The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-07
UNION men AND EMPLOYERS
Line UP IN BATTLE ARRAY
FOR AND AGAINST BOYCOTT
Exciting Hearing at the Capitol Yesterday Repete With Sensa
tional Incidents union Labor So|idy Demands Senate
Bill a. Giving Unions the Right to Strike Picket
and Boycott Manufacturers and Employers
SoidIy Oppose Measure-Jas. Emory,
Counsel For Manufacturers, Warm
" Rebuked by Democratic
Leader TngieT

Senate Bill "a was prepared through
the Conference committee of Bridge
port composed of trades unionists and
Socialists, and has the united backing
of all labor union men and Socialists
throughout the State, and the equally
united opposition of all employers of
labor
This bill, which was based largely
upon the law now in effect in Eng
land, aims to modify Section 1896 of
the present statutes of Connecticut,
so as to define clearly the right of
labor unions to strike and boycott in
furtherance of trades disputes, and by
peaceful means to induce other work.
men to refrain from taking the places
of the strikers.
At the beginning it was suggested
by the committee that each side be
granted an hour and a half in which
to present it's case and that the ad-
herents of the bill open the debate.
Jasper McLevy, president of the Gen.
trail Labor Union of Bridgeport, was
the first speaker. and Immediately
protested against the limiting of the
time on so important subject as the
Trades Dispute bill. which. he declar-
ed. is of vital interest to every union
man in Connecticut.
Mr. McLevy read a long list of Ia
Dor unions which have demanded the
was interrupted by Chairman Banks,
who said that it didn't matter par
ticle to the committee how many Ia
Dor unions had endorsed the bill.
"All that concerns u.s. said Mr.
Banks, "are the arguments for or
against the measure. 1t doesn't make
any difference if this labor union.
or that labor union, or hundred Ia
Dor unions are for the bill. or for that
matter, if this manufacturers asso-
citation or that manufacturers asso-
citation is opposed. What we want to
hear. are the reasons why this bill
| should be enacted or rejected
Mr. McLevy said that his purpose
was to show that very strong de-
mand for the enactment of this mea
sure exists in the state of Connecti-
cut and that all the important labor
bodies have carefully considered the
measure and demand it's enactment.
He said:
i'm the State of Connecticut has got
to be considered 1t hasn't had
show in the past. There is nothing
in this measure that is unfair or un-
just All that labor asks is the right
to peacefully strike, picket and boy
colt in the furtherance of it's disputes.
Labor has been put at great dis
advantage in all industrial disputes
by the use of the injunction which
is now worked upon the slightest pre-
| text
Mr.. McLevy went on to show that
| the present law is Gripping union Ia
| Dor and that the continuance of the
present statute may be the death war
rant of the unions.
| Robert Hunter. recent Socialist can
didate for Governor, declared that in
backing this Trades Dispute measure,
| the. Socialist party incidentally is aim
| ing a blow at its old arch-enemy an
archy.
what is the situation" he said,
"under our present unhappy conspir-
aey law? When you enact legislation
which makes it illegal for men to do
those things which they feel that they
| have a moral and inherent right to
do. then you drive them to become
Iaw-breakers. The union men of this
and other states do not desire to vio-
late the statutes but in times of in
dustral dispute they feel that they
have a right to fight for their cause,
! to battle for their wives and children
and they are sent to jail for it. There