Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-12-19
NV GIVE BILL CLAUSE
SUM- ro SAVE LABOR MEN
FROM PROSECUTION.
MIN P. WHITE CASE CITED
liant Wilson, Criticised for Sign
Measure, Proves He Doesn't
'"' Intend It Shall Hamper De-
partment of Justice.
Nv GEORGE CLINTON.

was foundation for the promise
p'l W. when he signed the sundry civil
s nn' mat eases against labor unions ac-
". IA If violating the Sherman law
~nnId be prosecuted even in the face
y, the exempting clause which was
'ontaned in that measure.
nm mhoro was much criticism of the
...idont's action in signing the bill
s;ob contained the clause. 1t was
'aned class legislation and it also was
sa;d that in spirit it was unconstitu-
a.nol The letter of the law was
~"ao co that it would stand the test
II constitutionality.
There are of course all kinds of
,.rving views on the subject of the
riedom and the right of congress to
,ttempt to exempt labor unions and
a..ocatious of farmers engaged in CO.
narrative work from the action of the
chairman law. President Taft vetoed
ss one of the last acts of his admin
i.tration a sundry civil bill which con-
aimed the same exemption clause that
.mears in the present sundry civil
Mn which President Wilson signed
and is now a law. The measure as
nsssed contained this paragraph:
For the enforcement of the anti
trust laws, $9O0,OO0; provided, how
ever that no part of this money shall
he spent in the prosecution of any or
ganization or individual for entering
INTO any combination or agreement
having in view the increasing of
wages shortening of hours, or better
me the conditions of labor or for any
act done in furtherance thereof not in
itself unlawful; provided, further,
that no part of this appropriation shall
be expended for the prosecution of
producers of farm products and asso-
cations of farmers who cooperate and
organize in an effort to and for the
purpose of obtaining and maintaining
& fair and reasonable price for their
products
Prosecution of John P. White.
Recently Attorney General Mercy
rolds undertook the prosecution of
John P. White, president of the Unit
ed Nine Workers Union of America,
the charge Of conspiring to restrain
trade and commerce. Labor col
leagues of Mr.. White we're included
ID the prosecution, with the United
States government as the prosecutor.
The funds which were used by attor-
leg general Of the White case we're
not taken from the money provided
for the enforcement Of the antitrust
Avs
President Taft was praised for We
tong the appropriation bill which con-
tained the identical clause After
President Wilson who had expressed
on many occasions disapproval of
class legislation so called signed the
bill, the country was surprised, or at
any rate manifestations of surprise
we're in evidence in most of the pa
perS Of the country, and were not con-
med to journals advocating the
cause Of the Democratic party and
sanding staunchly in support Of the
general acts of the administration.
When he signed the bill, President
wilson said: Il can assure the coun-
ny that this item will neither limit nor
III any way embarrass the actions Of
NE department. of justice. Other ap-
NOprlations supply the department
WIN abundant funds to enforce the
Jaw The law will be interpreted in
Tue determination of what the depart
Ient shall do by independent, and, /
lOpe, impartial judgments as to the
lue and just meaning of substantive
statutes OF the United States"
Plan for Alaska Railway.
Almost unquestionably congress is
order the construction by the
%'ernment of railroad in Alaska.
Iaue Sam will own the railroad
I'eF II is built and 1t may be that
* Will operate it. In his address
congress when it met in reg
~sI session President Wilson recon-
r'lued that the territorial road should
Uuilt and administered" by the
sV'enment, Administered" is taken
S~-eIaIly here as in this case being a
EnSolym for operated"
-" Is likely that railroad 400 miles
,a -S VIII be authorized by the ex-
sn.Seu legislation, and that the law
MIN IViiHing the roads construction
Hoa 'e 50 framed as to leave the Ques-
Yioa VI private or government opera
~ wv 10 the discretion of the president
We United States.
nv. ~ cnances are that this first ven
m. VI Uncle Sam into the railroad
,r, .slS''lp field will be made under tne
S.S"aDce OF law framed largely by
hla1t Chamberlain of Oregon and
p.ns s"'e Nlckersham of Alaska. The
gsss VI these two members of con-
kt elher in parts from each other,
eom. ~, of the two bills probably will
sor., ie legal plan under which the
sn,s "inent will go to its building
r. viii Open Up Alaska.
p,pn., Alaska railroad bill already
p pss;s and which seems to have
eIaa su' Wilson'S approval makes de-
n. provision for the nneninp of the