The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-21
Manufacturers Urge Wilson to
Veto Bill Freeing Trade Unions
and Farmers Organizations
of Prosecution
PRESIDENT KIRBY'S
ADDRESS VITRIOLIC
Scores Labor for Dynamiting
Outrages-Hints GOmpers
Had Guilty knowledge

JUST before aQ1Ournlng TOT us Hoon
recess. Tuesday. the National Associa
ton OF Manufacturers, In annual SEES
sion In the Hotel Pontchartrain, adopt
ed a resolution presented by it's gen
eral counsel, James A. Emery, OF
Washington, ID. c., copies OF which
were Immediately telegraphed to Pres
ident Wilson and members OF con
'gress, protesting against the exemp
ton OF trade unions and farmers or
CARNATIONS from prosecution under
the Sherman act.
The sundry civil appropriation bill,
under which the exemption Is pro-
posed, is now In conference, and Is
expected TO be passed by congress IN
It's final form.
The text of the resolution follows
Whereas. The sundry civil appropri
alton bill has passed congress con
OF public funds. specifically appropr,-
Rted TO enforce the sherman act FOR
the prosecution of labor and agricul-
tural combinations, violating that
Whereas. Said proviso is frankly in
tended. by those who seek IL and those
who propose il. to guarantee immunity
from public prosecution for labor com
binations engaging in interstate boy
| colts, condemned alike by the common
federal court and che public opinicn
Of our people be IL
Resolved: That the members of me
National Association IF Manufacture
I, ers in convention assembled, petition
and urge the president OF the United
States TO veto said bill; because
First. While II does not change the
terms OF the law, IL does worse by de-
| claring il TO he the policy OF congress
to assure immunity from prosecution
to certain classes OF criminals who
|
Second. Although other funds may
be available to enforce the statute
| against the accepted classes the DELHI
crate policy announced will not only
equally retard their use. but impair the
enforcement OF all law against the
classes enumerated.
Third The moral effect OF the proviso
In the public mind and among the ~
empted classes Is to condone the act
the participants In strikes, boycotts.
and all forms Of labor disturbances be-
lieve that they are Justified In acts OF
lawlessness and disorder when dore
In furtherance of the trade dispute
Fourth. It implicitly pledges the
administration 10 similar changes IN
prove and validate, the most vicious
forms Of the secondary boycott In Ia
terstate commerce. including paralys.s
OF railroad communication. the ruin 81
custom, and the compulsory discharge
OF nom men az "A means or com,
pelling the acceptance OF the demand
ing IL lawful and right Tor one class
Of citizens to do that which would re-
main criminal and wrong WHEN done
by any other class. insults the law,
abiding members of the excepted
classes. offends the moral sense ~ our
people. and under the decisions or our
courts would be likely to invaiidate
the act and thus further the sinls:er
designs OF those who would destroy
that statute itself. be ii further
Resolved That a copy OF these reso.
lutions be immediately communicates
to the president OF the United states
and spread upon the records ot TINS
association. .
Mr.. Emery gave an eloquent dis
cussion OF his resolution.
1.-THE proviso, with irs exemptions,
IL the first step toward writing these
Exemptions into the Sherman law
ITSELF he said. 1T Is said in de-
Tense of the exemptions that the
Sherman act was not intended 10 ap-
DIV to these organizations, and that
The present bill merely limits the use
Of an appropriation for one year. IN
reply, 1t should be understood that
con gress Is now declaring by law
that q substantive law shall not be
enforced. 1t was frankly stated on
the floor Of congress by the advocates
Of the bill that the government
should give it's whole attention 10
the prosecution of corporate inter
ests violating the law, and not to
Dther interests violating the same
Retaliation. The present bill declares
The Intention of the party In power
10 grant immunity for the use OF the
boycott in interstate commerce.
President John Kirby's address was
largely an arraignment of organized
(abor's activities such as were mani
Tested In Los Angeles.
Conspicuous In the events OF the
bast four years." he said. were tho
tragedy OF Los Angeles and the
Drama of indianapolis. AS we sur
Hey these two blots on our civiliza'
hon, we observe a persistent and
Skillful cunning for the destruction
md devastation of life and property
Unparalleled In the history OF civiliza-
ION.
Il assert that II is at least con-
ectural and plausible that Gompers
md his executive associates In the
american Federation Of Labor knew.
u least BY implication or some form
BIZ sign language, Of the occurrence
Ind recurrence of the acts committed
BY dynamite and nitroglycerine under
he shameless aegis OF criminal
nionism.
During thepast few years We have
Witnessed the prosecution and convic'
Ion Of many businessmen, under the
herman for seeking In some
manner toprotect themselves against
uthless competition and the coercive
nd dominant methods OF the labor
rust II they have violated the law
re have no complaint to make for the
enalties they may be called upon to
~, but We have reason to complain
nd We do protest against the free
nd unmolested manner In which the
abor trust defantly and without res
rvation continues to violate the same
lw.
There have been. there are now
Ten In congress who, under the COW
rdly pretense OF political expediency
ave been willing to violate their oath
once, stifie their conscience, and
rostitute their very souls to the men
Fho seek such legislation as The Clay
bn anti-in5unction and contempt bills
bf the cheap price offered by the
aders Of an organized band Of dyna
Hers who, with their entire affiliat
membership, represent less than
20 per cent Of the population Of the
puntry. say. and I measure my
ords. that such conduct on the par,