xt7wwp9t2q46_63 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61.dao.xml American Liberty League 37 linear feet archival material English University of Kentucky This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed.  Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically.  Physical rights are retained by the owning repository.  Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws.  For information about permissions to reproduce or publish, contact the Special Collections Research Center. Jouett Shouse Collection (American Liberty League Pamphlets), No. 66 "The National Labor Relations Act: Summary of Conclusions as to the Constitutionality of this Act, Prepared by the Sub-Committee on Industrial Relations and Labor Legislation and Approved by the National Lawyers Committee of the American Liberty League," September 19, 1935 text No. 66 "The National Labor Relations Act: Summary of Conclusions as to the Constitutionality of this Act, Prepared by the Sub-Committee on Industrial Relations and Labor Legislation and Approved by the National Lawyers Committee of the American Liberty League," September 19, 1935 2013 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61/59m61_66/Am_Lib_Leag_66_001/Am_Lib_Leag_66_001.pdf section false xt7wwp9t2q46_63 xt7wwp9t2q46 Pamphlets Available * *
*
Copies of the following pamphlets and A
other League literature may be obtained  
upon application to the League’s national
headquarters : °
Statement of Principles and Purposes    
American Liberty Leiagueflts Péa1gormM
An Analysis of the resi ent’s u get essage
  Smmy RELATIONS ACT
Inflation
The Thirty Hour Week
The Pending Banking Bill
The Holding Company Bill
Film Cfimtli B ll
T .e La or eations i
The Bituminous Coal Bill * * *
Extension of the NRA
The Farmers’ Home Bill
The TVA Amendments _
The NewbDeal, Its Unsound Theories and Irre-
concila le Policies—Speech by Ralph M. Shaw · _
How to Meet the Issue——Speech by William E. SuInm3fryOf_COnCluS{OnS as to ‘h°C°“
Bgrah stitutionality of this Act, Prepared
The Supreme Court and the Néw Deal _ · ,
The Duty of the Church to the Social Order- by Fha Sub  Ommlttcc on Indlls
Speech by S. Wells Utley tt‘1&l Relations and Labor Leg1s»
An Open Letter to the President—By Dr. Neil lation and Approved by the
Carothers . .
The Revised AAA Amendments N¤¤<>¤¤lL¤WY¢1‘SC¤mm1¢-
The President’s Tax Program tec Of the American Lib-
The American Bar—The Trustee of American L
Institutions—Speech by Albert C. Ritchie crty caguc
TwolAmazing Years—Speech by Nicholas Roose-
ve t
Fabian Socialism in the New Deal—Speech by
Demarest Lloyd
The Peop1e’s Money-—Speech by Dr. Walter E. ·
Spahr
The Principles of Constitutional Democracy and
the New Deal—Speech by R. E. Desvernirze `AE IC
‘ Wlgch Road to Take?——Speech by J. Howard Y   4+
ew " 'i'`c' ‘“
The Blessings of Stability———Speech by James W. g   w
Wadsworth nv   ~¤
Legislation—By Coercion or Constitution- Q?) eye
Speech by Jouett Shouse Y \·
Recovery by Statute—Speech by Dr. Neil `
Carothers
Expanding Bureaucracy
The Imperilment of Democracy—Speech by
Fitzgerald Hall
Lawmaking by Executive Order
The Test of Citizenship——Speech by Dean Carl
W' Ackerman AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE
Today’s Lessons for Tomorrow—Speech by _
Captain William H. Staytori N¢**0”¤l H¢¤dQ¤-¤‘Y¢¢‘YS
New Deal Laws lll Federal Courts NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
Potato Control
"Breathing Spel1s"———Speech by Jouett Shouse WASHINGTON» D- C-
ir
AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE * *
NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
WASHINGTON, D. C. ‘
  Document N0. 66
*1;.4 September, 1935 -

 National Lawyers§C0mmittee
RAOUL E. DESVERNINE, Chairman The National Labor Relations
15 Broad Street, New York City Act
WILLIAM T. ALDEN ........................ Chicago, Ill. _ _ i
EDWIN G. BAETJER ..................... Balgénore,   The follounng Summary of Conclusions was
HAROLD BEACOM ..................... . ...... lCH,gO, .     as G payt Of thg Teport Of
CHARLES A. BEARDSLEY ................. Oakland, Calif. » - · ·
JAMES M. DROR .................... WRARJRORR, D. c. . the Neheeet hemrere Cemmettee ef the rimme-
LEWIS BENSON .,....................... Hama, s. Dar. een Ljrbertg League _dedleng weth the eerretttu-
WILLIAM BEYE ............................ Chicago, Ill. tzonalzty of the Nattonal Labor Relations Act.
