The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-06-17
VOTE FOR ORDINANCE "A''-
RIGHT OF P|CKE|:'T|s {: !.
: : ;, ,9EN|ED :: BY.c'0|URT Ct
Only Paper In Chicago Backing
Up Workers Is Muzzled By
Judge.
DECREE HITS ABOUT
5000 TANNERY EMPLOYEES
Publication Will Defy Capitalistic
Court and Fight for Free
Speech.
BY MAX SHEROVER.

CHICAGO, June 17.-What is con-
ceded by leading men in the labor
movement as the worst Injunction in
the history of American labor was is
sued recently by Judge Jesse A. Bald
win of the Circuit Court of Cook
county, at the behest Of a group; of
tannery manufacturers, commonly
known as the 'Tannery Trust" The
writ is aimed generally at the 5000
tannery workers who are out in a
heroic struggle against working con-
dltlons which defy description, and it
is aimed particularly against the Pol
lsh daily, Dzienik. Ludowy, which
from the beginning of the struggle
proved the backbone Of the strikers
solid and determined stand
About three weeks ago 5000 tam
merry workers., tWo-thirds of whom
are Poles. went out on strike. rebell-
ing against an average wage Of 81
week for twelve-hour day in one of
the most hazardous occupations.
Realizing that their only protection
against unspeakable abuses lay in or
ganlzatlon, they formed a union. of
which Dzienik Ludowy was the cre-
atlVe factor, and were later recoe-
nlzed and taken in by the Chicago
Federation of Labor, through the in-
strumentality of John Fitzpatrick, it's
president, and William Schoenberf.
business agent of the International
Association of Machinists.
Bosses Backed by Court.
Dumfounded at the surprising
demonstration. of solidarity among
the workers whom they have been
unmolestedly robbing and crushing
Tor years, the manufactures in their
despertion turned to the ever-ready
and obliging capitalist courts. The
court responded readily and issued
what is conced ed by lawyers and
labor leaders to be the most. sween-
ing and liberty destroying legal in
strument ever handed down from a
judges bench. It denies and pro-
hibits the striking workers from
making any move, from uttering any
word, or printing a. line that can be
construed as interfering with or as
attempting to injure the business of
their exploiters.
The writ specifically names the
editors of the only Polish paper in
Chicago that has defiantly and 10y
ally always lined up with the work.
ers in this and every other city in any
struggle against capitalist aggression.
When the germ Of discomfort first
made itself heard from the ranks of
the tannery workers, it found express
sion in Dzienik Ludowy, land through
out the long period Of pregnancy and
birth Of the strike this paper give its
space generously to the strikers.
cause, and its editors, M. Sokolowsky.
nave worked like beavers between
issues addressing strikers meetings
and imbuing the workers with the
spirit Of solidarity which they are
displaying. It was this activity OF
the paper that drove the manufac-
turers to the courts. The Polish capi-
talist and prostituted sheets have
been bribed into silence by lavish ad-
vertisements inserted by the bosses.
And when repeated efforts to buy the
silence of Dzienik Ludowy with an
$500 advertising contract failed, the
bosses lawyers secured the injunc-
ton, the purpose Of which is to make