Evening star., 1935-09-19
LIBERTY LEAGUE
H|TSLABOR ACT
Lawyers Say Measure Void.
Federation Sees Hand
of "Big Business"

feQefati0n sees hdllQ
of "Big Business"
BY the Associated Press.
The National Lawyers Committee
of the American Liberty League was
on record today with a declaration
that the New Deals labor relations
act is unconstitutional"
Quickly, spokesman for the
American Federation Of Labor replied
that the committee represented the
views of special privilege" and big
business"
Soon after Raoul E. Desvernine,
chairman of the committee Of SO
prominent lawyers, had made public
the opinion that the Wagner collec-
tive bargaining law violates the Fed
eraI charter, Frank E Morrison. A.
F. Of L. secretary. said:
This committee simply represents
the views held by special privilege and
big business, which have always op-
posed every piece of legislation intro
duced in Congress and the States to
bring a little more happiness into
workers homes.
Other Acts to BE Studied.
"It looks to me as if the Lawyers
Committee has been organized fol the
purpose of making perhaps a last
stand to delay and impede the legis-
lation enacted to bring about condi-
tions which would result in ellminat-
ing unemployment, benefting labor
and doing away with unfair competi-
ton"
The lawyers, whose views were
made public last night, plan to an
alyze other New Deal legislation The
committees opinion of the Wagner
act. which sets up permanent Labor
Board to prevent unfair labor prac-
tices" and defines IN law the right of
self reorganization and collective bar
gaining. was based on two main
grounds.
The committee held that the act
violated the constitutional guarantee
that no person shall be deprived of
life, liberty or property without due
process of law. 1t argued also that
the law went beyond the powers the
Constitution gives Congress over in
terstate commerce.
Collective Bargaining Hit.
The acts provision that represent
atives selected by a majority of EN-
ployes shah have the right to bargain
collectively for all employees was called
an illegal interference with the in
dividual freedom Of employees"
Considering the act in the hight
of government and the decisions of
our highest court" the report stated
we have no hesitancy in concluding
that it is unconstitutional and that
it constitutes complete departure
from our constitutional and tradi-
tional theories of government"
Earl F. Reed, chairman of a sub
committee which drafted the report
is an attorney for the Weirton Stee
Co. and the Wheeling Steel Corp.
In a statement accompanying the
report. Reed asserted that in making
our opinion known publicly. We arr
doing a patriotic duty in answering
the inquiries of many persons anc
perhaps fastening determination Of
this question by the judicial branch
of the Government
Replies to Charge.
Desvernine also issued a Statement
saying the committee had been choser
without regard to political afhliation
He added:
1T has been charged that member,
of this committee represent big bust
ness would not know how to choost
any committee of well-known lawyer!
competent in the field of constitutions
law throughout the United State,
without choosing some lawyers WHIT
had large business interests for clients
because if lawyers ability in a com.
munity is recognized he generally ha!
some important business interest Il
represent"
| Celebrating on his statement tina
the committee had been chosen with
out regard t9 political affliation, Des
vernine added:
While have not inquired and d.
not know the politics of a great man,
of the members of this committee, I d.
recognize some Is names as person
publicly known to be Democrats. Ger
tainly no committee could be consid
cred q packed Republican COMMITTEES
which numbers amongst its members /;
former Democratic Secretary of State
a former Democratic candidate for tn,
presidency, former Democratic Statt
Governor and many others who havt
appeared In the public prints as Dem.
| ocratic candidates for public Office anC
some of whom have been contributor!
to the last Democratic national cam
paign.
Reed New on Committee
"I might also add that since the
printing Of the report, former United
States Senator James A. Reed Ga
Democrat) Of Missouri has become g
member of this committee I know
that three of the eight members OF
the subcommittee who prepared this
report are and have been Democrats
for many years"
Along with Reed, the following
signed the report:
Harold Beacon. Chicago; Harold J.
Gallagher. New York: D. j. Kenefick,
Buffalo, N. Y; Harrison B. McGraw,
Cleveland; Quincy Z. Newlin, Los
Angeles; Hal H. Smith. Detroit. and
Z. Randolph Williams. Richmond, Va.
Smith represented the Houde En-
cheering Corp. Buffalo automobile
parts firm. IN its court challenge to
the majority rule" decision Of the old