The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-10
Senate GROUP
PROBING CITY
STRIKE ORDER
Judiciary Committee Will
Consider Injunction on
Car WaIkout.
TWO SERVE SENTENCES
Rule Against Violence in
1921 Dispute Here Is
Under Attack.

The United States Senate Judi
ciary Committee today started an
investigation Of the "anti-strike"
injunction issued by Federal Judge
Robert c. Baltzell here in July,
1926, as union employees of the In
dianapolis Street Railway Company
walked out.
The action was taken, according
to a Times dispatch from Washing
ton, after President William Green
of the American Federation Of Labor
told the committee of the circum-
stances surrounding issuance OF the
injunction.
On suggestion of Senator Thomas
Walsh of Montana it was decided to
call counsel for the Amalgamated
Association of Street and Electric
Railway Employees of America and
the street car company before the
committee.
Robert B. Armstrong and John
M. Parker, international officers OF
the union, who organized the car
strike here in 1926, are now serv-
ing ninety-day sentences in the
Marion County Jail for alleged
violation of Baltzell's car strike in
junction.
Prohibited Strikers
The Injunction, issued by BaltzeH
the night before the carmen went on
strike, prohibited Parker and Arm
strong and anyone having knowledge
of the courts order from inter-
ferring in any way with the opera
ton of street cars.
It was this injunction, street car
union employees charged, which
prevented more than one-third OF
the carmen from joining in the
strike for higher wages.
When several street cars were
bombed and number OF persons in
1ured. several seriously, more than
dozens Of the strikers were taken
before Baltzell for violation OF the
injunction.
Admitted Company Pay
Harry Boggs, president Of the To-
cal union, was sentenced to 12O days
In iail. In court he admitted that
he was a paid "spy' Of the street
car company and was being paid
$50 a week by the company While
leading the strikers and bought
dynamite with the conlpany's money.
Parker and Armstrong charged
that Boggs and the railway COM
pany were responsible for the strike
violence and that the car company,
through BoggS, caused the dyna--
Fniting to rouse public sentiment
against the strikers. Railway Of
f1cials denied this and Judge Baltzell
ruled that the union officials talIed
to produce proof.
Parker, Armstrong and Edgar Day,
appealed their sentences to the
United States Circuit Court OF APP
peals at Chicago, but were denied
q rehearing and an appeal to the
United States Supreme Court.
Information Dismissed
Day, a local car man, was SEN
senced to thirty days in jail with
the two international officers, Nov.
Fl, 1927.
Eight other strikers were given
hight sentences or fines.
The Government argued that
Parker and Armstrong were guilty
of violating the injunction because
their peaceful persuasion melted
the strike and interfered with op-
Grafton of cars.
Albert Ward, United States dis
trict attorney, today received au-
thority from the United States At
torney Generals Office to dismiss an
additional information against
Parker and Armstrong charging &C
tual violence. They were not tried
m tInic CHARGE