Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-02-19

tJn1ng IN that provision that could be
sanely construed as sustaining Col.
Harvey's Interpretation!
| words cannot more clearly or
forcefully state that the purpose of
the proviso is to remove the organ
lied workers from prosecution simply
and purely because they are organized
workers and to secure them equality
before the. law, and to provide that
they shall be punished only for acts
| in themselves unlawful.
at is not clear to any one who is
willing to accept the plain, unmistak-
able meaning of words in common US
age that the purpose of the proviso
| is not special favors and class legi-
lation, but equal rights and equal
opportunities for all?
Organizations of laborers exist be-
cause of human needs; they seek HUI
man welfare and betterment; they
control only human labor power, one
and inseparable from their very life.
Commercial and Industrial associ-
ations are organized for profits; they
seek industrial control, supremacy
over competitors; they deal in materi-
al things-the products of labor
Labor power is. part of human
| beings; it is throbbing, pulsating life.
Material things are for the service
of human beings; they are external
and appropriate.
ITO classify organizations of hu-
man laborers, who possess only the
power to labor, with organizations
which deal in the products of that
labor and to place both kinds of or
CARNATIONS under the same regula-
ton, establishes conditions that can
result only in injustice.
1T is against the injustice Of inter
pretin gthe Sherman Antitrust Act
to apply to organizations of working
men organized not for profit that the
workers have made their protest.
If workingmen should organize
company to engage in business, pro
duct1ve or distributive- for example,
to oepn a cooperative establishment,
and should deal in products-in such
operations they would undoubtedly
come under the same classification as
other employers, business men en-
gagged in industry or commerce. But
when workingmen are organized
simply for the purpose Of controlling
their own physical power, their pow
er to labor, such associations cannot
be classified as combinations in lille
gal restraint of trade whose ireguIa-
ton was contemplated by the Sher-
man Antitrust law. Cannot
Col. Harvey see that there are real
differences between organizations for
profit and unions of workingmen2
Col. Harvey laments the course of
President Wilson in signing the
Sundry Civil Appropriation Act con
tanning the proviso quoted above.
Indeed, that course is not in HARMONY
with the interests which Col. Harvey
represents, the special pleas which
he voices, or the purpose for which
he INDUCES in sophistries and patent
misrepresentation. In
signing the Sundry Civil Appropria-
lions Act containing the proviso
asked for by the workers, he was in
accord with that which had the Or
Whom, he is spokesman The proviso
ganlc consideration of those for
does represent national will and in
tent, as Representative Henry has
rightly observed. It was a part Of
the Democratic party platform dec
laratlons. The candidate of that |
party received 6,293, 4O3 votes in the |
1917 ELECTION. It was also part of the |
declarations Of the Progressive par
ty. The candidate of that party re-
ceived 4,119,574 votes. For the other |
big party, which did not indorse this |
principle, S,484,974 votes were cas-.
Ought not even Col Harvey to under
stand that whether he likes it or not
the principle represents the will Of
the people? In addition to these facts
indicating the will of the people. the
purposes of the organized workers As
expressed in this amendment have
for years been a current issue dis.
cussed before platform committees.
before party conventions, in campaign |
speeches, before congressional com
mlttees, before both Houses Of Con
sress, by the daily press and the mag
azines Of the country, when the issue
mas been subject for special consid- 4
Grafton in connection with proposed
legislation and with the hatters and Il
contempt cases which are well known i
% al 1.-The public men of the past few H
Years. Despite all the opportunities
81 information, Col. Harvey published Il
us editorial grossly misrepresenting !,
ne purposes of organized labor" II