Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-27
A STATEMENT
Defining Attitude Of DEM
0Crats on Measures
Now Pending Before Congress
by John Sharp Williams.
Also Names the Price Of Abstention
From FiIibustering.

DEtclStly Tie Ol lflt
Democratic party in the House toward
legislation urged by President Roose-
welt i'll his message to Congress at The
present session. The statement de-
scribes what Republican legislation tho
Democrats will support, what they will
oppose and what concessions. they de-
mand on the part of the majority as
the price Of refraining from an organ
lied filibuster throughout the remand
er of the session. Williams opens his
statement by saying:
Some things in the Presidents re-
cent message are so immensely inn
portant to the interests of the entire
country as TO pass the bounds OF parti-
sanship and to make it excusable if
not necessary for me to say something
concerning them with the view of as
surfing the President himself and rea-
sonably inclined Republican members
Of the House and the country of the
support and endorsement or the oppo-
sition of the Democratic minority. In
sofar as the things urged by the Pres
ident are good things, 1 would like the
country to know that all he has to do
is to deliver 20 or % Republican House
votes in favor of them. These conjoin-
ed with the solid Democratic votes will
put them through"
Williams notes the following meas
ures as ones which twill command Vir-
tually the solid Democratic vote with
i'll constitutional limits
To compel publication of campaign
contributions.
Prohibition of child labor in the Dis
trict of Columbia and the territories
An employers liability law, drawn
to conform to the recent decisions of
the supreme court.
Federal liability to government en-
ployes.
A law to prohibit the issuance of
injunctions without notice to the par
ty enjoined.
Removal of the tariff on wood pulp
and printing paper.
Imposition of a federal charge for
every water power right granted on a
navigable stream.
Those principles and measures urged
by the President with which Williams
as minority leader takes issue, are
enumerated as follows:
The penaliZing of the boycott.
The right of the attorney general to
nominate receivers when a common
carrier is thrown into the hands of a
receiver.
The modification of the Sherman an
THRUST law SO as to permit within
limitation the maintenance OF trusts
and the making of trade agreements
between combinations of capital
The appointment of a commission to
prepare data for q revision of the tar
iff
Williams frankly states that he does
not know whether a majority of the
favorS the creation of a per-
manent waterways commission.
AS to the President advising the i'm
mediate re-enactment of an employers
liability law, Williams says:
There is no excuse for the delay on
the House judiciary committee to re-
pert an employers liability law. Their
delay at least arouses if it does not
justify a suspicion that they are hav-
ing a lot of useless hearings simply
for the purpose of using that bill as
Il buffer to prevent the serious consid-
GRAFTON of other bills before the COM
lnittee. l have given notice in the
House that no legislation shall be en-
acted by unanimous consent until an
employers liability bill is at least re-
ported for the consideration of the
House"
Respecting pending bills to prevent
the issuance Of injunctions without
prior opportunity for the enjoined par
ty to be heard. the minority leader |
says:
"Of course, I take it that nobody will |
the President or me to |
mean that there should be any limit |
when intended to prevent the immedi- |
ite destruction of property, life or
imb. When l say property I do not |
mean judicially construed Property
lights"
One of the most vigorous portions of |
Williams statement is about the boy
'ott After quoting the Presidents
declarations that Nothing should be
lone to legalize blacklist or boycott.
hat would be illegal at common law"
Williams says:
~ - "a SOU upOil tllS
ltterance of his that while the federal
'Ourts have held that a boycott is a
in restraint of trade and
therefore, illegal, they have virtually
Upheld the employer in his assertion of
| right to blacklist: because one fed
raj court went so far as to say that
because the employer had a right to
discharge without giving any notice at
III, therefore he had a right to dis
harge because the discharged man is
| member of n labor union 1t is d
,oor rule that does not work both
Ways.
Another decision of a federal court
the decision of Judge GOuld-has
zone so far as to say that labor mans
newspaper should not publish the name
# a firm under the heading We don't
,atroniZe.' A man has a right to pat
onize or not to patronize anybody ac-
.ording to his own sweet will and
therefore, has the right to publish those
whom he does not patronize.'
The Presidents recommendation of
! law to place wood pulp on the free
ist With a corresponding reduction
lpon papers made from wood pulp
when they come from any country that