The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-06-24
|EXEMPTING UNIONS
CLASS LEGISLATION
TAFT EXPLAINS POSITION ON
LABOR LEGISLATION.
Wires Brotherhood Of Firemen and
Engineers Position ON the
Antitrust Law.
CONGRESS END Is NEAR

ton Of the house of representatives
late today IN receding from It's labor
amendment TO the sundry civil bill
marked the successful termination of
an al-day hsLt by President Taft
against what he termed class legis-
iation OF an improper sort, and ap-
parently removed the last real OBJ
staole In the way OF an adjournment
Of congress within the next few
DAYS.
/ President Taft spent the entire
day and bent every energy toward
the defeat OF the house amendment.
which proposed 10 exempt labor
unions from the operation OF the
sherman antitrust law. He threw
his whole influence into the fight.
sending for several scores OF repre-
7entatives ana urging them to de-
feat the provision. Mr.. Taft de-
claiod that IL Il cost him the sup
port OF every laborlng man IN the
country he would not approve such
provision Of Law. The laboring
man. he believed, asked only equal
lty before the law. and was entitled
to no more.
II was the presidents fight on
this amendment to the big supply
bin which caused rumors TO spread
today that there undoubtedly would
be a delay IN the adjournment Of
congress. Mr. Taft felt that be had
a longer fight before him than PROV
ed 10 be the case and was doubtful
OF the result until the vote was
finally taken. when informed OF
the result he made no attempt to
conceal his gratlhcation.
Incidentally the president sent
lone Telegram tonight to the con
veniion OF the Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemen.
meeting NJ 81. Paul. in which he
outlined his views on the matter. !
The telegram was in response TO a
message Of protest from the con-
yonuon. For several DAYS past the /
white house has been fairly bonn
hardei with letters and kilograms
from labor organizations IN favor OF
the house amendment. The mes
sagges made public tonight were:
st. Paul. MINI. June %. 1910
"To the President:
press reports OF today indicate
that you favor using the peoples
money to prosecute labor In thei'
efforts TO better conditions. The
T9S delegates attending the twelfth
biennial convention OF the Brother.
hood OF Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen AZ 81. Paul instruct me
10 protest Against this unjust policy |
"W. $. CARTER.
president u. OF l.. r. and T."
Tafts Reply.
Washington. June 80. 1910. !
ITO W. S. Carter. President Broth. |
erhood OF Locomotive Firemen /
and Enginemen:
"Your dispatch OF June 22 re-
.ceived In which YOU say the press |
reports today indicate that I favor
using the peoples money to prose-
cute labor In their efforts TO better |
conditions. And you protest agains, /
such a policy. I presume you refer |
10 the proposition now before con-
rress that money appropriated for /
fiscal year nineteen eleven for en-
foroement OF antitrust laws and acts
TO regulate commerce shall IN no I
part OF d be expended IN the prose-
cution OF couspiracics in the nature |
or hoycotts q increase wages. short
en- hours or better the conditions OF
labor.
"The supreme court has decided /
that such boycott Is a violation OF
the sherman antitrust law and this
proposal Is an attempt to withhold I
the means OF prosecuting that law
when Il Is violated by a particular
class thus to he made privileged I
am entirely opposed TO such class
legislation. II q we're proposed to
amCnd the language OF the Sherman
antitrust law Itself so as somewhat
TO narrow its scope for considera-
ton; but 80 long as the present anti
trust law remains upon the statute
books an attompt TO modify its en-
forocement 30 as to render immune
any particular class Of citizens, rich
or poor. employers or employees is
improper leglslation eud in my judg-
ment ought to be opposed by your
brotherhood.
THE laboring man and the trades |
unionist, n 7 understand him, asks
only equality before the law. Glass
legislation and unequal privileges.
though expressly In his favor. will in
the end work no benefit to him or to
society.
WILLIAM II. TAFT"