The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-24
T aft Stands f irm
Against So C a lied
Class Legislation.
GREAT VICTORY
FOR PRESIDENT
Declares That He Will Forfeit
Support of Every Laboring
Man in Country Rather Than
Recede From His Position.
and House Accepts
Ultinlatum.

Washington, juno 23-The action of
the House OF Representatives late to-
day in receding from It's labor amend
rnent to the sundry civil bill marked
the successful termination OF an all
day nght by President Taft against
what he termed class Legislation OF an
improper sort and apparently removed
the last real obstacle in the way OF an
adjournment Of Congress 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 anti
truEt law. He threw his whole infiu-
ence into the fight, sending for several
scores Of Representatives and urging
them to defeat the provision. Mr..
Tart declared that II 1t 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
Doubtful of Result.
II was the Presidents fight on this
amendment to the big supply bill
which caused rumors to spread to-day
that there undoubtedly would be de-
lay in the adjournment of Congress.
Mr.. Taft felt that he had longer
aght 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 at
tempt to conceal his qualification.
incidentally, the President sent a
long telegram tonight to the conyen-
tion of the brotherhood OF Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen, meeting a,
ST Paul. in which he outlined his
views on the matter.
The telegram was in response to
message of protest from the conyen-
lion. For several days past the White
House has been fairly bombarded with
'.estsrs and elegrsms fre.fl.- -labo.' or
ganizatlons in favor OF the House
amendment. The messages made public
tonight were as follows:
u, Paul. MINI, June 22. 1910.
THE Presl3ent,-Press reports OF
to-day indicate that you favor using
the peoples ,ioney to prosecute labor
The 19s delegates attending the
twelfth biennial convention of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen at st. Paul instruct me
20 protest against this unjust policy.
(Signed) wv. S. CARTER,
president Brotherhood of Locomotive
F>iremen and Enginemen."
Taft to Laborers.
In his reply to Mr. Carter to-day,
President Taft says:
Your dispatch of June 22 received,
In which you say that press reports
indicate that I favor using the peo-
pies money TO prosecute labor in their
efforts to better conditions, and you
protest against such policy. I pre-
sumo you refer to the proposition now
before Congress that money appropri-
ated for the fiscal year 1911 for en-
forcement of antitrust laws and acts
to regulate commerce shall no part OF
1t be expended in the prosecution OF
conspiracies in the nature OF boycotts
to increase wages shorten hours, or
better the condition of labor.
THE Supreme Court has decided
that such a boycott is violation OF
the Sherman antitrust law, and this
proposal Is an attempt to withhold the
means of prosecuting that law when
1t is violated by particular class
thus to be made privileged. / am en-
tirely opposed to such class legisla-
tion.
III it were proposed to amend the
language Of the Sherman anti-trust
law itself so as somewhat to narrow
its scope, that would present proper
question for consideration; but so long
as the present antitrust law re-
mains upon the statute books an
attempt to modify its enforce
1nent SO as to render immune
any particular class of citizens, rich
or poor. employers or employees. is i'm
proper legislation, and in my jud gment
ought to be opposed by your brother
hood.
9Th - Ia hrr;,,., = 49, . ~
unionist, If understand him, asks
only equality before the law Class
legislation and unequal privilege
\ though expressly In his favor, will in
the end work no benefit to him or to
society,""
Labor Loses Fight
Washington. June 23.-Labor organ
izations have lost their fight to gain
exemption from prosecution under the
anti-trust and interstate commerces
laws Following lively debate, and
by vote of 13S to130. the House to-
day agreed to the Senate action strik-
ing out provision in the sundry civil
bill that would have effected this i'm
muntty.
When the sundry civil bill was be-
Tore the House. that body tackled on to
Il an amendment by Mr.. Hughes, of
New Jersey, Democrat, providing
/ Z nat no part Of the appropriation for
the enforcement OF the anti-trust laws
shall be spent in the prosecution OF
any organization or individual for en-
tering into any combination or agree
ment having in view the increasing Of
wages shortening Of hours or better
ing the condition Of labor. or for any
pct done In furtherance thereof not in
itself unlawful"
The Senate struck out the amend
ment, The House then Instructed its
ronferees to stand hrmly by that pro-
vision and the Senate conferees, re-
fenting such an iron-clad direction. re-
FUSED TO consider the item,
To-day Mr.. Tawney. OF Minnesota.
Continued on second Page,5 ,-7'