The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-08-06
IS
HEARING
INJUNCTION
Court Tells Parties That
Peaceful Picketing is
Permissible at Standard.

Announcing in his opening re-
marks that he would rather issue
an injunction against the mayor
and chief of police of Hammond
holding them to their duty in
handling local affairs, rather than
enJoin the workmen, Judge Francis
E. Baker is hearing the petition of
the Standard Steel Car Co. for an
injunction in the U. S. District
Court at Hammond.
JUDGE HAD TO BE SHOWN
Judge Baker intimated that before
any Injunction was granted BY him. he
must oe shown 70 his satisfaction that
the affair could not be Handled by TIE
local authorities He added that the
local authorities II held to their dutv
could handle any situation as they can
summon aid from the governor in the
sorm Of state militia and after that
the president can furnish the regular
army.
When the hearing opened ruesday
afternoon. Judge Baker was ca-eful
first TO master both the original pc
tition as filed b. Attorney Fred
crumpaoker and the answer submit
ted BY Attorney E. G. Sproat II.
announced that unless more speciac
cases OF interference were produced
by the plaintiff he would be forced 10
refuse the Injunction
HAD TO HAVE SPECIFIC INSTANCE
The affidavits attached to the petit
ton referred to the men coIlectivelv
and IN his opinion did not name de-
tendants specifically or point out their
acts Of interference 20 warrant the is
suance OF d writ against them
As matters then stood it appeared
that the hearing would be a short ar
fair as the defendants had filed an
davits with their answer denying each
charge made IN the petition It then
fell upon the petitioners to prove their
original claims Attorney Crumpack-
er then filed additional anidavits.
Judge Baker was about to pass the
same judgment upon these when the
last two chsnged the situation
STOPPED BY sTRIkERss
In these. employees OF the plant
charged that they had been stopped
by the strikers and one Diamond a
member Of the plants police force
swore he had been struck on the h.p
by Frank Ciemba. one OF the defend
ants. IN crowd around a street car
The names OF ten men were given a.
having been identified by the aTiants
in the crowd. As Attorney Sproat
had not seen the anidayits until they
were handed 10 the court he asked fos
time IN which to get the ten men to-
gether and prepare an answer This
was granted and court was adjourned
until this morning
ONLY ONE SAW HIM ON CAR
When the hearing was resumed Wit
nesses were produced By the car COM
pany TO substantiate the allegations
of the new aridavits. As 10 the at
tack upon Diamond only one furnish
ed competent evidence as he said he
had been in the street car and was IN
position to see Ciemba strike the
watchman.
Diamond had worked his way into
the crowd he said to help man who
had been surrounded BY the men He
did not know whether the man q
stranger. was an employe or even in
tending 10 visit the plant
MaLo WITNESS
Among the witnesses called were i.
Malo. ch!ef OF police. or the Standard
force several Of his watchmen and
several foremen Of departments Thev
testified they had been stopped or had
seen other men stopped By the stril
ers and two Of the watchmen sad
they had seen men carving clubs OF
picking up stones. although they made
no attempt TO use these in acts of Vi
olence.
The court had explained in his or
ening remarks that strike j lawful
and that the company affected cannot
hope 10 get an injunction against the
strikers on the grounds that its bust
ness is being damaged because OF the
shutdown. Peaceful picketing cannot
be prohibited he said and men have Z,
right to stop men working at the
plant 10 talk with them and TO try u
persuade them to join in the strike
This plcketing must be confined TO
peaceful means and no physical or
moral force can be used.
Up 10 noon today only the witness
es produced BY the plaintiff had been
examined There are still several Of
these 10 go on the stand before At
torney sproat calls for his men of
whom he has nearly twenty ready to
testify. II necessary.