Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-03
MAY co TO PRISON
BOYCOTTING CRIME UNDER THE
OHIO STATUTES.
THE ANTITRUST LAW APPLIES
HEAVY FINE AND IMPRISONMENT
THE PENALTY.
Police Make an Arrest Which May
Lead to the Conviction of Dyna-
miters-GOvernor Bushnell
May Investigate the
Situation.
THE ANTITRUST LAW APPLIES

CLEVELAND, O.. Aug. Good law
yers say the boycotters may be proceeded
against under the Ohio antitrust law
which covers conspiracies of all kinds in
restraint of trade. One lawyer, who has
examined the law, says that merchants
who refuse to sell good to boycotted per-
sons, as well as those who assist in plac-
ing the boycott upon them, aiding or abet-
ting it in any way, can be convicted of
conspiracy, without proof of the existence
of conspiracy. The penalty provided is a
fine of from $50 to $500 and Imprisonment
of from six months to a year, and each
day that the conspiracy continues consti-
tutes separate offense. This law was
passed at the last session of the legisla-
ture, but the author of it intended that it
should apply only to trusts.
The spoilers sent out by the strikers
are scattered everywhere along the Big
Consolidated lines. They board the cars,
If there happen to be any passengers, and
| endeavor to learn their names. Failing in
this, the passengers are followed to their
homes or places of business and, as a re-
suit, in most cases, their names go down
on the list"
Many merchants who are taking part
in the boycott have changed their tactics
| on account of threats of prosecution, and
simply place a prohibitive price on their
goods to boycotted persons.
The police believe they have made an ar
rest which may lead to important develop
| ments in connection with the several at
tempts to blow up Big Consolidated cars
since the beginning of the present strike.
This forenoon John Schoenthal, a striking
| conductor, was taken into custody on the
charge of being suspicious person. and
has since been detained at the Central sta
| ton, where he was subjected to a rigid ex-
| amina ton by the detectives. Several days
| ago a well digger named Stokes, living at
| Nottingham, a suburb told the police that
| a street railroad man had tried to pur-
! chase dynamite from him. The report was
| investigated and the arrest of Schoenthal
| followed The prisoner admits that he is
| the man who approached Stokes, but he
| says he made the inquiry at the request of
another man whose name he does not know.
He says he was approached by the strang-
er, who asked him if he knew where ten
| pounds of dynamite could be purchased.
! The prisoner told the stranger that he
knew a man in Nottingham who used dyna-
mite, and he might have some to sell.
| Thereupon he went to Nottingham, saw
| Stokes, but failed to get the explosive. He
reported his failure to the stranger, ac-
| cording to his story and that was the end
of the matter.
| The police will not say what they think
of the story, but they declare they are not
vet through with the investigation and they
look upon the arrest an important one
4 h No.
pany about four years before the strike be-
gan.
Major J. r. McQuigg was to-day ap'
pointed acting Judge advocate by Adjutan
General Axline, commanding the Ohio ma
tional guard troops on strike duty here
1t is understood that the acting judge ad
yocate will at once take up the legal phase
of the boycott, so far as it relates to tht
soldiers.
General Axline said to-day that proprie
tors of stores that refused to sell good:
to either soldiers or civilians could VI,
doubtedly be punished under the law. HI
added that reports were constantly being
received at his headquarters in the cit!
hall showing that many storekeeper!
throughout the city are refusing to Sci
their goods to the troops.
To a representative of the Associated
|
ing car mems union, said to-day that th
boycott had practically passed out of thei
hands.
1.-The people themselves he said, "hav
taken it up, and where the movement will
end no one can tell
Speaking of threatened prosecution, Mr.
Pratt said: why don't they prosecut
some of the corporations who place men OIL
their blacklists and follow them all owe
, the country in order to keep them out o
employment, sometimes for years? Thi
5 boycott is undoubtedly great hardshi
to many thousands of people. 1t Is, how
ever the only remaining weapon wit
which to fight powerful corporation lik
the Big Consolidated Should we lose,
would have a demoralizing effect upon or
ganized labor everywhere. l have no fear
however, as to the final result. We shal
win out"
1t is stated that Governor Bushnell VII
come to Cleveland in person shortly to IN
I vestigate the situation and to decide nov
long the troops shall be kept here.
, 0pnEREN Tn 0IIlT THEIR UNION