The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-03-05
UOIONS MUST NOT
BE OUTLAWED.
CONTINUED from Page ID


Federationist and of our office records
In proof of this. We feel it our duty
In the interest of truth and accuracy
to call public attention to the error of
the court in charging the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor with being a party to
the action against the Loewe Co.
ORGANIZED LABOR NOT A TRUST
The labor union is not trust; none
OF its achievements in behalf of its mem
bcrs-and society at large-can properly
be confounded with the pernicious and
selfish activities of the illegal trust. A
trust, even at its best, is an organiza-
ton OF the few to monopolize the pro-
dIction and control the distribution OF
a material product of some kind. The
voluntary association of the workers for
mutual benefit and assistance is essen
TALLY different. Even ii they seek to
control the disposition of their labor
power, it must be remembered that the
power to labor is not a material COM
modify.
1nere can not be a trust in some
thing which is not yet produced.
S human power 70 produce Is the
antithesis of the material commodities
which become the subject of trust con-
troll.
From its very nature the labor union
can not be regarded as trust, yet the
Supreme Court seems not to have con-
sIdered this vital distinction in arriving
ut its decision
Public opinion is practically unani-
nous in recognizing the union as one OF
the most essential means OF securing
for the workman his rights, protecting
him against injustice, and putting him
in touch with all the best thought and
most advanced movements of ethical
forces of civilization.
At the time the Sherman antitrust
law was passed we warned our members
and the public that it was SO drawn that
we feared q construction would be read
into it SO as to apply it to our unions
instead of to the trusts which it was
intended to restrain.
The event which we feared has come
to pass. The law has long been admitted
to be of no value in restraining or
really Furnishing trusts. Useless as an
instrument OF good, it has now been
made an instrument of positive mis-
chief, and perverted from its original
intent.
We knO,o the Sherman law was in
tended by Congress to punish illegal
trusts and not the labor unions, for we
had various conferences with members
OF Congress while the Sherman act was
lending, and remember clearly that such
ii determination was stated again and
again.
CONGRESSIONAL RELIEF IAlPER-
ALIVE.
We expect that the present Congress
will take prompt action to 50 amend or
modify the Sherman law that there can
br no question as to it's application.
We shall ask such enactment restoring
the rights of unions and agricultural
associations so that the association of
human beings for education and progress
may never again be COMPOUNDED with
the sordid and material activities of
trusts. We believe that the people as a
whole will be with us in this effort.
And even should Congress grant the
desired relief in this case we shall still
advise the utmost political activity on
the part of our workers and friends
This decision has shown us the necessity
OF eternal vigilance.
1t is well that Congress is in session
ut the time this decision is handed down
for we can now make our appeal directly
TO it for relief. We confidently expect
that Congress will appreciate the injus-
tice which has been done directly to the
workers and hence indirectly to all the
people. We believe that Congress will
understand how important a portion of
the body polite is comprised by the
workers and will grant us the attention
and prompt action which the injury mer-
its. Congress must of necessity declare
itself for against us at this time and
should it fail to heed our request for
justice we shall at once appeal to all
the people to help us right our wrongs
by electing representatives pledged to
the interests of the people.
Already some bills have been intro
duced seeking to amend the Sherman
law. When a bill has been perfected
which will remedy the injustice done to
labor by the recent decision, it will be
presented to Congress for consideration
and every effort made to DresS If tn