The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-04
News Of Interest to Labor
LABOR BETRAYED
Congress Killed Amendment to
Law In It's Favor.
HARD BLOW TO WORKERS.

HARD BLOW TO WORKERS.
The Retention Of the previso Would
Have Prevented tlse Criminal Prose-
eutisn 81 Workers Under the 8hsr-
man Anti trust Law.
The executive council Of the Ame1i-
can Federation Of Labor, which was
in session in Washington during the
closing days Of congress, received
with indignation the information that
the house had yielded its amendment
TO the sundry civil btl against the
use Of the special appropriation for the
prosecution OF the organisations of
labor under the Sherman antitrust
law.
"A betrayal Of the rights and inter-
ests Of the workers Of the country"
Is the way the executive council char
acterized the action Of the house in
resembling its former instructions to
its conferees to oppose the stand Of
the senate against the labor clause.
In an oficial statement the executive
council called attention to the fact that
the department OF justice was respon-
sible for the Indictment Of seventy-five
workmen in New Orleans a few years
ago under the charge OF violating the
Sherman act when they gave their
support to fellow workers on strike.
The same law was recently used, says
tho statement, to convict q number Of
union farmers In Kentucky for COM
bining to get decent prices for their
products.
After referring to the Danbury hat
case and to the damage suit which
has just been started against num-
Der Of sympathizers Of the recent New
York shirt waist strike, the statement
concludes: 1.-The retention Of the house
proviso in the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill would not only have prevent
ed the criminal prosecution Of work
men engaged in the normal activities
to protect and promote their rights
and interests. but it would also be de-
claratory in character, tending to
ward a solution which now practically
outlaws the associated effort Of the
workers in defense Of their personal
rights and interests"
The reactionary part played BY Pres
ident Taft in forcing the regulars to
line up against tho house proviso
which had been introduced by Repre-
sentative Hughes Of New Jersey 10
described in glowing terms by the ad-
ministration organs in Washington.
Here ia tho Washington Posts story,
showing the animus Of the president
and the prejudice Of the paper against
labor unions:
president Taft yesterday ordered
the house Republicans into a finish
light on the troublesome little issue
raised BY the labor amendment to the
| sundry civil bill, and worked with
might and main himself until he saw
them win.
"As the result Of stinfening influence
literally applied at the White House.
the representatives. by . vote Of 1873 to
100, receded from their action in de-
claring the labor unions immune from
the operation Of the fund authorized
to prosecute attractions Of the Sher-
man antitrust law, and Joined the
senate In its view that punishment
under this law should extend to full
legal lengths and include. II necessary,
conspiracies In the nature Of boycotta
to increase wages. shorten hours OF
better conditions Of labor"
When the amendment came up on
the floor Congressman Tawney and
Hughes clashed and led the opposing
! forces. On the vote BY which the
house rejected the Hughes amend
ment, twenty-one Republicans, most Of
them recognized insurgents, voted with
the Democrats In favor Of the labor
proviso. A good many Republicans
and Democrats "ducked" the vote and
ded to the corridors.
| Representative Hughes Democrat
Of New Jersey. author Of the provision
| exempting labor unions from prosecu
ton under the Sherman antitrust law
has since issued q statement CRITICS
ing the presidents attitude in the mat
ter. Mr.. Hughes said in part:
UNFORTUNATELY for the laboring peo
pie Of this country. President Taft en-
tirely misconceived the purpose Of m,
amendment It was not, ~ he stated
1 q proposition to legalize . boycott. bu
to protect working people from prose
cution for doing innocent acts In com
bination; in other words, to enable
them to strike for higher wages evez
though engaged In interstate com
merce or in the production Of . com
modify that Is the subject Of interstate
/ commerce.
'The president says in his letter Il
! W. 8. Carter Of the locomotive f1reme1
and enginemen that he II against class
legislation on this subject, but on Jan
Z, 1909, he sent q special message t
congress in which he urged It to enac
legislation which would permit corpor
atoms to carry on their business de
spite the Sherman antitrust law. II
the eleven pages Of that messag'
Il which be used to discuss the legiSla
tion desired he does not. make . singh
reference to labor unions"
i The Federation Crews.
Since October Of last year the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor has issue<