The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-16
LABOR WILL URGE
CHANGES IN LAW
Mass Meetings to Be Held SIM
ultaneOusly Throughout
the Country

In compliance with a request from
the American federation of labor a
huge labor mass meeting has been
called for Saturday night in the Audi
torium, corner of Page and Fillmore
streets, TO formulate a general express
sion of sentiment in the labor organi-
cations relative to certain proposed leg
islation now before congress. Similar
meetings will be held simultaneously
throughout the county, and the resolu-
lions adopted will be forwarded by the
various organizations to the senators
and representatives of the several
states. The object is to impress upon
the delegations at the national capital
the salient features of bills which have
been presented by organized labor.
Most important of the measures to
be considered are the bills regulating
and limiting the issuance OF injune-
lions, the employers liability bill and
that extending the eight hour law to
all government employees and those en-
ployed upon government work by con-
tractors and subcontractors.
SUPREME COURT RULING
The Immediate reason for general
action by the labor forces at this time
is the recent decision of the United
States supreme court in the hatters'
case. That decision declared the united
hatters of North America an Illegal
conspiracy under the provisions of the
sherman antitrust law, and grew out
of request by the 1atters that the
friends of organized labor refrain from
purchasing the products of certain
firm The firm sued the hatters under
the Sherman act and the supreme court
held that the hatters' organization was
responsible for damages in three times
the amount Of the injury suffered. The
imposing of this penalty virtually
amounts to a wiping out of all the funds
of, the hatters' union, endangering its
very existence as an organization, and
labor leaders fear that the same pen
atty will be imposed upon other labor
organizations in like circumstances,
with the result that the entire labor
movement of the country will be i'm
periled.
SITUATION SET FORTH
In an Address to the Workers" is
sued by the recent conference of labor
representatives at Washington d. c.,
the situation was set forth as follows
The supreme court decision applying the sher-
man law TO labor makes the crisis an especially
grave one. for under that decision every normal,
peaceful and helpful activity of the workers,
whether exercised individually in association.
may be construed as a conspiracy" or COM
bnation in restraint Of trade and commerce and
punished by fine and Imprisonment or both. and
damages may be inflicted TO the extent of each
individuals possessions.
Every Legitimate pressure must now be brought
to bear upon congress in the effort to the
passage OF amendment to the Sherman law.
Hold mass meetings in every city and town in
the United States the evening of the third
Sunday Monday in April t19th 20th), and
that meeting voice fully and enthusiastically
labOrs protest against the supreme court decision
which strips labor of the rights and liberties
which had supposed were guaranteed by the
constitution. Resolutions should be adopted
urging upon the present congress the passage Of
the amendment to the sherman law warning
congress that II win be held responsible for fall
ure 10 enact such legislation
OPPOSE TRUST, PENALTIES
The amendment to the antitrust law
asked by labor is intended TO exempt
the labor organizations from the penal
ties imposed upon trusts. The meet
ing Saturday night will be held under
the joint auspices of the San Francisco
labor council and the building trades
council. and it is expected that mem
bers of these organizations will be
present in large numbers. Among the
speakers will be James G. Mcguire.
Andrew Furuseth, George A. Tracy, p.
H Mccarthy, Walter Macarthur and
John w Sweeney. William A Cole,
president of the district council of car
penters and jolners, will preside. and
Schuppert's band will assist with the
program.