Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1917-11-24
Workers Will Welcome Decision
OF Importance Made by
Nebraska Judge.
EFFORTS MUST BE PEACEFUL
Right Of Union Men to Request
Strikers Not to Take Their Places
Is Recognized-"Lockou
Given Hard Blow.

lCnarleS Leslie III the Q1SCrlcC court or
Douglas county, in a suit brought by
Attorney General Reed of Nebraska, to
enJoin the Omaha unions and opposed
employers from carrying their differ
ences to a point inimical to the order
ly course of business.
The attorney generals suit was filed
under the "Junkin act" prohibiting
combinations In restraint of trade, and
was directed against the opposing par
ties as co-defendantS, charging each
with conspiracy in violation of the act
mentioned.
The court held that: "There can
be no question that the unions have
the right to organize, or combine for
their protection and welfare, and their
right to do things In furtherance Of
their aims, so far as they do not inter-
fere with the rights Of others, is clear.
Unions not directly involved in strike
may decline, If they so desire, to work
on Jobs held by them to be unfair and
may approach nonunion men with re-
quest to leave the work or to join the
union, so long as they use no violence,
make no threats nor employ intimida-
Iton."
The right of employers to combine
to protect their rights is equally strong
Ily put In the decision, with the clear
statement that "lockOuts" calculated to
harm men not involved In strikes, or
tending to force outside and disinter-
ested persons to side with them against
the unions, is conspiracy, in restraint
of trade within the meaning of the law.
Delegates representing 5000 coal
miners of the Springfield (Ill.) dis
trict sent telegram to H. A. Garfield
at Washington, United States fuel ad-
IministratOr, requesting that the gov
iernment take over the control and op-
Grafton of the coal mines in the United
States. This action was taken in
meeting. The men are also demanding
a state convention of the United Mine
Workers to discuss the agreement
reached at the special conference in
Washington. The men appointed COM
lmitteeS to confer with miners from
other districts of the state on the stu
alton.
Suit to recover more than two and
One-quarter million dollars in damage
from the United Mine Workers of
America went on trial at Fort Smith,
Ark, before Federal Judge Elliott of
Sioux Falls, S. D., as special judge.
The Bache-Denman coal interests are
suing the mine workers under the Sher-
man antitrust act, charging them with
destruction Of their properties in the
Hartford valley in July, 1914. A ma
tion-wide conspiracy to wreck the busi-
ness and destroy the property Of non
union coal operators is charged in the
complaint.
President Wilson's special labor in
vestigating commission reported a set
tlement of the strike of more than s.
600 copper miners in the old Miami dis
trict Of Arizona on basis which prom
ises to set precedent for composing
labor disputes elsewhere BY providing
for resumption Of work Immediately,
the commission paved the way for ar
bitrating other Arizona copper mine
strikes which have caused loss of many
million pounds Of war metal in the last
four months, and resulted in deporta-
tions Of strikers and other disorders.
About 300 strikes or labor contro-
versies involving 100000 men direct
ly and 100000 indirectly, have been
settled by federal mediators of the
department of labor since war was de-
clared. Only 45 attempts to mediate
were unsuccessful, and 100 cases are
still pending. Hugh L. Kerwin, aid to
Secretary Wilson, is in charge Of medi-
alton work since the secretary is in the
West at the head of President Wilson's
special labor investigating commission.
Denying the allegations of Certain
interests" opposed to union labor, that
the workers organizations had melted
the race riots in East st. Louis and
Springfield, the Illinois State Fedora
tion of Labor in convention adopted a
resolution urging the organization of
negro workers in the country.
{ The strike of coal miners in Illinois
ended and the men returned to work.
President Frank Harrington Of the
United Mine Workers of America, Illi-
nois district, declared that fully 80 per
cent of the striking miners in the state
had been opposed to the move.
The lockout at the plant Of the
American Lace company, Elyria, N. Y,
was concluded. The men are guaran-
,teed $1,000 year and percentage on
the work they do. An open shop will
be maintSined. 1t is estimated the lock-
out cost each side 100000.
Eight thousand tobacco workers and
cigarmakers returned to work at San
Juan, Porto Rico, after four weeks Of
idleness. There has been q general
increase in the wages of these work.
ers.
Actual earnings of woman workers
In Great Britain are considerably above