Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-02
STRIKERS NOT In 1T.
Murdoch, Kerr & Co. Secure a De-
cisiOn Against the Strikers.
THECASE WILL BE TAKEN HIGHER.
Labor Organizations of Allegheny County
Will Give Aid.
SOME GENERAL INDUSTRIAL NOTES

Yesterday the injunction case of Mur-
dock, Kerr & Co. versus the leaders in the
strike of the printers and pressmen was de-
cided in favor of the plaintiffs, but the de-
PENDANTS will carry it on to the highest
tribunal in the land. The opinion handed
down by Judge Porter was, In short, as
follows:
"Workingmen have a right to organize
into associations, and the members, either
as individuals or as an organization have a
a right to stop working for an employer.
They also have the permission to use all
lawful means to induce others to refuse to
work for such employers. 1t is not lawful
for them to use threats or menaces
10 prevent men from taking their
positions. When a man or any number of
men so conduct themselves as to commit a
tresnass or become nuisance they may be
enjoined. The atfidavits show the defend
ants have been in the habit of purposely
interfering with the workmen, and in some
instances using force to drive them away
from their work. On whole the action of
the defendants were menace to the work
men of the plaintiffs IS we'll as to the public
peace.
Judge Porter Grants the Injunction.
"a number of the defendants named in the
bill have not been shown by the afidavits
70 have taken any part in the acts which
have been complained OF, so with the ex-
ception of the following gentlemen the
injunction is refused: I. O'Leary, J.
Francis, John c. Miller, Henry Freund,
l.. Hoskinson, John Mitchell, r. n.
crooks, John Powell, Eugene Walker,
Samuel Miller, Fred Ieutsch, William f.
Wetzeil, David Lowry, Henry Neeley,
Robert Smith, August Held, V. B. Will
iams. Frank Lewis. Edward GIennan and
Charles Mckeown.
The case was the cause Of inuch talk in all
trade circles yesterday. The employing
printers were well satisfied, while the
strikers were disappointed, but not ds-
hearteued The firm of Murdock, Kerr &
Go. expressed themselves as follows:
I'VE expected an injunction against the
whole organization, but are well satisfied
with the decision. As it is, the leaders of
both the typographical and pressmen's
unions are named in the injunction, SO we
do not expect much trouble. If there are
new committees put to work all that will be
necessary is to have another injunction
granted. While the proceedings were pend
ing in this case We were not troubled by the
strikers"
Harry Pears, of the firm of W. G. john
ston x CO., spoke with great satisfaction
about the decision. He said other employers
will now enter suits for iniunctions against
the men. L think this will end the strike.
1t would never have lasted this long had
not II been that the officials of the printers
were drawing big money for their services
and kept the trouble well agitated''
Other employers were of about the same
opinion. The most of them thinking the
strike would soon be declared off
Printers Will Go TO the Supreme Court
I'VE will take the case to the higher !
courts, said one of the printer officials. |
''When our attorneys took the case it was |
with the understanding that if it was lost |
in the lower courts it would be taken
higher. We have already expended $500, |
and are willing tt spend 5000 to have the |
case finally decided. Our attorneys do not |
think that the decision is good law, nor has
any of the similar decisions been. There
will be no lack of funds. The support of
the International Typographical Union has
been assured, as has been the aid of all the
labor organizations in Allegheny county.
think il proper to call a mass meeting of
all the trades of the county to protest
against such ruling.
'lf we are guilty the employers are just |
as much in the wrong. We can prove that |
they, have molested our men, and even
driven them from the city. Not only have |
they done this, but they have sent word to |
all cities and towns where the Typotheta |
has an organization, requesting that union |
printers OF Pittsburg be not employed If |
that is not systematic attempt to molest |
the men, by starving them, 1 do not know |
what is. As to whether there will be other |
committees appointed to take the place of |
the gentlemen named, cannot say.'