The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-13
Ashcroft Manufacturing Co. Causes Arrest of Three Machinists Un- der State Law That Has Been Condemned From Coast to Coast By Social Students.
Alleges That Men Who Struck Because of AL legged Activities of Eel
 low Employe ''Intimi-
 dated" the Company and Imperilled Home and Family of Employe

Criminal charges brought
 against three Bridgeport mem-
 bers of a labor union, the out
 come of which is of the most
 vital import to organized labor
 and which is attracting the
 nationwide attention of labor
 leaders will be tried in the city
 court Jan. 27.
 It is said to be the first time in the history of this state or
 nation that an attempt has been made to convict men for the particular offence with which they are charged.
 It is alleged by the Ashcroft Man- ufacturing Co., that A. P. Ohlson, of 2957 Fairfield avenue, Edward Braithwait, 370 Stratford avenue. and Eigurd N. Johnson, of 59 Blackwood avenue, on Tee. 2S went to the fore man Of she department in which they worked and demanded that Alfred Gardner, an employe who they claim ed was strike breaker and a non- union man be discharged or they would quit.
 Their request was refused and the men with about 60 others went on strike. The company then maintain ed that the men by their actions had violated Chapter POP of the public acts of 1909, in that they interfered with the right of Alfred Gardner to earn a living and were attempting to intimidate the company and did boy colt it. It appealed to Assistant Prosecutor E. Earle Garlick to grant warrants for the three men. The warrants were issued and a date set this morning by Judge Frank Wilder for hearing of the charges. The de- fendants were released on their own recognizance.
 The amended statute under which they will be tried, "an act concerning and boycotting," is one which the Democratic party of the state in conjunction with organized labor claimed was unfair to union labor Unions committee candidates of both parties, who promised to seek the repeal of the law if elected. It reads as follows:
 L.Section 1296 of the general statutes is hereby amended to read as follows: Every person who shall threaten, or use any means calculated or intended to intimidate any person to compel such person, against his will. to do or abstain from doing any act which such person has legal right to do or shall consistently follow such person in a disorderly manner or<in- lure or threaten to injure his property, with intent to intimidate him, shall be fined not more than $l00, or impris- oned not more than six months"
 The warrant charges that the three men with force and arms did use cer- ,ain means calculated or intended; to ntimidate the AshcroftsMfg. Co.," and goes or, to state that the company had eeal right to employ Gardner and the ,hree defendants tried to force the concern against its will to discharge Jim.
 It was understood today, however, hat if the case is tried the prosecution will attempt to make the statute cover ! new phase of alleged action on the ,art of labor unions. It will be al- eged that Gardner is married man with a family who recently bought III his city home; that the actions or he men threatened him with the loss # his home, thereby threatening him s we'll as the company with injury.
 Whether this latter charge is far etched one, and irrelevant to the tatute as the labor leaders maintain. one which the court must deter nine. Attorney Hugh Lavery. who epresents the defendants, states that :. is absurd to think the law in any ray covers the offence with which the len are charged. "The company laims it was intimidated. but don't ee. for the life of me, how they can rove i 2 he said.
 The statute in itself was one> of the ig issues raised at the last election l this state. Union labor in every ty adopted resolutions condemning 1e law and demanding its repeal ach member of organized labor was lstructed to protest to his state rep- sentative and make him pledge him- elf to work for its repeal. 1t has cen denounced by Secretary of Labor Tilson.
 The first attempt to prosecute un- CT this statute has aroused the in- crest of every laboring man in the ate and barristers are closely watch lg for the final outcome of the case
 Snow tonight md probably Sum ay; warmer tonight.