New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-05
ACTION EXPECTED.
in PRINTING PROBE
u. S. Grand Jury Inquiry
Into Union Methods Pro-
crosses Rapidly.
CIVIL SUITS ALSO
MAY BE STARTED
Officials of Trade Council and
Allied Unions Silent, but
Promise Statement.

Action by the federal grand jury which
IS investigating the Allied Printing Trades
Council Of New York city to determine
whether the antitrust law has been ,io-
lated by that organization IS expected to-
morrow or Saturday. The grand jury con-
tinuod yesterday the examination Of Off
GERS Of the council of allied unions and
other witnesses, and it was said that the
inquiry. which was begun on TUESDAY. had
progressed in way pleasing to the United
States Attorneys Office.
civil suits also are expected TO grow
out Of the investigation. Several OF the
large publishing md printing firms which
have had trouble with the unions are
said 10 be the complainants against the
council. Doubleday, Page & CO. IS one
OF them. The government suit was a CUR
prise to the unions. officials OF the "oun-
cii and Of unions affiliated with II re-
fused TO discuss the investigation yes.er-
day, but declared that their side Of the
case would be stated as soon as II was
known what action the government IN
tended to take
1t is understood that the whole situation
IN regard TO the Allied Printing Trades
Council was and before President Will
son some time ago by representatives of
Doubleday. Page & Co, and that the mat
ter was afterward referred TO the federal
prosecutor Of this district.
The labor unions see the hand Of Wal
ter Hines Page. Ambassador TO Great Brit
ain. behind the investigation. At a meet
ing Of the Allied Printing Trades Council
on May %. a few days after Ambassador
Page had sailed for England, Peter +.
Brady. secretary Of the council. an
nounced that he would request President
Wilson to cancel the appointment Of Mr..
Page on the ground that he was an enemy
OF organized labor.
Edward f. Cassidy, organizer Of
Typographical Union No. s. heartily in
dorsed Brady's announcement at the
meeting. and said that his union would
oppose Page. The council sent letter 10
the American Federation Of Labor asking
that body to join i'm the protest aginst
the new ambassador.
Walter Gordon Merritt. counsel for the
Ant-Boycott Association. declared yes
,erday that the present Investigation was
fraught with political significance in that
II might force President Wilson TO show
his hand IN regard TO labor.
Merritt appeared as counsel for the
compainants in two cases. which are be
leved 10 be similar 10 the case Of the
Allied Printing Trades Council. in which
Judges Mayer and Ward in the United
States District Court decided on Novem-
Der that an agreement under which the
United Brotherhood ~ Carpenters ano
Joiners OF America had been working with
the Manufacturing Woodworkers and the
Master Carpenters associations was IL
legal and an infringement OF both the
Sherman law and the general business
law Of the state
II was alleged that the employers as
soc!atons' agreement with the union 10
use ONLY union made trim constituted I'M
fair discrimination against other employ
ers and was in restraint Of trade. Irving q
Cassen. OF Boston. manufacturers or
artistic wood trim. applied for the con-
tinuatlon Of an injunction TO restrain the
brotherhood OF Carpenters from declaring
strikes against the use Of their wood
work.
The Doubleday. Page & co. plant al
Garden city is an open shop. There was
a strike Of the pressmen last summer
followed by sympathetic strike Of the
nboto-encravers. Soon after this the
matter relative TO the Allied Printing
Trades council was called TO the otten-
ton OF President Wilson.
The labor witnesses examined Yesterday
before the g;and jury were George STEM
acting secretary Of the Allied Printing
Trades Council: David Walsh, secretary
OF the state council Of the same orgaEZa-
ton: Christopher Kingston, secretary or
Photo-Engravers' Union No. J, ana
Charles ". Roberts, secretary Of Electro
tvpers' Union No. I. The grand jury is IN
posscssIon Of the books and records OF
the Allied Printing Trades Council Inc
inouiry Will he continued to-day.