The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-08-27
Seek final test OF THE BOYCOTT IN Big LAWSUIT
action Begun at Washington Against the American
~, Federation of Labor
Manufacturers Would Stop Use of the "Unfar and the
We Don't Patronize" Lists

Washington, d. ca significant
legal action was begun in the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia by
James w. Van Cleave, president of
the National Association of Manu-
facturers, to enjoin Samuel Gompers,
John Mitchell and the other officers
and the 100000 members of the
American Federation of Labor and
several of it's subsidiary organiza-
tions from using the boycott and So
called unfair list" Van Cleave
starts the suit on behalf of large
manufacturing company in st. Louis
of which he is president, it having
been declared unfair, so it is said,
by the labor unions, but the signifi-
canoe of the action lies in it's being a
test case, wherein Mr.. Van Cleave, as
head of the Manufacturers Associa-
ton, seeks to permanently enjoin or
ganized labor from using the 'un-
fair" or 1--WE don't patronize" lists in
its fight against firms and indiyid-
uals. The papers were filed here in
order that personal service might be
Immediately obtained against a large
number of the labor leaders named in
complaint, who are in Washington.
The bill asks for a permanent in
junction against Samuel Gompers
and Frank Morrison, of Washington;
John V. Lennon, of Bloomington,
ILL.,; James Duncan, of Quincy,
Mass; John Mitchell, of Indianapo-
lis; James OConnell, of Washington;
Max Morris. of Denver; Denis A.
Hayes, of Philadelphia; Daniel J..
Keefe, of Detroit; William d. Huber,
of Indianapolis; Joseph F. Valentine.
of Cincinnati, all of the American
Federation of Labor; also r. l..
Thixton, G. o. Buckington, H. G..
Pope, A. j. Cooper and e. l.. Hick-
man, as individuals and as officers of
the Electrotype Molders and Finish
ers' Union No. IL and members of
the International Stereotypers and
Electrotypers' Union. The COM
plainant is the Bucks Stove and
Range Company, of ST. Louis.
Alleges a Conspiracy.
The plaintiff asks that the defend
ants be enjoined on nine special
points, first alleging conspiracy un-
lawfully to injure its business. 1t is
asked that the unions be enjoined
from carrying on conspiracy to re-
strain and destroy the business of
the plaintiff; from agreeing or COM
bining to interfere with its business
Or that of any other person, firm or
corporation, or from boycotting or
attempting to boycott or threatening
to boycott the plaintiff or the plain
tiff's business or attempting to inter-
fere with the regular shipment, sale
or trade in its goods. 1t is also
sought to enjoin the unions from
printing, publishing or distributing
by mail any paper which contains the
name of the plaintiff corporation I'M
der I'VE Don't Patronize" or "Un-
fair" heading or which contains any
statement that the plaintiff is or has
been unfair; from publishing or cir
culating in any way, in writing or Or
ally, any statement to the injury of
the product of the plaintiff, or from
representing to dealers or the public
that the plaintiffs factory has been
boycotted, and that its goods should
not be dealt in. Safeguard is also
asked from any threatening or intim-
idating of customers of the plaintiff;
from any giving of orders to commit
tees, associations or agents for any
acts or threats which would interfere
with the plaintiffs business, or from
the carrying ON of the alleged con-
spiracy against the plaintiffs proper
business.
The steps leading up to this action
are set forth in the complaint to be
the outcome of a strike. The COM
plant says that on August 20, 1906.
without previous notice, the members