The plaintiff Barr determined to employ “plate matter” in making up part of his daily paper. (This consists of reading matter edited, set up and stereotyped in New York.) All plaintiff’s employees were members of the local typographical union. This union had declared against the use of plate matter in the city of Newark, which fact was known to Mr. Barr. Through his foreman, he sought to have this resolution of the union relaxed in favor of his paper, but on its refusal so to do adhered to his determination, and, by letter dated March 13, 1894, informed his foreman that he would use plate matter on and after March 17th, saying further, that, not desiring to lose any of the men in his department, the union scale of wages would be maintained, and that he would gladly retain the services of such as might be willing to stay. Some of the employees determined to remain, others, however, left in consequence of his disregard of the union’s determination, and the union withdrew its endorsement of the newspaper. The union thereupon, through its delegates, informed the Essex Trades Council of this fact and requested its assistance. In response, the council appointed a committee in reference to the controversy, and, on March 30, 1894, issued a circular addressed to the public, which, after giving its version of the dispute, concludes with this appeal:—
“Friends, one and all, leave this council-boycotting ‘Newark Times’ alone. Cease buying it! Cease handling it! Cease advertising in it! Keep the money of fair men moving only among fair men. Boycott the boycotter of organized fair labor.”
This circular was distributed in the city of Newark.
In April, 1894, the trades council issued a small four-page sheet entitled “The Union Buyer. Official bulletin of united fair custom of Newark and vicinity. Issued by the Essex Trades Council.” It is impressed at the heading with the union label. It purports to be volume I, number 1, issued at Newark, N. J., April, 1894. Its first announcement is as follows:—
“Our mission—To support the supporters and boycott the boycotters of organized fair labor. To promote the public welfare by the diffusion of common cents, urging all to carry these in trade only to those who will return them to the people in the shape of living wages.”
The whole paper is devoted to the controversy between the unions and the “Newark Times,” no other object being considered. It refers throughout to that paper either by reversing the letters of the name “Times” as “Semit,” or by turning the type bottom side up. The first article after the declaration of its mission is a statement from Typographical Union No. 103, under the heading of “‘The Times’ Trouble.” The only grievance stated against the “Times” grows out of the use of plate matter, and ends with “workingmen and advertisers, remember that plate matter means forty-five cents a day, and understand why the ‘Newark Times’ is an unfair office.” Then follow five columns of “Notes and Comments.” These are all directed to the controversy, and are in vigorous and denunciatory language, and conclude as follows:—
“In conclusion, the council desires to state that the issue between it and the ‘Semit’ is now wide open. It is a fight between the ‘Semit’ and its supporters and the council and its supporters. We give the great public absolute freedom in the choice of its side, but not a single cent of our money will be knowingly let pass to any one who buys the ‘Semit,’ keeps the ‘Semit,’ advertises in the ‘Semit,’ or in any other way leads us to believe that a portion of our honestly-earned money may find its way into the pockets to furnish support to the unfair management of the ‘Semit’ or any of those who have so foully betrayed the cause of organized fair labor.”
At the foot of this document is placed, in large type, the request, “When through reading, please pass to your neighbor.”
This paper was circulated in Newark. There were other publications, but the defendants deny any responsibility for them, and there is no evidence to connect them with their issue or circulation.
Various labor unions represented in the trades council then passed a prepared set of resolutions, which were printed and distributed in Newark. One of these requested all enterprising business houses to abstain from advertising in the “Times” until the trouble had been adjusted, stating that hundreds of their friends had refused to buy and read the “Times,” and that its circulation had become considerably reduced because of its alleged unfair stand. Another asked such advertisers as had made contracts with the “Times” for definite periods, to consider whether it would not be far more advantageous for them in the end to take out their advertisements, leave their space entirely blank and pay the few cents their contracts called for, than to jeopardize thousands of dollars of trade that fair labor would be “compelled to withhold so long as such advertisements appeared, and for an indefinite period thereafter,” adding that “those who now continue to advertise in the ‘Times’ merely succeed in making themselves conspicuous as persons to carefully and studiously keep away from.”