The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-09-04

nnot be accused Of over-frendliness
incing Of the effectiveness and, i'm
not an act OF violence -f It is non-ac-
ton, non-intercourse, essentially non
resistance. zs=>:!- = rs
:. The record in, the Danbury' hat
case shows how this .'peaceable' rule |
Of .non-iptercourse was forced upon
the customers OF the hat nlanufact-
urers, under weli-justifed fear OF the
destruction 81 their own business BY.
the same "'peaceful'' methods. i: :5E>s-S'
Mr.. Gompers says: tine right IS
'boyvott' is a phase OF the larger
struggles to establish personal rights,
to make more definite their nature
and scope and their paramount i'm
portance over all else. The classes
who have controlled igovernm ents
and the legislators have protected
themselves and their property. Now
the workers are demanding recogni-
ton Of their personal rights: They
? propose to establish freedom in the
industrial world, which Is essential
to real freedom everywhere. So
This conception Of freedom-novel
in the annals of American institu-
tions-was intended to be. enacted
into law by the promoters of the.
Clayton Bill. How far they have sue
ceeded in SO doing, and the limits of
the legislative power to carry out
such: intention will have to oe. de-
eided by the courts. =. .,>'z'
1.ut beters accepting the, PROPOSE
ten. that no labo-er can find freedom
outside the ranks of the Ames;cans
ederation OF Labor, every American.
citizen would DO well to ponder over
President Lincoln's message: to c.,n-.
eress OF December 3. 1861. in which.
! lie said: !
=. .tMisquoting" Lincoln ~.
MANY Independent men,. :, every
! where in these states, a. few years
! back in their lives were. hired labor
ers.. The prudent penniless begin
ner in the world lahors for wages a
while, saves a surplus with, which to-
buy tools; or land for himself, then
labors on his own account another
while, and at length hires another
new beginner TO- help him. This is
the just and generous and prosperous
system which opens the way to all,
gives hope to- all and consequent en-
cry and progress and Improvement
, of condition to all. No men living
| are more worthy to be trusted than
those: who tot: up from poverty, none
,! less inclined to take or touch aught
| which they have not honestly earned.
Let them beware of surrendering: q
I political power which they already
possess, and which,: IL surrendered,
will surely be used to close. the door
! of advancement against such as they,
and to tx new; disabilities and; burd-
ems. upon them, till, All Of liberty shall
\ be, lost --r.4.n5 ~. -<sAs..., -,
If, as Mr.. Gompers contends, free
=, dom is impossible to individual work.
ers except through and within the
limits Of the labor organizations, then
| both the Individual ( laborerr within
such organization. as well as every
one outside Of it, iss deeply concerned
to know what kind of freedom is
available through such organization
1 Section 6 of the Clayton Act opens
with the enactment Of Mr.. Gompers'
| major premise: S. 81. @r:'..:
/ 1.-THE labor of a human being Il
not a, commodity or article of COM
merce." >, ,~-:~s s&s' ~ = ;
Therefore, it proceeds to declare.
| The Law. =
Nothing contained In the anti.
trust laws shall be construed to for.
bid the existence. and operation OF
= labor, agricultural on horticultural
II organizations, instituted for the pur-
poses Of mutual help =. !. or to for.
; bid or restrain individual members OF
such Organizations from lawfully
carrying out the: legitimate objects
thereof; nor shall such organizations
or the members, thereof. be held OF
construed to be illegal combinations
or conspiracies lin. restraint Of trade
under the: anti-trust laws" ~~'.4 =
4 SO tar as Z am aware, the mere
Il existence and operation Of such or
ganizauons. never. has been question
i ed under, the Sherman law, but swher
: that existence and those operation
i were so directed as to cause an I'm.
due interference with the normal flow
OF commerce among the states, theI
they We're subjected to the. same liza.
bility: az any other organization .ol
;. combination engaged in similar un.
!. lawful acts. BY virtue Of the Clay.
ton law therefore, the anti-trust law.
henceforth are not to be construed a
. forbiddings the existence and. oper.
: alton sof Tabor, agricultural or hor.
ticultural organizations, instituted fol
the purposes ~, mutual help (and
. ed for profit, = nor shall they or theiI
members be- held to be- illegal. com.
binations or conspiracies in restrain
| a. Is. )