Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-22
THIRD WRIT HITS
CLOTHING UNION
Judge McDevitt Acts Against
Organization Scored by Rog-
ers as Anarchistic
SNELLENBURG co. WINS

Judge McDevitt today granted an In.
junction restraining members of thn,
Amalgamntcd Clothing Workers, OF
America from interfering with employees
Of the Snellenburg Clothing Company.
which Is now operating an open shop
at Broad and Wallace streets following
a strike of its unionizcd workers.
The case is the third of a similar
nature brought against the union re-
Gently. Another is pending. Manu-
facturcrs believe they will not be
hampered in their open shop program
under protection of the various injunc-
tions. One. granted by Judge Rogers
recently. foi bids the use Of union FUNDS
for strike purposes.
1t was charged by the Snellenburg
company that the union called out its
members on strike. thus violating
working agreement with the firm,
which had been in effect three years.
Later, when the firm resumed opera.
tions MS non union shop. 1t was
charged the defendants intcrfercd with
the employees who had gone to work.
Former Attorney General Francis
Skunk Brown presented the formal mo-
ton for the injunction. while William
A. Gray presented the union.
Harry l.. Fields. production man d.
ager for Snellenburg's was the first
witness called. He said the agree
ment with the union Was Mt first verbal.
but later typed and approved, but never
signed.
The firm lived scrupulously up to
its terms, he said. and until July
last maintained union shop. AT that
time, he said. Lazarus Marcovit2
complained about certain conditions and
threatened to call n strike. Fields told
Marcovitz, he said. that all the EN-
ploycs were satisfied. Then the union
leader, he said. said he would order. q
strike, as "the union has to show Its
strength in this city, A. waikou'
then occurred, he said. and the factory
remained closed ten days.
Judge McDevitt held that the un'
American preamble Of the association,
first constitution was still undoubtedl!
recognized as part Of its rules undel
which il had been created, notwith
standing n new constitution, rs there Il
no disclaimer in the new constitution
of the old preamble. There is no doubt
he said. it Is still recognized as TIT
basic doctrine of the organization.
The Judge said further lie was con
! yinccd that the Sncllcnburg firm wa
forced into the position Of being pun
ished for having acted fairly with tn
union. The firms workers. he said
evidently had been compelled to go ol
| strike in order to produce IN effect oil
other clothing workers who were no
members Of the union.
He also said there Is no doubt
reign of terror exists in the minds O
many of these workmen, who are en-
titled to be protected against violcnc
and intimidation. This state of affair
still exists today. he held. and Is du
to the action of officers in the Anal
gamated in calling the strike.
Counsel for the union declared 1t
officers were not responsible for act
of violence Of the members. but couns'
for the firm combated this view, an
Judge McDevitt agreed the officers wer
responsible, and therefore granted tl
injunction.
There was much evidence produce
during the hearing to show acts of vic
|, lence that had been committed by unio
workers against those loyal TO the firm
These assaults included bcatings, an
one case where acid was thrown.