Evening star., 1924-08-07

Of years a member of the committee
on presidents report in the conven-
tion of the American Federation of
Labor. AS the presidents report al
ways dealt with the problems con-
fronting labor, 1t became the duty Of
the committee to deal with the poll
cies that should be pursued in solvin G
the various problems present Conse-
Quehtiy it was my duty, as we'll as
pleasure, to assist IN the development
OF the policies expressed by the
phrases, "Fhe labor of a human be-
ing is not a commodity OF article of
commerce. Labor Is not partisan to
a party, but is partisan to a princi-
ple,' Labor will support its friends
and oppose its enemies and so on.
These policies I thoroughly believe
In, and for that reason have given
my support in this campaign to John
W. Davis.
Record of Davis.
IT first came in contact with him
when / was international secretary of
the United Mine Wokers of America,
and he was young practicing attor-
ney at Clarksburg, W. Va. Innu-
sued against us by Judge Jackson at
the instance of the coal operators of
the State: many OF our organizers
were cited to appear to show cause
why they should not be held in con-
tempt-among them, Mother Jones
and Thomas Haggerty, d member of
the international executive board
from Central, Pa. Our people were
holding many meetings protesting
against the action of the coal opera
tors and the courts. Large numbers
of them were arrested and hailed be-
fore the local courts. John W. Davis
volunteered his services to defend
them. 1 did not see him again until
he entered the SixtySecond Congress
as. Representative from West Vir-
ginia
For a generation the trades union
seeking relief from the abuse of the
writ of injunction. No headway had
been made in securing federal legisla-
ton until Mr.. Davis came to Congress.
He was assigned to the committee on
judiciary, and took an immediate inter
est in anti-injunction legislation.
"Duringths year 1912, In consu4ta-
ton with Senator Hughes from New
Jersey and Representative Kitchin- of
North Carolina and myself, he wrote
sections 8 and 20 of the Clayton anti
trust law, approved October Is, 1914.
They represent the most progressive
and far-reaching legislation enacted
by any government in the history-~ef
the world. I am quoting the two sec
tions in full that you may have them
Section s. That the labor Of a, hu-
man being is not a commodity or ar
ticle of commerce. Nothing contained
in the antitrust laws shall be con-
strued to forbid the existence and
operation of labor. agricultural or
horticultural organisations. Instituted
for the purpose of mutual help and
not having capital stock or conducted
for profit, or to forbid or restrain
individual members of such organiza-
tions from lawfully carrying out the
legitimate objects thereof: nor shall
such organizations. or the members
thereof, be held or construed to be
illegal combinations or conspiracies
in restraint of trade under the anti
trust laws
Language of Labor.
This is. not the language of Mr..
Davis. It Is the language of the
American labor movement, but It was
adopted by him and through his in
fiuence written into the law of the
land. The first sentence of the sec2~
ton lays the foundation for abolish
ing the writ of Injunction in labor
disputes. The balance removes the
taint of conspiracy from labor, aSrf-
cultural and horticultural organiza-.
tions, and has made possible the
wonderful development of the farm
ers' cooperative selling agencies.
Without it they would have been con-
spiracies in restraint of trade.
Section 20 writes into the law what
contending for 1t. is as follows:
THAT no restraining order or in
junction shall be granted by any
court of the United States, or a Judge
Of the judges thereof, in any case be-
between employers and employees, or
between employees, or between per
sons employed and persons seeking
employment. involving, or growing
CON lions Of employment, Unless nee
essary to prevent irreparab1e injury
to property, or to property right, OF
the party making the application, for
remedy at law hsrs no adequate
property right must be described with
in the application, which.
must be in writing and sworn to by
torney.
And no such restraining order or
or persons. whether singly or concert,
from terminating any relation of en-
ployment, or from ceasing to perform
any work or labor, or from recon-
ethsrs 81 peaceful means on 50 eesouaainE to do oF
from attending at any place where
any such person or persons may law
fully be, for the purpose of peacefully
optalnlng or communicating informa-I j
tion, or from peacefully persuading
any person to work or to abstain
from working; or from ceasins to
patronize or to employ any party to
such dispute, or, from, recommending,
advising or by persuading others by
peaceful and lawful means so to do:
or from paying or giving to. or with.
holding from, any person engaged in
such dispute, any strike Dement'S or
other moneys or things of value: or
from peaceably assembling In a law
full manner, and for lawful purposes.
or from doing any act or thing which
might lawfully be done in the alb
sence of such dispute by any party
thereto; nor shall any of the acts
specified IN this paragraph be con-