Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-15

EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW.
New York Times

President Taft $ reply to the labor
unionists who sought exemption from
the antitrust law rings true. There
is no substitute for equality of all
men before the law, and therefore
there can be no compromise on the
subject. 1t is otherwise with poll
tics, or with many industrial and
financial questions, which may be
settled ohe way or another, accord
ing to the discretion of those who
disagree abOut on-eSSentialS. But
when the topic is law, especially law
about labor Mr.. Taft knows the
subject thoroughly. Not for his
own sake, not for the sake.of his
party, will he imperil the country,
and the millions far outnumbering
the organized trades uniOnists who
have hitherto seemed to exercise
a predominate influence with the
Executive and the Legislature alike.
OF sc, 600, 900 Americans all but Mr..
Gomper's claimed 100000 will say
well done"
The record is clear on the merits
of the subject. Mr.. Gompers and
Chief Justice Fuller are in fiat con-
tradiction. Said Mr.. Gompers be-
fore the Judiciary Committee of the
House: Asa matter of fact every
man who now lives and is familiar
with the legislation of the day. knows
that the Sherman antitrust law was
never intended to include organiza-
tiOns of labor Said Chief Justice
Fuller: The records of Congress
show that several efforts were made
to exempt, by legislation. organiza-
tions of farmers ard laborers from
the operation Of the act, and that all
these efforts failed. 1t may be
added that Senator Sherman him
self introduced the exemption of la
Dor, and that the Senate rejected it
after an argument by Senator Ed
munds. Private prosecutors have
convicted trades unionists, and trades
unions, Of conduct which ought to
make them blush to take their pres
ent position. No capitalist trust
would dare assume toward labor the
attitude which labor has been con-
victed OF assuming toward capital,
and which must be checked unless
conditions of anarchy are to prevail.
It is intolerable that industrial busi-
ness is to be conducted by license of
the American Federation of Labor,
just as all capitalist combinations
are to be licensed at the White
House. Such insult to law is treach-
cry to the Republic, and Mr.. Taft
has now put an end to one-half of it.
President Taft's assumption that
labor seeks only equality before the
law is euphemism. or an argument
ative device. Mr.. Gompers assumes
that position in words only 10 aban,
don it in practice. Says Mr.. Comp
ers: The modern wage-earner in
our country at least is no longer
typified by the man with the hoe;
the American workman does not
bend his back, nor does his FORE
head recede, but he stands erect,
claiming equality before the law"
What fustian is this. This equality
before the law is exemption from the
law specifically enacted to apply to
labor, and proved after enactment to
be needed to restrain savagery to-
ward both labor and capital. in the
selfish pursuit Of mercenary and un-
just ends. The right to reduce capi-
tai to bankruptcy, and to condemn
law abiding fellow -wOrkmen to hun
ger by denying them the right to
work for an acceptable wage-this is
organized labor's conception of equal
ity before the law If indeed the
President has backbone of chilled
steel, and will use it in striking off
the shackles bound on unorganized
workmen Outnumbering trades .un-
ionists ten to one, he will strength
en- himself with the country.