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Philadelphia Cordwainers (Commonwealth v. Pullis)

Philadelphia Mayor’s Court
Philadelphia Mayor’s Court (1806), in 3 John R. Commons & Eugene A. Gilmore, A Documentary History of American Industrial Society 59-248 (1910)

Written by Tammy Boggs, JD

Facts

An association of journeymen and cordwainers (defendants) maintained a form of closed-shop policy. They were criminally charged with conspiracy in the City of Philadelphia for agreeing to work only at higher rates than what was customarily charged (member rates); trying to prevent other workers from working at different rates (nonmember rates) through threats or menaces; and, as a group, refusing to work for any employer who hired unassociated workers or ones who would work at nonmember rates. At trial, a jury returned a guilty verdict, and the court imposed a modest fine.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (No information provided)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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