The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-01-01
UNION LABOR WILL
WORK FOR Hk77ERS
Every Urion Man In America to.
Give Ms.1;,s Pay Jan
akoI ,SSel. D
WILL USE MONEY TO
SAVE WORKERS HOMES
Great Popular Movement to Re-
buke Greed and Rapacity of
Bitter Opponents.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 80. "The
Danbury hatters have performed q
service of historic importance in the
struggle for industrial freedom" de-
clares the American Federation of
LABOR executive council, in a circular
issued to all unions calling on or
san1zed workers to contribute the
wages OF an hours labor, the second
hour of the work day or shift of
January 81, 1915. for the benefit of
despoiled Danbury hatters.
The councils action is under
authority of the American Federation
OF Labor convention, held in San
francisco, last month.
The plight in which the matters
OF Danbury, Conn.,, find themselves
arouses the concern and the SYM
pathy of all the workers as we'll as
of all the liberty-loving citizens of
America" says the executive council.
which recounts the injustices trade
unions have suffered by reason of
court interpretations Of the Sherman
antitrust law that human beings are
In the same category with commodi-
ties, and are subject to Injunction
processes that denied them rights
guaranteed free men and women.
The Hatters' Heroic Struggle.
Inc matters resistance against these
lnlquities. together with court pro-
cesses financed by the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, emphasized these
wrongs and resulted in the passage
oy congress of the Clayton amend
ment to the Sherman antitrust law
In which it declared that ''The labor
power of human being is not a.
commodity or article of commerce."
In addition to this clear declaration
that there is a difference between
labor power and articles of commerce
Ito which trust laws properly applv
the Clayton amendment limits and
regulates the use Of the injunction
"rlt' and forbids it's use for purposes
against which the workers had so
long and SO Justly complained, +,
This establishment of fundamental
rights, this acknowledgment by con-
gress that workers own their labor
poWer-withOut interference or direc-
ton by law-maker or judge-is an
epoch in American industrial history
The men around whom this sue
cessful battle revolved, however. are
now destitute. Their bank deposits
and homes have been attached to
insure payment of an approximate
100000 court award that was made
before the Clayton act was passed.
Many of the despoiled hatters have
reached an age that they are no
longer able to work, and with their
homes and savings swept from them
they are in a destitute condition as
a result of fight that ended so
triumphantly for American toilinr
men and women.
They Never Faltered.
On this phase of the STRUGGLE the
executive council of the American
Federation of Labor SAYS:
THE Danbury hatters did not fall
ter IN that which they did for the
oehent OF all organized labor and for
d.! tne workers of the country. They
did their duty; they made the test
ana upon them has fallen the conse-
quences of the injustice of the then
existing conditions. All other work.
ers participate in the benefits which
nave grown out of the struggle. and
1t Is but just that they should also
heip to relieve the victims. If the
Danoury hatters or the hatters' or.
Sanlzation were left to bear the full
weight Of the burden, it would mean
TO them great suffering and great
hardship. Every member Of oreaniz-
ca labor is urged to do his duty in
TINS matter and to bear his share in
the struggle to establish industrial
Justice"
Members of local unions should nav
Continued ON Page 2.