Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-24
AN ApJOURNM EMIT
Expected This Week-Pres. TAFT Wins
Another Hard Point.

Warrington June 23.-1lc dctlol VI
the House of Representatives late to-
day in receding from its labor amend
ment to the sundrv civil bill marked
the successful termination Of an all
day fight by President Taft against
what he termed class legislation of an
improper sort and apparently removed
tn last real obstacle i'm the way of an
adjournment OF Congress within the
next few days
President Taft spent the entire day
and hent every energy toward the de-
feat of the House amendment which
proposed to exempt labor unions from
the operation Of the Sherman antitrust
law He threw his whole influence in
to the fight. sending for scores of rep
reseEtatives and urging them to defeat
the provision. Mr.. Taft declared that
II It cost him the support of every Ia
boring man in the country he could
not approve such provision of law.
The lahoring men. he believed. asked
only equality before the law and was
entitled to no more.
1t was the Presidents fight on this
amendment to the big supply bill
which caused rumors that there I'M
mtnt.
Mr. Taft left he had n longer fight
before him than proved to be the case
and was doubtful of the result until
the vote wae finally taken. When in
formed of the result he made no at
tempt to conceal his qualification.
Incidentally the President sent a long
telegram tonight to the convention oil
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemer
and Enginemen meeting at st. Paul. In
which he outlined his views on the mat
ter The telegram was in response TO
a message of protest from the conVen-
ton. For several days past the White
House has been fairly bombarded with
letters and kilograms from labor or
ganfzations in favor of the House
amendment The messages made pub
lie tonight were AS follows:
st. Paul. Mimi. June %. 1910
THE President
Press reports of today indicate tina:
you favor using the peoples money to
prosecute labor in their efforts to bet
ter conditions. The 1873 delegates attend
ing the 18th biennial convention Of the
Brotherhood of locomotive Firemen AMI
Enlightenment at st. Paul instruct me tc
protest against this unjust policy.
wv. S. CANTER.
President Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen.
June I'D, 1910.
wv. S. Carter. president Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen
st. Paul, MINI.
Your dispatch of June ~ in which 20,
say that press reports today indicate TIN,
favor using the peoples money to pros
ecute labor on their efforts to better con
ditions. and you protest against such ;
policy. presume you refer to the prop
osition now before Congress that mon :!
appropriated for fiscal year 1911 for en-
forcement of antitrust laws and acts t,
regulate commerce shall no part of 1t b,
expended In the prosecution Of conspira
cies In the nature of boycotts to increas,
wages, shorten hours or better conditions
of labor.
The supreme court has decided tina
such a boycott Is a violation of the Sher
man antitrust law and this proposal !.
an attempt to withhold the means o
prosecuting that law when it is violated
by a particular class to be made priv
legged. am entirely opposed to suci
class legislation. If 1t were proposed t,
amend the language of the Sherman anti
trust law itself so as to somewhat mar
row its scope that would present
proper question for consideration. but SC