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The Cbmmonerii
14
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 18
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Labor's Protest to Congress
"' (Continued from Pngo 9)
( The workors ask from con gross tho
iToliof which it alono cun givo from
tho Injustice which will surely ro
'sult from tho literal enforcement of
the Sherman anti-trust law as inter
preted by this decision. Tho speedy
' onactmonts of labor's proposed
' amendment to tho Sherman anti
trust law will do uuch to restore the
rights of which tho tollers have been
shorn,
i Wo submit for consideration, and
trust tho same will bo enacted, two
I provisions amendatory of the Sher
man anti-trust law, which originally
woro a part of the Mil during the
stages of its consideration by tho sen
ate and before its final passage, and
which aro substantially as follows:
"That nothing in said act (Sher
man anti-trust law) or in this act
is intondod nor shall any provision
thereof hereafter bo enforced so as
to apply to organizations or associa
tions not for profit and without capi
tal stock, nor to tho members of
such organizations or associations."
"That nothing in said act (Sher
man anti-trust law) or in this act is
Intondod nor shall any provision
thereof horeaftor bo enforced so aB
to apply to any arrangements, agree
ments, or combinations among per-
7 sons engagod In agriculturo or horti
culture made with a view of enhanc
ing the prico of their own agricul
tural, or horticultural products."
It is clearly an unwarranted as
sumption on tho part of the courts or
others to place tho voluntary associa
tions of the workers in tho same cat
egory as trusts and corporations own
ing stock and organized for profit
,On the one hand, wo have the
tr'ustB and corporations dealing with
plroly material things and mostly
j with tho inanimate products of labor.
On tho other hand, there are the
, workors whose labor power is part
of their very lives and beings, and
1 which can not be differentiated from
their ownership in and of themselves.
The offort to categorically place the
workers in tho same position as those
I who deal in tho products of labor of
others is tho failure to discern be
tween things and, man.
It is often flippantly averred that
labor is a -commodity, but modern
civilization has clearly and sharply
drawn the line between a bushel of
coal, a sldo of pork and tho soul of
a human, breathing, living man.
Tho enactment of the legislation
which we ask will tend to so define
and safeguard tho rights of the work
ers of today and those who will come
( after them, that they may hope to
continue to enjoy tho blessings of
a free country as intended by the
lounaors or our government.
In the rolief asked for in the pro
posed amendment to tho Sherman
anti-trust law which wo present to
congress, labor asks for no special
privileges and no exemption from the
treatment which any law-abiding cit
izen might hope to receive in a free
country.
Indeed, tho present parliament of
Groat Britain at its session in De
cember, 1906, enacted into law what
is known as the trades dispute act.
It is brief and wo therefore quote
Its provisions In full:
"1. It shall bo lawful for any per
sqn or persons acting either on their
own behalf or on behalf of a trade
union or other association of indi-
USE ALLEN'S FOOT-EASE.
rests tho foot mu mnkw now or tJRht shoos Sis?
m niVp, "i Iwcknro. also Prco snmnlo
lllVOMtlr.il t.l,l,. ITT l.T ., ZZV .f", U
iOV, N, Y, o. VJUM8TKD,
tuto
of tho
it
vlduals, registered or unregistered, in
contemplation of' or during tho con
tinuance of any trade dispute, to at
tend for any of tho following pur
poses at or near a house or place
where a person resides or works, or
carries on his business, or happens
to bo (1) for the purpose of peace
fully obtaining Or communicating
information; (2) for tho purpose of
peacefully persuading any person to
work or abstain from working.
"2. An-agreement or combination
by two or moro persons to do or pro
cure to bo done any act In contem
plation or furtherance of a trade
dispute shall not bo ground for an
action, if such act when committed
by one person would not bo ground
for an action.
"3. An action shall not be brought
against a trade union or other asso
ciation aforesaid for the recovery of
damage sustained by any person or
persons by reason of the action of a
member or members of such trade
union or other association afore
said." We submit that if such rolief from
tho onerous conditions brought
about by the Taff-Vale decision of
the highest court of Great Britain
can be enacted by a monarchical gov
ernment, there ought to be no hesi
tancy in conceding It In our own re
public. The unions of labor aim to improve
tho standard of life; to uproot ignor
ance and foster education; to instil
character, manhood, and an inde
pendent spirit among our people;
to bring about a recognition of the
interdependence of man upon his fel
lowman. -We aim to establish a nor
mal work-day; to take the children
from the factory and workshop and.
give them the opportunity of the
schools, the home, and the play
ground. In a word, our unions
strive, to lighten toll,, educate their
membors, "make their homes more
cheerful, and in every way con
tribute an earnest effort toward mak
ing life the better worth living. To
achieve these praiseworthy ends, wo
believe that all honorable and law
ful means are justllable and com
mendable, and should receive the
sympathetic support of every right
thinking American.
