The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-30
The eoMPERs CASE
History Of Labor War That Brought
Jail Sentences to Labor Leaders

passed by Judge Wright on Samuel
Gompers, John Mitchell, and Frank
Morrison, took place on Aug. %, 1906.
The company ran an open shop and
had an agreement with the Iron Moul-
ders Union of North America by
which all disputes were to be referred
to a committee for settlement.
This had been In force for fourteen
years, but the members Of the Metal
Polishers' Union, No. 18, struck with
out seeking the mediation of the COM
mittee. There we're thirty-six men,
bers of this union out of the 745 en-
plOyes OF the concern. They we're
piece workers and the practice grew
up among them by quitting work as
soon as they had made a certain
amount in a day.
In November, 1905, Mr.. Van Cleave,
president OF the Buck company, dis
covered that some of them were knock
ing off as much as one and half
hours before the whistle blew. He
suspected moreover that there was an
agreement among them TO limit their
production The works we're about
10 close down temporarily and he call
ed the thirty-six men together and
warned them that II they resumed
work on Jan. 1, 1906, they must be pre-
pared TO work the full time the plant
was running.
For a few months they did so, but
in August, 1906, the men began to try
to quit earlier than they should have
done. Mr.. Van Cleave discharged the
ring leaders with the result that all
the members Of the union walked out.
The plant Of the company was pick
eted but enough nOn-union men were
engaged to keep it running, and 1t Is
asserted that some of the strikers re-
turned to their jobs. AS the attempt
to tie up the plant had failed. the In
ternational Union Of Metal Polishers
declared a boycott against the com
pany and its products and inserted
it's name in the unfair list Of the
union official organ. This action was
Endorsed by the Central Trades and
Labor Union and the Metal Trades
Coun 81. Louis.
In Nol ember, 1906, the American
Federation of Labor held its annual
convention at Indianapolis and order
ed the inclusion of the Buck Stove and
Range company in the 1--WE Don't Pat
roniZe" list of the American Federal
ionist, the official organ of the fedora
ton It is also asserted by the Nat
iOnal association OF Manufacturers
that misleading statements were sent
out by the American Federation. The
boycott affected not only the actual
customers Of the company, but custom
ers OF the customers. and many con
tract IN the company were repudi-
ated.
A circular addressed to Organized
Labor and Friends by the st. Louis
Metal Polishers' Union declared that
the company had granted its employees
the nine hour day in June, 1904 but
that after eighteen months had order.
ed reyersion to the ten hour day.
The men, It was alleged accepted the
extra hour only under protest and had
several conferences with the employ
ers.
President Van CleaYe of the Buck
C mpany, on the other hand, strenu.
olsly denies that the nine hour sche
| dlle had ever been in operation In his
| factory or that there were any con
| ferences with representatives OF the
American Federation Of Labor about
| the matter The unions have also
| maintained that Mr.. Van Cleave per.
| slstently Disseminated against mem
bers Of the Foundry Employees Union.
To this Mr.. Van Cleave replies that he
had never heard OF that particular I'M
ion, had never employed any OF its
members. as far as he knew, and had
not Disseminated against them.
On Dec II. 1907, Judge Gould OF the
Federal court OF the District of Col
umbia issued a temporary injunction
sought by the Buck company against
the American Federation OF Labor.
He forbade the latter to prosecute a
boycott against the company or to
place its name on its unfair" or I'VE
Don't Patronize' list In his iudg-
ment he found for the statements OF
fact as presented by Mr.. Van Cleaye
and the Buck company. The injunc-
ton was afterward made permanent
This did not prevent The American
Federationist continuing its attacks
upon Mr.. Van Cleaye's concerns.
Nearly every month editorial refer
ence was made to the boycott and the
action OF the court Appeals were
made to the right of free speech and
the members OF the American FEEDER
alton OF Labor were reminded that
at any rate the courts could not issue
an injunction ordering them TO pur-
chase the Buck companys ranges and
stoves.
Mr. Gompers also made reference
TO the matter in his speeches and even
after he had been ordered TO show
cause why he should not be punished
for contempt In continuing his agita'
ton. he brought II up several times
In his addresses during the recent pol
itical campaign.
Free 20 all subscribers Of this paper