The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-04-02
ADDRESS TO THE
TOILING MASSES
Issued by the American Federation of Labor and
All Affiliated National and International
0rganizations---A Great Document.

alienable rights guaranteed by our
constitution.
A large part of our deliberations
were natura ally devoted to a discus
ion of the Supreme Courts action
IN applying the Sherman antitrust
law Of labor.
All agreed upon the necessity of
Immediate Congressional action if
the serious consequences and
threatened dangers to labor and
the wealth producers of our country
are to be averted.
The following amendment to the
sherman antitrust law had already
been drawn up and agreed upon
by the Executive Council, acting
with the legal advisors of the
american Federation Of Labor,
This is designed to relieve labor
from the harmful operation of the
sherman antitrust which was
never intended to apply to it:
THAT nothing in said act (Sher-
man antitrust law, or in this act,
is intended, nor shall any provi-
slons thereof hereafter be enforced
so as to apply to organizations or
associations not for profit and
without capital stock, nor to the
members of such organizations or
associations.
'That nothing in said act (Sher-
man anti trust law, or in the act,
is intended, nor shall any provi-
sion thereof hereafter be enforced
so as to apply to any arrangements,
agreements, or combinations among
persons engaged in agriculture or
horticulture made with view of
enhancing the price Of their own
agricultural or horticultural pro-
ducts.''
This amendment was carefully
considered in conference and met
with enthusiastic, hearty, and un--
animcus approval.
1t was the unanimous feeling that
some special steps should be taken
to impress upon Congress the ne
cessity of prompt action upon the
Sherman anti-t -trnst law amend
ment and upon other important
labor legislation now pending,
namely:
The bill to regulate and limit
the issuance of injunction-"Pear
re bill.''
Employers liability bill.
The bill extending the applica
ton of the eight hour law to all
government employees, and those
employed upon work for the
government, whether by contract
ors or subcontractors.
Your representatives prepared
the protest which you will find ac-
companying this, and delivered
the same to Speaker Cannon, of
House, and Vice President Fair
banks, President of the Senate.
AS to the effect of out solemn
protest representing the desires
and their friends we can not at
this time state, but we believe that
Congress appreciates the gravity
of the situation. In our protest
we endeavored. while preserving a
courteous and dignitied form of
address, to make it entirely clear
to Congress that organized labor is
in no mood to be trified with. 1t
means business. We truly believe
that in this protest we stated very
conservatively to Congress the in
tense feeling of anxiety and ap-
prehenSion which agitates the
workers of the country and their
! sympathizerS.
Without doubt the presentation
of labor's protest by our accredlt,
ed representatives did much tc
( convince the country at large that
/ labor expects of Congress the relief
which is within the power of the
law making department of govern
ment and expects it from this ses
sion of the present Congress.
The Supreme Court decision ap
plying the Sherman law to labor
makes the crises an especially
grave one, for under that decision
every normal, peaceful, and help
full activity of the workers, wheth'
er exercised individually or in as
sociation, may be construed as {
conspiracy or combination II
restraint of trade and commerce
and punished by fine and lmprlson
nent or both, and damages may be