Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-02
10y Associated prcss.l

CHICAGO, Sept. 1.-The United
States government today was granted
temporary restraining order
against the six striking railway shop
crafts unions. their officials and
mcmbe,s. from interfering in any
way with the operation of railroads
and their properties.
The order was granted by Federal
District Judge James II. Wilkcrson
on application OF United States At
torncy-Gcneral Harry NJ. Daugherty
and District Attorney Charles +.
Cline. The order will remain in force
until September II. pending hearing
on the governments application for
a permanent writ of injunction.
The action named the individual
unions now on strike as we'll as the
Railway Employees Department OF
the American Federation OF Labor.
The suit also was directed against
the presidents OF the unions. The
Attorney-General addressed the court
Immediately following the reading
OF the formal complaint. read by
Assistant Solicitor General Esterline.
His plea for the Injunction. Mr..
Daugherty said. was made necessary
by the fact that there comes a time
in the history Of all nations when
the people must be advised whether
they have a government or not"
The underlying principle involved
in this action" Attorney General
DauEherty said. lis the survival and
supremacy of the government of the
United states.
Holds Government Supreme.
"No union or combination of unions
car. under the law. dictate to the
American union" the Attorney-Ge
eral continued. when the unions
claim the right to dictate to the
government and TO dominate the
American people and deprive the
people of the necessities OF life. then
the government will destroy the
unions. for the government OF the
United States Is supreme and must
endure"
Acknowledgement paughcrty dis
claimed specifically. however. that
this suit was move TO break the
unions
Tomorrow" he continued. ''it will
he said by some more malicious than
truthful, that this proceeding is in
tended as a deathblow to the unions.
In my Judgment this move
mcnt Uhc injunction) is necessary
for the protection and preservation
of the unions themselves.
Uses Federal Power for Open Shop.
so long and to the extent I can
speak for the government of the
7 x,.Iii
Of the government within my con
troll TO prevent the labor unions OF
the country from destroying the open
shop
when a man In this country is
not permitted to engage III lawful
toll. whether he belong, 20 a union
or not. the death kneli TO liberty
Will DO sounded and anarchy will
supcrsede organized government"
Had Been Asked for 10000 Men.
The Attorney General told the
court that because of lawlessncss
and violence against railroad prop
er;y and railroad workers his de-
partmcnt had received urgent re-
quests for no less than 10000 deputy
marshals to keep down the strike
disorder.
Already some 5000 marshals have
been assigned. and in addition spe-
cial service men OF the department
have taken UP similar work through
out the country, the A1torney-Gen-
eral said.
The cost OF such special service.
he said. already expended was more
than si.ooO.O0O for the eight weeks
duration OF the strike.
In California alone. Mr.. Daugh-
erty said. more than s75.0O0.oOo
worth Of fruit and produce had
been destroyed because Of tho fail
ure OF transportation systems To
move the crops.
25.00O Cnrs OF Coal Tied Up.
In Somerset. Ky. he said. $4,000
cars OF bituminous coal were con-
gestcd in the railroad yards yes
tcrday.
Vandals had ,ampercd with more
than 5000 cars there, he said. and
as result the nation was faced
with suffering for want OF coal
FIFTY per cent Of the engines OF
the nations railroads have been rem
dered useless by lawless activities
since the strike began. he said.
The Chicago and Alton Railroad
has been forced into rcccivership
by the drain upon its resources
caused by the strike.
What the loss has been could not
be estimated. but the transportation
system would have to he rebuilt; fo-
that. the American people must pay.
he said.
The DEPARTMENT of Justice rep
rcsents the American people. he
continued and while 1t was re-
GREETED than such broad action was
necessary no other course remained
for the government TO preserve the
Interests OF more than 100000 900
citizens.