The Helena independent., 1892-07-16
THE COURTS AND THE STRIKES.

The decision Of Judge Beatty in the
injunction case brought by the mine
owners of the Cceur d'Alene district
against the union miners is before us.
It 10 very full and complete presenta-
ton of the situation and is admirable in
tone and spirit. Judge Beatty fully
sympathizes with the legitimate objects
OF labor unions and justities their for
nation. The association of laboring
men into organization for social enjoy
ment, mental improvement, for the pro-
lection of their interests and the ameli-
Grafton of their conditions is not con-
demned either by the people or the law
On the contrary, the court says, it is
their right 80 to do, and they have the
sympathy Of all classes in their efforts
to advance their interests by lawful
means. No one will view with envy
their lawfully acquired success, their
comfortable homes and congenial sur
roundings, all attainable through in
dustry. sobriety and reasonable econ
omy. unfortunately" says the court,
denominations of labor are met by asso-
Citations Of employers, each trying to
battle what it deems the aggressions of
the other. 1t is to be regretted these
opposing forces have in late years gone
so far IN their efforts for supremacy that
they now operate upon the principle that
their interests are antagonistic. 1t is
when these contests become SO heated
that violations Of the law, the peace of
the community and the destruction of
life and property are threatened, that
the courts are compelled to interfere
This action results from controversy
concerning wages. The complainant
refuses to accede to defendants de-
mands that the same wages be paid to
all the laborers, but while willing to
pay the usual price of $3.50 per day to
skilled laborers declines to pay over So
to others. Which party may be right
on this or any other matter that may
be in dispute is not for investigation by
the court, but whether the defendants
in attempting to maintain their position,
are likely to employ unlawful means, and
the authority of the court, if it SO finds,
to restrain them, alone must be deter
mined"
Judge Beatty reviews the ailidavits
submitted to him which show that
members of the miners union, on the
twenty-ninth of April last, forcibly
elected Il large number of mon from the
complalnant's mine, took them to the
miners union hail at Burke whore if
was demanded they should JON the
union or leave the camp, that upon their
refusal to do either it was ordered bv
the meeting that they be marched out
of the state and that thereupon they
were escorted in the direction Of
Thompson Falls by at least 900 men.
who beat oil cans III imitation of drums.
that they wore called "scnbs" and coarsa
indignites heaped upon them: that in
this manner they were driven from the
state, denied the privileges of purchas-
ing food and for two days were without
any, and exposed to the inclemency of
the weather in crossing u snowy range
of mountains. Upon these and similar
allegations the court issued prelmin.
ary restraining order prohibiting the
defendants 'from entering the mines or
from interfering with the working there
OF, or by the use Of force, threats or in
timidation or by other means, from
interfering with or preventing COM
plainant's employees from working in
its mines."
In the decision before us, which con-
tinues the restraining order in force,
Judge Beatty says: at is unnecessary
to enter INTO any close analysis OF the
acts complained Of to determine that