Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-23
INJUNCTTONS IN
LABOR DISPUTES
ARE CONSIDERED

WASHINGTON, Feb. % lP.-
Some temperate but positive criti-
cism of Robert c. Baltzell, federal
Judge in Indiana, was voiced today
by members Of a senate judiciary
subcommittee as they brought to
a close an inquiry into the In
dianapolis street railway strike in
functions case.
Senator Norris, of Nebraska, re-
publican independent, chairman of
the committee, declared that on the
case as it was made today by w !,
III. Latta, counsel for the Indian
apolis street railway company, he
did not believe Judge Blatzell
should have issued the injunction
restraining two union organizers
from advising the street railway
employees to strike
He enjoined these men (John
M. Parker and A. s. Armstrong;
from advising the strikers to do
what they had a legal right to
do" Senator Norris said He pre-
viousiy had stated he thought the
courts should be careful and not do
anything that was likely to shake
faith in them.
Parker and Armstrong were sent
to jail for contempt of court upon
conviction of violating the injunc-
tion and when npprised that Judge
Baltzell had denied their demand
for trial by jury, Senator Walsh,
Of Montana, democrat, expressed
surprise and read from portions of
the Clayton act to support his con-
tention that the plain language of
the law had been violated !,
Albert Ward, federal district at
torney for Indiana, who prosecuted
the contempt case upon his own
motion, as he said, called attention
that the circuit court of appeals
had sustained Judge Baltzell in his
Interpretation of that section of
the Clayton law.
Senator Wals$ also appeared sur
prised that the district attorney
rather than counsel for the street
railway company, VINO obtained thei
injunction, had initiated the con-
tempt proceedings. Ward defended
his action, saying that there was
much violence threatening the
safety of citizens with which the
+
cope.
The district attorney told the
subcommittee that at the trial of
Parker and Armstrong he was able
\ 10 show that the two organizers
after the injunction was issued ON
July 8, 1926, had employed two
street railway workers to carry on
their work and had counseIied and
advised them to urge the men to
strike
Ward also described hoy Harry
B0gcs, an inf, 'mer in thfA pay Of
the street railway company, who
got himself elected president OIL
the local union. had 'doub. Z
crossed both slides He subse-
quently was sent to prison for in
citing violence III the strike, but
Ward said there was no evidence
thas lie had been advised So to do
by tic officials of the street saII-
WHY tun ::.ny.
Latta rold the committee how
lis company empIoyed 'sp'e, tc
k,c? ! Informed as to .ehat the
union iccr were doing aul also
disclosed that Judge Baltzell had
IL ClkSCl 1S5uSH d restraining OIueT
against an attorney named Baker, |
.0unsat Tor the union men.
When ii strike was threatenedI
or the night OF June %, Latea SAID
lie advised Es>ker that he wousd |!
alpsy fer IN injunction ;tlil tie
two NcLt to Terre Hal lte, whore
Judge E;ali2ell was hold ng .s,lri. /
a restraining order previously had
lnejl issl.eG by the judge WHO.
Latta said. re.i inded Baker OF this !; I
told the attorney he was d, ,sf;cer
OF tho court and that ne si,oul1l
advise the men not to ST .:i:a. The
roilway lsH,yer added That the
irIgc aslaoi ished Baker thar il ael
did t.0t al9y out the court } III
.stSnctions lie would be helo respon-
slEle.