Labor asks only for justice. It
asks that It be not victimized and
penallzod under laws never intended
to apply to it.
We hope for a prompt recognition
on the part of congress of the wage
workers' very reasonable and mod
erate insistence in this important
matter.
In addition, the other most impor
tant measures which labor urges are:
The bill to regulate and limit tho
issuance of injunctions "Pearre
bill."
Employers liability bill.
Tho bill extending the application
of the eight hour law to all govern
ment employes, and those employed
upon work for tho government,
whether by contractors or sub-contractors.
There are other measures pending
which we regard as important, but
we feel especially justified in urging
tho passage of those mentioned, be
cause they have been before congress
iui several sessions, and upon which
oxtended hearings have been had be
fore committees, every interest con
cerned having had ample opportunity
to present arguments, and there Is no
good reason why action should long
er be deferred by congress.
Wo come to congress hoping for a
prompt and adequate remedy for the
grievances of which we justly com
plain. The psychological moment
has arrived for a total change of
governmental policy toward tho
workers; to permit it to pass may be
tionaTlife. aSter VeU t0 0Ur na
' 1 L-
In this frank statement of its
grievances tho attitude of labor
should not be misinterpreted, nor
should it be hold as wanting in re
spect for our highest law-making'
body.
That tho workers, while smarting
under a most keen sense of injustice
and neglect, turn first' to congress
for a remedy, shows how greatly
they still trust in the power and
willingness of this branch of the gov
ernment to restore, safe-guard, and
protect their rights.
Labor proposes to aid in this work
by exercising its utmost political and
industrial activity, its moral and so
cial influence, in order that the in
terests of the masses may be repre
sented in congress by those who are
pledged to do justice to labor and
to all our people, not to promote the
special interests of those who would
injure the whole body politic by
crippling and enslaving the toilers.
Labor is most hopeful that con
gress will appreciate the gravity of
the situation which we have en
deavored to present. The workers
trust that congress will shake off the
apathy which has heretofore charac
terized it on this subject, and per
forin a beneficent social service for
the whole people by enacting such
legislation as will restore confidence
among the workers that their needs
as law-abiding citizens will be heeded.
Only by such action will a crisis
be averted. There must be some
thing more substantial than fair
promises. The present feeling of
wide-spread apprehension among the
workers of our country becomes more
acute every day. The desire for de
cisive action becomes more intense.
While it is true that there is no
legal appeal from a supreme court
decision, yet we believe congress can
and should onact such further legis
lation as will more clearly define the
rights and liberties of the workers.
Should labor's petition for the
righting of the wrongs which have
been imposed upon it and the rem
edying of injustice done to it pass
unheeded by congress and those who
administer the affairs of our govern
ment then upon those who have
failed to do their duty, and not upon
me woricers wiu rest the responsi
bility. Tho labor union Is a natural, ra
tional, and inevitable .outgrowth of
our modern industrial conditions. To
outlaw the union in the exercise of
its normal activities for the protec
tion and. advancement of labor and
the advancement of society in gen
eral, is to lo a tremendous injury to
all people.
The repression of right and nat
ural activities is bound to finally
break forth in violent form of pro
test, especially among the more
ignorant of the people, who will feel
great bitterness if denied the con
sideration they have a right to ex
pect at the hands of congress.
As the authorized representatives
of the organized wage-earners of our
country, we present to you in the
most conservative and earnest man-
IZl l pr?test aSainst the wrongs
which they have to endure and some
of the rights and relief to which they
are justly entitled. There is not a
wrong for which we seek- redress, or
a right to which wo aspire which
d.oes not or will not be equally
shared by all the workers by all
the people.
While no member of congress or
party can evade or avoid his or their
?S5, liKIXldual or party share of re
sponsibility, we aver that the party
n power must and will by labor and
Us sympathizers be held primarily re
sponsible for the failure to give the
prompt, full and effective congres
sional relief we know to be within
its power.
