The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-04

Alexis, and having then full knowledge o.
the terms and meaning of the order Of the
court. That order was then in full forcs
and commanded him to do the very thing
he refused to DO. He therefore deliber
ately and knowingly violated the mandate
of the court and was guilty OF con
tempt. 1t is reported that the pro
testations of Mr.. Lennon, made under oath
were that he did not intend to dlsobey
the orders of the court and did not be
lieve that he was violating the laws of the
United States. He is a member of the
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and supposed while acting under Its
rules that he was not arraying himself
against the laws of the country.
This suit has offered the conrt an
opportunity for declaring the laws appli
cable to such emergencies, and the public
interest, having been thereby subserved
this does not, therefore, seem to me to be
the occasion when it would be wholesome
or wise to administer an extreme punish
ment. The object of the court is to up.
hold and vindicate the laws, without
under these circumstances disposition
to oppress or punish those who have
evidently been misled. With these views
of my duty, an order will be entered that
the accused, James Lennon, will stand
adjudged guilty of contempt and pay a
fine of $50 and the costs OF this proceed
ing, upon the payment of which he will be
discharged from the further orders of the
court.
"The orders made in this case as to all
connecting roads and their employees who
have continued in their service are still in
full force, and it is but just to all con-
cerned that the court should say that the
laws and orders, having now been fully
interpreted and made public, any viola
tions thereof that may hereafter be made
will be dealt with in spirit and purpose
quiet different from that which has con-
trolled us in this case"
After Judge Ricks' decision was rem
dered in the case of the engineers and fire
men, he proceeded to read the decision OF
himself and Judge Taft in the motion of
the Ann Arbor company asking perma-
nent Injunction against Chief Arthur, re-
straining him from issuing any order
which shall require or command any en-
ploye of any of the defendant railroad
companies to receive, handle or deliver
any cars of freight in course OF transporta-
tion from one state to another from and TO
the Ann Arbor road. and prohibiting him
from in any manner, directly or indirectly,
endeavcring to persuade or induce any en-
ploye of the railway companies whose lines
connect with the Ann Arbor not to extend
10 said company the same facilities for the
tended by said companies to other roads.
The decision, which was written by Judge
Taft, grants the Injunction prayed for,
and declares that If the members of the
brotherhood. in obedience to rule IL, boy
cott Ann Arbor freight, they become
guilty of a criminal conspiracy against
the company"
COMMENT on THE DECISIONS.
Ask Lake Shore or an Ann Arbor
striker tonight what he thinks of the de-
cisions. and be will probably reply "Oh, /
dunno" These two words just about eX-
press the general situation here at the
preseut time. A majority of the strikers
are unable to decide for themselves
whether or not they have gained point
in the controversy, and the Intelligent
public is in about the same fix. great
many seem of the opinion that the rail-
roads have got the best of the deal, mas
much rs the Injunction against Chief
Arthur has been made prepetual, and the
spirit of the new law promulgated by the
court carried out in the conviction OF
Engineer Lennon. On the other hand the
few strikers Who do pretend to under
stand the situation claim that the injnnc-
tion against Chief Arthur does not affect
them in the least, inasmuch as he has no
power to call strike or to order asboy-
cott and that the discharge of the seven
other strikers is evidence that it will be
almost impossible to enforce the new law
compelling all employees, while still IN the
employ of railroad, to handle the freight
of any other road on which there may
exist boycott.
The attorneys for the brotherhood as
sert that there was no more reason for the
conviction of Lennon than there was for
the conviction of the other strikers All
the objections made by the court to the
charges of the prosecution against the
other strikers apply, they say, just as well
to Lemons case. The only possible diff
ference, they claim, is that Lennon was
on the road in the performance of a con-
tract when he quit work. They admit
that he might be held responsible for vio
latirg that contract, but say that IN that
case the United States court would have
no jurisdiction in the matter, and II he
were to be held on the charge he would
have to be tried In criminal court and be
dealt with accordingly.
The case, the brotherhood attorneys
claim. has not been finally and COM
pletely considered The matter has re-
solved itself down to the old and original
question of whether or not the employees
of q road shall have the right to quit work
when they feel so disposed. In spite of all
claims to the contrary, the attorneys
claim this is the real and vital question,
and they say that if the courts of last re-
sort decide that employees have not the
right to SO quit, that the entire system of
la Dor unionism in this country will be |
wrecked, and that governmental control
of the railways will not be far off. No evil |
dence has been produced, it is claimed, |
tending to show that either MIR. Arthur or |
any Of his men entered into criminal |
conspiracy. But, in closing, the decision |
says:
1--WE finally reach the question whether, |
in view of the foregoing, this court can |
enjoin Mr. Arthur from incitlng, inducing |
or procuring the members of the brother |
hood in the employ of the defendant |
companies TO carry out rule twelve and |
refuse o handle the complainant's freight. |
We have no doubt of il. For him to DO SO |
will be to use unlawful means to intlict |
irre9arable injury TO the complainant, |
employees violation of the mandatory !
order of this court. Either of these |
grounds is ample for the exercise upon |
him of the restraining power of writ of |
injunction"
THE KNIGHTS AND THE FEDERATION. |
NEW YORK, April 3.-As a result of the |
clothing cutters lockout in this city, one
of the most important labor movements of |
recent years is on foot. This is an effort |
10 patch up the differences that have long |
existed belween the Knights OF Labor and |
ihe American Federation of Labor, so that /
the two bodies may work in harmony in
all labor matters. A secret conference of |
representatives of the various sections of
The labor movement will be held tonight,
it is said, TO start this movement. The
feeling has been steadily gaining ground
siura the ordar of Iud.,a Ricks IN m, |