New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-22
The Senate Judiciary Committee
Should Make Over the "bunco
CLAYTON Anti Trust Bill.

,rA Sonoto Judiciary Committee would ho' ="
,ruo 70 the traditions of an honorable past II !" ~
NO. submit 10 a critical examination '"o
-. oornnact between Mr.. Gompers ana the au
m,nistraton embodied in the Clayton anl-'iu'' Dil
Tho CLAYTON bill is confused and ambiguous O -
zach sirner Of the compact 10 which II owes Ito
wanted 10 be able TO interpret II 10 DIS own u'a1
TOGO The President was anxious 10 anhouu'o 'D'
It's provisions did not alter In any essenI"'
nrcsent status Of labor organizations uiluei 'n
sherman antitrust law. Mr. Gompers ana nis ''i
natbizers i'm Congress were equally eager |" pr
claim that it gave new charter OF lreeuo"
organized labor and exempted labor ana larnei9
unions from any penalty for attempts 10 res'r"i"
trade and control prices CT.
The Senate judiciary Committee fra1neu tne "ne,
man law (Alr Sherman himself being responSiD'o
ror No mart Of the act except the title). That law
has turned out TO be one OF the great ies
monuments Of our time 1t has been interpreted
and clarified, and is now an almost perfect iiiau
mont for the accomplishment Of the purposes when
its trainers had in view The House or Representa-
t,vos with the Presidents sanction, angled for the
labor vote with half genuine, nalt make-peile'e
ovison Of the Sherman law IN union labors interest
Politicians are seeking TO turn the law ll'o po-'
col cold brick. Mr. Gompers selling the brick 10
AIp r.
Il ;s no wonder therefore, that a body like the
Senate Judiciary Committee which has been ac
customed 10 take law-makng seriously, balks at An
ndorsonent NJ the confusions and antiquities which
If e asked TO foist upon the admirably clear and
comprehensive Sherman act
The committee has made a good beginning oy
or,ordno tbe norton of the Clayton bill limiting
the mower of the courts to enoin some of the more
In "a
Among other things it has taken out phrase which
might have been construed as sanctioning black
listing The longer the committee examines the bill
the more traps it will find in it. It's whole purpose
is 70 tran and snare with willy language, doing by
indirection, or seeming to do by indirecuon' WHAT
even those who boast most loudly about giving "a
new charter Of freedom" TO LABOR nave iacAeu '"0
courage to do above board.
We hone that the Senate Judiciary Committee Will
stand out for honesty and clarity in statute making
The secret desire of many Democratic leaders Is
doubtess to make labor the beneficiary of the sort
Of class legislation which Congress slipped into the
Sndry Civil Appropriation bill expressly forbdding
tho nrosecution of labor and agricultural Organiza
lions violating the Sherman law. If the President
and his party want TO set up class distinctions De-
tween lawbreakers, they have the power TO do it.
But they should do ii courageousy and openly.
Ex-Attorney General Wickersham says that the
Clayton BILL as passed by the House, is ian example
Of undisguised class legislation" Other experts
think it is class legislation more or less disguised
But there ought to be no room for dispute on that
point Strip off the disguise and let the country
know that Mr. Gompers is about to be elevated to
the chieftainship of privileged class. If the Senate
Judiciary Committee does that 1t will add to its
long list of services an e1poser of hypocritcal
and demagogcal legislation.