Arizona republican., 1922-06-15
LABOR WANTS
CONGRESS To
HAVE COURT
VETO POWER
Wisconsin Senator Tells
Federation Convention
United States Is Ruled
By judicial Oligarchy
TRepubIican A. p. Leased Wlrel

CINCINNATI. June 14-Organized
labor indicated a determination at
the American Federation of Labor
convention here today to start
drive for a constitutional amendment
for a congressional veto Of supreme
court decisions and for the denial OF
the power of lower federal courts to
set aside a federal law as unconstl-
tutional This the delegates were
informed would overcome decisions
which labor has regarded as inlmical
to its interests.
The only formal action however,
was unanimous adoption of a motion
creating special committee to frame
a nolicy. which action was taken al
fer the proposal for the amendment
had been made by Senator Dafollette
of Wisconsin. Other speakers, most
of them leaders in the labor move
ment, approved the program as prac-
ticabIe, while the delegates voiced ap-
proval by applause. The suggestion
of a drive for the amendment came
in the midst of program devoted to
condemnation of child labor. The
address of Senator LaFollette CEN
tered on attacks on the supreme
court WHICH lOF Il SeCOuQ Iihit
Gently declared the federal child labor
law unconstitutional. In authoriz-
ing appointment of the special COM
mittee the delegates voted to vest in
it authority to consider all decisions
of the last few years which the Fed
esation has branded as inimical to
organized labor.
A dissenting note to a program
aiming generally at curtailment or
the courts was heard during the
day-long program when Florence
Kelley of the National Consumers
League, voiced approval of the SEN
ator's proposal, but asserted that the
best strategy was to make drive
exclusively for an amendment 10
make possible a federal ban on child
labor However. she declared her
enlistment as high private in the
army that will follow his LaFol-
lette's) banner.
Senator LaFollette, in his speech,
contended that the federal courts
had. by a process of gradual en-
croachments wrested sovereignty
from the people and cited the deci-
sions as typical of the conduct OF the
federal judiciary.
Kisses greeted the senator's flrst
mention of Justice Taft, but these
were quickly changed to applause as
I.aFollette declared that Taft was re-
undated by the voters when sec
ond term candidate for president.
mo one will contend" said the
senator. .'that he could have been
elected chief justice by the vote OF
the people.
give members of the supreme
court" La Toilette said. "enact what
shall be the law and he added: I'VE
are ruled by a judicial oligarehy.
IT. V. Mccullough, of the Interna-
tional Typographical Union, endorsed
the IaFollette amendment as prac-
ticable. asserting that a great days
work for the race the world around"
had been accomplished by the con-
vention's consideration of the child
labor problem. William Green, of
the United Mine Workers. told the
convention that the reactionary wave
that followed the war "had turned
and he asserted his belief that con-
stitutional amendment was possible.
In concluding the program Mr.
Gonpers reserved until later in the
convention his comment on what he
said were "unwarranted decisions
of the courts which he declared had
invaded natural and rational rights
OF the people," Radical change in
the form of the organized movement
was proposed in resolution intro
duced by f. II. Fitzgerald and others
representing the railroad clerks at
the convention. Declaring for
amalgamation instead of federation
of different unions in one industry,
the resolution asserted that under
present organizations the unions are
divided against themselves and un-
able to make united resistance
against the employers"
Other resolutions proposed exclu-
sion of all Oriental immigration,
acceptance of Henry Ford's offer to
lease the Muscle Shoals water power
project from the government, oppo-
sition to the Ku Kluk Klan.