The Arvada enterprise., 1913-12-18
SUNORY 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 1t Shall Hamper De-
partment of Justice.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

there was foundation for the promise
made when he signed the sundry civil
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
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 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, 100000; 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 Mercy
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,
tained the identical clause. After
President Wilson who had expressed
on many occasions disapproval of
class legislation SO called signed the
any rate manifestations of surprise
we're in evidence in most of the pa
perB 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, Presiden,
Wilson said: Il can assure the coun
try that this item will neither limit mol
in any way embarrass the actions OF
the department of justice. Other ap
preparations supply the department
with abundant funds to enforce the
law. The law will be interpreted IL
the determination of what the depart
ment shall do by independent, and,
hope, impartial judgments as to the
statutes of the United States"
Plan for Alaska Railway.
Almost unquestionably congress Il
to order the construction by thu
Uncle Sam will own the railroat
after it is built and 1t may be tina
he will operate 1t. In his address
to congress when 1t met in reg
ular session President Wilson recon
mended that the territorial road shoulC
be built and administered" by thu
government. Administered" is taker
generally here as in this case being
synonym for operated"
1t is likely that railroad 400 mile
long will be authorized by the eS
pected legislation, and that the Law
authorizing the roads construction
will be so framed as to leave the ques
ton of private or government opera
ton to the discretion of the presiden
OF the United States.
The chances are that this first ver
ture OF Uncle Sam into the railroa
ownership field will be made under tn
guidance of law framed largely b
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon an
Delegate Wickersham of Alaska. Tn
plahs of these two members OF cor
gress differ in parts from each Other
but out OF the two bills probably wi
come the legal plan under which tn
government will go to its buildin
work.
VIII Open Up Alaska.
The Alaska railroad bill alread
prepared and which seems to hav
President Wilson's approval makes d,
tailed provision for the opening OF tn