The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-06-27
FREIGHT HANDLERS
HAVE HANDS TIED
LoCHREN ORDERS INJUNCTION
AGAINST LONGSHOREMEN.
STORY TOLD BY
SPY F. 3. HARDING,
Union Men Now Liable to Double Ar.
rest If They Speak to Non.
Union Men.

o was ~ Oe eApSCleos Judge A0cn-
rem granted the Temporal: order
against the Freight Handlers union of
Duluth. The union ar it's members
are now enjoined from ioftering at or
near the propert OF the Northern Pa
cine Railroad company, or from In
unloatlng n--:-rn,on men. The effect
OF the ora = &c increase the respon-
slol4lty OF i"' =. The laws of Min
nesota are strong enough to protect the
ocTnl,A In all it's complaints, but it is
r satisfied with the common statu-
9 law and it has been able to salts
~ federal court that judicial inter-
1t1on was also necessary to protect
from the anger Of a desperate CD
iody of strikers.
We hold that an injunction prevent
ing men from violating the laws of a
community is wholly uncalled for. The
court that enjoins men from violating
law Is usurping new power It is a.
strong hint to the police authorities
that they are incapable of enforcing
the law. 1t Is bold attempt to deny
men the right of trial by jury in case of
the violation OF law. It is an attempt
OF the courts to take position on the
side Of the employer of labor, as against
the employee. When court prevents
men from peaceably meeting other men
for the purpose of inducting Gntimidat-
Ing, to use the courts expression) them
not to take a job where men are on
strike, and they are arrested for con-
tempt OF court for such peaceable in
timidation, that court is usurping pow
er never intended for it to hold It is
against the spirit of Fundamental
Anericanism."
Here is an instance: Two men meet:
one is a union freight handler, and the
other is a strike breaker. They be-
come engaged in a heated debate, and
finally blows are exchanged. Accord
ing to the terms Of Judge Lochren's
order the union man may be arrested
for contempt Of court, and the nom
union man who is not enjoined may be
arrested for assault. or possibly for
committing a a-lighter offense.t The1un-s
don man becomes Is s.spr fgonerss aAstAes
IA NIllitesl.sstateas,
is but d charge *of the state. Both ares
equally guilty Of committing the. same
,offense. The first, when brought to
trial will be denied the right of a trial
by jury of his peers. The court that
made the law will be the judge and
jury to try it's offender. The second,
who Is only amendable to the laws of
this state, may have jury trial.
Hvery protection of the law will be
thrown around him, and in the end
he will get justice. Now we ask in the
name Of fair play and equity is this
right? Is this not really judicial usur-
patton? Is this not contrary to the
spirit Of American fairness? Is it not
a law made by one man clothed with
judicial power, In favor of one class
of men against the other? In the
face OF this are not trade unonists
fully justified in making claims of gov
ernment by injunction?
There are some questions that one
cannot discuss fairly The abuses of
che federals courts have become so
general that even the most patient is
forced to lose heart. It is true that
the freight handlers on strike have
made some mistakes. A few of the
members have violated the laws Of this
state, and they were duly and rightfully
punished No trade union critisized
the court in this case. The men were
given fair trial, and every opportun-
ity for defense, and the only surprise
to us was that they got off so light.
The lawless act of these men does not
justify the issuing of an injunction
against every member Of the union.
An injunction at the time this lawless
act was committed might be excusa-
Bile, but at this time when all Is peace
and quiet there is no reason for it ex-
cept to enbarrass the union.
In the proceedings before the Fede-
raj court, one F. B. Hardwick acknowl-
edged that he Joined the union under
the name of F. 3. Harding as a spy.
His story was in part as follows: He
is personally acquainted with a number
Of the defendants. having become ac-
quainted with them in April and May
He came to Duluth about April Is, and
found that local lodge No. 81 was con-
Quoting a strike against Knudsen &
Eden, and he understood from the men
that they wanted 40 cents an hour in
stead of 30 cents; that they wanted
none but union men employed, and
that they should not be compelled to
work later than 10 o'clock at night.
He says he heard some of the defend
ants state that If Knudsen & Eden
did not accede to these demands the
strikers would comnel them to throw
up their contract.
Hardwfck got working card in the
union May s under the name of F. B.
Harding, and attended the meetings
thereafter. He kept memorandum
yhowing his movements and the leading
sFents Of the strike. He was present
when twenty members Of the lodge on
April 81 intercepted a car of non union
workmen and succeeded in. inducing
several of them to quit work. He
names a number of the defendants who
we're there. -
He details the talk in the lodge rooms
when the strike was discussed, and it
was decided to meet cars that were
bringing non-union men,. 49, He heard
some more talk about breaking the car
doors and using force il it.Were .neces-
sary. on April 26 he was told that a
numbers of the 4memb bers Of the lodge