The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-20

the Becker affair. The witness was
asked VINO We're the present delegates
TO the Silver Bow Trades and Labor
assembly from the Clerks union, and
he said that was a secret. The court
told him TO answer. and he said mat
the defendant, Geiger. was one of the
delegates. Morgan said he knew moth
ing about the boycott notice alleged TO
have been issued by the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor assembly. and said
that so far as he knew the notice had
no effect.
Dan Mcdonald was the next witness
and he was asked If he had any per-
sonal knowledge of who issued and cir
culated the boycott notice bearing the
name of the Silver Bow Trades and
Labor assembly. of which he is presi-
dent, and said he knew nothing about
II. In answer to a question from Mr..
wines, the witness said IL was not one
or the objects and theories of the as
sembly to coerce and intimidate per-
sons, but settled differences and griev-
ances by peaceable means.
On cross-examination the witness said
he knew nothing about the boycott. but
had served on an arbitration commit
tee to consult with Mr.. Becker. and the
result of the conference vas reported to
the assembly and was placed on file.
He did not know what was lone after
that and did not know whether a fine
had been imposed or not. The witness
was asked what was lone by the COM
mittee.
II told you once. I'll put it in writing
for you If you want it, answered the
witness.
Answer the question and don't get
smart" said the court. and the witness
then related the conversations the com
mittee had with Becker. They told him
that the horseshoers had a grievance
against him because he had worked
overtime, and he told the committee
that he would not permit any one to in
terfere with his business. The assem-
bly, referred the committees report to
the Horseshoers' union, and the wit
ness said he could not positively say
that a boycott had ever been put on
Becker. No committee was ever APP
pointed to call on Becker's customers
patronage,
NJ. ]. Geiger, an officer of the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor assembly. testi-
fled that he knew that the assembly
never ordered the boycott notices to be
printed and had never paid for them.
Geiger did not know who had them
printed. He said the assembly never
employed threats or coercion, but used
moral suasion, and the objects of the
assembly are in the interests of the
community and humanity"
Suppose the moral suaslon theory
does not work, what them" asked Mr..
Lippincott.
I'VE are still entitled to our beliefs
and opinions
IF he refuses to be convinced and
agree with you. don't you use any other
means to bring him around thar moral
s~uasion?'
mo. sir"
Geiger again said the assembly did
not print or authorize the boycott mo-
tice.
Then the notice, which bears the
name of the Silver Bow Trades and
Labor assembly, is a forgery"
II would say So"
Geiger declared that so far as he
knew no action was ever taken to boy
colt Becker, and If the horseshoers in
stituted the boycott they did so without
authority from the Silver Bow Trades
and Labor assembly.
i. r. McNally. one of the delegates
and a member of the Silver Bow Trades
and Labor assembly, said he had never
heard the Becker case discussed and
had never seen the boycott notice until
he saw a copy of it in the court room.
He aid 1t was against the principles
of the labor assembly to use threats
against any one. He did not consider
IL a threat TO tell a man that he would
withdraw his patronage and ask others
to do likewise.
IF you withdrew your patronage and
got others to withdraw their patronage.
i would have to go out OF business,
would / not?' asked Mr.. Lippincott.
~ should hope So" said McNally.
"And if | could not make a living l
would have TO starve?"
Il should hope So"
J. A. Thomas. a defendant ana a
member of the Horseshoers' union, said
the Becker trouble had been considered,
hut he did not know who issued or cir
culated the boycott notice. Thomas
said the grievance against Becker was
that he worked about 20 minutes over
time on a Saturday night to complete
a lob of shoeing. He said If he were
engaged on a job he would quit at D
o'clock. no matter in what condition the
lob was at that time. The witness said
there was no boycott placed on Becker,
and did not know what the word boycott
meant. He did not know whether the
word indicated something favorable or
unfavorable to the person against
whom IT was used.
Edward Neeman. another horseshoer,
also denied all knowledge of the boycott
and the printed boycott notices. Will
lam Ldvesly and Thomas Ryan testified
10 about the same effect, after which
court adjourned for the day.