New-York tribune., 1909-03-14
SEEK TO ENJOIN UNION
Hat Manufacturers InUoke Hid OF
United States Court

An order issued by Judge Cross. Of the United
States Circuit Court Of Trenton. was served yester-
day on President John a Mof1tt of the United
Hatters of North America at his home in Orange
requiring him and sixty other officers Of the union
TO show cause why they should not be restrained
from fning and intimidating union members VINO
10 return 10 work at the factory Of the sam
uel Mundheim Company IN Brooklyn and from
otherwise interfering with the business of the firm
The order was secured by Milton Damman, coun-
for the National Hat Manufactures Associa-
tion. It is returnable in Trenton on March 2s
Some new points raised in the application
for the Injunction. One Of these is that there is
reason to believe that If the hat manufacturers had
continued the use of the union label some non
union firms likely to bring damage SUMS
against the union and the hat manufacturers as
co-defendants the ground that the union mace
powerful weapon of the label to control the
trade that the combination to Use the label was IN
restraint of trade.
The discipline Of the union IS so perfect ana
strong" the complaint says. that the oroer 10
strike and other orders of similar purpose anu
intent are eouaI 10 the commands of an absolute
monarch
The complainant says that fines ranging from
$50 to 5000 have been imposed on members IoI
disobedence of its rules. Owing to the c'hlioi u
most of the skilled mechanics by the uhloh' INC
complainant continues, the manufacturers ""ose
tatters are on strike get only a sT11aII per
centace of the rren they need, and Inc ru'e7 u
tbe union are so severe and its penalties SO sie'
that loss than twenty-five strikers nave eoIle O''
and these are expected to be fined IN sums u
from $500 to 81 500 and deprived OF their UNION
cards. ,,-,-.
some years before the strike, the complalI@ii.
saws the union label rule was not ehioICeu o4
there was no definite agreement about IT, 0o'i
firms are employing union men with the coHsei.
of the union he says which do not use the un'
label. 49, -,
II is further stated by the complainant tldl oi
or about January l5 1899. rule was maze oS me
union nv which any member who returned 10 "oIA i
would be deprived Of his union card ana Ilheu S'
False statements. he says, were made ny 'he Iep
sentstives of the union so the effect thAt ihe
motive Of the employers IN discontnuing the lape
was 10 disrupt the union. II was also stdIeu t'i@
the American Federation OF Labor took the matter
m and orally and otherwise enjoned All us MEN"
hers not TO buy any but union label hats.
The Mundheim firm. the complainant says. III
vested $500 c0 in It's plant in Brooklyn ana lhe
rIants of the Associated Hat Manufacturers fePIe
sent an investment Of about S15600.cS Ihrough Inc
refusal Of the officers OF the union 10 aho" men"
hers 10 60 tn work and he threats Of fines against
s,ch as return. the plants in some cases are ue
teriora+ing from disuse. and untold damage from
loss Of trade has been incurred BY the mahuIact-
,1rers The complainant asks also that the oHlcerS
and rnembers OF the union be held to account lot
the damage.