New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-25
LABOR UNIONS SUED
BY u. S. AS A TRUST
Interferes with Telegraph Mes
sages in Interstate Trade
Is Charge.
FOLLOWS WAR ON POSTAL
Government Asks Court to Pro-
tect Company's Property
Against Further Acts
of Violence.

Chicago. Feb. el--Two local unions Of
the United brotherhood OF Electrical
Workers were sued By the federal gov
crnmcnt here to-day under the Sherman
antitrust law for alleged interference
with messages Of the Postal Telegraph
Company In interstate commerce. Local
unions Nos. and l5i are named as de-
PENDANTS
Az part Of tine labor war against the
telegraph company the government
charges officers and employees Of the
unions with combining ana conspiring'
through acts Of violence and depreda-
,iona. TO injIre The Postal Telegraph wires
and 20 interfere with the transmission
OF government and commercial messages
in interstate commerce The alleged in
reference is declared 10 have been de-
l!b. rate.
While restraint OF interstate commerce
- alleged. tho sherman law Is not spc-
officially mentioned in the governments
bill Of complaint, which generally de-
c.arcs that the defendants alleged unaW-
:ul acts have violated the rights granted
under the Constitution and laws OF the
United States 10 the telegraph company
and the scnder3 OF messages. The gov
eminent asked that the defendants ~
cn;oined from obstructing interstate and
covcrnrncnt messages over to Postal
wires. from cutting, burning or other
wise injuring !ts telegraph lines, and from
interfering. b. threats. Intimidation, per-
Suasion or force. with employees or pros
pec.ivc employees Of thc coma Pend
Ing final hearing the petition pleads for
temporary injunction against the alleged
unlawful acts.
The following are named as defendants,
international Brotherhood Of Electrical!
WORKERS. Local Unions Nos. ? and "a
Martin J. Healy. Michael J. Boyle william
J. Sloan. w. y. Harris. l.. W. LAME.
- Elliott. ". Conrad J.. j.. Shanks. {.
ilorian. W. Saunders. II. Warner w. S1n-
clair = -. Minor. :. " Beckuer, +. ;.
jr. j. Gaul. Bert Coghill. and Frank H.
carroll. all OF Chicago.
Pointing particularly 10 the packing
house Industry centring in Chicago. and
Ill. operations II tho Chicago Board OF
Trade. the bin declares that vithou,
prompt and uninterrupted Geographic COM
munication between Chicago and points ~
other states and foreign countries the
ealc ana shipment Of products and meg
chaudlse tn interstate commerce would b.
serlOusir iuterlercd with. and adds that
tho cfc!ency Of the different departments
% tho government Of the United states
would be greatly impaired.
Labor troubles between tho Postal and
f..f
last when. !. 10 alleged. union officials
insisted that the telegraph company
should establish the CLOSED shop policy
The company refused. it Is added, because
II would have nccessitated the discharge
Of OLD and faithful employees not mem
bcrs OF the union.
The telegraph company. the government
continues. has been powcrloss 20 prevent
acts OF violence. committed usually al
night on iis cables alons the elevated
railroad lines in Chicago or IN under
ground condults These cables used Tor
the transmission Of interstate messages
il Is pointed out. are particularly open 10
attack aud difficult, 10 guard.
Unless relief is afforded the petition
maintains that these alleged acts Of
violence viii continue. 10 tho irrcpara BILE
injury OF the telegraph company and
users OF rs lines.