Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-13
MAJORITY IN HOUSE TRYING TO
sIoEsTEP ANTI-INJuNcT'oN
LEGISLATION.
PARTY MUST PASS BILL
OR LOSE LA1oR's SUPPORT
Labor Leaders Say They Have Been
Put OF With Promises Too Long
Attitude on Court Question Similar
to That Held by Roosevelt and Other
:nsu.cce+e
Especial Correspondence

Washington, March 13.-House dem
ocratic leaders are finding themselves
threatened with trouble because of the
apparent slowness with which they are
dealing with the problems which or
eantzed labor wants congress to deal
with.
One of the chief questions that Is
looming up to spell trouble Tor ~the
house leaders this session and to cause
grief for the democratic party IN the
coming campaign is anti-injunctlon
legislation Thus far the house mas
oeen slow to act and mutterings OF
dissatisfaction over the dilatory tactics
thus far pursued are being heard Ill
labor circles.
Only a few days ago. friends OF LABOR
in the house came near taking tne p1l
in their teeth and forcing the demo-
Gratis TO hold a caucus on the anu
Injunction question. Steps IN that III
rection had already been taken. NO
less than twenty eight signers to
caucus call had been obtained.
Movement Headed OF.
Knowledge that this movement was
on caused great uneasiness on the
part of the house leaders. They went
to work to head off the caucus ana nS
dint of promising that something
would be done II only the caucus were
not messed. they succeeded in stavins
II off But this was only for the time.
Unless some signs appear OF speedy
anti-in,unction legislation there is no
question that another effort Will be
made to force caucus and then the
effort will probably succeed.
The house judiciary committee mas
the anti-injunction bills in charge IL
has been slow in doing anything. s"t
now assurances have been given that
the subcommittee which Is consider
ing the anti injunction bills Will meet
March IL and will endeavor to reach
some conclusion at that time. me
has been influenced 10
hasten consideration Of the question ov
the threats of caucus.
Shoe on Other Foot.
Naturally, the democrats In the Gays
when the republicans controlled the
house were quick to criticise the pohcS
Of the republican machine OF lighting
the anti-injunction legislation de-
manded by the American Federation
OF Labor and organized labor gen
orally. Naturally. too. now that tneS
are in power the democrats are ma
ing that there is plenty Of opposition
IN their own ranks to giving labor
what II wants in the way OF legislation
RI nreyent the use Of the injunction
weapon in labor disputes.
organized labor leaders know exact
,v what ..hey want IN this matter OF
anti-ini,lHction legislation. They Will
he satisfied with nothing less than to
denr;ve the courts Of the power sum-
marilv to interfere in disputes between
labor and capital and tie the hands OF
Ia bor nv use OF the injunction. Any
thing less than that. II offered to them
by the house or by congress. they VIII
regard as a sham and as meaning
nothing except desire to keep iapof
from stirring up trouble for the pollI-
clans in the coming campaign.
The Politics Of Il.
In short, organized labor has got the
house democrats in a situation "here
thew can not avoid passing real anu
Injunction bill this session. II they 90
.,destep such legislation, the demo-
cratic party need not expect LABOR
support in the campaign
For the forces Of labor to turn
against the democratic party Wouio
he serious. It is well-known that q
larger percentage of labor votes the
democratic ticket than the republican
ticket. Consequently, fight by labor
on the democratic party is more serl-
Gus than fight by labor on the repuo-
lican party.
Movement 10 Growing.
The struggle Of labor for antrim
junction legislation is more and more
taking the form of part OF the grea'
movement in this country to deprive
tho courts OF their present tremendous
mower over the legislation OF congress
and the states Labor Is insisting, az
are many other forces in this country
that the law making power in this
country must be primarily the con
gress and the legislatures. not Tn.
| courts. In other words, labor ID pen,
on about the same thing that RooseVei'
is bent on and that many insurgents
in the republican and the democratic
| PARTY are insistent upon.
I'VE have, been waiting for years foi
anti-iniunction legislation" say tns
tIeaders, of labor 1--WE have been pu
off with promises and with one ex'
cuse after another. We are tired o.
waiting and want action"
And they make it clear that II there
ls no action the men responsible VII
Ibe held politically to sharp account.