The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
$4,000 UN|ON|STS
DEMAND new LAW
Mass Meeting Passes Resolu-I
lions Condemning Sherman
Antitrust Measure
Vow TO Elect Congressman Who
Wear No Machine Yoke
Is Registered

Five thousand labor lnionists of san
Francisco Joined in a mass meeting at
the Auditorium last night TO protest
against the decision of the United
states supreme court declaring labor
unions criminal conspiracies under the
provisions OF the Sherman antitrust
act Resolutions demanding of con-
greSS the repeal or amendment of The
statute were passed and fiery speeches
assailing the decision as a blow at the
foundation OF the rights Of free speech
% individual liberty were made by
siding labor leaders.
Government by injunction was also
touched upon by the speakers and the
opportunity was taken to score con-
gress for its failure to enact the meas
ures besought by the workingmen of
the nation. Among the speakers were
P II. Mccarthy. former Superior Judge
James @. Mcguire John w. Sweeney,
president Of the San Francisco labor
council: George A. Tracy. president of
the state federation of labor. ard An
drew Gallagher, who read the resclu
tons.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
Called in response to a message from
The American federation of labor
urging the unionists TO declare them
selves as to the supreme court decision,
the meeting was an expression of senti-
ment in no uncertain terms by the labor
organizations of San Francisco The
following resolutions were adopted
with unanimous acclaim:
Whereas the recent decision Of the United
states supreme court in the case of Ioexe &
%. vs. united hstters Of North America holds
he latter subject 10 heavy damages. amounting
20 the practical confscation OF the hatters funds
lH--4l - ~n-T
organization TO the attachment Of their per
sonal belongings: and whereas. this decision is
based upon the sherman antitrust act. under
the terms OF which act the united matters OF
North America are declared TO be "combins-
ion in restraint Of trade commerce among
the several states and therefore Illegal; and
whereas. this decision. IL permitted 70 stand as
g precedent, viii have the effect Of oHtlawing
rhe labor movement. an Institution everywhere
recognized a necessity to the protection of
the working class and powerful agency for
the improvement Of industrial and social condi-
tions: and whereas. certain measures now
pending in congress. among these being pro-
poeals 10 amend the Sherman antitrust act in
cultural organizations from the penalties imposed
upon trusts and other combinations to monop-
size natural resources. or the products Of labor;
- limit the issuance OF in1unctions in labor
disputes and 70 extend the provisions Of the
national eight hour law 10 all government work.
including work performed by contractors and
Iubcontractors; therefore be II
Resolved by the members Of labor organiza-
ions and public Of San Francisco. in mass meet
ing assembled April Is. 1905 that we protest
against the decision OF the United States SUI
preme court in the hatters' case. as an in
light Of organization. and particularly as cal
,ulsted 70 destroy the labor movement: further
Resolved that we urge upon congress the
passage during the present session Of the bills
now before that body as hereinbefore referred
20: further
Resolved that We emphatioanv declare our
'isapproval Of the tendency toward usurpation
On the part Of the judiciary and of indifference
and contempt on the part Of our representatives
the rights Of labor and Of the public in order
that personal liberty and popular goverum mt
nay be preserved throughout our country; fur
Resolved, that copies Of these resolutions he
sorwarded TO the congressman and senators from
-allfornia with IN urgent request for their
prompt snd favorable action thereon
INTRODUCES SPEAKER
The meeting was called to order bv
William A. Cole. president of the dis
trict state council of carpenters and
joiners. He outlined The purpose of
the gathering and introduced Andrew
Gallagher. who presented the resolu-
tfons.
The first r. gular speaker of the even
ing was George a. Tracy. president of
the state federation OF labor He said
the laboringmen of the city were gath
cred together 10 demand of congress
that tho members devote less of their
time TO banquets and dinners and more
TO the interests OF the people. He
sketched the system of organization Of
the lower house and denounced the
gag rules" He declared that OF the
Ssl active members of congress 3ss
were practically nenentities through
having tied their own hands by sub
scribing 10 the rules.
He told how those members who re-
VOTED against the oligarchical sway of
the house committee on rules were
crushed by all the combined forces of
machine politics when they came up
for reelection.
We can do nothing now but protest"
said Tracy, but we can VOW to our
selves with solemn earnestness that we.
shall see that no man again goes to
congress through our votes without
having first pledged himself to throw
of the shackles OF the political ma
chine"
PLANS TO SHOW JUDGES
j. w. Sweeney. president of San
Francisco labor council, took the plat
form. He said a small minority of
judges had determined that the people
did not know what they wanted. and
that the union men of the nation were
determined to show them that they did
know.
He defended labor unions from the
charge OF being trusts and defined the
difference He said that any workman
had right TO joint the labor union.
but that the very basic principle of
the trust was to freeze out the small
fry" He said:
The labor union has come 70 stav
and viii stay. notwithstanding any DE-
cision OF the United States supreme
court This statement called forth
loud applause Sweeney continued:
Every member of the United States
supreme court has been at some time
in his life an agent Of a trust
(Hisses.) They are not at TO fudge orr
rights We must say to these Judges
that they are not on the bench 70 rnake
our laws, but to interpret them.
PROMISE ACTION AT POLLS
This meeting has been called. how
ever, not to attack the courts. hut "a
show congress that IT is labor's real
voice that demands the amendment az
the Sherman law TO exclude labor
unions and agricultural organisation.
II they do not heed us. by heavens. we
will show them our meaning at thu
polls next November"
p. H Mccarthy az president of The
state building trades council and pres
icent Of the San Francisco council next