The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-07-22
G0MPERs AND DUNCAN !. ..
TALK WITH ROOSEVELT
Chief Executive Tells Labor
Leaders His Position on
Chinese Exclusion.
President Gompers Forcibly
and Logically Defends
American Labor.

L SoAA0AV VAAkf0A0 . ~ VANAy
and Logically Defends
American Labor.
New York July 20-Undestricted i'm
migration into the United States and
the Chinese question In particular
brought about meeting. at Oyster
Bay. N. T., wednesday between Presi-
dent Roosevelt and President Gompers
and Vice President Duncan of the
American Federation of Labor. The
conference was devoted particularly to
a consideration Of the order recently
issued by the president regarding the
enforcement Of the Chinese Exclusion
law. An impression had been gained
by many members Of labor organiza-
tions that the order, to an extent, at
least, let down the immigration bars,
SO far as Chinese are concerned. The
president assured his callers however,
that no such construction properly
could be placed on the order. and that
he was just as vigorously opposed to
the admission to this country Of Chin
eye coolies as they could be.
Mr.. Gompers urged upon the presi-
dent the desira bil1ty Of an intelligent,
practical and humane consideration Of
the general question Of immigration by
the people and by congress. The peo-
pie of this country and Of the whole
civilized world are entitled, he main
tanned, to such a consideration of the
problem.
I'VE directed the presidents atter-
tion," said Mr. Gompers after the con-
ference, ito the Interpretation placed
by some persons on his recent order.
issued at the instance of the Americ-
an Asiatic Association, concerning the
admission to the United States o. Chi
nese. BY many Of our own peeple and
by many Chinese that order was look
ed upon as letting down Of the immi-
grafton bars, 80 far as the Chinese are
concerned. The President assured us
that no proper reading of the order
would warrant such an Interpretation.
and that nothing was farther from his
intention than that such an impress
sion should be gotten from the order.
His determination Is that both skilled
and unskilled Chinese laborers shall
be excluded from the United States,
and he says the law will be rigidly en:: ::
forced. -
"Hts order related only to tho 80:
called exempt classes-merchants, stu
dents, travelrs and the flke-who- here
tofore have had difficulty in gaining
admission to this country hecauye Of
the many fraudulent certificates: is
sued. to them and to coolies, who are
not entitled to certificates in any
event. We went over the entire matter
thoroughly. the conference being per-
fectly satisfactory to US.
"1he President suggested that in the
course of five or six months we again
bring the matter to his attention in
the light Of the experience of that
length Of time In working under the
order.
'The President said he was deter
mined that the diplomatic and consular
representatives of the United States in
China should perform their duties
thoroughly and impartially, and that
the law as to the issuance of certifi-
Gates to members of the exempt Chi
nese ella sses should be compiled with
absolutely. He added that any officer
Of the United States who issued a
false certificate would lose his official
head the instant his misconduct was
discovered.
I'VE also considered with the Presi-
dent theh Eight, Hour law and the
difficulties which we encountered in
securing its enforcement on govern
ment work. We instanced violations
of the law and requested him to con-
slider them. He asked us to present
the facts in formal document, he re-
fusing to take up the subject at once.
Meantime he expressed himself as be-
Ing In entire sympathy with the law
and insisted that 1t must be observed.
We pointed out to him that officers
Of the War Department, under whose
direction much government work is
done, were not inclined to insist upon
an observance Of the law, and many
Of them had declined to regard 1t az
their duty to bring suit to compel its
enforcement. The President agreed
with us that the government officers
ought to see to 1t that the law is obey
ed.
"Our talk with the President was
most satisfactory. We discussed gen
orally the condition and interests Of
labor, considered the subject of more
rigid regulations for the exclusion from
this country of vicious and illiterate
Immigrants, and talked of some ,legis-
lation along these lines which we re-
gard as desirable
>Messrs. Gompers and Duncan left
on the afternoon train for New York.
They had expected to be accompanied
to Oyster Bay by John. Mitchell, prest-
dent Of the United Mine Workers of
America, but he was unable to meet
the engagement