The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1949-07-21
BUST THE LABOR TRUST

In 1890 passed the Sherman Act which made illegal
onopoeS of trade and Theodore Roosevelt
ed this Act in his big Stick" to bust the business trusts
In 1914 came the Clayton Act with amendments to the
antitrust laws Labor unions thought this Act would
empt hem but the u S. Supreme Court held that unions
which monopolzed restrained commerce were
punishable under the Sherman Act spite the provisions
of the Clayton Act
@ In 1882 Congress passed the Act linn
ting the use of nunctons in Federal courts in labor
Since the passage of this the Supreme
Court series of decisions has held that pursuing
its obectives and not conspiring with employers
liable to punishment penalty under the Sherman Act
any restraints OF trade or monopolies it may cause
Theodore Roosevelt during his presidency up the
business combines and monopoles that restraint of
trade 1t during the reign of another Rooseve-Franl-
nthat monopolies far injurious than business
opoies had been were created Today there legal
any action by labor which might have the effect of
shutting down entire industry.
AS result industry-wide unions have grown in power
number United Mine Workers now is able to shut
off the supply OF coal to the country time John Lewis
lifts his bushy eyebrows without fear of restraint
der federal statutes The automobile unions can shut down
all the automobile plants the railroads halt the rail-
roads, etc. etc. We have created Frankensten as direct
result OF the passage OF the Clayton and Norris
Acts.
Our system of government was devised to prevent con-
centraton OF the hands of group
But now we have erected result of Congressional leg
slation monopoes which exercise arbitrary power
and which bring this nation to its knees they
desire to exercise that power.
The remedy is too strike at the existence this power
IONS that the economic power remaining to smaller un
ions will not be sufficient exercised to do grievous
age 10 the country as whole.
This can easily be accomplished by amending the anti
trust laws to provide that monopozaton the supply of
labor in industry engaged in interstate foreign COM
meree shall be prohibited notwithstanding the provisions
the Clayton and Acts which the Supreme
Court has decided exempt unions from the antitrust laws
Under such law the courts would have the authority
adjust the remedy to the facts in each case and could in
each of dissolved union prescribe the limitation of
size OF any OF the component parts and the of
operation which would be permitted between them.
The remedies which have been discussed in Congress-
suchc as seizure of plants of employers employees
are on strike enjoning strike mpairng the national
welfare but only for limited period reach only the
tom of the disease of monopoly and do strike at its roots
Unless Congress and the people decide eradicate the
ease at its source by breaking up the big unions and
limiting the size OF their component parts shall continue
to be afflicted with strikes unreasonable labor demands
and continued turmoil all in utter disregard of national
welfare.
The business trusts busted-s now time to bust
the labor trusts-George Peck