Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-02-11
RATTERS UNION LOSES.

HATTERS UNION LOSES.
"A new declaration of independence" is
what Attorney Davenport calls the verdict
of $222,000 rendered last Friday in the
United States Court at Hartford, Conn, by
the jury in the suit of D. E. LOewe Of
Danbury, against 200 union hatmakers
of that State. After having been out more
than two hours the jury ordered actual
damages Of $74.000 to the plaintiff, but
as the suit was brought under the Sher-
man antitrust law triple damages can be
recovered. The claim for damages was
based upon losses sustained during boy
colt of the Loewe firm.
There was a remarkable scene in court
when the verdict was announced The
defendants in attendance were stunned for
a time, and then in groups dejectedly dis
cussed the blow. 1t is estimated that the
costs in the case will amount to at least
$4,000, and these, with the counsel fees,
may bring the bill against the United Hat
tiers Of North America to fully $250,000.
Speaking in regard to the significance of
the verdict in the case, which is said to be
the most important Of its kind ever tried
in this country. Attorney Davenport, senior
counsel for the plaintiff, said:
"First-lt means that individual men,
bers of labor unions are bound by the ac-
ton of their officers and they cannot allow
them to do as they please.
'Secondly-It means that the Sherman
antitrust law protects manufacturers and
merchants from boycott attacks
In substance, it is new declaration of
independence.
The plaintiff, D. E. Loewe. was surrounded
by friends in the court room and congratu-
lated upon the outcome. He said that if
he had not won he would have had to 90
out of business.
Judge Plat, in his charge, practically
instructed the jury to bring in averdict for
the plaintiff. He said the only question
for them to decide was one of damages,
and these were to be based upon the losses
sustained by the plaintiff between July,
1902, and September, 1903. the period
during which the boycott against the
Loewe factory was maintained.
A bill Of exceptions will be filed by the
defense. and the case will be carried to
the Federal Court of Appeals and the
United States Supreme Court The suit,
which was for $4,000 damages, had
been on trial for eleven weeks. 1t was in
stituted by the anti-boycott society through
Mr.. Loewe. The expense of defending the
suit falls upon the United Hatters of North
America. who filed bond to protect the
defendants.
OF course not until che Supreme Court of
the United States has finally passed upon
this case will the test of the civil liability
of the unions for boycott damages to bust
ness be completed. 1t is to be hoped that
the further proceedings will not consume as
much time as have the movements in this
case up to the present point Yet with the
greatest haste permissible il will be two
years at least before ruling by the Su-
preme Court has been secured.
The liability of the union leaders for the
maintenance of black list of unfair"
manufacturers will probably be defined by
the highest court in the contempt case
well in advance Of its ruling on the civil
liability of the union and its members. OF
the two cases, that involving the question
OF civil liability is the more important, in
asmuch as the defendants in the Danbury
hat case are the individual members of
the union, whose legal accountability for the
actions of the organization has never yet
been definitely determined. If the verdict
in the Danbury hat case is sustained by
the highest court responsibility for strike
violence and for boycott procedure will
rest not merely upon the delegated officers
Of the union, but upon each member.