}?éUSH   %U'1`hER --—·—·-···-·-·-·····- CH ~$h{6°hhg°S»Ig· I The complete report of the Committee contained
J..§°3?§EO.1eAE£i3°A..1;i111111111111i11iivAAJfii.§$O?A‘}’D.1 of m eddthee te. thee eemmerr e eemereheeeme
RAJNRRJOOR COIJBY ...................... New YOJN can tegdl brref deeegned rdrttetddrty fer the eenven-
JAMES C. COLLINS .................... Providence, R. I. 267166 of la’wy67”S. R6q'UJ6SlS fOT COp?A6S of the T6-
Eihihghhlg RDSEQJDERTJ JR- --·--·-~~-—--—- Igleevzv    . port have been so numerous that it has been
CHARLES.I. DAwSoN·. ll. ·.I.·. ..1.. ·.·...·.·. `.`. ll. n. Louisville,   ·fO7‘md.neCe88aTy to Tgprmt the Summary m this
ROBERT G. DoDoE ........................ Boston, Mass. .lO7"m_m _O"d€7` te greed the wm9C€$$a7`Z/ Gxpgnsg
MALCOLM DoNALD ....................... Boston, Mass. 1 of distributing large numbers of the complete
éosmrnvlg. ELY ........................... Vléosflon, Liliass. ,~GpO»,~;_
ARLE . EVANS .................... ‘ .... ic ita, an.
GLENN J. FArRDRooK .................... Seattle, Wash. *
FRANCIS P. FLEMING ................. Jacksonville, Fla.
CHARLES R. FowLER ................ Minneapolis, Minn.
HAROLD J. GALLAGHER ................... New York City O A ,
THoMAs J . GUTHRIE. ................. Des Moines, Iowa Summary of CO1'1Cl11S1011S
CHARLES H. HAMILL ...................... Chicago, Ill. _ _
J. HENRY HARRISON ..................... Newark, N. J. The undersigned, members of the National
QOHN JAHi"J_fRD .............»......... P.Pittsbiurg)h, Pe-. Lawyers Committee of the American Liberty
  N."JtJ‘§EA%iA’AR1.111111111.1.wRRR‘§FOZ’iaR,   I heeeee were eerehhted members et e eeheem-
FRANK J. HOGAN .................... Washington, D. o. mrttee teehreetrsete end repert err reeerrt devel-
FORNEY JOHNSTON ................... Birmingham, Ala. opments 111 federal labor leglslation.
ll`? J. KE}-lWEFICK ......................... gullali,     Qur Report, was Originally Submitted to the
vAEit“£?DAt’Vi?1 1 i 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 ; 1 1 ; 1 1 1 ;New€CNiilIeai1S, DA; ehhre Jhemherehrr. et the Netieheh hewrere
HENRY MCALLISTER ...................... Denver, Colo. Commlttce fer therr guggestmns and applloval
RoBER1· H. MCCARTER .................... Newark, N. J. and thereafter was revised as herewith submitted
§}:;t;t§;>§;{ Bmggiggfgtg ··-—-—·······- W·ClleVe;e~¤d,I§)hg> with the approval of the Committee.
