Final answer:
The Clayton Act is falsely claimed to have hurt union growth; it actually exempted labor unions from antitrust laws and was praised by Samuel Gompers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Clayton Act hurt union growth more than it helped is false. The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 was seen by Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), as a significant advance for organized labor. This act aimed to promote fair competition and prevent monopolistic business practices. More importantly, for labor unions, the Clayton Act exempted labor unions from being considered as illegal combinations or monopolies in restraint of trade, unlike previous interpretations under the Sherman Act. This provided them with legal support to conduct activities without the fear of antitrust prosecution. Gompers lauded the act as the labor movement's Magna Charta, recognizing that it would help secure labor's place within the industrial economy, enhance collective bargaining, and protect workers' rights.