The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-03
THE DROP FORGING CASE
UNION MEN INTEREyTED IN CASE IN
JUDGE CARRIERS COURT.
witnesses for and Against the Con-
tentfons of the Company-Other
Cases In the Courts.

The Indianapolis Drop Forging Company's
injunction suit against Edward j. Collins.
business agent. and the members of White
River Lodge. of the international Associa-
ton of Machinists, was partially heard by
Judge Carter in Room 3. Superior Court.
yesterday. The suit is for a continuance
OF the present temporary injunction granted
by the court on Nov. s against the members
Of the union restraining them from con-
tinEing their lockout at the plant of the
company at Downey street and the j., NJ.
& I. Railroad. The temporary order granted
by the court on the application of the Drop
Forging Company restraints the striking
machinists from interfering. obstructing or
stopping the business of the firm; from
molesting. compelling or inducing, or by
intimidation and threats of force or vio-
lence or by use of force or violence pre-
venting workmen of the plant from en-
gaging in their work in the machine shop,
and from c~ongregating or lettering or being
upon any of the streets or alleys near the
property or a. the gates TO the plant; from
posting pickets. sentinels or guards around
the property TO coerce workmen into leav-
ing their employment. or from visiting sing
ly or in a body or trying to visit any work.
lHcu VI the pldUl IOT the pulpOSc VI pei
suading them to leave the works.
The temporary injunction was granted
after the plaintiffs had narrated to the
court a number of grievances which it
claims 10 have against the strikers. IL was
set forth that the strike of the machinists
began in May last and since that time the
workmen have been assaulted while going
to and from their homes and work and that
members of the union have congregated
around the plant and impeded the work
of the factory.
At the trial yesterday the Drop Forging
Company was represented by Edenharter q
Null, attorneys, and the strikers by GrOn-
niger & Gronniger. Many of the members
of the White River Lodge of machinists
were present in the courtroom, as were
also many union men from other organiZa-
tions. During the morning session of the
court the plaintiffs introduced a number
of witnesses TO show that the strikers had
eongregated around the plant, interfered
!. with workmen and in many other ways in
jured the business. 1t was charged that
an attempt had been made to ruin the
boilers and engines of the plant by per-
hitting a hot box In a machine which
caused a melting of babbit metal and pro-
interfered with the operation of the shaft
ing. The reasons for the discharge of the
union men were given by the plaintiffs as
incompetency and many other lrregulari-
ties that made them no longer needed in
the shop. Secretary p. NJ. Watson was in
the courtroom during the trial.
IL Was CcIllE lidl IL III Idu DCtn
assaulted by the strikers. but the testimony
of some of the witnesses was from hear
say. II was firmly believed that the men
were assaulted by strikers because they
persisted in working in the plant. but no
definite evidence to this end was adduced.
In defense of the lodge and for a dissolu-
ton Of the temporary Injunction proceed
ings many residents in the neighborhood
where the Drop Forging Company's plant
is located were placed on the witness stand.
They testified that the picket and lockout
maintained was orderly and within their
Interpretation Of the rights of citizens.
Boarding house keepers and other persons
connected with the strikers and nom
strikers testified to these facts.
One of the witnesses for the defense,
Frank Bates, formerly superintendent of
the plant. who left IL recently. discussed
the causes for the discharge of many men.
in the case of a man named Smith he said
khe man was a good workman, a fair die
sinker and an industrious. faithful, sober
Ind steady man, and that he was dis
charged because he was an "agiIator."
The man was a nuisance to the shop, Mr..
Bates said. as his talk of unionism and
agitation of grievances created dissension
among his fellow-workmen. He was dis
charged for that reason, Mr.. Bates testi-
fed. Another witness for the strikers was
Robert SchoonoVer, engineer at the plant,
who testified that the suspicion that the
strikers had tried to cripple the machinery
was groundlesS- He went into technicalf-
ties to describe the condition of the shaft
the occurrence was nothing more than an
unavoidable accident to the machinery of
the plant.
The case was not finished yesterday.
and the testimony will be concluded to-day
and argument by the attorneys begun.