The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-03
Industrial Law Won't Affect
Boycott on Local Theaters.
Printers Brand Some Show
Houses as Unfair to Labor.
WRITS REMEDY
Ii Injunction Be Ignored Grim
inal Prosecutions May Follow.
Typographical Union Fixes
Penalty at $40 for Members.

Injunction writs are the proper
remedies against members of the To-
peka Typographical Union who have
declared a boycott on several Topeka
theaters, according to judges of the
industrial court. 1t was asserted to-
day that theaters are not under juris-
diction of the labor court and that no
general state law is on the statute
books against boycotts.
If the printers carry out their
threat to boycott local theaters which
are branded as unfair to organized
labor. the injunction Is a proper pro-
cedure, according to Judge James A.
McDermott of the industrial court.
Should the injuncrion be ignored
criminal prosecutions may then be
made.
Industrial Court Won't Interfere.
The industrial court has no thought
Of interfering with the boycott, ac
cording to Judges McDermott and
Crawford. However, the theater own
ers may seek writs against union lead
ers on their own motion, 1t was as
serted.
There is no question but that this
boycott is enjoinable," said Judge Me
Dermott. But there rs no state law
against boycotts and theaters are not
claSsed as essential industries under
provisions of the industrial court act"
Cites Decision of U. S. Court.
Judge McDermott then pointed to
recent decision of the United States
supreme court upholding exercise of
the right of injunctions against a
strike declared by an Arizona union
against a restaurant.
'In Arizona" said Judge McDer-
mott. 1.-The legislature hau gone so far
as to declare that the right of injunc-
ton should not operate against strikes
and boycottS. Hence the state courts
! held that the boycott of an Arizona
! restaurant was perfectly within the
law. Judge Taft, however, reversed
the case on an appeal to the United
States supreme court and held that
the right of injunction operated in
such cases. The Topeka boycott as
declared by the printers against cer-
tain local theaters is a case strictly
J in point under the Taft decision
Fix PenaIty-of $40 or, Each Member.
Owners and managers of theaters
affected by the Boycott have asserted
that they are not unfriendly to or
ganized labor. The boycott order of
| the typographical union however fixed
| a penalty of $40 on each member who
! against which the order was made.
Unions Resolution.
The resolution passed at the last
meeting of Topeka Typographical
Union No. 121, was as follows:
ANY member of Typographical Union
No; 121 that patronizes any other than the
following show houses in this city
| Orpheum, Isis, Crystal, and Princess lin
North Topeka), is subject to a fine of S10.'
There's nothing in there about the
boycotting of any theater," Leo Won
Langen, secretary of the Typographi-
cal Union, declared today. Its
simply matter of filming any mem
| Der of the union who attends any
other theater than those which are
listed"
I'VE have never applied to the in
dustrial court for a decision on the
matter. In fact, there is nothing so
far that we have wished to do in it,
A. L. Shober, one of the members of
| the firm which has leased the Grand
and Novelty theaters, said.
| No Injunction Asked.
'rI don't know that we would even
apply for an injunction, If the boycott
bothered us. We at least have not
applied for any injunction yet If any
one started picketing the theaters, we
might apply for an injunction, don't
know. But there has been no hint of
| that
There is no reason for the Typo
graphical union or any other union to
boycott US. We have union n>help about
the theaters-both orchestras are
under union contracts. The contracts
with the operators and the stage hands
were simply expired, and not renewed.
There was neither a strike nor a
walkout at the termination"
Won Langen stated that the action
of the Typographical union was under
taken independently of the action of
any other organized labor body in the
city.
'Tf the industrial council has listed
any theaters in Topeka as unfair, we
have not received any notice of it.
Won Langen said.