Evening journal., 1908-04-20
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

The resolutions adopted by the meeting
follows;
Whereas we. the working people and
their sympathizers Of wilmington, Della
ware In meeting assembled to consider
the situation in which the toilers Of our
country find themselves by reason Of re-
cent court decisions. and the failure OF
Congress to afford the necessary relief
and for the purpose Of taking such ac-
tion TO secure adequate congressional leg
islation for the protection. restoration
and defense Of the natural and inherent
rights Of our people; and
Whereas the recent decisions Of the
United States Supreme Court, especially
the decision in what has become common
ly known as the Hatters case whereby
the Sherman Antitrust Law was so con-
strued as to deny and to iniuriously affect
the rights Of the workers and indeed all
Of our people whether acting in their
collective or individual capacity; and
Whereas the Supreme Court in this de-
cision ignored the intent Of Congress
which, while the Sherman Antitrust Act
was under discussion, clearly showed by
unanimous vote Of the Senate that It was
not intended to include the workers urder
the provisions OF this Act and only vnlit-
ted the direct statement because Congress
and all public officials at that time were
thoroughly convinced that the Sherman
Antitrust Act would never be so con-
strued as to apply to Labor: and
Whereas the Supreme Court in its
sweeping decision in the Hatters' case so
construed the Sherman Antitrust Law
as to make it apply to labor not only in
one, but in many OF the most important
and fundamental respects penalizlng the
right Of bestowing or Withholding patron.
age and thereby practically establishing a
vested right in such patronage, provid-
ing three-fold damages and fine and i'm
prisonment as punishment; penalizing by
fine and imprisonment the right Of peace
full agreement with employers as to
wages, hours, and other conditions Of
employment, stigmatizing this most
laudable effort toward industrial peace
and progress as Conspiracy" and
Whereas the law as construed under
this decision is so foreign to its original
purpose that labor and all our people may
well doubt IL It cannot be applied in di.
rections not yet fully realized so as 20
check and penalize the exercise Of almost
all natural and fundamental rights of
voluntary association and uplifting effort
which all supposed was guaranteed to us
by the Constitution Of our country: and
Whereas not only the Hatters decision
calls for, immediate Congressional action
but other recent Supreme Court decisions
as well, notably those declaring the En-
ployers Liability Law unconstitutional
and that clause Of the Erdman act re-
lating to discharge on account Of men,
bership in a labor union. In addition. the
action of the courts by the abuse OF in
functions, in denying the exercise Of free
press and free speech and other natural
and inherent rights have caused us to
view with alarm, unrest and dissatisfac-
tion the existing state Of affairs unless
Congress shall promptly enact specific
legislation which shall clearly so amend
the Sherman Antitrust Act that its
original intent shall be preserved and that
It shall not apply, as It never was in
tended to apply to labor and such other
legislation as set forth IN these resolu-
tions for the further restoration. defini-
tion, and protection Of the rights and ac-
tivities OF the wage-workers and all our
people IN the exercise Of their individual
and organized activities for the uplift and
progress Of the people and the preserva.
ton OF the original just and equitable
intent Of our free institutions; therefore
be IL
Resolved. That, though protesting
against the construction OF the law by
the decisions OF the Supreme Court ap-
plying laws to the workers never intended
by Congress for that purpose, we yet
accept and obey them. thereby demon.
strating incontestably our patriotism, our
law-abiding purpose and our faith in the
institutions Of our country, yet we must
and do insist that Congress exercise It's
power and perform its plain duty, grant.
ing the renef and remedy from the in
justice OF which we complain; and be II
further
Resolved, That we EXPRESS our firm con-
viction that II lies within the power OF the
present Congress to enact such laws that
the rights and liberties Of the toilers shall
be restored and safeguarded and we
solemnly aver that under no circum-
stances viii the workers surrender their
right to and their faith in their voluntary
organizations which have done so much
to protect them from tyranny and
rapacity and which have raised the Amer.
ican standard Of life of the workers. their
wives. and their little ones and instilled
the highest ideals Of American manhood
character, intelligence, and independence
among the toilers Of our country: the
organizations OF labor which have proven
themselves not only the great means
whereby the material moral. social, and
political standard has been advanced. but
have also shown themselves the greatest
conservators Of the public good and of
the public peace; that we shall stand by
our unions OF labor and carry on our nor
NAL activities whether as individuals or
through our associated effort: and be II
further
Resolved, That the working people and
their friends in meeting assembled insist
that the Congress OF the United States
cease its indifference or hostility and en-.
act the legislation in these resolutions set
forth, so that we may exercise our full
est, normal. natural and industrial rights
and to attain them we will exercise our
industrial and political power; and be it
further
Resolved, That we call upon the Con-
gress now in session TO enact before cd
journment the amendment to the Sherman
Antitrust Law. known as the Wilson
Bill H. R. No 2o5s4; and be It further
Resolved, That we call upon the present