Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-04-08
NO MORE INJUNCTION
Judge Adams Withdraws His Famous
Restraining Order
WABASH MEN MAY NOW STRIKE
the rlen Are Satisfied Is Not to b:
Credited.


St Louis, Special.-The injunction
issued March 5, by Judge Elmer Is.
Adams, of the United States district
court, at the instance of the Wabash |
Railroad officials 10 restrain the Broth
erhood OF Railway Trainmen and
Firemen from ordering a strike on
that system, was dissolved Wednesday |
in a decision handed down by Judge |
Adams, week after the hearing OF |
arguments for and against the remoV- |
ii of the legal obstacle.
While no one will express an opin- |
ion as TO the next probable move on |
either side, remarks dropped indicate |
that every effort viii! be made to Ell
feet 4 settlement and avert 4 strike. |
But if Il settlement shall not be eff !
fected, the understanding seems to be |
general that a strike is sure to result, |
AT Wabash headquarters it was stated
that amicable adjustment of the CON
troversy is hoped for. The same senti-
ment was expressed at the hotels.
where are quartered the few reprcsen-
tatives OF the officials of the trainment
and fremen now in the city. Counsel
for both sides spent the afternoon in
conference, but no agreement was
reached.
Judge Adams announced that court
would be in session and retain jurisdiC-
ton of the case. If desired. so that in
the event Of any molestation of or in
terference with. Interstate commerce
or the mail service. all it's lawful pow
ers may be invoked to restrain the
same. with the confident assurance
that they will be fearlessly and effect
lively exercised.
The temporary injunction was grant
cd by Judge Adams on allegations
made by officials OF the Wabash Sys-
tenn that the defendants were conSpir-
ing to interfere with Interstate traf-
fic and in the transmission of United
States mails. Judge Adams in his de-
cision says the provisional restraining
order was made without notice to the
defendants. under the stress OF the
facts disclosed by the bill and was
fully authorized by section us. Re
vised Statutes of the United States, and
was imperatively demanded by the
general principles of equity jurispru-
| dence recognized and enforced in many
| similar cases in the United States and
England, and many authorities war
rantinS the provisional restraining
order in question in cases % conspira-
cies to interfere with Interstate COM
merce and otherwise are cited in sap
port Of this last proposition.
Within the time allowed ny the rc-
straining order the defendants duly
appeared and file their sworn answcr
denying the alleged conspiracy in All
| its phases and particularly denying cnv
! purpose to interfere with interstate
! commerce or the mails Of the United
States. and especially denying that the
employees were satisfied with wages and
| conditions of their service and deny
| ing the practice Of any and all coercion
or false representations TO bring about
strike; avering that the only pur-
pose of the present defendants in con
sentinS to strike was to better the
condition of their members who were
in the employment of the railroad hv
the exercise of their undouDtcd right
to peacefully withdraw from such ser
vice until such time as their demands
OF wages etc, should be conceded.
The court. after fully considering az
the proof. finds that the statements OF
the complaint to the effect that TIE
employees were satisfied with their
wages and conditions of service are NOT
supported. irrespective OF the orcs-
tlon whether the men or the commit
tee or brotherhood representing Them
nrst suggested the increase OF woreq
ana change of rules, the c1nDIoycs
themselves at end for long time ,r:gr
TO the filing of the bill of complaint
were dissatisfied with their wages and
conditions of service, and a real differ
ence or opinion existed between tho
railroad and large majority OF IT'S
employees, members OF the brother
moods. with respect to their wages and
that the defendants as officer and com
mltte2s of the brotherhoods were frIIv
authorized both by reason of their Of
nclal relation to their members and
also by direct written authority TO rep
resent them IN the enort to secure
hlgher wages and change conditions OF
service and the proposed strike instead
OF being officially ordered By defcad-
ants was a result of the vote of tie
employees acting without coercion ana
directly authorizing the same. The
court further finds after full exam
nation OF the evidence that the charpa
OF conspiracy to interfere with the in
ter-State commerce OF the United
States or the mail service of the
United States. is not sustained.