The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-16
Mr.. Sa niue, Gomprr> Attacks Prr>i-
dent Taft.

There is remarkable passage in Mr.
GoMPERs's annual report TO the Amer
lean Federation of Labor in which he
assails President TAFT for having pre-
vented the enactment last June OF what
was known as the Hughes amendment
to the s,Indrv civil appropriation bill
This bill provided an Appropriation of
SIOO,OD for the enforcement of anti
trust laws and acts 10 regulate com
merce In the committee OF the whole
Representative HrGHES of New Jersey
described by Mr. GoMPERs as our friend
Mr.. HUGHES. introduced an amendment.
as follows:
Provided hat par ~ this money shall be
spent in the prosecution of any organization or
Individual for entering into any combination or
agreement having IN view the Increase " wages
shortenlng OF hours or lettering the condition ~
labor or for any act done In turthrranc- thereof
not In irs-lf unlawful"
If this amendment meant ANYTHING il
meant the deliberate exception ri one
class Of trusts and on" class IF indi-
vidual citizens from the equal operation
Of laws of the United States II was 81
understood by itS author, Mr. HUGHE~
OF New Jersey for be- explained that IN"
proposed amendment simply saws Ia
the Attorney -G-n"ral that h" shall not
engage himself, at least h" shall not
expend this particular sum appropriated
for the specific purprS.' of enforcing the
Sherman antitrust act. against organi-
zation- uf labor
Mr. HUGHFS further announced tho
doctrine that there - a good ami sufii-
,ient reason recognlzsd IN every civil
lied country nj the world except ours
why organizations Of labor should b" diff
ferenriared from other organizations.
He did not proceed 10 announce the
existent Of n good and sufficient reason
why individual citizens engaged in enter
priscs IN restraint of trade IN IN" name
of organized labor should he exempted
from tho operation of laws applicable 10
all other citizens
The labor exemption amendment
passed the committee Of the whole on
june bv a vote of - 10 81 1868 mem
beers Of the House being recorded as
-absent.es The Senat. rejected III.
snce and tho House AZ frs insisted Mr..
GoMPERs in his delivrrance Of Monday
last gives this picture OF Mr. T,FT'S
activities
The situation evidently AHEercI the President.
Is he Immediately 'ool the matter into his own
hands n. suspended other public business and
swers aside every engagement, ne called w.v
ering Representative 30 the white HOUSE and
insisted urou their active opposition even going
so Ear 10 saw that ~ II cost him III" support Of
every aborinz man In the country h" would not
approve of such proviso In the law II = r.
ported tina, when he learned that the Hous- had
recedei from It's Inssrenc- upon the proyIso by
she close vote ~ ia 10 80 he made no effort 10
conceal his great grs'lncs ton because he h.d
succeeded in defeating labor 10 this rster,
Ifthat is accurate history Of the part
which the President took in defeating
the Hughes amendment, no incident Of
his career stands moro conspicuollslv
40 the credit of his courage. his i'm
partialrv and his solicltld. for the
preservation 81 the fundamental prin-
ripple of equality before 'h" law Mr.
GoMPERss attack On this ground - a
rribu'e Of the most impressive sort
Labor and the rights If labor have no
better friend than Mr. TAFT Organized
labor IN rs legitimate efforts to Improve
conditions las No NOR" willing or -vrn-
Uath"rIc supporter "" venture - say
Wha' sort 81 service to th.. "ars" u'
labor l. rendered hy asl'arors and
-"hemers and orators when the, attempt
80 deudc their fellow citizens into III.
belief that n. = an enemy who fer,"iyC-
danger ~ n" r"public 81 equal h~- IN
Mr. HrCRT>s process II "dlir"r"nrIn-
lion" and exemption,