. .............. 3S 1Dg OH, . . ' ‘ __
CHARLES G. MIDDLETON ................. Louisville, Ky. . It has been Our task to Consldgr Suph leglsla
WARREN D. MoISE ......................... Atlanta;) GR. tree frem rte eeeetrtutrerrel ee1eeeteA Wrth perme-
CHADLES E. MORGAN, 3D .............. Philadelphia, Pa. ular emphasis upon the relation of such legisla-
?U`h;:i§YDE-Kl§E,*$’;;§{A§ --·-······-·-- LGS Iirigglelgi Ceilif- tion to our traditional and constitutional methods
J. . A .................. V G, Y. ° ' ' ' °
ORR. J. DAAR RRAR R .................. Jacksonville, RJA. et eeehee mth rhdhetrreh reheheee- .
ROBERT J. PRAOARR ..................... oOROORO, N. H. The Netrehei Leher Reietreee Att, Whreh wee
Josam M. PRoSKA.UER ................. New York City approved by the Pres1dent of the United States
DAVID A. REED ......................... Pittsburgh, Pa. on July 5 1935 represents the first, attempt of
EARL F. REED ........................ . Pittsburgh, Pa. th Federél G , tl tl tj h ·
JAMES A. REED ....................... KRRSRO airy, MO. 6 . .°"€mm‘?“ ° Gmc °°mp"€ Enslve
GEORGE ROBERTS _______________________, NOW York City labor leg1slat1on, des1gned to cover the entire
  RALPH M. SHAVV .......................... Chicago, Ill. field of_1ndustr1al disputes. Consequently this
IEITEAII;  }§HEPLEY ··-·-——··--·----·-· %·tLOQ;11SMM}<_:. new legislation provided the focal point of our
. . ......................... 8 1' 1 , 1C . ' ' ' ' ' '
FREDERICK   STINCHFIELD .......... lVllI1l’1€3.pOllS, Minh. lnvestlgatlono In Our report, Whlch IS Submltted
JOSIAH STRYKER ........................ Newark, N. J. herewllihr we have endeavored te present an
TAzEwDLL TAYLOR ......................... Norfolk, Ya. analysis oi the probable effects of the statute,
THOMAS F- VEACH --~~-·—-···»··»-»·-- Cleveland. Ohio followed by a consideration of its constitu-
GEORGE W. WICKERMHAM .............. New York City
E. RANDOLPH WILLIAMS ................. Richmond, Va. 3
A 2

 §§Bggfy> *,i$1_?*(in;°3(;°Itl§ g?°1,;§§°gSgjg;t°g;q%?t§°é°a; own bargains is eliminated and the riggit df a
‘ . . . minority to form its own associations or ar-
somevsiliat extensive and detailed analysis oft the gaming purposes, is ignored Finally,-émpioyaes
Ach . Or that reason We are Setting mth mm who refuse to participate in the selection of rep-
?€f;{`;$§gSi‘g“$g"¥’€p‘:)f1_t°§;€l‘i°?§1t“i}t‘;“Séu;‘g‘£rt?;; rcsentatives are presumably bound bylitsuresults,
` ‘ . i . ‘ T . . even though they have not, even imp ie y con-
arguments and citation of decisions of the Courts. Sgntgd to the Selection Of the Choslen r€pr€é€nta_
tives. ·
Terms Of Act These interferences with the individual’s free-
. . . l f ontract sl ould be considered against a
1'ug;1<;OP1z;;;)i1r6);}1; f1;<;;i<3; ’¤§¤€€a§;16;;t;6y12I';>p{%);{;lg€ _ iygglqgretind of evdn more serious practical (lio-
. . S s ~ ‘ . ‘ t‘ ih A t.
