Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-08
S RIkE LITIGA ION
Injunction Hearing Set for To-
day Postponed. .
TIME OTHERWISE EMPLOYED
Justice Stafford Will Read Papers at
His Leisure.
ANSWER OF THE DEFENDANTS
Alleged Picketing Denied-Bartered
Away Observation-Disclosures. in Sup
port of Strikers Contentious.

pickets, to prevent the latter from Interior
ing in any way with the business and en-
ployes of the petitioners.
The answer of Columbia Typographical
Union, whose members are now conducting
a strike for an eight hour working day, to
the charges contained in the bill of COM
plant of the Typothetae of Washington
was filed today. The arguments were post
poned because of prior claims upon the
time of the court.
Attorney jackson III. Ralston, of counsel
for the Columbia Typographical Union, ap-
peared in court, accompanied by Mr.. T. c.
Parsons, chairman of the eight-hour COM
mittee of the striking printers. After fill
ing the answer Mr.. Ralston said that he
was ready to proceed. He indicated that the
presentation of the case would take about
two days. Attorney j. 8. Flannery, represent
ing the Typothetae. remarked that he had
understood that the court would be other
wise engaged all day. Justice Stafford eX-
planned that he had promised to give the
day to the completion of case on hearing,
and was then unable to name day on
which he could consider the matter. The
court suggested that the papers be given
to him so that he could read them at his
leisure and thereby expedite the matter
Attorney Flannery asked if the force of
the courts previous suggestion as TO the Is
suance of a restraining order In the event
of any show of violence on the part Of the
strikers would continue, to which Justice
Stafford responded in the affirmative.
Claims Supported by Afadavits.
In support of the claims set forth in the
answer of the defendant, numerous aftida-
Wits and memoranda were submitted to the
court The following is list of those fur
nishing affidavits: John Berg, president OF
the Columbia Typographical Union; Thorn
as c. Parsons George C. Seibold, Frank A.
Kidd, Stanley Johnson, Frank Thornburg,
P. c. Hilton. William G. Dorsey, William
L. Griff1s. Robert A. Wilson, George Bel
rach, Dale C. Sheriff. w. H. Rowe, James
D. Shirley, William L. Newton, James NJ.
O'Connell E. E. Edelen. William Harris,
Joseph B. Shelly, Frank Clark. Horace
Swain, Harry c.. Cowdery. Delma j.
Catchel, Thomas E. Flowers, o. E. Crow
son, Ella NJ Heness. Ruiz s. ARIA, Edward
c. Bayly and George H. Smith.
Mr.. Berg made affidavit to the fact that
he Is president of the union, but not per-
sonaIly in charge of the strike. He swore
that he had given general instructions to
all concerned in the strike to avoid vio-
lepce or threats of any kind and to do moth
ing that would reflect discredit upon the
Columbia Typographical Union. He said
that SO far as he was aware the instruc-
lions had been faithfully carried out.
He further asserted 1.-The union has not
sought to injure and does not desire to IN
jure any of the compliments in this case;
that he is simply concerned In obtaining
for its members the benefit of the eight
hour law and the other benefits which the
union gives, including protection against
restitution and contribution to death fund;
that the union has passed no boycott reso-
luton and has not sought to prescribe the
compliments in any manner whatsoever,
and, so far as affiant knows, has no IN
tention of SO doing; that, In point of fact.
the compliments constitute but a small
part of those interested in the printing
trade in the District of Columbia, employ
Ing only about one-fourth of those engaged
in the book and job Offices and approyi-
mately one-sixth of the entire number OF
printers employed outside Of the govern
ment printing Office
Statement by Mr. Parsons.
IE his declaration Mr.. Parsons states that
he is chairman of what Is known as the
eight-hour committee of the striking print
ers. and as such has had general charge
of the printers on the strike now existing
In the District of Columbia.
He stated that he had advised and in
sisted that all of the members of the
union, particularly those engaged in the
strike, should abstain from violence OF
every character and objectionable language
toward the compliments and their en-
pioyes, and. so far as he had had occasion
to know, his injunctions in this respect
had been absolutely followed
He said that he did not believe that
they had been violated in any way. He
made the following declaration: THAT the
line of conduct indicated by him had
been the line of conduct insisted upon and
pursued by the Columbia Typographical
Union as a body, we'll as by it's menu
bers separately; that he has neither in
dulged in nor recommended any boycott,
and that SO far as his knowledge extends
no members of the union have congregated
about any of the establishments of the
compliments or IN any manner interfered
with the conduct of their business" He
30 y,I n{., .,-
had made no undue effort to influence nom
union men in the interest of the strike. He
also declared that he had no knowledge OF
the existence of any system or practice of
picketing so far as the members of the
typothetae are concerned and denied in full
other allegations set forth In the bill Of
complaint
Answer of the Defendants.
The defendants answer, filed by .Ralston
and Siddons, attorneys for Columbia Typo
graphical Union. No. 101, and the remaining
defendants, sets forth that the Typothetae,
to which the compliments belong. is COM
pact but extensive organization of employ
ing printers for the purpose of arrogating
to itself such advantages as against the
public and as against their employees as
they may be able to enforce Paragraphs
from the constitution of the typothetae are
quoted, citing particularly the section which
saws that .'it shall have power to legislate
for Its membership anu uctcTUuiic QuSS-
lions arising between them and 1t, and the
trades union or other employees, In regard to
shop practice, hours Of labor, apprentices
and every other question except wages,
which, being governed by local conditions.
shall be regulated by the local organiza-
ton Another section claims power to
suspend for membership any individual TAX
ing action contrary to the expressed policy
of the organization; and another provides
for strike benefits to the members of the
typothetae where employees are on strike
The answer declares that the typothetae
Is. in its operation and organization, in re-
straint of trade and illegal and claims that
any existence of the strike fund In the ty-
pothetae demonstrates that the present
struggle is one between two trade organl-
cations" The answer sets forth the OBJ
1ects of the union and points out that they
are in direct accord with the provisions OF
the act of Congress- providing for the jncor-
poration of national trade unions. The
strike, which is consequent upon the refusal
by the employers to accept minimum wages
and maximum hours, It is declared, is for
the purpose of securing the objects stated
and not for the purpose of interfering with
the business of the employer or his work
men, The allegations OF the bill as to
boycott are declared to be absolutely trrele-
want, having been made In general terms
without reference to any specific act, and
1t Is insisted that the union has not In any
manner boycotted or threatened to boycott