Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-18
Attorney Kennedy's Views.

Attorney Kennedy of Naugatuck, who was counsel for the Machinists' union in Ansonia during the strike of the machinists all over the country in May, 1901, taking them successfully through an injunction and a suit for conspiracy, the first being withdrawn and the latter nolled, was asked his opinion of the injunction and suit for $2O,OOO damages against the local labor unions. He said that in every respect both cases are practically alike. "The injunction issued by Judge Elmer" said he, lis not for any acts that have been done prior to the day the injunc- tion was issued, but it was issued on the condition of things as they then ex- isted, or was supposed to exist, and as they are liable. to exist in the future. The courts do not issue injunctions for the purpose of breaking strikes. but simply to prevent injury being done. Now the strikers, as rule, yield cheer fully to any order issued by court, and are as much in favor of law and order as any other citizen or group of
 citizens in the community. And why should they not be? They have real estate and money in bank, and are a part of the community in which they live. An injunction protects parties and property and restraints further wrong doing, and additional injury, and stops mischief complained of, so the l law books say. I believe that when | ever this case is tried the courts will bold that employees have right to com
 bine together for their own advance
 ment and that they may persuade their | fellow workmen to quit work. True, | the law forbids an employe coerclng another employe from working for an other, but an employe, has right to talk and explain to a fellow workman l why he should refuse to work for the ! trolley company. Picketing is permis- sible when 1t is conducted in a lawful
 manner. Men have the right to act as agents for theii. unions and stop fel- low workman working and request him to leave his employment, just the same as an employer has the right to stop a man in the street and ask him to work for him or them, as the case may be- '@The injunction in the case of the striking machinists in Ansonia, and the injunction in tfiis trolley matter, are practically the same, as one can easily see by reading them. I believe the in junction will be obeyed until 1t is dis solved.
 sThe people don't seem to patronize the trolley company's cars, either in Waterbury or in Naugatuck, and as for the latter town, can say that they have actually refused to ride in the
 trolley cars until the strike is settled. The trolley company have never made an honest attempt to settle the strike, but there will be an honest attempt
 made very soon. The trolley company
 do not care rap for the people of Wa | terbury or for the people of Naugatuck; l they simply want the peoples nickels. That has been manifest to the people for years. The company have a char
 ter to carry people from Waterbury to 1 Naugatuck and leave them about 200
 feet from the beginning of South Main | street, in Naugatuck. The company
 have never made the slightest attempt
 to build foot of this line to accommo- date the people. I should like to have l the agents of the trolley company show l to the citizens of Naugatuck where or
 when they have ever made an attempt 1 to accommodate the people in any way l in this regard. This is simply express l ing the sentiments of the people of l Naugatuck in general The agents Of
 the company know these facts, but l they laugh at the people. Is it any
 wonder, then, that the people of Nauga-
 tuck should sympathize with the l strikers?''