The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-08-21
ASKS FOR INJUNCTION
Against Use Of Boycott and So
called Unfair List.
Complainant Is Bucks Stove ano
Range Company of ST. Louis - Al.
leges That If Federation Is Per
mttted to Continue Its Alleged Con
spiracy Company Will Suffer.

spiracy Company VIII Suffer.
Washington, Aug. 2O.-A significant
legal action was begun in the supreme
court of the District OF Columbia yes
terday by James w. Van Cleave
president of the National Association
sf Manufacturers, to enjoin Samuel
Gompers, John Mitchell and other off
GERS of the American Federation oi
Labor and several of its subsidiary
organizations from using the boycott
and so-called unfair list"
Mr.. VanCleave institutes the suit in
the name of large manufacturing
company in st. Louis, of which he is
president, whose products are alleged
to have been declared unfair by the la
Dor unions, but the significance of the
action lies in its being test case
wherein Mr., Van Cleave as head OF
the Manufacturers association, seeks
to permanently enjoin organized labor
from using the unfair" or I'VE don't
patronize" lists in it's fight against
firms and individuals.
The papers were filed here in order
that personal service might be imme
diately obtained against a large mum
Der of labor leaders named in the com
plant who are in Washington in at
tendance upon general conference.
The bill asks for a permanent in
junction against Samuel Gompers and
Frank Morrison of Washington, John
V. Lennon of Bloomington. H.; james
Duncan of Quincy, Mass. John Mitch.
ell of Indianapolis, James O'Connell
of Washington, Max Morris of Denver,
Denis A. Hayes of Philadelphia, Dan.
del j. Keefe Of Detroit, William D..
Huber of Indianapolis, Joseph F. Val
entine of Cincinnati, all of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor; also r. L..
ThiXton, c. o. Buckington, II. G..
,Poppe, A. ]. Cooper and E. l.. Hick.
man, as individuals and as officers of
the Electrotype Moulders and Finish
ers' union, No. II, and members of
the International Stereotypers and
Electrotypers' union. The complain
ant is the Bucks Stove and Range
company of st. Louis.
Unlawful Conspiracy Alleged.
The plaintiffs ask that the defend
ants be enjoined on nine special
points. first alleging a conspiracy un-
lawfully to injure their business.
These points are as follows:
From in any manner carrying on a
conspiracy to restrain and destroy the
business of the plaintiff; from agree
ing or combining to interfere in any
manner with the business of the plain
poration; from boycotting or attempt
ing or threatening to boycott the
plaintiff or the plaintiffs business
from publishing or distributing
through the mails any copy of the
American Federationist," the organ
of the American Federation of Labor,
which contains the name of the plain
tiff under it's I'VE don't patronize" or
unfair" list. or which contains any
statement that the plaintiff is or has
been unfair; from publishing or cir
culating in any way, in pursuance of
the alleged conspiracy, in writing or
orally, any statement to the injury of
the product of the plaintiffs factory;
from representing or stating to Gus
toners of the plaintiff or dealers or
the public that the plaintiffs factory
has been boycotted and that its goods
should not be dealt in, or for the pur-
pose of coercing any dealer or person
not to purchase the plaintiffs pro-
duct; from threatening or intimidat-
ing the customers of the plaintiff; (;
from giving any orders or directions
to committees, associations, officers,
agents or others for the performance
of any acts or threats which would in
terfere with the plaintiffs business,
and from carrying on the alleged con
spiracy to prevent the plaintiff from
conducting his proper business in any
other states or territories of the
Union.
The complaint states that the
American Federation of Labor COM
prises 120 national or International
unions, and has during the past 20
years repeatedly declared and prose
cuted boycotts against the business
and products of numerous individuals
and concerns under its ban" and that
the federations combined power is
now being directed maliciously against
the business OF the plaintiff.
Steps Leading Up to the Action.
The steps leading up to this action
are set forth in the complaint to be the
outcome of a strike. According to
the complaint, Aug 20, 1906, the mem
bers of the Metal Polishers' union,
No. 13. of st. Louis, in the employ of
the stove company, struck in a body
and without notice to the company, or
waiting for an adjustment of griev-
ances. in violation of an agreement
between the International Union of
Metal Polishers and the Stove Found
ers National Defense association, Of
which the Bucks company is a mem
ber.
On the failure of the strike the IN
ternational Union of Metal Polishers
declared boycott against the Bucks
company and its product inserted the
company's name in its unfair list
and published it in the union paper,
the Journal
In November, 1906, the products cf
the company were placed on I'VE
don't patronize" lists OF the American
| EpderatiOn of Labor and uubliSlcd IL