with *=h<=¤‘ Gmrhrer- The Act €Xrr€SSlr.d<=¢l¤l‘€S TEaitllifilihfiilli$§ZiSi§Eei°ti$;eliizttiee§ megnbgf
that] "°p"€S?“l‘*'m""S£. Seiectigd by. it m“7°7L“%   i come the exclusive representatives of employees,
tmrhgreee in .3* lm wu art tirgalning  Sm ‘ despite the existence of a substantial group in
is s§s?5fii‘§t"§¤§€‘iE€i2? Ztltttite sm‘*i§“§; <~i>¤¤Sltl¤¤· It is spacers me mh to more
p y tt . 1 .’ g h f li Y d that unions will faithfully represent and bargain
331gl2OI$é`?t£‘r;°O¥‘;“1I$1pi“O*;§x;Sént°,§‘}i;‘{30;_‘3`iS 3; for non-members, who have not submitted them-
. ‘ .4 ` selves to the payment of dues and penalties and
l’;"¥}‘j;‘""d “l d?Yf"m1i‘1‘? Vlghghare the rggreientallvcs to numerous regulations of the association. As a
Of 8 {milton y* W {lc th ey uggyd O gr Iéleang consequence, dissenting employees are completely
;1a*;nS;l2$t1°nT(i§`€SS§it (Lf ggpglssestatigi $Vh€‘i‘°;2I deprived of representation; their wages, hours of
. ‘ . . * l labor and conditions of employment will be de-
li lf the Bmplolglr unltztth? Yilint Pm? Fha Crggt termined, not by their desires, but by the will of
gigciegoiogietge %`O;11?;l# linéifsgilsgl Eulipigyeeg the national organization. Otherwise, they may
. . · . . ’ ll ' ` , ` t f th '
and minority groups have no right to negotiate i,’If’€G°(gI}§l£2€€d to Wm-6 umm H0 0 ell OWU
.with their employer as to wages, hours or condi- `
tions of employment, the only right reserved to .
them being to present individual "grievances" or EmP1OY€r Loses Rlghts
¤¤mi¤*el¤’¤S lm the employeh A similar observation may be made with re-
spect to the position of the employer. He will
A Tllyeat to Employee Freedom hud himself required to bargain with the repre-
_ _ _ _ _ sentatives certified by the Board, deprived of the
It 1S OUT b€l1€f   J0h1S pI`OV1S1OI1 of l`»l'1€ St~3,lil.llL€   to negotiate   minority groups oi- indi-
COI1Si'il}0LllD€S 3.II   iI1h€I'f€I'€I1C€   lZl'1€ llldl- vidua] einpioyeeg Yet our traditional inteypye-
V1du6l fI`€€d0¤I of €mPl0Y€€S» 68 gU6Y6¤’¤€€€i to n tation of the Constitution has assured to every
tlwm by the Fifth Am€¤dm€¤l» @0 ’¤h€ CQ¤Sl51t\}· , employer and every e·mployee the right to make
t10€t0f thféh Tgnitod St6'¤€SihViil£1<{)h l§1`0V}d€3 11; l their own bargains, and has preserved to each
SP S 6¤C€ 6 i H0 Person _S 6 € €PF1V€ 0 E freedom and equality of bargaining powers.
ilk, l1'l`{filI`tYf OY dP1'0P€1`tYtWi1t·h§U§ dg; P(1500€i§t0f { Discrimination in the matter of hiring and dis-
6W· _ 6 Y€€ OU} $660 ·10¤€ Y · 6 OHS 1 iu- [ charging or in the tenure and condition of em-
tion mciudtis tht? Ught 0f_ 66017 m6¤ to follow 6¤Y { ployment against union members is proscribed.
€CCUP6l»1r the effect extent of its application. The conclusions which
on commerce of the labor expended 1n production We ha}V_€ sot forth oro hnsod upon sottiod doo_
is remote and indirect. Remote eeheeelueheee trines of the Supreme Court of the United States,
cannot juetiiy federal eetiehi heeauee federal the tribunal to which is entrusted the interpreta-
p0We1‘ is iimited tv ihtetetate eemmeree aha Pan' tion of the Constitution. These doctrines have
Hot,   al pretext,   Into local a»Ct1g.V1tr1€S. Hot. been invented   the     are the
Another industrial gi”0uP embtaeee businesses express requirements of our political charter.
