The San Francisco call., 1904-07-08
SUIT TO STOP
PICKETS is ON
Judge Hunt Begins Trial
of Test Case for Injunc-
ton Against Stablemen
EMPLOYER is ON STAND
Courtroom Is Crowded and
Hearing May Continue to
the Middle of Next Week

The interests OF local capital and la
Dor were focused yesterday upon the
hearing, in Judge Hunts court OF the
suit Of E. G. Pierce, manager Of the
Nevada Stables, against the Stable
mems union by agreement between
the court and the attorneys for both
sides. the case is TO be tried as test
Of the rights Of labor unions to main
lain pickets and prosecute boycotts
against employers Of non-union labor.
At Yesterdays hearing the courtroom
was crowded by partisans OF ooth
sides. Pierce's examination and cross
examination occupied nearly all the
5sv. I. c. Van Ness and Bush Finnell
conducted his side of the case and
Judge Mcguire appeared for the union.
When the day ended the hearing was
continued until next Monday morning.
From the list OF witnesses TO be exam
sned the trial Will run over until late IN
the week
pierce upou direct and cross-eXam-
snation. related in detail the facts con-
tsfned IN the charges Of his complaint,
beginning with the strike Initiated by
the Stablemen's Union on April p be-
cause he would not discharge a non
union employe. This man, he said,
was not engaged in any particular
OF the business. The morning the
strike was called his ten union en-
ployes walked out, and he has not
seen his non union employe since.
GOT NON-UNION CREW.
Pierce told in court of his efforts to
al his crew Of laborers. In this he
succeeded through the help Of the
Carriage Owners and Liverymen's AS
ISOLATION. He recited in particular the
efforts Of the union men to interfere
with his business. Pickets, he said,
were stationed in front Of his place.
From one to eight men carried ban
ners declaring his stable unfair.
From ten TO fifty men marched IN a
circle in front Of the stable during the
demonstrations, and their captain
called out in a loud voice TO persons
passing on street cars calling attention
10 the alleged unfairness of the stable.
Pierce said thRt he could not use his
men 10 raise hay into the loft without
paying fifty cents a ton for the service.
When the strike was on the union
scared the Italians who were removing
the manure from the place into desert
ing their job and he called upon the
Mayor and Health Department for re-
lief From the Mayors secretary he
got no satisfaction and when he noti-
fed the Health Department that the
situation was becoming a nuisance he
gave notice that he had room for two
more days accumulation of manure
and after that was filled he would
dump il on the sidewalk and compel
the Health Department TO remove il.
Pierce told of threats against his
Waterman and other employees. and de-
clared he had lost customers through
the acts Of men supposed TO be repre-
sentatives Of the union.
STANDS BY OPEN SHOP.
When questioned as TO his response
bility, or that OF the Citizens Alliance
for placing placards in the stable de-
claring il TO be an open shop" Pierce
said that he had decided to run his own
business in his own way. instead Of
letting the union run il for him.
Al this point Judge Mcguire suggest
ed that il would have been a good
thing if all organizations had kept on.
of the trouble and Mr.. Van Ness re-
piled tersely, Undoubtedly"
Pierce admitted that he had said to
Finn, president Of the Stablemen's IN
ion. that he would never take down the
"Open shop" sign whether the union
men came TO work or not.
After Pierce's evidence was in. c. P.
Monroe was called and he said that he
hao been employed in a laundry but
quit his Job 10 offer his services to the
Stablemen's Union. and was made
captain Of pickets." In this capacity
he disposed of all the unemployed
stablemen for service in front of
stables supposed 10 be unfair" He
said that he had only instructed the
pickets to call out, in a low tone. that
the stable vas unfair" and he gave
the men orders to march around in a
circle in the most conspicuous
places"
Monroe will be further questioned on
Monday.