The evening times., 1900-02-16
LAWS RELATING TO LABOR
The Acts of State Legislatures
Which Regulate Industries.
A Prohibition of BOycotting I'm Colo
rado-Severity of the Maine AStat-
utes Respecting COnspiracies.
Measures for Preventing Violence
by Striking Railroad Employees.

The bulletin issued by the Department
of Labor last month contains great deal
of Information valuable alike TO the en-
ployer and the employed in reference to all
the great industries of the United States.
The bulletin discusses the possibilities OF
labor. both organized and unOrganiZed, and
its relation to the great manufacturing. in
dustries of the country.
deal of space is given to the discussion
of the rights of the workman and his en-
ployer whether he be an individual or a
corporation. In connection with this phase
of the subject extracts from the laws in
the different States relative 10 labor are
given showing exactly what the privileges
of the wage Garner are in many States and
Territories in the United States. Reference
is also made to those States in which there
is legislation enacted prohibiting employ
ers from discharging workmen because OF
political opinions.
The States and Territories having exist
ing legislation upon the above subject are
Arizona. Arkansas, California Colorado,
Connecticut Delaware, Idaho, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
souri, Montana Nevada, New Jersey, New
Mexico. New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania South Carolina. South Dako-
ia. Tennessee. Utah. West Virginia, Wis
consin, and Wyoming.
The subject of boycotting is also dis
cussed at length. The law OF Colorado is
probabIy the most stringent on the subject
The law of that State enacted in 1897, is:
1T shall be unlawful for any person or
persons. or combination of persons, or
society, or union. to establish or institute
or engage in boycott against any indi-
vidual firm. or corporation carrying on any
kind of trade or business, by agreeing not
TO patronize trade, or do business with any
such Individual firm. or corporation, or to
induce others not to so patronize trade, or
do business with any such individual hrm,
or corporation.
ANY violation of this act shall be mis-
demeanor and punishable by fine OF not less
than $500 nor more than $1,000, or i'm
prisonment not less than sixty days nor
more than one year, or both fine and i'm
prisonment. at the discretion of the court.
The law of conspiracy is also discussed.
In the State of Maine, possibly. the law Is
more severe against this alleged method OF
coercion than in any Of the other States.
The Maine statute on the subject is:
IF two or more persons conspire and
agree together, with the fraudulent or ma
Iicious intent wTongfully and wickedIy to
injure the person. character, business, or
property of another: or TO do any illegal
act injurious 10 the public trade,
of ,sFAirE
such offender. and every psrson convicted
Of conspiracy at common law, shall be
punished by Imprisonment for not more
than three years, or by fine not exceeding
81 zoe"
great deal of space is given to the
discussion of the subject of strikes, par
ticularly strikes on railroads. The bulletin
says.
These acts may be violent as the de-
struction or injuring OF property, cars.
buildings. locomotives etc. or they may
consist in simply abandoning a 10 omotive
or a train without warning, and acts OF a
similar nature. Such acts, if they accom-
plish the purpose of the strikers Of OBJ
structing the conduct of business tend to
prevent the employment Of workmen by
the employers \ number Of the states |
have passed statutes intended TO preyent
such practices and providing penalties for !
The commission OF such unlawful acts.
These statutes vary greatly in their /
terms some of them containing in their /
bodies evidences that their prOyi ions were !
directed primarily against offences COM |
mitted for other reasons, as those prompt |
ed by viciousness or by a design TO aid in !
the robbing of trains, etc. i is often di.- /
ficult TO make separation of such laws |
with certainty, and their language is such |
that, whatever the reasons for their en- !
actin have bfau they ,DVln oil /
undoubtedly be used in the punishment OF |
those attempting TO OhstrHct the conduct !
of a business by the use of certain Illegal !
means whatever their object in so doing I
might be-
Twenty three of the States and Terri |
tories have passed laws looking TO the |
punishment of strikers.