THE UNION BOYCOTT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 853, 27 June 1910, Page 7

THE UNION BOYCOTT.

TAFT'S LATEST MOVE. FEDERATION OF LABOUR RESENTS IT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (R«e. June. 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 25. "The Times" Washington correspondent says Mr. Taft has persuaded Congress to eliminate, legislation making labour unions iinniuno from the provisions of the. Sherman Anti-Tnist Act. This is to supplement the decision of the Supremo Court holding that a boycott for the purpose of increasing wages or shortening hours is tantamount to a conspiracy in restraint of trade, and as such illegal under the Act. Tlio American Federation of Labour resents Mr. Taft's action. AN EPOCH-MAKING DECISION. The judgment uf the United States District Court in tho State of Connecticut, in tlio long-contested case of the boycotting of n hat manufacturer at Danbury, murks something like an opocli iu the controversy between capital ami labour in this country (wrote an American correspondent in February last). It promise.-; to bo far-reaching in its influence upon Die conduct of industrial disputes and upon the whole plan of campaign of labour organisations. Iu some essential respects it closely resembles the Taff Vale decision, and though it is not likely to be, and indeed cannot be, annulled by legislation as was the latter, there is littlo doubt that it will provoke increased political >:ctivity on the part of labour unions. Briefly slated, the judgment is to the effect that a labour union can ho sued in Court for damages in tho smne way as any other corporation, (.hat it may thus bo held responsible for its acts in boycotting or otherwise interfering with the freedom of trade, and that its funds may be nttached for indemnity. As tlie Supreme Court had previously declared boycotting illegal, there could bo no appeal, except against the damages awarded, totalling £14,000.