Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-07
sherman LAW CASE
WILSON'S PROBLEM
ANTI Trust Act in Relation to
Labor Union the
Issue.
LEFT BY Mr.. TAFT
FOR HIS SUCCESSOR
President Must Soon Decide
Whether Statute Shall
Be Enforced.
Star Bureau,
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg,

Ii is none of President Wilson's
choosing or program that will force
upon him for early decision an inn
portant issue as to the enforcement
of the Sherman law. The Presidents
idea was to have the present special
session of Congress devoted either
solely to tariff revision or to tariff
revision and currency reform. AS it
hoppens. however. the question of the
revision of the Sherman law will
probably he the FIRST legislative
measure upon which he will have to
pass executive judgment as presi-
dent. even before the tariff bill is
passed.
The question that will probably go
to Mr.. Wilson for decision within
week or two. maybe sooner. is
whether or not the government shall
enforce the antitrust act against
labor unions and organizations of
farmers, and It's a vexed question.
In fact. it is so momentous that it
may even dwarf the tariff revision in
Importance. This issue Is one of the
many problems bequeathed or left
over to the new administration by
Mr.. Taft.
Passed Over Veto.
Z Congress provided in an appropria-
ton bill for money to be used in the
prosecution of illegal combinations
In restraint of trade. A proviso in
the bill as passed was that no part
of this money should be used for
prosecuting labor unions and organi-
cations of farmers. Mr. Taft vetoed
the whole appropriation bill because
of this proviso. which he declared
was bad morals and bad law The
House passed the bill over his veto,
but the Senate. on the morning of
March last adjourned with the veto
before it, without taking action.
Now the same appropriation Dill,
with the same provision in it, is in the
course of passage in the Senate and
will be sent to the President in few
days in the ordinary course of events,
for his approval or veto. There has
been much guessing as to what MT.
Wilson will do about it, but nobody
seems to know. and the President
himself has practically said that he
doesn't know.
It is under the Sherman law, as
amended by the Supreme Court that
the Taft administration busted" the
tobacco trust, the beef trust, the bath
tub trust Standard Oil and a dozen
other trusts, and as it stands 1t is
still the law of the land, and the de-
partment of justice is going right
ahead bringing suits to bust other
trusts in the same manner. e
Rider in the Bill.
The proposal of Congress is ,prac-
tieally to amend the law by exempt
ing labor unions and farmers or
ganizations from its meaning. In
stead of a direct amendment to the
law, however, the attempt is made
indirectly, In rider on an appropria-
ton bill, providing that no money is
to be spent by the government IN
prosecuting these, congratulations. While
the purpose is the same the effect Is
somewhat different from amending
the law. AS proposed in the pending
bill the law will still stand as II is,
with labor unions and farmers or
ganizations still possibly subject 10
prosecution under the law, but made
immune by the order of Congress
that they shall not be sued.
1t is extremely doubtful II. the peo-
pie Of the country generally think
that a labor union and a railroad COM
bination or oil trust should be con-
sidered alike by the law. 1t is even
more doubtful II the people of the
country generally would place Stand-
ard OIL and cooperative associations
of farmers, growers and shippers as
sociations. in the same class.
cooperation among farmers, in
hacking. shipping and selling their
nroducts. is rather a popular idea.
and winning much attention just now.
The department of agriculture, by con-
gressional authority has Just estab-
lished bureau to help the farmer
of the country TO organize and CO.
operate in this way.
There probably is not as general
agreement as TO the value of labor
Mons as there is about the farmers
cooperative unions, but 1t is doubtful
If many people would seriously sug-
pest that working men should be
prosecuted for Combining to protect
their interests and to better their
wages, hours and working conditions.
Taft Veto sound Law.
The Taft veto of the sundry civil
BILL with the exemption or the 1arm-
ers and labor unions. was unpopular.
no question about 1t. but 1t was good,
sound law and logic.
WHAT'S the complaint about stand
ard Oil, the sugar trust, the tobacco
trust and the other trusts? Isn't it
that the men who compose and con-
troll them have combined to control
and increase prices of commodities
.. for their own benefit?
True, in doing so they have
stif1ed competition. At times they
have reduced instead of increased
prices: but the end in view has al
wavs been to control products and
prices and increase profits, and profits
have been increased in the trust
controlled Industries by combination.
BY cooperating, instead of compet-
Ing the trusts have made money and
gained power, and how about the
farmers cooperative associations?
In this the farmers combine. In
stead of competing they cooperate to
sell their goods. They cooperate, or
combine, to get better prices and
make more profits for themselves, Mo-
body objects to the farmer taking