Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-08-30
I INDUSTRIAL

INDUSTRIAL
Legal War on Unions.
In the supreme court of the District
of Columbia James w Van Cleave of
the National Association Of Manufac-
turers began what is regarded as n
test legal battle with organized labor
when he asked for an Injunction
against the officers OF the American
Federation Of Labor and Of numerous
affiliated organizations prohibiting
them from using the boycott md the
unfair list in their fight against firms
and individuals. The papers We're
filed at Washington In order that per-
sonal service might be had upon a
large number of labor leaders who
We're there attending a general con-
ference.
The injunction is asked on nine
points In the name etthe Bucks Stovo
and Range company fof OF. Louis. Of
which Van Cleaye is president The
requested prohibitions are from con-
spring to restrain and destroy the
business of the plaintiff; from agree
Ing or combining to interfere with
1t, from boycotting or attempting or
threatening to boycott the plaintiff,
from printing or distributing through
the mails any copy OF the American
Federationist which contains the name
of the plaintiff MS being under boy
cott from threatening or intimidat Ting
customers Of the plaintiff and from
giving orders to committees or agents
for the performance OF any of these
acts calculated to Interfere with the
conduct of the plaintiffs business.
The complaint recites that in August
of last year without previous notice
the members of the Metal Polishers'
union of st. Louis employed by the
stove company struck in body With
out waiting for an adjustment Of
grievances and TINT upon the failure
OF the strike the International Union
OF Mptal Polishers began boycott
against the Bucks company, that this
boycott was Endorsed by labor unions
of st. Louis and that the company
was placed upon the unfair list by the
annual convention Of the American
Federation of Labor at Minneapolis.
The complaint tells further how certain
customers Of the firm We're forced by
the union to refuse to buy its prod
and sets forth that by reason Of the
unions great membership and wide
distribution and its complete and pow
erful organization the boycott was cal
culated and intended greatly to injure
the business Of the complainants. The
company says that the federation has
greatly diminished and In many places
destroyed it's trade and that II the
boycott is continued the company will
be unable to dispose of its goods
Should this injunction be granted 178
labor organizations viii be affected.
President Gompers later announced
that the federation would probably
bring a counter suit against the Manu-,
facturers' association, charging that
body with conspiracy, referring to Its
decision at the recent New York meet
ing to raise fund OF 81, 800, 600 for the
alleged purpose Of crushing organized
labor. Mr.. Gompers said that when 1t
comes to q test OF surrendering his
rights as citizen or Of surrendering
to an injunction Of the courts he should
not hesitate to exercise his rights and
that the men behind the Injunction
were pitting their millions against hu-
man hearts and minds. In the long
run, he thought. the hearts and minds
would win.
Seeking Telegraph Ownership.
President Small of the Commercial
Photographers union began the second
week Of the telcgraphers' strike by
calling on the United States and Can
adm to take over the control of the tel
egraph lines now owned by the West
ern Union and Postal companies At
the same time he began campaign
to secure congressional Investigation
of the conduct Of those companies in
this country. To this end the union
has established two funds, one for the
direct support OF the strike and the
other TO pay the expenses Of the gov
iernmcnt ownership campaign He asks
that trades unlonists In general and
teiegraphers in particular begin at
once to raise $4,000, 900 for these pur-
poses.
The strike was further strengthened
by the calling out Of leased wire op-
orators In many brokers' offices, and
1t was expected that the cable opera
tors would also join On the other
hand, the telegraph companies claim
ed to be taking care OF all business
offered and say that the strike is a
closed incident SO fur us they are con-
cerned. Washington heard that Com
missioner Neill was about to submit a
report regarding the telegraph strike
to The president. The strikers charge
that the companies are taking most Of
their business subject to delay and
that the dispatches, instead of being
put on the wires. are cent by 1ncssen-
gers in suit scnses from one city to an,
other to be copied and delivered by
local messengers. -
New York Meat Drivers Out.
All the divers OF packing house de
livery wagon; In ssew York CITY Went