The Washington times., 1922-09-04
UPH0[DS
RIGHT Of
WORKERS
T0GATHER
Talk Of Arresting Leaders Re-
garded as "Poppycock" by
Federal Official.

Striking railroad shopmsn In
the District will be secure from
the Chicago injunction at their
meetings, if they are not known
to formulate policies for the de-
Ystruction of property.
This was the statement made
today by United States Marshal
Edgar C. Snyder, who viii be
charged with administration of
the injunction in Washington.
As the meetings of shopnen are
not open to the public, and tho
gathering of the council Of the
American Federation of Labor
Saturday certainly will not be, It
will be practically impossible to
prove an overt act on the part Of
strike officials against the rul-
ing Of the Chicago superior court.
Awaits Injunction Copy.
Marshal Snyder has not received
true copies of the injunction, but
expects to have them, at the latest,
by tomorrow.
"The public. think, has the
wrong conception as to the power
Of this injunction" declared shy
der. The right of orderly assem-
bly, is guaranteed under the United
States Constitution, and I certainly
shall not take a step which would
deprive American citizens Of their
constitutional rights.
Until an overt act has been
committed. proving to my satisfac-
ton that meetings are being held
to formulate policies for the de-
struction Of public property.
will withhold action. This talk Of
or any other body of men who
meet in good order and create no
disturbance is all poppycock.
"As vet I have no official know.
ledge Of the injunction. ! will have
no such knowledge until a copy OF
the injunction, duly attested by the
superior Judge in Illinois and by
the district attorney, comes to my
office. ] expect to have a copy to-
day or tomorrow, and when It.
comes, I will take immediate ac-
ton. IL required. to enforce its
provisions
Confronts Difficulties.
The injunction, it was pointed
out, while forbidding participants
in the railroad strike from using
the telephone, the mails. the print
ing press. and even their own
tongues from communicating strike
matters, one to another. Is faulty
in that It must be shown to have
been violated, and upon this re-
quirement hinges the statement OF
Marshal Snyder.
Picketing to Continue.
Picketing will be continued for in
formational purposes, and in general
the activities of the local shopmen
will indicate complete ignorance Of
the court order.
william II. Johnston, president of
the International Association Of Ma
chinists, one Of the striking organi.
zations, declared II would be a year
before the railroad equipment would
be brought to suitable working con-
dition.
Twenty thousand locomotives are
In a serious state of disrepair, he
stated. and should be condemned.
He predicted collapse Of many rail.
roads within the next month because
of deterioration of equipment.
News Of Marshal Snyder's state.
ment was greeted with cheers at
a meeting of striking local shop
men in East Washington Hall,
Third street and Pennsylvania
avenue southeast, today.
'The shopmen here are not
frightened by the Injunction" ssid
Secretary Charles Bridwell. Of the
local organization. I'VE have no
intention Of destroying property
and our meetings are duiet and
gentlemanly.
"The strike continues to be ef.
fective here" said Mr.. Bridwell.
81 think only two men have gone
back into the shops. They are the
onlv ones unaccounted for"
Chairman Holmes said today that
the man identified as Harry Dunn.
shopman. burnt 20 death IN the
Modoc building fire in Pittsburgh.