United labor bulletin., 1914-02-21
Pleader for Special Privilege
UnhorSed by Sam GomperS


from all class restrictions and relieve
them from prosecution for acts in pur-
suance of organizations, not in them.
selves unlawful.
Suppose that laws are enacted pro-
hibiting speculation or monopoly, say in
the Staple foodstuffs of the people, will
it be held that such laws apply to the
cooks or bakers in their capacity such
workers! Only when cooks and bakers
enter the field OF controlling and mo-
nopolizing products, foodstuffs, can their
actions be classified with those actions
inhibited by the law. Laws enacted
should apply to all the people, but only
those who do the things inhibited should
be held to be guilty as violators OF law.
Ask Right of Lawful Existence.
In other words, the organized workers
demand that when they are trying to
secure fairer wages, working conditions
and hours that will conserve human life.
the government shall keep its hands off
unless the workers do that for which
any other citizen would be punished,
and thus give the workers the same
rights and impose the same obligations
that are given to and placed upon ali
other citizens. Labor organizations de-
nand the right of existence, which log
ically includes the right to necessary,
lawful activity. We submit to
any fair minded person OF ordinary in
telligence as to whether there is any
thing in that provision that could be
ssnely construed as substantiating Coz.
Harvey's Interpretation.
Words cannot more clearly or force
fully state that the purpose of the pro-
viso il TO remove the organized workers
from prosecution simply and purely be-
cause they are organized workers, and to
secure them equally before the law. and
to provide that they shall be punished
only for acts in themselves unlawful.
Is it not clear to any one who is will
ing to accept the plain unmistakable
meaning OF words in common usage that
the purpose of the proviso is not special
favors and class legislation, but equal
rights and equal opportunities for all?
Human Needs Create Unions.
Organizations OF laborers exist be-
cause OF human needs; they seek human
welfare and betterment: they control only
human labor power one and inseparable
from their very life.
Commercial and industrial associa.
tions are organized for profits; they seek
/ industrial control, supremacy over CON-
petitors; they deal in material things
the products of labor.
Labor power is a part of human be-
ings; it is throbbing, pulsating life.
Material things are for the service OF
human beings; they are external and
Appropriate.
ITO classify organizations of human
laborers, who possess only the power to
labor, with organizations which deal in
the products Of that labor, and to place
both kinds OF organizations under the
same regulation, establishes conditions
that can result only in injustice
1t j. against the injustice OF inter
pretmg the Sherman antitrust act 10
apply to organizations Of workingmeu
/ organized not for profit that the workers
/ have made their protest.
What Constitutes Trade Restraint.
Iii workingmeu should organize g
company to engage in business. produc-
tive OF distributive-for example, open a
cooperative establishment. and should
deal in products-in such operations they
would undoubtedly come under the same
classification as other employers. busi-
ness men engaged in industry or COM
merce. But when workingmen are or
ganized simply for the purpose OF con-
trolling their own physical power. their
/ power to labor. such associations cannot
| be classified as comhina tions in illegal
restraint OF trade whose regulation was
, contemplated by the sherman anti-trust
law.
Cannot Col Harvey see that there
are real differences between organiza-
tions Tor profit and unions of working
men, Col Harvey laments the course
OF President Wilson in signing the sum
dry civil appropriations act containing
the pruNi>o quoted above. Indeed. that
course l. not ia harmony with the IN
i terc~ts' which Col. Harvey represents.
the special pleas which he wolves. or the
| purpose Tor which he indulsvs in sophis-
tries and patent Misrepresentation
In signing the sundry civil ap.
| preparations act containing the proviso
asked for by the workers. he was in ac-
cord with that which had the organic
consideration OF those Tor whom he is
| spokesman.
Will of the People Prevails.
The proviso does represent national
will and intent. A. Representative. Henry
has rightly observed 1t was a part OF
the Democratic platform declarations.
The candidate OF that party received
Il. 6.29S. .+03 votes in the 1912 election. Il