Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-04-02


to leave it ca the statute books in its
present shape.
Suggests Changes.
]. has now become uncertain how Tar
this law may involve all labor organiza-
ton and farmers organizations. as we'll
with the law: OF. IL VIC secure literal COM
pliance with the law, how far 1t may re-
suit in the destruction OF The organizations
husiness! a -, we II as Of an iil lahor o1 nr mo nIeaa
tons and farmers organizations, COM
pletely check the wise movement for go
curing business cooperation among farm
ers. and put back half Il century the prog
rcss of the movement for the betterment
Of labor. A bill has been presented in the
congress to remedy. this situation. Some
such measure as this bin Is needed in the
interest OF all engaged in the industries
which are essential to the cOuntry's we'll
being. ! do not pretend to say the exact
shape that The bill should take. and the
suggestions J. have 10 offer are tentative;
and my views would apply equally to any
other measure which would achieve the
desired end. Bearing this IN mind, { would
changes III the law:
The substantive part OF the antitrust
law should remain as at present; that is.
commerce among the several states or
with foreign nations should continue to
be declared Illegal: provided. however.
that some proper government authority
(such as the commissioner Of CORPORATIONS
acting under the secretary Of
and labor be allowed to pass on any such
contracts. Probably the best method Of
providing for this would be to enact that
any contract. subject to the prohibition
contained In the ANTITRUST law, into which
It was desired to enter. might be filed
appropriate executive body. This would
provide publicity. Within, say, 60 days OF
the fl!ng-whtch period could be extended
by order OF the department whenever for
any reason 1t did not give the department
sunlcient time for a thorough examine
tton-the executive department having
p lower might forbid the contract, which
visions OF the antitrust law, II at all in
restraint of trade.
II no such prohibition was issued. the
contract would then only be liable to at
tack on the ground that 1t constituted
an unreasonable restraint of trade. When-
ever the period OF filing had passed with
u any such prohibition. the contracts
forbidden only after notice and hearing
with a reasonable provision for summary
review on appeal by the courts. Labor
other organizations not organized for pur-
poses OF profit. should be allowed to reg
lister under the law by giving the location
OF The head Office, the charter n bylaws.
principal officers. In the interest Of ali
these Observation-Disclosures labor. and
larmers organizations alike-the present
fold damages should be abolished, and as
q substitute therefor the right OF recovery
allowed for should be only the damages
of suit. including q reasonable attorney
fee. :
TIL law should not affect pending suits:
a short statute OF Limitations should be
provided. so far as the past is concerned.
not to exceed & year. Moreover. and even
more IL the interest of labor than OF
business combinations. all such suits
occurred should be brought only II the
contract or combination complained of
was unfair or unreasonable 1t may be
hitherto brought by the government unde
the antitrust law have been in cases
where the combination or contract was
IN fact unfair. unreasonable, and against
the public interest.
Strikes LEGAL.
1t is important that we should encour-
& trade agreements between employer
and dt e;;nplGye ; where sI,,r,st they y are Just and fair:
tend. so far as possible. the process OF
Cancellation and arbitration as a substitute
for strikes; Moreover .,ren violence; disorder
ton with strikes, should he as promptly
and as sternly repressed az when com
npriSs. , IN saIy o ars' .e eSSn sss;t,a l. Blu
ognized to be entirely legal. Combina.
tions OF w~orkingmen have q peculiar rea.
son for their existence. The very wealth,
Individual employer. and still more thu
very wealthy corporation. stand at al
the Individual workingman; and while
there are many cases where 1t may no,
be necessary for laborers to form a Union
in many other cases 1t Is Indispensable
for otherwise the thousands Of small units
the thousands of individual workingInen
will be left h1pless In their dealings witt
the one big unit. the big individual Of
twenty-five years ago. by the act Of
June e 1855, trades rad ;,v unions Ions were recog
neopie p % Combine for ali k iawf vi p 1apoosns
10. e..-.arlu raca1niRoA Ahiu .I-IL 1 Z.