The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-02
ALLPARTIES IN HOUSE
BOW TO UNION LABOR
Not a Dissenting Vote to Sec
ton Of Antitrust Bill APP
proved by Gompers.
ITS MEANING IN DOUBT
Democratic Leaders Say It Does
Not Exempt Unions From
Prosecution.

WARRINGTON, June I. - The House
amended labor provision OF the anti
trus, bill This is the amendment which
was agreed to by President Wilson on
behalf OF the Administration and by
Samuel Gompers as the representative OF
the unions.
BY this action the House went on
record rs In favor OF the passage OF i'm
portanf legislation the meaning OF which
10 admittedly shroudel In doubt. The
labor advocates contend that the amend
ment exempts organized labor from prose-
cution under the Sherman antitrust act.
The President and his followers deny this.
Yet the Administration and its supporters
made no attempt TO insert in the provision
language which would remove the doubt
and explicitly make labor unions answer
able for violations OF the antitrust law.
To-day's vote was the most conspicuous
example Washington has yet had OF the
fear In which Congress stands OF the
political power welded by organized
labor. Republicans We'd with the Demo-
Gratis and Progressives In voting for the
amendment.
Federation Officers watch.
There were 2O7 members OF the House
present when the provision came up for
vote Frank Z. Morrison and other
officers OF the Federation OF Labor were
present In the galleries.
Democratic leaders In debate declared
that section T. the labor provision. does
not exempt labor from prosecution under
the antitrust laws. Republicans insisted
there was doubt on this score
"Ten or twelve years from now we
may still be wondering what this provision
means, and we will not know how far II
until. 1t has been proved in the courts"
said Representative Murdoch.
The House by a vote of l05 to 60
refused To adopt straight out exemption
clause offered as an amendment by Repre-
sentative Thomas OF Kentucky.
Representative Webb Of North Caro-
lima, chairman OF the House judiciary
Committee. refused to accept the Thomas
amendment and all other substitutes on
the ground that the labor provision had
been submitted to union leaders and had
been approved by them. The burden of
Mr.. Webb's talk that as labor was salts
fed and the Congress leaders were con-
WINGED that the unions were not put beyond
the pale OF the law. the provision would
Section as originally reported read
The Original Language.
"That nothing contained In the anti
trust laws shall be construed 10 forbid the
existence and operation OF fraternsl. labor,
consumers. agricultural or horticultural
organizations. orders or associations in
stituted for the purpose OF mutual help
and not having capital stock or conducted
for profit, or to forbid or restrain indi-
vidual members of such organizations.
orders or associations from carrying out
the legitimate objects thereof
To this section with the consent Of
President Wilson and the approval of
Mr.. Gompers was added the following:
"Nor shall any such organizations, or
ders, associations or the members thereof
he held or construed TO be illegal COM
oinations or conspiracies In restraint OF
trade"
Representative Lewis OF Maryland
Democracy one of the leaders OF the
labor group in the House. took the stand
that the unions had achieved a great VIC
tory.
"I know there Is some mlsapprehen-
sion about It," said Mr.. Lewis Some
honest people are inclined TO think that
this section may mean a species OF class
legislation. They make the error OF treat
ing labor as a commodity. a natural error.
perhaps, when the subject is given super
ficial thought.
Labor Not Property.
sCnder our institutions labor can never
become. property either before the court
or before the Legislature. Under our Con-
stitution property in human beings has
forever ceased. but a barrel of oil liz not
only a commodity In the market. 1t IL a
commodity before the courts and before
the Legislature. Its legal attribute Is
workingman is citizenship. different
process OF sociology and Justice apply to
these two subject matters when they are
before Congress or the courts
Section also contains provision that
the antitrust laws shall not apply 10
9 greements among railroads that receive
tho sanction OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Section s OF the bill. prohibiting mergers
Of corporations that lessen competition
and forbiddlng the formation of holding
companies under penalty OF fne ana i'm
prisonment. was passed by the House
Just as II was reported.
The House then proceeded to the con-
slderatIon OF section ., which Is aimed at
interlocking directories. Debate on this
was continued into the night session. winch
which was held in the hope that sufficient
progress would be made 10 enable the
House TO complete consideration OF the
bill by tomorrow night at the latest.
President Wilson does not consider that
in agreeing to the labor amendments 10
the Clayton bill he has given labor
unions blanket exemption from the opera
ton of the Sherman antitrust law.
In talking this morning with callers thI
President explained that all that sectioT
7 OF the Clayton bill means in its amended
form Is that labor organizations as suci
are not Illegal bodies.
Section 8, the President MAINTAINED
does not give labor any more a,tua
rights than It had under the orgina
sherman law. He declared this seC:lor
merely specifies what acts labor can dc
under the limitations OF the law. IL
other words. according to the Presidelt, II
labor unions under the proposed Clayton
law transgress he law they will be hdDl,
To pr osecutiOn.