The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-07-07
TAFT GIVES A
SETBACK TO LABOR
Unions Not Immune from Prosecution
for InfractiOnS of Sherman Anti
Trust Law.

WASHINGTON, d. c. Special
President Taft Friday ordered the
House Republicans into q finish fight
on the troublesome little issue raised
by the labor amendment to the sun
dry civil bill. and worked with might
and main himself until he saw them
win.
As the result of stiffening influence
literally applied at the White House
the representatives. by a vote of 1879
10 100. receded from their action in
declaring the labor unions immune
from the operation of the fund au-
thorlzed to- prosecute infractions of
the sherman antitrust law, and join
ed the Senate in its view that punish
ments under this law should extend
to full legal lengths and include. if
necessary, conspiracies in the nature
OF ooycotts TO increase wages, shorten
hours or better conditions of abor
The President took into his own
hands the fight against what he term
ed class legislation of an improper
sort. lie swept aside every engage
ment' and made an all-day job of it.
commencing with the delivery of a
line OF convincing argument to Rep
resentative Tawney at the White
House breakfast table. talking with
every doubtful Congressman who
could be found. and ending with The
dictation of telegram TO w. s. Car
Ter, president of the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers
in session at St Paul.
Inns message was sent in response
10 a telegram from Carter, protestfng
against what he termed the unjust
policy of using the peoples money TO
prosecute labor in its efforts to bet
ter conditions. 1t was but one OF soy
eral kilograms of that nature U-bic1,
PRESIDENT Taft has been receivine
from the labor unions since the in
ception of the row in the House. His
reply addressed TO President Carter
undoubtedly Will be a popular cam
palgn document in next fails cam
paign, for it comes close to helm, .
perfect outline of what the ReDubIi-
cans went on record for yesterday. II
follows: -
Text of Taft's Reply.
June %. 1910.
w. ). Carter. President brotherhood
OF Locomotive Firemen and EN-
$ineers. St Paul. Mimi:
Your dispatch OF June 22d re-
ceaVed IN which YOU say that Dress
reports today indicate that 1 favor
using the peoples money to prose
cute labor in their efforts to better
and you protest against
70 the proposition now before Con-
sress that money appropriated for
lScal year 1911 for enforcement ~
antitrust laws and acts to regulate
commerce shall no part of if be ev-
pended IN the prosecution of CON
'PiIdcles In the nature of bOycotts To |
Increase wages, shorten hours on. hat-
er the condition Of labor. The Sn-
IRENE Court has decided that sucb a |
'oSCotl IS a violation OF the sherman
lIitI-trust law, and this proposal is an
ItteHlpt 10 withhold the means of
Prosecuting that law when il is vio-
made privileged. NC
am entirely opposed to such class
-SlsIaIon. IT it were proposed to
mend the language of the SbarD,a,,
law itself so as somewhat 70
arrow Its scope that would nresant
proper question for consideration
a.. SO IohS as the present anti-trusr
NV remains upon the statute booI- -,
tempt to modify IFS enforca,,,,',lt an
: 10 render immune anv DarticHlo,
ltsS oil citizens. rich or poor. ennIov- {
: OF employees, is improper le@isIs
III anu IN my Judgment, ought tn
e opposed by your brotherhood tn
lborlnS man and the trades unionisr I
! understand him, asks only equality J
etore the law. Glass legislation ard
neqUal privilege. though exDressIt. -, I
Is favor viii in the end work no I
enent 10 him or 10 society. I
WILLIAM II. TAFT"
1t was admitted at the White /
ouse yesterday. after the struggle q
as over and the battle won. thar
lie keenest apprehension had been
idulSed in there for tUent1.-fo,,
ours. After talks with various lead T
5 on "Wednesday night. the President :
geo them 20 Gereat the labor pro- :
SION declaring that if il cost him the :
pport OF every laboring man i'm tbe } :
'untry. he would not approve sncb :
provision of. law. The Iaborinc h
az, ne oeileved, asked only equality | 8
ore. ~ "'