The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-20
FIGHT BEGINSON
EXEMPTIONS IN
ANTITRUST ACT
Republican Leaders Pave
Way for Prosecutions in
War on Radicalism.
FIRM ACTION DEMANDED
Threats of Labor and Other
Groups Stir Representative
Fess to Declare War.
FIRM ACTION DEMANDED
Special Despdtch 70 TIE sux.

| WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-Indications
that Republican Congressional lead
ers have decided to demand firm gov
ernmental action against radical labor
leaders who are stirring up unrest
throughout the country and seeking
the specialization of all workers, from
| policemen down through private in
dustry, were seen in events in the
House to-day.
After Representative Fess (Ohio),
chairman of the Republican Congress
sional Committee, declared the time
had come for Congress Ito make the
issue, to stand by the fundamentals
Of American government and not be
dictated to by any group of men what
ever their names." the House in Com
mittee of the Whole struck from the
deficiency appropriation bill pro-
visions prohibiting the Attorney-G
eral from using appropriations to
| prosecute unions and associations of
farmers and producers under the anti
trust laws.
The vote was So to 10, and since It
was in the Committee OF the Whole
II is probable, when the bill is formally
taken before the House, efforts will be
made to restore the exemptions.
Against All Exemptions.
| Efrorts were made to eliminate COM
binations OF milk producers from prose-
rution under the antitrust laws, but
this also was voted down after several
members declared these organizations
! were conspring TO enhance the prices
OF all dairy products.
Mr.. Fess denounced the action of
labor leaders in trying to force through
Congress legislation by threats. He
criticised the passage Of the Adamson
law under such conditions in 1915. Leg
islatlon. he said. should be made general
and exempt no class from its provisions.
II say to you the time has come" Mr.
| Fess said, amid applause, 'for US to
make the issue. 1 am ready for it and
| want 1t to come and hope the gentle
| men will have the courage to stand by
| the American life and whatever it
| means and not be dictated to by any
| group Of men whatever their names
Now comes the threat that unless We do
| so and so the whole transportation bust
ness OF the country will be paralyzed,
and even we ara given the order that We
are expected to do 80 and so or else we
VIII hear from the men who are now
| giving us orders such as my mail to-day
| brings to me.
Following that you will have the
same thing found in the fire department.
! II will come in the police department
| then 1t will come in the army and the
| navy and then you have Russian Soviet
| ism right here in America.
IF we begin n legislative programme
that discriminates In favor of any one
or against any one we put ourselves in
! the position to be Disseminated against.
1t is wrong to first define n crime and
then write in the same law an exemp-
tlon of certain classes. Time and time
again this exemption has been written
into various bills. Many of us have re-
sisted tho exemption until finally every
body gave up and said, What is the use
| to go furtherT
Time to stand Firm.
II insist the time is here for the Amer
lean people to make an issue upon maxi
ing a law that will apply to everybody
alike and exempt nobody. Opening the
door to this sort OF legislation invites
the people with immunity or without 1t
to state to US definitely that II we
do not do SO and so you will hear
from us. II will first appear in the
form OF legislation and later in a de-
mand for new exemptions then II will
come in making demands, as II was
when the Adamson law was enacted that
Congress interfere with private contracts
as TO whether these mems wages shall
be increased. and we, in a humiliating
way. surrendered the Government to that
demand"
The section eliminated from the bill
after appropriating '2Oo,oO9 for anti
trust prosecutions reads:
Provided however that no part of
this money shall be spent In the prose-
cution Of any organization or individual
for entering into any combination or
agreement having In view the increasing
OF wages, shortening OF hours or better
Ing the conditions OF labor. or for any
act done In furtherance thereof not In
itself unlawful; provided further. that
no part Of this appropriation shall be
expended for the prosecution of pro-
ducers of farm products and associations
OF farmers who cooperate and organize
In an effort to and for the purpose OF
obtaining and maintaining a fair and
reasonable price for their products"
American ship Towed to Halifax.
HALIFAX, n. s.. Sept ls.-The dis
abled American steamship Farnam was
towed into this port tonight by the
American steamer Langamon. The
Farnam which sailed from Hull on An