Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-12-26
SuNDRY CIVIL BILL CLAUSE
FAILS TO SAVE LABOR MEN
FROM PROSECUTION.
JOHN P. WHITE CASE CITED
President Wilson, Criticised for Sign
Ing Measure, Proves He Doesn't
Intend II Shall Hamper De-
partment of Justice.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

l
bill that cases against labor unions ac-
cused of violating the Sherman law
would be prosecuted even in the face
| of the exempting clause which was
contained in that measure.
There was much criticism of the
presidents action in signing the bill
which contained the clause. 1t was
called class legislation and it also was
said that in spirit it was unconstitu-
tional. The letter of the law was
made SO that it would stand the test
of constitutionality.
There are of course all kinds of
varying views on the subject of the
wisdom and the right of congress to
attempt to exempt labor unions and
associations of farmers engaged in CO.
operative work from the action of the
| Sherman law. President Taft vetoed
as one of the last acts of his admin
istration a sundry civil bill which con-
tanned the same exemption clause that
appears in the present sundry civil
bill which President Wilson signed
and is now a law The measure as
passed contained this paragraph:
For the enforcement of the anti
trust laws. $500. 900; provided. how
ever, that no part of this money shall
be 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
ing 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-
Citations 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 McRey-
nolds undertook the prosecution OF
John p. White, president of the Unit
ed Mine Workers Union of America.
on the charge of conspiring to restrain
trade and commerce. Labor col
leagues of Mr.. White were included
In the prosecution. with the United
States government as the prosecutor.
The funds which were used by attor-
ney general of the White case were
not taken from the money provided
for the enforcement of the antitrust
laws.
President Taft was praised for We
toing the appropriation bill which con-
tanned the Identical clause. After
President, Wilson who had expressed
on many occasionc 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,
fined to journals advocating the
cause of the Democratic party and
standing staunchly in support OF the
general acts of the administration
When he signed the bill. President
Wilson said: Il can assure the coun-
try that this item will neither limit nor
In any way embarrass the actions OF
the department of justice. Other ap-
propriations supply the department
with abundant funds to enforce the
law. The law will be interpreted in
the determination of what the depart
ment shall do by independent. and, l
hope, impartial judgments as to the
true and just meaning of substantive
statutes of the United States"
Plan for Alaska Railway.
Almost unquestionably congress is
to order the construction by the
government of railroad in Alaska.
Uncle Sam will own the railroad
after It is built and it may be that
he will operate it. In his address
to congress when 1t met in reg
ular session President Wilson recon-
mended that the territorial road should
| be built and administered" by the
government Administered" is taken
generally here as in this case being a
synonym for operated"
1t is likely that a railroad 400 miles
| long will be authorized by the ex-
pected legislation. and that the law
authorizing the roads construction
will be $50 framed as to leave the ques-
ton of private or government opera
ton to the discretion of the president
of the United States.
The chances are that this first ven
ture of Uncle Sam into the railroad
ownership field will be made under the
guidance of law framed largely by
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon and
Delegate Wickersham of Alaska. The
plans of these two members of con-
gress differ in parts from each other,
but out of the two bills probably will
come the legal plan under which the
government will go to its building
work.
VIII Open Up Alaska.
The Alaska railroad bill already
prepared and which seems to have
President Wilson's approval makes de-
tailed provision for the opening of the
interior of Alaska to quick communi-