The sun., 1908-04-05
GONPERS MAKES A THREAT
TBIT LABOR WILL WORK IN
OiTHBOUND SECRECY
rl,,, ConEress Amends the Antitrust
Law 10 That n shall Net Apply TO
trades Unions seth Low Argues for
IN, same Legislation At washington.

A A,HISGroS April T. Samuel Gompers,
,,esden, Of the American Federation OF
,hor. ,7ho appeared before the House
,mnittec on the judiciary to-day TO
,vss favorable report on the Civic Fedora
ZION bil introduced by Mr.. Hepburn OF
,ova. proposing amendments to the sher'
ann antitrust act, made threat In behalf
4 torpaniLcd labor which he did not attempt
q, rel or conceal. He told the committee
.-spsly that in view OF the intolerable con-
iitiops that now surround aboring men
4 would he necessary for them TO further
m secret the cause for which they stand
4 ,be inherent rights which he alleged
.rsy possessed we're taken from them by
IN. application Of the antitrust act he
,mde /, plain further that II the pending
,i.l, we're defeated labor would hold the
.utv Ia power responsible
suppose inunciions are obtained against
:, ,aid Mr. Gompers. Suppose our
up4, are taken from US by damage suits.
our spirit cannot be killed. The orRanisa-
,,, OF abor has lasted for centuries and
is here to stay Nothing can abolish
g. We may be driven into organizing in
.scrpt but We will never be e1teminated
And continued 2, Gompers with
reat deiberation. gentlemen OF the Wis
.3tl Possessed bv members Of this com
I,ittee know that lGen who are allowed TO
Jmbine In the open, free and unmolested,
are more careful and cirCumspect than
those who are driven into secrecy oath
lound secrecy. In my Judgment no ques-
ion before Congress equals In Importance
This proposition 10 20 amend the Sherman
av as 10 give organized labor lis rights
ghts that it has enjoyed for n century
{ ought not TO be postponed until here
tier. The workmcn feel that they have
zen outraged 0y the Sherman law, which
a. been construed 80 as to interfere with
heir inherent right OF going on strike In
he protection OF their rights and their
cry lives If Judge the temper OF the
orkmon Of this country correctly, and
think do, we cannot wait much longer
or relief. And II ls certain that we viii
hold to a strict accountability the men
nr the parties responsible for delay in our
occurring that action % which we are so
plainly entitled,
Mr. Gompcrs in reply TO questions pro
founded by Nh Littlefeld said that no
relieved in the boycott, After e1plainir &
that the right 10 strike IA the only goat
weapon labor has in its struggle Tor its
rights Mr.. Gompers pointed out that while
no favored the pending bill az whole
ne would like IN have II amended 40 as
not To require Federal registration by the
labor organizations
In the course Of his address MIR. Gompers
eferred to an unsuccessful ehort ne maoe
10 1902 TO have the Sherman act amended.
Nr. Lttleheld-I was one OF the seven
10 voted against 1t,
There were nlne,' corrected Mr Com
pers. Some Of them are not members oil
congress now
Representative Littleaeld opened the
hearing by reading SCORE or more tele-
grams recel, ed from business men and
representatives Of corporations interposine
,enous objection TO several features oi
mo pending bill Among the messages
ooeiyed were the following:
N this bin, which legalises the boycott
r. rassed. the country will be handed oveI
~ he DemoI ats. .
For Gods sake, kill the Hepburn bin
kin the bill, or all confidence In ouI
intention will be destroyed.
Pspresentative Iittleheld, who he's hac
NO or three skirmishes with organized
labor smiled gtmly a. he read these tele'
yrams
seth Low was the first speaker. WheT
lIr Low concluded bis address he wal
c,cssly questioned by Representative Little
.eld. who asked II he wanted TO legaliz'
the boycott Mr.. Low replied that he
Nd not, but that Mr.. Gompers had insisted
that labor organizations should be eIemp
rom the operation Of the antitrust act
Vr. Low declared that a strike was per
'scty proper IN any circumstances ant
',r any purpoto
Even IL Il IL an unlawful conspiracy II
rsstraint Of trader asked Mr., Mttleheld.
Under any circumstance repeated MI
low. He added that the courts had held tina
The right 10 strike under any circumstane
vas we'll established.
Well. all I want. said Mr.. Littleheld I
n. record oi one court that has held tina
an unlawful conspiracy is all right
Mr. Low said the attorneys OF the fedora
ion wouh answer that.
y sAA. said Mr.. LittIeheh. you 81
,ha, a majority OF the business that
lone in this country is being done In vie
htion Of two laws every day. Kindl
explain that
'Most Of our business is In restraint
,rad1 replied Low And u the Attorney
General had prosecuted al who violate
he laws forbiddinE restraint Of trade b
would have attempted 10 indict PRACTICAL
he whole nation
William Jay sohisfelin Of New York a.
p.ared as an advocate Of the Hepbur
bin because II would allow the retail an
wholesale drugEiAts and the drug manu-
tacturers to Ak the prices that should pr
van for oartain drugs and medicines.
,his bill we're passed. he said, departures
stores and ont rate druggists could nc
1udtrsell other druggists on patent med
ines.
Well. how about the rights OF the col
.umers?' asked Mr.. Lttleheld. Mr.. schie
feln said the consumers did not rewbeth'
hey paid the regular price for medicines or
ttle less.
Well. let's get at this thing said Littl'
is6. what you want 10 the Authoni
Lnr rna,r nnople 20 AZ the prioe Of yoI