Wo COme to vnn tirf o ,oi.i-
partisans, whether republican, demo-
VT " "tuer Dut as representa
tives of tho .wage-workers of our
country whoso rights, Interests and
welfare have been jeopardized and
flagrantly woefully disregarded and
neglected. We come id you because
you are responsible l for legislation
or tho failure of legislation, it
these, or new questions, are unset
tled and any other political party be
come responsible for legislation, wo
shall press home upon its represent
atives and hold them responsible
equally as we now must hold you '
Samuel Gompers, W. R; Fairley,
P. J. McArdle, W. D. Mahon,
Joseph Valentine, C. N. Barnett,
T. C. Parsons, Committee.
Qfld cots tho hottest Democratic paper
WUb 1 U. S., ono year. Bixby, N. C.
yAflIrrNaTON-PKND-(roEII.M: Valt,ky hay.
prraln nnd fruit lands. 1G0 to 800 acres. Timber and
timber lauds, ICO to C000 acres. OAiiii A. Scuottk.
Newport, Wash,
All About Texas
Oklahoma, .Arkansas, Louisiana Now Mexico
Homes for tho homeless, prosperity for tho indus
trious. Tho homo builders' guide. Send stamp for
samplo copy.
FARM AND RANCH, Dallas, Texas.
LET US SHOW YOU
what others aro dolmr handllnsr our Klnpr Soparator
and Aerator Mon now In tho field averajrlne $25 to
5100 per week. Our machines aro low priced and soil
to very Farmer and Dairyman. Thousands in use.
Exclusive territory and freo samplo to workers,
write us today for tho best proposition you over saw.
De King Mfg. Co., Dept. 12, Chicago, III.
Subscribers' Advertising Dept
This department Is for the exclusive
uso of Commoner subscribers, and u
special rate of six cents a word per in
sertion tho lowest rate has been
made for them. Address all communi
cations to The Commoner, Lincoln, Neb.
CAFETY TO DEPOSITORS GUAR
P anteed under laws of Oklahoma.
Four per cent Interest paid on timo
deposits. Wrlto us for particulars.
Arkansas Valley National Bank, Brok
en Arrow, Okla.
A DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER
f plant for sale; town of 1,500 popu
lation; business worth ?4,000 or $5 ooo
aarj .W,m sell businSs's separate or
with building. Business plant worth
$3,250 part cash. Will rPnt or sell tho
kuiLdlJLe' worh -!'750' cut on price.
if both are bought. Address A. V
Parker, Hartington, Nebraska.
COR SALE ONLY DEMOCRATIC
weekly Paper in good Missouri
county. Modern plant, circulation 2,400,
i?8" e0 monSX- In health causa
of sale. Must sacrifice, sell aulck Ail.
dress, "Missouri," carp Commoner.
T0 COMMONER READERS FOR BO
cents (coin) I will send to any
one the formula of a remedy that
cured mo of indigestion and norvous
dyspepsia. The cost is trifling at any
drug store. Send at once, as this ad
wIiJ not aPPear again. Mrs. C. J. Wes
cott, Oshkosh, Wis.
J DAHO IRRIGATED LAND 5,000 .
acres just irrigated and placed on
market ?2G.25 per acre. Ten years '
time. Beautiful valley, southern Idaho! '
Produces wonderfully. Abundant wa-
? w i n i !.. Auuress, xno Idaho
aSldOI?Sniffi?S.umb81 BulIdIn Kan-
. f w.. t
OHN M. BRADFORD OF 2011
. Franklin, Springfield, Mo., wishes
to know tho whereabouts of his broth
er James M. Bradford, who left Hardy
Sffy J' ,18". and has not T been
heftf,?i,fromi,8lnco; description, 5 toot,
8 inches tall, weight 240 pounds, dark
hair, small mustache, blue grey eyes
aTi,5,yea?s', SuPPosod to have gono
SllyaWSormaUon WI11 b0 thank"
ROR SALE C40 FARM IN SHERMAN
County, Texas. All fenced;460 '
acres plowed and seeded; well, wind
tS?1VJasturo' arP' four room house;
C2o5luPmLarMoWrIt0 W' B' Do Jurnette' I
ALEXANDER CHAPLAIN, BASTON."
f Maryland, has several salt water '
Sn!?8f i 8ali' Oysters, crabs7flsh and '
ulars abound. Write for partic"
J)ON'T WAIT FOR RAIN 160 ACRE
i )ra,cts l? th0 fertilQ an Luis Val
ley, full water rights, sure crops; easy
., o.. v,,( .ttaumosa, J010.
A'o?0?13?,01311 OKLAHOMA
r Texas. Easy to get on Easy
street, and live while you aro at it
Fine farm districts. Many openinga
2SSlot 10 5ntB. oTclahVa .6
iTr T "i""u b lamps, ara owon
Martin, Immigration, Rock Island,
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