Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-11
LABOR MENF|GHT
STATE POLICE BILL
See in Ramsay's Measure an
Attempt of Manufacturers to
Protect Themselves.
SENATOR is PHYSICIAN
FOR SEVERAL BIG PLANTS
Ex-Gov. Pennypacker, of Penn
sylvania, Tells of Constab-
uIary's Advantages.
Especial to the Evening stnr.I

AihI4AN lo4Ns March ll.-OCeIlIlHB
Senator William e. Ramasy's bill pro-
Yiding for a State constabulary an
attempt on the part of the manufac-
turers of the State to create force
which would protect them from the
workingmen in the event of a strike
or subdue laborers who are too in
sistent on recognition by their en-
ployers, the labor unions yesterday
bitterly attacked the bill at a hearing
before the Senate appropriations COM
mittee
Representatives of the Manufactur-
ers' Association fought just as siren
:. nously for the measure. They were
supported by former Governor Penny
packer, of Pennsylvania. The former
executive told of the benefits of the
State constabulary in time of serious
disturbances and mentioned as spe-
cific instance their prevention Of a
fist fight which had been advertised
over Delaware County, Pa, and seats
to which. he said, sold for $50. He
warned the committee that such an
occurrence might happen in New Jer-
sey at any time, with the State being
in no position to interfere with 1t.
Ramsay Represents Factories.
Senator Ramsay is a physician by
professional nd lives in Perth Amboy.
His practise is confined almost solely
to the employees of several big cor
porations there, including the plants
of the American Smelling and Refin-
ing Company and the Standard I'm
d.erground Gable Company. These
companies engage him by the year to
treat their injured.
II will be recalled that the Ameri-
can Smelling Company was the scene
of a gigantic strike about two years
ago, when the company asked Ad-
jutant- General Sadler to send the
State militia there to protect its
property The acknowledgement re-
fused and the company was COM
PEELED to spend thousands of dollars
for strlke-breakers. The cable COM
pany also had a strike on it's hands
recently; in fact, one or more plants
in Perth Amboy are harassed by
strikes every spring. So, labor men
say, the natural interference is thta
Senator Ramsay is simply the agent
of these big factories in fighting for
a State constabulary.
Labor Leader Opposes Bill.
Henry Hilfers, secretary of the
State Federation of Labor, vigorously
opposed the bill and took occasion to
declare that the laboring people of
the State absolutely stood for law
and order and there was no need of
the proposed State police force.
Assemblyman Arthur A. Quinn.
president of the State Federation of
Labor, informed the committee that
only the large manufacturers were IA
Voring the bill. He INDUCED in an
arraignment of the manufacturers,
whom he declared utterly refused to
recognize the right of workmen to
organize and will not consult with
their employees in time of differences
to straighten mooted questions by
the use of reason.
THAT is not true of all manufac-
turers," said Senator Hennessy.
Generally speaking" was the reply
of the Assemblyman.
Henry J. Lohse, of Newark, State
organizer of the polishers and buffers
and q representative of the Essex
Trades Council, impressed the COM
mittee with his arguments that the
sheriff of Essex County swore in en-
ployes of the Lidgerwood Company,
of Newark, to protect the interests Of
the company during the strike at the
plant which is still unsettled. He
told the committee that not a single
arrest has been necessary during the
strike, which has been in progress
over fourteen months He cited that
q police captain in the city had in
terfered with employees who were
peacefully picketing in the city and
abused the strikers. He asked the
committee what could the men expect
from an organized State police force
under such circumstances. His argu-
ment was that an organized force to
subdue the laborerS into submission
WAS not necessary, as the men were
willing to arbitrate their differences
amicably.
says IT Would Lead to Revolt.
Samuel Botterill, of Newark, an
other leader for the advancement of
labor conditions, spoke in opposition
to the measure. The introduction of
an element, such as the State police,
he said would tend to make the peo-
pie revolt. Mr.. Botterill fatty
charged the manufacturers with be-
ing responsible for foreign element
of labor In America which admittedly
is cheapening the wages of American
born citizens.
Not Needed in State.
The Changers have not Endorsed or
proposed a state constabulary. ac-
cording to Mr.. Botterill. Pennsyl-
vania is paying $3S0.00O for a force II
220 men. Could 22O men peform the
duties proposed in this bill? 1t would
take from 1000 to 1000 men to do the
policing here. he remarked, as pro-
posed in the Ramsay measure. Other
States have not adopted the plan of
n State constabulary. he added, be-
caus it is generally known that such
an organized force causes a revolu-
ton. He urged that the committee
RELY upon the intelligent citizenship
of a community to deal with its dis
turbances, as the measure was I'M
American in its object.
Henry J. Gottlob. of Newark, said
the citizens of Newark do not want a
State police to run over them rough
shod. The business people of Newark
and the entire citizenship of that city
are universally opposed to such a
measure.
Assemblyman Quinn took another
fling at the proposed law later in the
hearing. The tendency towards So
cialism was put up to the manufac-
turers by the speaker because the
workers were attempting to be crush
ed by such legislation as this He
characterized the deputies sworn in
at the recent South Amboy labor dis
turbances as gunner and held them
responsible for the trouble that en-
sued. you are not going to better