Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-24
WAGES VIGOROUS BATTLE
10 SUCCESSFUL END
President Spends Entire Day in Bend
ing Every Energy to Defeat Propo-
sit;on in Face of Protests from
Strong Organization-CalIs Such
Step Class Legislation.
CBy Associated prcss)

The action OF the house OF represeh-
ta:iyes late today. in Ieceding from It's
labor amendment to the sundry ciVi
bill, marked the suGsessfui termina-
ton of an all day fight by President
Taft 2 ga nst what he termed class leg
islation of an improper sort, and APP
parently removed the last teal Cd
stacle in the WY 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
uroposed to exempt labor unions from
the operation OF the Sehiman anti
trust law. He threw his whole IN
ffuence into the fight, sending nor
several scores OF representatives anu
urging them to defeat the proposition.
Mr.. Taft declared that if it cost nm
the support of every laboring man in
the country, he would not approve
such a provision of law. The laboring
man. he believed, asked only equaiity
before the law. and was entitled 10
no mere.
He is Gratified.
1t was the Presidents fight on TINS
amendment to the big supply Dill
VIII oh caused rumors to spread today
that there undoubtedly would be
delay in the adjournment of congress.
He felt he had longer fight before
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 10
conceal his qualification.
Incidentally. Mr. Taft sent a long
telegram tonight to the conference OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive FIRE
men and Enginemen, meeting at 81.
paul in which he outlined his views
On the matter. The telegram IVES III
response 40 a message of protest
from the convention. For several
DAYS past the White House has. been
fairly bombsrded with letters and
kilograms from labor organizations III
favor of the house amendment.
The messages made public tonight
were as follows:
Protest Message.
st. Paul, Mimi. June %. 1910.
The President
Press reports of today inc1te that
YOU favor using the peoples money
to prosecute labor in their efforts 10
better conditions
= The 19S delegates attending tne
twelfth biennial conference OF the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Ffremen
and Enginemen at St Paul. instruct
me to protest against this unjust
policy.
,siened) w. B. CARTER,
president Brotherhood OF Locomo-
tive Firemen End Ensinemen-
In his reply to Mr.. Carter today,
President Taft says:
Taft Replies.
~ycur d spatcn OF June 2Znd re-
ce;ved. in which YOU say that press
repor.= today indicate that / favor
using the people money TO prose-
cute labor in their efforts to better
conditions and you protest sgainst
such a POLICY. | presume you refer 20
the proposition now before congress
that money appropriated for the rs
c1T year. 1911. Tor enforcement OF an
thrust laws and acts TO requisite
commerce shall no part q u be ex-
pended in the prosecution Of conspi-
racics In the nature Of boycotts 20 IN
crease W1zcs. shorten hours. or bel
ter Tie condition Of labor.
The Supreme Court has decided
that such a boycott Is 2 violation ~
the sherman antitrust law and this
proposal i an attempt 10 withhold
the means q proceeding tia; law
when y Il violated bv p part cuiar
class. thus &c be- made privileged
an entirely opposed TO such ciaes
Legislation. n Il were proposed 90
amend the isnc-aec Of The Sherman
antitrust law itself. 30 ~ somewhat
70 narrow is scope. that wou,d Pre-
cent 3 proper quos'icr for consider
ton. hut 80 icng ss - enforcement
- a. 10 render immune any parucu
.ar class 81 tizcns. rich or poor. en-
ploycrs o. employees. IS improper beg
isiaiion and in my judgment o1ghf. &C
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