The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-06-26
In is A BIG VICTORY
FOR THE UNION men
New Pennsylvania Law Forblds- Dis
elimination Against Members
Of Labor Unions.
A HEAVY FINE FOR SO DOING
Railroads Must Now Employ Men
Without Regard to Member
ship Of Industrial Orr
CARNATIONS.

1 ZNHA
Washington, June 16.-The Interstate
commerce commission a just been
advised that the governor OF Pennsyl-
yania has approved an act prohibiting
all persons and corporations from at
tempting to prevent their employees
from joining or belonging to labor or
CARNATIONS. The act provides II fine
of from 81 900 to 81, 900 and imprisonment
for one year as a penalty for violation.
This is the result OF the fight on the
part of labor organizations in 1894
against receivers OF the Reading rail
way, which though lost temporarily in
the courts, was carried to a successful
issue in the legislature. AS long ago
as 1887 the Reading railway prohibited
its men from joining or belonging to
labor organizations, u whenever a
new man was employed presented an
agreement for him to sign in which he
waived his rights as an individual, de-
clared that he did not belong TO labor
organizations, and would not join such
organizations.
On October 90, 1893, an agent of the
Reading company hired Levi Hicks as
a brakeman. The usual paper was pre-
\ EiitSh WI JitS Dot iV
to state whether he was a member Of
a labor organization. He was en-
ployed, however, but on August Is, 1894,
when the company learned that Hicks
was a member of the Brotherhood Of
Railway Trainmen, he was discharged.
The brotherhood.took up his cause, and
then ensued h a famous litigation be
fore the United States circuit court at
Philadelphia, finally decided in a
lengthy inc remarkable decision by
Judge Dallas in favor of the railway
company.
Judge Dallas virtually. held that an
elnploye, ever when the railroad was in
the hands of the court, could be dis
charged for any eason which the en-
ployer might name. Richard Olney,
then attorney general of the United
| States, participated as amicus curia in
the Ease before Judge Dallas and filed
an. interesting brief. in which he ex-
pressed views contrary to those ex-
pressed by the court. Mr.. Olney held
that labor was organized and had q
right to do SO. and that corporations
| could not make a rule that would re-
strict the legal rights of their employees.
The Importance of the law now in
force in Pennsylvania is that it compels
the Reading and all other railways in
that state to employ men without ques-
tioning their membership in labor or
CARNATIONS. and prevents the railways
from discharging men for such mem
bcrship. The railroad labor organiza-
tions will attempt to secure the enact
ment of similar laws in other states.
Takes Up IL Great Question.
President Gompers and other men,
bers of the executive council of the
American Federation OF Labor have sent
a greeting on the immigration question
to affiliated unions in order by this
means to obtain the sense OF organized
labor on the immigration question in its
several phases. The greeting says.
THE subject has been divided In such
a name that Zach member may nave
a fair opportunity to vote either In IA
vor of or opposed to the entire subject
OF immigration restriction or upon the
measure and scope OF such restriction.
"Of course, those who are opposed to
the restriction of inamigration need give
little attention to the manner by which
restriction may be secured. while those
who are favorable to restriction can
fully discuss and decide as to the forms
and measures of restrictions"
The following are the questions sub
mitted:
i. Does your organization favor
amending the laws Of the United States
to restrict immigration more than it is
now restricted?
Q. Does your organization favor a pro-
vision in the law guarding against Grim
inal and pauper clements entering into.
the United States?
3. Should the foreign consular service
and our immigration department be In
trusted with greater powers to enforce
immigration laws?
A.. Should the violation of the alien
contract labor law by employers be pun
ishable by Imprisonment?
5. Should the steamship companies be
held responsible for n term Of years for
the character of their passengers?
6. Should a stricter civil and educa-
tional test be enforced as to aualinca-
ton for naturalization?
4. Should every immigrant be com
PEELED to declare his Intention to be-
come a citizen of the United States?
What other provisions does your or
g~anizatlon favor and suggest. IL any to
further the restriction OF Immigration?
orEani2atlcnS which eNpect to be rep-
resented at the Nashville convention of
the American Federation of Labor are
urged to instruct their delegates so that
the convention may fully express the
real judgment of organized labor on the
subject, and unions which will not be
represented are directed to discuss and
vote upon the question and to return
the vote to headquarters not later than
October 80, 1897.
Suicide Identified.
New York. June 1.-THE woman WHO