The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-24
TAFT CALLS HALT
ON LABOR BOYCOTT
Amendment to Civil Bill De-
feated In House.
CONFERENCE AT WHITE HOUSE
Telegram from ST. Paul ArOuses
Chief Executive to ActtOn-COnfers
with representatives, and Bill Is
Called Back from Conference and
Vote Is Reversed.

President Taft put his shoulder to the
legislative wheel yesterday and blocked
an attempt which union labor leaders had
got well under way to exempt their or
CARNATIONS from the operation of the
Sherman antitrust law in the matter Of
boycotts.
The union leaders had succeeded in at
taching an amendment Of this character
to the sundry civil bill The amendment
had been voted down in the Senate, but
had passed the House.
The conferees Of the two Houses failed
10 agree, but the lower House. by vote
OF Isl 10 100. instructed their representa-
tives to return 70 the conference and in
sist upon the House amendment
BY this time Samuel Gompers and other
union labor leaders were hard at work
bringing pressure 10 bear, both at the
White House and upon Representatives
whose denominations are uncertain.
IL began TO look as If the House would
stand stubbornly by its previous votes.
and that adjournment might be put of
indefinitely 1t was feared that the
amendment itself might be forced
through the Senate IN some way or other
before the deadlock ended.
EfesEoeAN AaASS a hanG
President Taft was alarmed over the
prospect. and began TO work quickly. He
called to the White House all the mem
bers OF the House who have been waver-
ing because or fear that union labor
might defeat them in their districts.
The result Of the Presidents efforts
was evidenced yesterday afternoon. when
ence and instructed the conferees to
agree 10 the Senate amendment This
action, Of course. amounted 10 voting
down OF the proposition The vote this
time was 1SS to 100.
President Taft did not stop with the
acton which the House had taken. He
informed the labor leaders that he be-
lieved the proposed amendment was class
legislation of an undesirable type. The
President left no doubt in the minds OF
laboring men how he feels on the sub
ject.
Message from St. Paul.
The Presidents expression was called
forth chiefly by a telegram which he re-
ceived from w. S, Carter. president Of
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen
and Engineers. Of st. Paul. MINI. This
telegram read
Press reports Of to-day indicate that you favor
using the peoples money 20 prosecute labor in their
efforts 10 better conditions. The rs delegates at
tending the twelfth biennial convention Of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen and Engineers,
At ST Paul, instruct to protest against this IN
Just policy.
In reply TO this telegram, the President
Immediately dictated the following dis
patch, which was made public at ths
White House last evening:
Your dispatch Of June q received, in which you
say that reports to-day indicate that ] favor using
the peoples money 20 prosecute laoT IN their efforts
TO better conditions and you protest against such
policy. presume you refer 70 the proposition now
before Congress that mouey appropriated for aseal
year 1911 for enforcement Of antitrust laws and sets
20 regulate commerce. shall no part Of 1t be ex-
pended in the prosecution of oOnspiraces in tbs
Of boyeotts to increase wages, shorten hoszA
or better the condition Of Labor.
Calls 1t Glass Legislation.
The Supreme Court decided that such boycott
Is 4 violation Of the Sherman antitrust law. and
this proposal Is an a;temps 10 withhold the means
Of prosecuting that law when It Is violated b. q
particular class thus to be made privileged. am
entirely opposed 10 such class legislation
II it we're proposed to amend the language Of the
sherman antitrust law itself 50 as somewhat TO
narrow its scope. that would present proper ques-
tion for consideration but long as the present
antitrust law remains upon the statute books an
attempt 70 modify its enforcement 50 as to render
immune any particular class OF citizens rch or
poor employers employees Is improper legislation
and. in my Judgment ought 70 be opposed by your
brotherhood.
The laboring man and the trade uEioniss Il
understand him. asks only equality before the law.
Class legislation and unequal privilege, though ex-
pressy in bis favor viii IN the end work benefit
to him OF 70 society.