The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-29

Its dishonesty wo0id be sufficient to con-
denim the proposal. The words II Is pro-
posed TO add TO the amendment TO the
Clayton antitrust bill may be Interpreted
so AS to add nothing at all to the mean
Ing OF that amendment. and they may be
interpreted 80 as to bring about that com
plete exemption from the operation OF the
antitrust laws which the labor union men
desire. And the proposal ID being accepted
by both sides. not In spite OF this extreme
| and fundamental ambiguity. but because
Of It, We confess our own tstal inability
TO determine which OF the two interpre-
tetions would be most likely to be given
to the words by the courts. and II 10 upon
the general existence OF such Inability
/ that the whole scheme Is based. The Ia
Dor men are to accept II because II may
give the unions all they want; the oppo-
nents OF class legislation are to accept IL
because II may give the unions nothing at
ell. To write such provision into the
statute books OF the country to do II de.
| liberately and for the very purpose OF
concillatlng each side by holding forth the
prospect that the other side will get the
gold brick-this can be characterized by
no term less harsh than that OF degra-
dalton OF the law making function.
Labor unions want n declaration that
nothing In the antitrust laws shall apply
TO them. That the President Is opposed TO
p
as intolcrable, he has indicated in various
ways and on various occasions. II he
has given his approval to the proposed
amendment ii must be with the expecta-
tlon that 1t will not produce the effect
which alone makes II acceptable to the
labor union men. n the wo-"s mean moth
ing the labor men ought not to be de-
ceived into thinking they mean something.
The Tribune:
The real isstia Ia What thu lahor ,tninps
are to be permitted to do. No fair minded
person would wish to have the organi-
zation Of labor lie under the ban OF the
aw. II Is necessary that labor should
have the right to organize. But we have
never believed that the jherman law de-
MED that right. The courts never have
so construed 1t. They have held that It
forbade certain acts Of labor organiza-
tons which unduly interfered with in
terstate trade, but never that II forbade
the formation OF the organizations them
selves.
The labor leaders have sought to get
the acts now under the ban OF the law
legalized. under the pretence Of merely
legalizing organization Itself. The Ques-
ton 10 whether they are about to sue
coed In this through the agreement
reached with the Democratic Adminisira-
ton. Frankly, we do not know whether
they are or are not. No one can tell
tumble OF vague words into which the
concession - cast. The language used
Is meant 10 cheat either the public or
the labor unions. II II was necessary
that the right to organize should be ex-
pressly guaranteed by law II could have
been guaranteed in unmlstakable Ian
Ruage. But the last thing which either
side cared TO use was unmistakable Ian
guage.
The Times.
It seems rs though the unions had
not yet discovered the light of reason.
As the trust law was understood under
It's earliest construction the mere exist
ence OF any and every combination In
restraint of trade was obnoxious to the
statute. That is no longer the law. BY the
light OF reason no combinations are un-
lawful unless their objects and acts are
unlawful. II their objects and acts are
unlawful they properly fall under the
prohibition of the law, and should be
punished. whoever is guilty Of them.
Nobody denies TO unions the right OF
existence. which includes the right to
do any and AL lawful acts. The at
tempt to spread the right to exist to
cover the right to do anything what
ever In the accomplishment OF legitimate
objects IL not In the public interest. II
Is in no interest except that of the
unions which seek rights antagonistic
TO the rights OF all others.
When the President was first put into
the dilemma. which perhaps soon will
confront him again, he was weak enough
to yield. He cannot ask indulgence In
n second signature. He has had expert
ence and IL stronger now. II he yields
second time there is no limit to what
will be asked Of him.
A nation which has freed Itself from the
exactions OF corrupt capital Ii not In the
wood m suhrnit 70 the benevolent edicts