The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-08

the United Hatters of North America, and the American Federation of La bor, liable for the $252, 900 Judgment growing out of the famous boycott suit against the individual members of the Hatters' union.
 Statements of labor leaders that neither the United Hatters of North America nor the American Federation of Labor was under obligation to sup port the 1S6 individual defendants were yesterday contradicted by Wal ter Gordon Merritt of 135 Broadway, who, with Daniel Davenport of Bridgeport, represented the plaintiffs in the suit.
 John w. Scu1Iy, president of the United HatteTs of North America saio on Wednesday that it was uncertain as yet whether the 5000 members of the union would be assessed to pay the judgment found against individ- uaI defendants. With regard to this MT. Merritt said yesterday:
 .tOn Sept 14, 1908, Patrick H. Con- molly, then secretary of the Hatmak- CTS Union of Danbury and now la bor commissioner of the state of Con necticut, wrote in the name of the United Hatters of North America to each of the individual defendants. In his letter the following passage oc- cured:
 .sThe United Hastters of North
 America, however, are willing to
 enter an appearance for each in
 dfvidua1 who has been sued indi-
 vfdually, and pay all expenses of
 such defense and save such indi-
 viduaI from all liability from
 either of the suits, provided such
 individual authorizes in writing
 such appearance to be made for
 him.
 with his letter MT Connolly in closed a reply letter for each indivtd- ual defendants to sign, which read as follows:
 seI have read your letter of this
 date and hereby authorize you
 to have counsel enter an appear
 ance for me, in my name, in each
 of the two suits recently brought
 by D. E. Loewe & Co. against me
 and others, one retur11able to the
 superior court, Fairfield county,
 state of Connecticut, and the otI1-
 CT to the United State circuit
 court, District of Connecticut.
 And I further authorize and em-
 power you to conduct my defense to final judgment and through as
 many courts as you, or the coun- sel whom you employ, deem nec- i essary, and to do both before and
 after the return dates in each of Z
 the suits, all things you ar your counsel think proper. But upon a the express understanding that
 am not to be put to any expense
 for such defense or for the pay
 ment of any Judgment.
 .sWhether Mir. Connolly was forwna1- ly aanthordzed at that tune.'' said MGl Merritt seto act for the United Hatters I do not know, but he testified later that G1e had subsequently met with the executive committee of tdae union and that they had ratified his action This ~J1k7 out by practically every defendant signing and mailing to MT. Connolly the letter quoted above; and from tiaat time forth the indfvid5lal defendants have permitted the United Hatters and subsequently the American Federation Eof Labor to conduct this Litigation in their behalf under this contract. Un- der tiI1fs agreement adl the defendants who journeyed to Hartford on their own behalf were paid their expenses and wages for loss of time. It is uny opin1on,'' MT. Merritt continued, fthat tihiIs contract is collectajble and en- forceabIe-"
 With regard to the obligations of the American Federation of Labor to- ward the individual defendants Sam ueI Gompers was quoted as saying on Tuesday at Indianapolis: 'I feel awful with regard to how the men will take this when they dose their hoInes.'' Yes
 
 Federation of Labor has never prom 1sed financial support to these men. It would not back them if it could. and could not if it would On tR1ds phase of the question MT. Merritt said: About Sept 25t 1903, MT Connolly and John AIoffltt, then president of the United Hatters, visited the executive council of the American Federation of Labor concerning these suits which had just then started, and MT. Moffitt telegraphed The Danbury News as fol- lows
 ''At the 11lorning session of the
 executive council of the Anerdcan Federation of Labor it was decid- ed to protect the United HatteFs in the courts and elsewhere to tine
 full extent of the resources of the Federation, and authorize MT.
 Gon1pers and Vice President Dual-
 can to take any action necessary in the premises.
 stNTr. Connolly says this telegram was not truthful, but John said he thought it would do the boys good. If tiflis be true, it was & remarkable defendants. But there is further evil dence showing that the Federation pledged it's support, for at its con- vention, held in Denver in 1908, reso- 1utions introduced by a representative of the United Brewery Workers of
  Whereas, for the past five. yeans
 the United Habters of North Amer ica have been and are now con tending with the non-uIn1on hat frm of D. E. Lewe & Co. of Dan 1 bury to have established in said firms factory humane conditions, to wit, a, fair earning power and reasonable working hours; and
 Whereas, the said firm of D. Loewe & Co, having instituted suit l against the United Hatters of 1 North America. under the Sherman l Antitrust act for $34o 900, and Whereas. the said firm of D. D. l Loewe & Go. has caused to be at tached the homes and personal Sav- ings of 250 of the members of the United Hatters of North America. 1 and
 ] Whereas, the supreme court of ] the United States has decided that l the firm of D. B. Loewe & Go. i AI<,-1 H.