The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-21
union CHIEFS
FRAMED, U. 5.
PROBERS TOLD
Street Railway Company,
Judge BaItzeII and Ward
Are ASSaiIed.
CALLED ABUSE OF LAW
Ex-Governor GroeSbeck Ar
raignS officials Here for
Acts in Trolley Strike.
CALLED ABUSE OF LAW
BY ROSCOE B. FLEMING
Times STAT Correspondent

Times Stau correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-R. B.
Armstrong and J. M. Parker, Of
ficialS of the American Association
of Street Car and Electric Railway
Employees, were framed from the
time they hit indianapolis" former
Governor A. j. GroeSbeck Of Mich
igan told a Senate sub-judiciary
committee today.
The men we're sent to Jail at In
dianapolis for ninety days under an
anti-strike Injunction issued by
Judge r. G. Baltzell in Federal
Court. They were released from
jail Saturday.
The injunction by Judge Baltzell
was "an uncalled-for abuse and a
direct violation Of the Clayton act"
GroeSbeck said.
Groesbeck said he thought Dis
trict Attorney Albert Ward was to
be criticised as we'll as Baltzell.
Instigated by Car Co.
Here were men. officers of this as
Sociation, invited to Indianapolis on
a lawful errand, who we're arrested
SO times in so days, until the State
courts put an end to the abuse" he
declared.
"Of course these arrests were in
stigated by the Street Car Company
to stop their organizing work.
"At the same time the leader Of
the local union, a fellow named
Boggs, really was in the pay of the
company, and was insiStent that a
strike be called.
: ''The company claimed to have
contracts, dating back as far as 1914,
under which employees agreed not to
strike. These never we're produced
in evidence.
Subterfuge Charged
''Injunctions issued by the Federal
judge prohibited Armstrong and
Parker from advising the men to
strike. The injunctions were served
ON them before a union meeting of
July 5, 1926, and they read the in
junction at the meeting as requested
by the United States marshal. Then
they left the meeting. Boggs, this
company employe, who was presi-
dent of the union, told the men to
strike and they did,
Groesbeck charged District Attor-
ney Ward with "subterfuge" to avoid
the provisions of the Clayton act, in
his complaint against Parker and
Armstrong.
The sub committee Is holding
hearings OH the Shipstead bill to
curtail injunctions in labor disputes
Groesbeck said he did not think
the bill would do what labor wanted
but that the remedy lay in amend
ing the Clayton act.
Norris Is Indignant
Senator Norris expressed much
interest and indignation as Groes-
beck outlined the case.
do you say that the alleged anti
strike contract never was offered
in evidence?" Norris asked.
Not only that, but the case never
has been tried on its merits" Groes-
beck answered. "It never will be
tried.
THE attorneys asked Baltzell for
a hearing on the merits of the case
They might just as well have gone
over to the street car company's
Offices. We tried to have these SEN
tences reduced. One of these men
was sick. But nothing we could do
was Of any avail"
Denounces Contracts
''The whole thing, of course, was
worked out in pursuance of street
car company plan to bust the union
and bust it quick" Groesbeck said.
He denounced the alleged anti
strike contracts, declaring they were
illegal, but that any lawyer who
would so have construed them for
the men would have gone to Jail un-
der the Injunction.
w. H. Latta, attorney for the In
dianapolis Street Railway Company
asked to be heard after Groesbeck
The committee, however, adjourned
until tomorrow, when he will be
heard.