The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-04
FEAR DEMOCRATIC
: SPLIT ON TRUST BILL
Labor Group Has Much support
in Fight for Straight Ex-
emption Clause.
NAY RESORT TO CAUCUS
Administration Expects to Hold
Party Together by Plea
Of Loyalty.
NAY RESORT TO CAUCUS

WAsHfNGroS. May "a question OF
large Importance In a political way Is pre-
scented to the Wilson Administration by
the antitrust bill Just reported to the
House. Organized labor plans to press for
the Incorporation in this bill Of clause
exempting the unions from prosecution un-
der the antitrust acts. Their demands
in this regard were ignored by the Ju-
dietary Committee. which framed the
measure along lines indicated by President
Wilson and his advisers
According to the labor group in the
House and such progressive leaders as
Representative Murdoch OF Kansas the
night TO exempt organized labor and vol
untary associations OF farmers from the
application OF the ant.-;rus; laws has only
begun. AS result the Democratic leaders
are worried
. The antitrust bill rs reported gives the
unions a legal status, but makes them sub
5ect to prosecution for any acts they may
commit that are held by the bill TO be un-
lawful. The labor group and the pro-
gress!ves charge that section OF the bill.
which deals with labor. does not meet their
oemands. Therefore unless the Demo-
kratic leaders take the bull by the horns
and call a caucus on the trust bill they
are likely to witness the departure OF
considerable number OF Democrats from
the party reservation. There are some
Democrats who are not looking for trouble
with labor Just on the eve OF Congress
sional election.
Here is the situation When the trust
bill comes up for mendmen, in the House
the opposition will offer a substitute for
section providing for straight out ex-
emption clause This will have the sup
port Of many Democrats II the bill goes
into the House without action by a caucus
II caucus is held and approves the bill
a. II came from the committee Democrats
as a rule will stand by II on the ground
that they are required to observe the party
law ms dictated by the caucus.
There is political dynamite In the situa-
ton whichever way the cat jumps. Mem
bers regardless of party realize this and
they look forward with misgivings to their
votes on the labor feature OF the trust bill.
The labor men express confidence that the
exemption clause will be adopted IL the
Democrats fail to hold a caucus
On the tariff and banking bills the Ad-
ministration resorted to the caucus to jam
through its programme. 1t Is expected
that the Administration will urge that the
trust bill also be subjected to the test OF
the caucus In order that II may be passed
Just as 1t came from the judiciary Com
mittee. This will put the responsibility
for flying in the face of labor on the Ad-
ministration. and individual members are
perfectly willing that the Administra ton
shall assume this responsibility.
A meeting of the Democratic leaders
will be held this week to determine a
method of handling the bill. The ques-
tion whether or not there shall he u caucus
In the first to be decided a decision on
this point having been made plans will be
perfected to pass the measure.