The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
Made Alternative, Instead of Pcremp-
tory, the Employees of the
BROOKLYN Car Lines Hoped.
A STRIKE LEADERS VIEWS
MASTER WORKMAN CONNELLY NOT
DISCOURAGED BY THE DECISION.
He Says the Fight Will BE Conducted
for Twenty Years, il Necessary-
Militia Not Yet withdrawn.


day, issued an alternative writ in the ap-
plieation of Joseph Loader, for a manda-
mus to compel the Brooklyn Heights Rail-
road Company to run cars on its lines for
the accommodation of the travelling public.
An alternative writ gives the railroad the
option to run cars according to the demands
of the complainant or show cause for not
doing This allows the defendant twenty
days to file an answer to the writ.
In his decision Justice Gaynor reasserts
the principle he enunciated in his earlier
decision in this case. He declares that the
company's plea that it is, by violence pre-
vented from performing the functions for
which it has been created Is not true. II
refuse" said the Justice, "to find that
either the judicial or the executive branch
of the government has failed in affording
protection to this corporation. This cor
poration,' the court continues, has the
right to get labor as cheaply as it can, but
1t may not without violation of the law,
stop the running of it's cars to try to beat
down the price of legal conditions of labor
1t was and is it's duty to- run it's cars at
the best terms it make for the day,
being at full liberty to supersede it's en-
ployes from day to day or all at once IL
it have enough men, at lower or better
terms Its chief duty is to run its cars.
stockholders must yield to that.
There being disputes in the case as to
some of the facts, the law makes it my
duty to allow an alternative, instead of a
peremptory, writ, but though the command
of the people be less abrupt or peremptory
in that form of the writ, it, nevertheless.
is the peoples command. I also prefer to
issue the alternative writ, as that is the
more moderate course, and should prove
sufficient Let, therefore. an alternative
writ of mandamus in the name of the peo-
pie of the State of New York ISSUE COM
manding this corporation to resume the
operation of it's roads and the accommoda-
ton Of the public as fully and completely
in all respects as it was doing prior and I'D
to Jan. IA, 1885,
The news of Judge Gaynor's decision was
received with mixed feelings at the strik-
ers' headquarters at Mugge's Hail. Master
Workman Connolly said to a reporter re-
garding the decision: "It might just as
well have been twenty years as twenty
days. Still. in a certain measure it is in
favor. The roads must carry on their
contracts and fulfill their obligations to
the public, and in order to do SO they
must have the men, and these they have
not got We will carry on the strike If
it takes twenty days or twenty years. We
"Will the strike be extended?'
"No, think not. 1t has gone far enough,
and there is no necessity for spreading 1t
any further. While admit that Justice
Gaynor's decision is on the face of it, in
favor of the companies, it is not defeat
for the strikers, who have good chance
yet for wining, but 1t is a great victory
for the citizens of Brooklyn and a blow
at the company's disregard of the rights
of the community"
At the headquarters of the strikers the
big room was filled with men who had
come from several quarters of the Repub-
lie. The curious lot, the Gin
cinnati aggregation taking corner, the
Chicagoans another, while a contingent
from Buffalo had a third, and representa-
tives from other cities. in groups of vary
ing dimensions, gathering in other parts Of
the hall. Master Workman Connolly re-
marked: Cast your eye over the assem-
blage and see what you think of it." There
were about 250 men in the hall, and their
costumes and bearing betokened the ad-
venturous man who was in search of work
and willing to take anything that promised
bread and butter 1--WE are sending these
men back as fast as we can at the expense
of the fund at the command of District
Assembly rs, and they are glad to get back
to their homes and their families, said
Connolly. "I will only add that these men
came voluntarily, with very few exceptions.
to us to help send them home" 1t is said
there two carloads of on their
way from Chicago to take the places of
strikers.