Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-20
RICKS' DECISION
Creates a Commotion in Organ.
lied Labor Circles.
A NEW WAY TO DEFEAT BOYOOTTS

Discovered by a United States Judge in
the Ann ArbOr Case-Comprehensive
Application of the Principle That Rail-
ways Are Quasi-Public Interests-A Step
in the Direction of State Socialism-De-
pew Thinks 1t Novel Ruling-En-
gineers Arrested for Resigning.
TOLEDO, o., March 20-At Cleveland
Saturday Judges Kicks and Taft, of the
United States court, issued an order in the
case of the threatened boycott on ANN
Arbor" freight by the engineers brother
hood commanding p. NJ. Arthur, chief
of the Brotherhood o. Locomotive En-
gineers, in the manner customary and
usual, according to the practice of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers of
giving information to its members, to
cause to be known and published that the
law, bylaw, rule or regulation of said
brotherhood requiring its members to re-
fuse to handle cars of the Toledo, Ann
Arbor and North Michigan railway is not
in force against said company. 1t is also
required that the brotherhood show by
what bylaw its members in the employ of
any one railroad may be ordered out on
strike because of disaffection on any other
road.
Conditions OF "a Resignation.
In connection with the resignation of
several Lake Shore engineers, Judge Kicks
holds that while the law does not oblige
them to work for any company they may
not see fit to- it requires that when they
decide to relinquish such employment they
shall do so in a manner not to bring about
any damage to their employees. Upon the
receipt of this order Arthur ordered a
temporary cessation of the boycott. Half
a dozen engineers and firemen were arrest
ed for violation of the above order. Arthur
is reported at Cleveland as saying: "The
situation is simply this-the court granted
to the road a temporary injunction re-
straining me or any of the men from inter
fering with the traffic of the road and we
will certainly have to do that until the
matter is decided one way or the other"
Refused to Pull Ann Arbor Freight.
The unions fear that the order has
struck a deadly blow at organized labor.
Yesterday lot of Ann Arbor cars We're
taken to the Lake Shore yards and made
into train. Anengineer was sent to take
the train out. He saw the cars, the Ann
Arbor lettering on them. and at once re-
signed. Another engineer was ordered to
take his place. He, too, resigned. Three
more did likewise and finally the cars were
taken out by non-union man. Three
firemen also surrendered their positions.
The men say that in no case did they give
any reasons for quitting. The United
States court through Judge Ricks DEGREES
that these men, quitting work under such
circumstances, are guilty Of a misdemeau-
or and punishable accordingly.
Opinions OF Promi nent Lawyers.
Many prominent lawyers declare the rul-
ing practically destroys the individual
rights anl liberty OF the men, and VIII be
found Unconstitutional. Preparations are
being made for great legal battle. The
officials are after Chief Arthur. and he has
been ordered to bring into court such Of
their secret work as compels members not
TO handle the boycOtted cars. The case de-
yelops into one OF remarkable interest and
Q great legal battle VIII ensue. The trouble
IS slowly but surely spreading to other
roads, ana 1t promises now 10 be deaih
struggle between railroads and railway
! Z.