Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-25
Labor UNIONS LOSE FIGHT
Are Held Liable Under Antitrust and
Commerce Laws.
HOUSE REFUSES THEM IMMUNITY
Agrees 60 senate Action DeeIarinG
Organizations Not Exempt Follow
ing Lively Dcbate-Hughes'
Amendment Defeated.

WASHINGTON, June A-Labcr organi-
cations have lost their fight to gain ex-
omption from prosecution under the anti
trust ard interstate commerce laws. Fol-
lowing lively debate, and by vote OF
1873 to 100, the house yesterday agreed to the
- senate action, striking out a provision in
tho sundry civil bill that would have
effected this immunity.
When the sundry civil bill was before the
house that body tackled on an amendment
by Mr.. Hughes Of New Jersey, demo-
Crat providing that no part OF the appro-
priation for tho enforcement Of the anti
trust laws shall be spent in the prose-
cutlon OF any organization or individual
for entering into any combination or agree
ment having IN view the increasing Of
wages. shortening Of hours or lettering
the condition Of labor, or for any act
done in furtherance, thereof not in itself
unlawful"
Tho senate struck out the amendment.
Tho house then instructed its conferees to
stand by that provision, anu the senate
conferees, resenting such an iron-clad d.
rectlon, refused to consider the item.
To-day Mr.. Tawney Of Minnesota. one
of the conferees. moved that the house re-
cede from its position, and concur with
the senate's action. The motion stirred up
hornots nest
ittghea' Amendment Lost.
On me final vote, which gave knock
out blow to the Hughes amendment, and
left the way clear to easier agreement
on tho sundry civil bill, the following re-
publcans voted with the democrats for
tho Hughes amendment: Austin, Tennes-
see; Carey, Cooper, Lenroot, Nelson and
Stafford, Wisconsin; Davis, Minnesota;
Fish, New York; Greene, Massachusetts,
Focht and Reynolds, Pennsylvania; Hub
bard, Kendall and Woods, Iowa; Hayes,
California; Kronmiller Maryland; Lundin,
Rodenberg and Wilson, Illinois; Murdoch,
Kansas. and Polndexter, Washington.
The democrats who voted with the re-
pubHcans were: Bartlett, Nevada; Sherley
Kentucky. and Page, North Carolina.
There were 10 present who did not vote
and numerous pairs of democrats with
republicans.
President Taft spent the entire day and
bent every energy toward the defeat of the
house amendment which proposed to ex-
empt labor unions from the operation Of
the Sherman antitrust law. He threw his
whole influence into the fight sending for
several scores of representatives and urged
them to defeat the provision. Mr.. Taft
said that II II cost him the support OF
every laboring man in the country he
would not approve such provision Of the
law. The laboring man, he believed, asked
only equality before the law, and was en-
titled to no more
Early Adjournment Assured.
1t was the presidents fight on this
amendment to the supply bill which caused
rumors to spread today that there would
be a delay in the adjournment of congress.
Mr.. Taft felt he had a longer fight be-
fore him than proved to 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
qualification.
During the debate leading up to this
vote Mr.. Tawney said he hoped the house
would recede and concur with the senate
as to this amendment, asserting the amend
ment was offered for political buncombe
lie protested against congress tying the
hands of the government in the enforce
inent OF criminal law, and said that the
amendment worked class Discrimination
which would institute policy that some
day would shake the very foundations Of
This government.
Mr. Hughes denied his purpose was po
lltcaL lie said the charge Of demagogS
was easily made and that In the ordinary
acceptance OF the term demag1gu Is
man who tries TO do after election sha
which he promises to do before election
There are members" he shouted, "oI
the republican side of the house whom
am glad to acquit OF the charge of dem
agogy. 1t is significant that the repub
lican party built on the idea of strikinI
the manacles from the black slaves, shoulC
seek now to put manaces on the whit
slaves u'e laboring men OF the country
MIR. Madison of Kansas denounced tn,
Hughes amendment as an attempt t,
write into the law u legaliGatlon OF sec
ondary boycott. rhe bill was sent bacI
TO conference with the Hughes amend
ment eliminated from further consider
alton.
The action of the house of representa-
tives late today in receding from it's labo
amendment to the sundry civil bill marke
the successful termination of an all da
fight by President Taft against what h
termed class legislation OF an improper sorJ
anu apparently removed the last real Oh
stacle in the way OF an adjournment Q
congress within the next few days.