which do not receive materials in interstate com- The eherter hot ehiy dehhee the hhe between the
merce or Ship aftieies d0i‘0SS State hhee· The jurisdiction of the Federal Government and the
(eontention may be made that the Act, ¤eVei“the‘ jurisdiction of the several States, but it also im-
ieee, appiiee heeeuee labor disputes ih_ eueh m' poses certain conditions which are designed to
(instries may indirectly impede OF hinder the protect the freedom and property of individual
mevement of interstate commerce. _ We _e~i`e» citizens. The Constitution is a cr—eation of the
nevertheless, of the opinion that this indzreot people, ai body of iimitstions Whioh thoy thom_
effect is not sufficient to justify the application of eelvee have impOS_€d upon thoii. own goVsi,n_
the statute to such concerns. _ mental actions. The charter contains its own
A business is by its very nature either i1it1fe· provisions for an amendment and while its provi-
state or interstate in character and its essential sions stand they must be accepted as the supreme
eheyeetey will prevail. We cannot change the law of the land, transcending not only the desires
nature of a business by legislative declaration or of any branch of government, but also the tem-
interpretation any more than we can, by legisla- porary beliefs and opinions of the people. It is
tive fiat, convert a regulation of labor into a the function of the Supreme Court to expound
regulation of interstate commerce. that document. The Supreme Court does not
Perhaps it may be contended that the Act can strike down legislation because it runs contrary
apply to businesses which are actually engaged to its opinions. It merely declares that, while
in the movement of interstate commerce, such as i the limitations of the Constitution stand they
interstate carriers, trucking agencies and water must be obeyed as the final mandate of the
transportation facilities. Railroads are not in- i people and no legislature, whether it be Eederal
eluded, being subject to the Railway Labor Act. r or State, can nullify them.
Since these enterprises are instrumentalities ot l
interstate commerce, the regu atory power o i . .
Congress over their activities is broadly con- i A Departure from the Constltutlon
gtyugd and Congress is permitted, beeatlee of the < Times and our economy may have changed,
public interest in the continuity of interstate i but We have not ehenged om. Constitution noi.
movement, to enact regulations which are de· even deemed it advisable so to dc. It is cnr
signed to prevent_1nterrupt10¤S td that meVe‘ task to expound our constitutional law as it is,
ment, These businesses Oeellpy a_VeI'Y small apart from its economical or social consequences,
here ef the industrial field and eonetltute _a 1‘eie· and to point out how and in what respeets this
tively small portion of the bi1S1H€SS€S Whleh the new legislation departs from our traditional
Ae-h purports to and does embrace. EVe=H 111 tiiie constitutional concepts. It is almost unneces-
territory, we believe that the Act cannot be effec- sary to add that it must not be assumed that the
tively applied. As We htwe stated, ite eaheht desired objects cannot be attained by means
features are not consistent with the requirements within the Constitution.
of due process, and eliminating the sections which We have examined the Act with a view to
we believe to be unconstitutional, nothing of sub- expressing our opinion as to its constitutionality
stance remains to be applied to such businesses. and whether or not it represents a departure
from our established system of government. We
i ‘ 9
8

 have not expressed any opinion as to the advis-
ability of any change in our system of govern-
ment or the need or propriety of regulating all
the industrial relations of the country through a
central government. Considering the Act in
the light of our history, the established form of
government, and the decisions of our highest
Court, we have no hesitancy in concluding that
it is unconstitutional and that it constitutes- a
complete departure from our constitutional and
traditional theories of government. _ _
Respectfully submitted,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
AND LABOR LEGISLATION,
Earl F. Reed, Chairman,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Harold Beacom,
Chicago, Ill. .
Harold J. Gallagher,
New York, N. Y.
D. J. Kenefick,
Buffalo, N. Y.
Harrison B. McGraw, _ .
Cleveland, Ohio
Gurney E. Newlin,
Los Angeles, Calif.
Hal H. Smith,
Detroit, Mich. ‘
E. Randolph Williams,
Richmond, Va.
The foregoing summary was initially prepared A
by the above—named Sub-Committee on Indus-
trial Relations and Labor Legislation of the Na-
tional Lawyers Committee of the American Lib-
erty League. It was then submitted to all mem-
bers of the National Lawyers Committee for their
approval or criticism. Following this submission,
and as a result thereof, the foregoing summary
was issued as the report of the National Lawyers
Committee. A
R. E. DESVERNINE,
Chairman,
National Lawyers Committee. `
. A 10