus
sion of the relations between employer anC
employed. He expressed the belief thai
Judge Armstrong; decision would be re.
versed by the Supreme Court, and advised
his hearers not to give up the boycott; that
better days are coming for the working.
men.
Samuel Mckee, a member of the San
Francisco Molders Union, followed in q
long temperate and argumentaiive speech.
He said the striking printers OF Sacramento
hsd the sympathy Of all the labor organi-
cations in San Francisco III their present
struggle. Strikes cut two ways, and should
be resorted TO only in extreme cases. When
men were forced 10 strike they should dc
it in way that would make it felt. The
harder they struck, the sooner the strike
would be ended They all want to live
within the law Workiugmen are not law.
breakers, for they need the law S protection
and could not expect 10 have it if they de.
MED it to others. They do not always gel
it, however-it goes to the other fellows.
II workingmsn went out, he said, anG
destroyed his neighbours property-hi:
tangible property, like his house-the Law
would pay him for the loss and punish tn,
destroyer. That was right. But the work
ingman's wsges are his property, kind o
property which the employer can destroy
BY speaking one word. Then, If the work
ingmau complains, the employer appeals Il
the courts, and the other gets thrown into
Jail 1t was to guard against this inequality
IN the laws usages that lsboring men or
ganize. When men strike the strong arm
of the law is brought in play to protec
property, but there is nothiugto protect TIT
employees property-their wages.
Unless workiDgmen combined to lool
out fer their own interests, unrestricted i'm
migration would force wages here as Low
as in Europe. He then explained the ma
ture Of strike. 1t is, he said, only a tenn
porery atfair-an srmistiee-for the pur
| pose of allowing employer and empioye,
| to come together and fix up their differ
ences. During lis pendence the men had
right to demonstrate with others agaips
| taking their places, but when they do 81
| the employer goes into Court and gets al
| Injunction to restrain them therefrom
| There is uo intimidation or threat in
| yolved, and he did not believe that ever
| Judge Armstrong would so decide when b
should come to hear the boycott case on it
| merits. If men cannot exercise that smal
| privilege, where is their liberty?
/ a Let Ind, a 1ctr 1rrfc cto
! he said. Let it be obeyed until the case
fully tried, and then it will not stand. Tn
case has only been decided on demurrer
and when il comes before the same judy
again On its merits the plaintiffs will nc
beable to sustain their sweeping allegation:
| What one man has right to, several hav
| a right 10 do"
Mr.. Mckay then read from recent dc
cisions of JuGges CARRIER and Wallace c
| San Francisco in cases involving the "cor
| spirscy" point as regards boycotupg, an
| claimed that they held opposite views I
| those Of Judge Armstrong. In the Wa!
lace decision was this sentence: "a con
! spiraey, the object of which is to do law
ful act, is legal absurdity."
He then gave history of the moloers
strike in San Francisco, and declared TIA
the employers were paying higher wage
TO the men in their SHOPS IMAM tuey wei
paving 10 the union men, while neari,
svsrv piece of work they undertook J
ruined through the incapacity of the WORK
men, He made strong appeal to all la
boring men to organize. Organization ha'
redeeme ed the molders OF San Francisco ant
,nsde Good citizens of men, who, in torme
! years. were drifting into drunkenness AM
! dis-iraiion-
There was no reason, he said, in conelu
sion. why the Bee and its former employe
shonld not settle their differences at once
Men shonld be faithful to their organiza
tions. aud then they will find way to dea
with their enemies.
After bTisf remarks by Mr.. Grainbeth
who urged all workingmen to refuse t
purchase cigars made by Chinese labor, tn
meeting adjourned with cheers.
| USE only the Quaker brand of role
| oats for breakfast.
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