The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-22

A somewhat curious controversy. and one
i've. has arisen in New Jersey relative to
the right of labor unions to picket mills.
The term picketing is borrowed from army
operations, where. as everybody knows, it
means the posting of a guard in front of an
army to give notice of the approach of the
enemy. 1t was never used in connection
with labor troubles until strikes took on the
feature of using force to prevent mills from
being operated or nonunion men from work.
ing. A resort to forcible measures natural
ly led to the adoption of military methods.
including marching and picketing. One of
the definitions of the word picket given by
recent dictionaries is "A body of men be-
longing to a trades union sent to watch and
annoy men working in a shop not belonging
to the union, or against which a strike is in
progress" The marching movement pre-
coded picketing. The former was first used
during the great coal miners strike of 1897.
when hundreds of miners In Pennsylvania
and West Virginia marched from place to
place for the purpose of intimidating and
preventing others from working. They
marched with the American flag at their
head. took several days rations with them.
and. but for their threatening demonstra-
tons. were generally orderly. Finally the
coal operators appealed TO the courts and
injunctions were issued forbidding all pa
rading and assembling Of miners on the
DpbI,o hiohuUax-c Or naor the r,;uas .sror 81.
purpose of intimidation. and by menaces.
threats and opprobrious words of prevent
ing the employees OF said company from
working in said mines. or of inducing or
compelling any OF said employees TO quit
work by threats. menace, show of force or
other intimidation. The strikers protested
against the interference with their right to
assemble and march on the public high
way but the order OF the court was sus-
tanned and enforced. In passing sentence
on some strikers for contempt of court
Judge Con-. of West Virginia, said:
The strikers had a right to quit work
themselves, and they had the right to in
duce other miners by peaceable means. sex
erted in a lawful way. TO also quit work
and join them But the miner who still de-
~ - III AAaA AIt oahIC ~ III
50 as the miner to quit work. and the own
ers of the mines had the right 10 operate
the same. y body of men over two hun
dred strong. marching in the early hours
of the morning. before daylight. hating in
front OF the mine opening and taking posi-
ton on each side OF the public highway
for a distance OF at least a quarter of a
mile at the exact places where the miners
were i'm the habit OF crossing that highway
for the purpose OF going to their work. Is
neither an aid TO fair argument nor con
duCiVe 10 the state OF mind that makes
willing converts TO the cause thus cham.
pioned. The marching men seemed TO think
that they could go and come on and over
the country road as they pleased because il
was "A public highway. But this was a mis-.
take. The miners at work had the same
right TO use the public road as the strikers
had
Picketing is another phase of marching
| and involves the same elements of menac.
and intimidation. a dispatch in yesterday:
Journal stated that the Board OF Aldermen
of Paterson. ". J.. had passed an ordinanc,
allowing the picketing OF mills in that cit,
in response TO a demand by striking weav
crs. who. II was said. look upon IL as ;
tremendous victory" A case involving IN,
| question OF the right 10 picket has alread,
| been appealed 10 the Supreme Court of New
jersey and has been set for hearing at al
/ early day. The decision will undoubtedl,
be against the right OF the Board Of Alder