Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-06
TAFT TALKS ON LABOR
To CROWDS At MINI.
STATE FAIR MONDAY

! ton of the statute, SO as to enable
! the exempt classes to corner products
aad raise prices while no other class
in the community can do so. The SUI
preme court of the United States has
held that such law gives an undue
privilege to a particular class in the
community, creates an unjust exemp-
ton from the operation of useful
law, denies the equal protection of the
law, violates the constitution and is
| invalid.
Again the federal antitrust law has
been held by the supreme court to de-
nounce combination, to obstruct or re-
strain interstate trade and to prohibit
therefore illegal boycotts to injure
the interstate trade of any person. At
the last session of congress, in all APP
preparation bill, some 100000 was ap-
Dropriated for the enforcement of the
antitrust law. To this appropriation
an amendment was proposed provid-
ing that no part of the $zvv,O00 should
be used in the prosecution of working
men engaged in a boycott in violation
of the statute. That is not the way
the amendment reads. but that was
it's necessary effect. A majority of
the house, after very heated discus
sion, rejected the amendment on the
ground that it was vicious class legis-
lation. AS matter OF fact. the money
thus previously appropriated to en-
force the antitrust law had never been
used for the prosecution OF the work
ing men engaged in such boycott. be-
cause there was no occasion for such
use, and in all probability the money
now appropriated will never be used
for such a purpose. But it was the
proper view of the majority, who vot-
ed against the amendment, that on
principle such class exemption or
privilege should not be declared and
approved in statute OF the govern
meat. / have not the slightest eX-
pectation that the money will ever be
used for anything but the prosecution
of corporations and business firms en-
gagged in combinations in restrain; CT
trade; but to ue the hands of the
executive against an unlawful com
bination of working men or of any
other men, if such combination eX-
! iSted and thus make any group or
privileged class of lawbreakers, is
neither Justice, nor wisdom. nor good
craftsmanship.
But it is said that I am not co1-
sistent because l proposed to me last
congress that interstate railroad con-
panies be permitted to make temper
airy agreements lasting for thirty days
and fixing uniform rates for traffic be-
tween the same places and to this ex'
tent be exempted from the operation
of the antitrust law. 1t was said with
great FEASIBILITY, you are opposed
to exempting working men from the
operation of such law, but you favor
the exemption of railroad companies
The answer is that interstate rail
roads are restricted much more close
ly and are under much more minute
observation by the provision of the
interstate commerce law than they can
possibly be under the antitrust law
The interstate commerce law thus
logically makes them a special class
to be treated by themselves. The
reason for my recommendation was
that the business of railroads. and the
fixing of rates can not practically be
carried on without either an express
or tacit agreement for uniformity in
rates between competing lines for a
short period. Otherwise there will be
a constant changing of rates, ending
generally in war of rates which in
ures to the benefit Of no one. In or
der to avoid any serious danger from
| exemption, however, it was proposed
! that the temporary agreement per-
| mitted should only be regarded as le-
gal and binding after approval by the
interstate commerce commission. mat
commission, of its own motion, or up
on complaint of another, can find a
| rate to be unreasonable and can
change it. Everything which the
railroad does is subj ct to examination
and correction by the commission. No
such rule applies in the case of far
mers, or working men, or OF 1ndlV-
iduals generally. They have a right
to charge what they choose for what
they sell, whether it be products OF
the farm or labor of their hands. They
are uuuST uO oupCi 'ASAoA IL .AAA1 ~
gard. All that is required OF them
is that they shall not violate the gen
eral law applying to all persons; in
the one case, that the farmers shall
not violate the antitrust law that pre-
vents them and all others from going
into conspiracy to raise the price OF
products, and the other which forbids
working men, as we'll as all other
persons, from uniting in a conspiracy
or general boycott to obstruct and re-
strain interstate trade.
Thus the distinction made in the
statute and judicial decision, when
understood, is found to be in accord
with the doctrine of the square deal
and to be based on the same consid-
Grafton of fairness and justice as are
transactions in every day life between
honest and just men.
This is all very important to you
and to me and to every American
who wishes the prosperity of the Am
erican working man to rest on en-
during foundations. Failure to think
clearly and logically on this subject of
special privilege, breeds only discus
sions among men who are natural al