The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-21
MATTER OF CONSCIENCE.

1t would be extremely difficult for
the most earnest advocate of reform,
whether real OF pretended, to give
valid reason why the labor unions and
agricultural organizations should be ex-
empt from the operation of the Sher-
man antitrust law 1t is no doubt
true that these organizations were not
considered when the senate judiciary
committee shaped the legislation which
has been found to be so efficient since
an honest attempt has been made to
enforce it.
| President Wilson let it be known at
the time he signed the sundry civil
| bill, which contained a provision that
none of the money provided should be
used in the prosecution Of labor unions
OF farmers organizations, that tho
limitation placed upon the expenditure
was Unjustifiable in character and
principle and that if he could have
separated the item from the rest Of the
bill he would have interposed a veto.
Now the same proposition is coming
to the front in the framing of the anti
trust bills so ardently desired by the
occupant of the White house, and we
are informed a conference has been ar
ranged between Mr.. Wilson. Senator
Hughes and members of the house in
terested in obtaining provision in the
new antitrust legislation which would
exempt the labor unions and co-opera-
tive farmers organizations from prose
cution under the Sherman law or other
statutes
This is class legislation pure and sim
Pile 1t Is wrong in theory, wrong in
principle and would set most vicious
precedent. The legislators of the coun'
try should not attempt to make flesh of
one class Of citizens and FOWL of an"
other upon any preteKt. The reason in
this particular case is apparent. Mem
bers of labor unions and farmers or
CARNATIONS have more votes than the
citizens of the country who are inter
ested in industrial enterprises liable to
prosecution under the antitrust act.
The dispatches tell us that President
Wilson has not changed his mind since
signing the sundry civil bill and that
he still believes such an exemption
would he uniustifiable in character and
principle. If so, he will make il plain
to Senator Hughes and the representa-
,,,An lott 81
the business man that il cannot be done
with his knowledge and consent. That
would keep the obnoxious provision out
Of the proposed law and settle the
whole matter in the only Just way.
Former President Taft, in an address
before the law school of the University
of Minnesota the other day, declared
that "'the only aid needed TO interpret
the Sherman antitrust law and the su-
prcme court decisions thereon is p
man IS own conscience" No words were
ever more fifty spoken and none more
true. Conscience should be the guide
in business as well as the conduct of
individuals in matters pertaining TO
the morals. II should also be the
guiding star Of the legislators sent to
Washington 80 safeguard the interests
OF the whole people and not for the
purpose of giving one class an advan-
tage over the other.
It is no doubt true that In times
past capital has boon first considered
in the making OF laws TO some extent.
1t has been so since "the recollection
Of man running not TO the contrary
The reaction has come at last and we
have been told that equality before
the law was to be the first principle
in the readjustment. On the heels Of
these promises of reform comes the
proposition to give one class of citizens
immunity from the law with inn
puuity while providing heavy fines and
prison sentences for another class. It
VIII not do. Now is the time for Presi-
dent Wilson TO listen TO the "still,
small voice" and sternly refuse to be
a party to any such undertaking.