The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-14
 LAW OPPOSED
 BY UNION MEN
Want It to Be Lawful for Two to Do What One
 May Lawfully Do.
State President Donahue, With Many Others, Ap- pears Before Committee on Judiciary, in Hall of House.
(By Our Staff Correspondent.)

Hartford, April 14.-The labor unions made an imposing demonstration be- fore the Committee on Judiciary, in the hall of the House, yesterday after noon. The members of the committee were given a vivid idea of the hard ships that are worked upon members of unions by the existing intimidation laws. They were made familiar with the decisions of courts, said to be more liberal than the courts of Connecticut, in which means used by the unions, which have been declared unlawful in this state, were declared to be lawful The case of Magee the iron moulder, who was sent to jail for a year. under the intimidation law, was freQuently referred to. His offense labor leaders claimed, was in that he paid the fares of strike breakers out of town, and used moral suaSion to prevent other strike breakers from going to work. The unions were not asking to have the intimidation law repealed. They were in substance asking that the law should be so changed as to make 1t lawful for two to do whatever one can This object they sought to accom- plish by inserting the word 'unlaw- fully before the word "intimidate'' in in the present law, so that punishment will lie only against those who "unlaw- fully intimidate.'
 There seemed to be some doubt in the minds of the committee as to the effect that the insertion of the word would have. Senator Searls asked c. J. Donahue, president of the State Federation of Labor, to make clear the legal meaning of the proposed change. MT. Donahue said that he would have counsel for the Federation appear for this purpose.
 MT. Donahue said that as the law stands any person who uses moral sua- sion, the ordinary means of free speech and argument, to induce another to quit work, can be punished.
 He thought the insertion of the word "unlawfu1ly'' would limit the court to forms of intimidation in which unlaw- full means had been used.
 F. c. Walz of Hartford, who in his official capacity represents some 5000 carpenters, said to the committee: "We want the law made clear. We want to know what is and what is not intimi- dation. We want to know what things we may, and what things we may not Assembly have been declared uncon- stitutional. So the assembly is not infallible as a law maker. This law, Or laws like it, have been declared un- constitutional in other states, as deny ing the right of free speech and free press. There is an association of boss es in this state. There are several such associations. They get together to in wages. They make a black list that is. they boycott the workers. These things are held to be 1awful.But when we union men do the same things to are in constant danger of being charged as lawbreakers. All we labor men want is the ordinary constitutional rights that will enable us 10 get all
 "Again many legal things are not morally right. Such is the law which we wished to have amended. It may, or may not be, constitutional. It cer- foi oir1x iS
 Dennis OKeefe, Representing the Iron Moulders' Unions of New Eng land, said: '"The law should be repeal ed. 1t is unconstitutional. It is shame to have it upon the statute books. Under it a union man, Magee, has been sentenced to year In Jail. Magee used no means that were not included in the right to free speech and free press. He advised men not to take strikers places, argued with them; showed them that they were commit ting social injustice. He caused the of town. For these things he was punished as a criminal. It is shame full that the law should be so.
 individual For the man standing alone they care nothing. He. cannot redress the slightest wrong. He must submit to the greatest injuries. But the organization is different.
 ''The Foundrymen's association can blacklist and expel members for using the moulders' "union made" mark, and have done so. Magee is in jail because he sent men out of New Haven to work elsewhere, paying their fare to other states, vastly milder measure than some that the employers associations use."
 A number of representatives of Bridgeport unions were present, but did not address the committee. The hearing was adjourned until another date, to be fixed later.