New-York tribune., 1908-02-12
JAIL FOR UNION MEN
DEFIED ORDER OF COURT.
Big Sir Officers Fined $3.50 Each
and Sent to LudIozC Street.

Three officers of Typographical Union No 6
fined $3.50 and sentenced TO serve twenty
days IN Jail by Justice Bischof in the Supreme
Court yesterday. This is the first time such
a heavy sentence in the case OF a labor or
ganization for violation of an injunction has
been inflicted here. Two members Of the union
fined S10O each
The trouble grew out Of the strike of Typo
graphical Union No. g. commonly called Big
Six ordered early In 1906 against the associa-
ton of employers known the Typothetse of the
city Of New York for closed shop and an eight
hour day. Soon after the went, out the
officers of the Typothete complained that the
strikers were intinidating employees who re-
nained at work and those who took the places
of the strikers and were resorting 10 violence.
Justice Blanchard then granted injunction
restraining the officers and members Of Big
Six from continuing these tactics
The Typotheta asked later in 1905 that the
members of the union be punished for contempt,
alleging that they had continued their violence
and oppression. and cited specific acts naming
members Of the union and those whom they
We're alleged to have interfered with Justice
Bischcff appointed Adam Wener TO take testi-
mony and report TO the court his recommended
tions. He held hearings up to last December.
when he reported.
The specifications. in which about twenty-five
Of the members Of Big Six mentioned. cite
such things this: "On March 30, 1906. Will
lam J. Lewis. while picketing assaulted Charles
Morrow: on April 5 Raymond Bennett assaulted
Edward ]. Slater and through numerous
counts. The men punished by Justice BschoT
the findings of the referee were:
PATRICK H MCCORMICK president Of the union
when the acts complained of were committed. fine
GEORGE W JACKSON, organizer, fine OF 500 and
VINCENT J. COSTELLO organizer. $3.50 fine and
WILLIAM J. s. ANDERSON. a fine Of 800
THoMAS gENNETT n E fine s Of A 500 eca1s the last two
It was announced by the officers Of the union
last night that an appeal would be taken to the
higher courts. President James J. Murphy said:
Il consider the decision unjust and unfair, and
that It will be carried by to the higher courts
goes without saying. I believe the higher courts
will not take the stand that officers Of a union
as large as ours during strike can be held re-
sponsfble for the acts Of every Individual mem
her,
The following statement was made by A D.
TaIIey. counsel Of the union: "It is the first
time in this state where officers Of a union were
held responsible for the acts of members or
which they had no knowledge whatever. The
question was not even raised as 10 whether they
had any knowledge of the alleged acts Of the
two members referred to. When it is consld-
cred that this union has a membership OF elsht
thousand It can be readily seen that the officers
during q strike could not know what every In
dividuaI member was doing
In his decision Justice Bischof said;'
The questions involved have been fully dis
cussed by the referee in the opinion flleo Win
his report and I am in accord with the reason.
ing eruployed by him. II the solemn orders OF
this court are 10 have any efficacy, punishment
sufficient as deterrent should be visited upon
the respondeuts, whose disobedience has Deen
established in the present case, and am saIls-
fed that the mere imposition OF fne Within
the statutory limit Of $3.50 would afford no ade-
ouate penalty in the case of the officers OF the
respondent association, but would rather operate
as fixing a small fine at which exemption from
the embarrassing features of an injunction
might be purchased.
The order for the commitment Of the three
to serve twenty days in Ludlow street
1ar will become operative after two days notice
on the part of counsel for the Typothete TO the
counsel for the union
The strike OF the union against the Typothetae
is still on, though there have been great many
settlements