The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-06-06
DEMOCRATS KEEP FAITH WITH LABOR.

AoA
years seeking amendment to the Sherman antitrust
law to prevent it's unions being outlawed by the
federal 1t IA of persistent and deter
mined uphill fighting against the most fearful opposition
ever waged against a working class measure.
Conventions of manufacturers and other employers
of adopted hotworded resolutions in denuncation
of labors demand exclusion from the Sherman anti
trust 1T class legislation" they declared and
this tme-worn phrase played to the limit.
The first declaration against Cannonism and the
reactionary sentiment that prevailed in the Republican
party was made by the American Federation of Labor
on account of the partys refusal to amend the Sher
man to permit workngmen to lawfully organize
without interference by the federal courts The decline
of Republican party dates from the issue OF Ia
boris memorable protest.
Committees the National Association of Manufac
turers captured the resolutions the 1908
and 1912 conventions of the Republican party and pre-
party from adopting labor plank proposed
by the American Federation of Labor for
the relief trade unions from the operation of the
Sherman law.
The Democratic party at the Denver convention in
1905 the Baltimore convention in 1912 declared
in favor position. 1t promised the people if
given the responsibility government the Democrats
would exempt labor organizations from the provisions
of the antitrust law.
In 1890 when the Sherman law enacted union
assured by Senator Sherman its author and
by of Massachusetts and others, that the
not intended to interfere with the operation of
see
would interpret the law to include them specific
it's definition of what constituted coordination in
traint of trade" -'::"%
But the courts forgot the intent of Congress,
and day prejudiced federal judge inserted wedge
the law characterized trade union; which is
an organization of individual workngmen, labor
trust,' in the combination of several
corporations Of capital had been construed capita
trust" and both amenable to the Sherman
antitrust law e.
Other courts followed this reasoning and it was soon
found that every OF labor for improved condi
lions and against industrial tyranny hampered by
indictments and njunctions against workingmen issued
through judicial Interpretation of the Sherman anti
trust law.
At the same time Immunity baths" had been given
by the certain combinations of capital
rule of reason written into the law others
of the vicious kind but the prison doors were
locked behind convicted vioators of the antitrust
law, workingmen "violators.''
The unfriendy attitude of the federal courts, the
inequity of the judcially Interpreted
bitter opposition of antabor associations of employers
whose officers seemed control the machinery of the
government and always against labor forced the
to seek relief from Congress-
AS we have said it long, determined, uphill
fight, against the most powerful opposition ever waged
plea for freedom. The Democratic members of the
house kept their faith Their platform pledge
been redeemed, and have every to believe
that the senate will approve the bill as passed by the
house.
Slowly but surely labor is coming into its own The
political policy of the American Federation of
being vindcated despite the rdicule of branch
its enemies and the of We are laying
bricks, not tanning wind.