He advocated the creation of a Federal
Department of Labor which has recently developed into a cabinet
secretariat. His legal bete noire, however, was the Sherman
Anti-Trust Law as applied to labor unions. For many years he
fought vehemently for an amending act exempting the laboring
class from the rigors of that famous statute. President Roosevelt
with characteristic candor told a delegation of Federation
officials who called on him to enlist his sympathy in their
attempt, that he would enforce the law impartially against
lawbreakers, rich and poor alike. Roosevelt recommended to
Congress the passage of an amendment exempting "combinations
existing for and engaged in the promotion of innocent and proper
purposes." An exempting bill was passed by Congress but was
vetoed by President Taft on the ground that it was class
legislation. Finally, during President Wilson's administration,
the Federation accomplished its purpose, first indirectly by a
rider on an appropriation bill, then directly by the Clayton Act,
which specifically declared labor combinations, instituted for
the "purpose of mutual help and...not conducted for profit,"
not to be in restraint of trade. Both measures were signed by the
President. Encouraged by their success, the Federation leaders
have moved with a renewed energy against the other legal citadel
of their antagonists, the use of the injunction in strike cases.
Gompers has thus been the political watchman of the labor
interests.
Pages:
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97