The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-24
ORGANIZED LABOR
LOST BATTLE FOR
AMENDMENT
All Day Fight Made by Presi-
dent Taft
HELD MANY CONFERENCES
President Said He Would Not APP
prove If So Doing Cost Him
Support

Support
Washington, June 2l.-The action
of the House of Representatives late
yesterday in receding from its labor
amendment to the sundry civil bill
marked the successful termination of
an all-day fight by President Taft
against what he termed class legisla-
ton of an improper sort and appar-
emily removed the last real obstacle
in the way of an adjournment of Con-
gress within the next few days.
President Taft spent the entire day
and bent 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 into the fight, sending for
scores Of representatives and urging
them to defeat the provision. Mr.
Taft declared that if il cost him the
support of every laboring man in the
country he would not approve such a
provision of law The laboring man,
he believed, asked only equality be-
fore the law, and was entitled to no
more
II was the presidents fight on this
| amendment to the big supply bill
! which caused rumors that there I'M
/ doubtedly would be a delay in ad-
/ iounment. Mr.. Taft felt he had
longer fight before him than proved
to be the case, and was doubtful OF
the result until the vote was finally
taken. When informed Of the result
he made no attempt to conceal his
qualification. incidentally the presi-
dent sent a long telegram last night
to the convention OF the brotherhood
OF locomotive firemen and enginemen
meeting at st Paul. in which he out
lined his views on the matter. The
telegram was In response to mes
sage Of protest from the convention.
For several days past the White
House has been fairly bombarded
with letters and kilograms from labor
organizations In favor OF the House
amendment. The messages made
public last night were as follows
ST. Paul. Mimi. June %, 1910
The President: Press reports of TO
day indicate that you favor using the
peoples money 10 prosecute labor In
their efforts TO better conditions. The
79S delegates attending the 9th blen.
NAL convention OF the brotherhood OF
locomotive iiremen and enginemen AT
-. Paul instruct me 10 protest
against this unjust policy.
w 5. Carter president brother
hood OF locomotive hremen and
enginemen.
June %. 1910.
W. $. Carter. President brotherhood
OF Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen. ST. Paul. Mimi
Your dispatch OF June % received.
in which you say that press reports
today indicate that favor using the
peoples money to prosecute labor in
their efforts to better conditions. and
you protest against such n policy. |
presume you refer TO the proposition
now before Congress that money an.
propriated for fiscal year 1911 for en-.
forcement OF antitrust laws and acts
TO regulate commerce shall no part OF
II be expended In the prosecution OF
conspiracies In the nature OF boycotts
to Increase wages. shorten hours. or
better the conditions OF labor.
The supreme court has decided
that such a boycott Is a violation OF
the Sherman antitrust law. and this
proposal Is an attempt TO withhold
the means OF prosecuting that Law
when Il is violated by a particular
class thus to be made privileged.
am entirely opposed to such class leg
Is lation. II II were proposed tC
amend the language OF the Sherman
I antitrust law itself so as somewhat
to narrow It's scope. that would pre-
sent n proper question for consldera
ton, but so long as the present anti
trust law remains upon the statut,
books an attempt to modify it's en-
forcement so as to render immun,
any particular class OF citizens. rlcl
7 or poor, employers or employees. Il
improper legislation. and In my judg
ment ought to be opposed by YOU
brotherhood. The laboring man an,
the trades unionist, II understan,
/, him, asks only equality before IN,
law. Glass legislation mud unequa
! privileges, though expressly In Mi
faor will In the end work no bcncn
to him or TO society.
William II. Taft