The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-13
GOMPERS TALKS
WITH PRESIDENT
Position is Unchanged on Ex-
cIusion Law
WANTS NO COOLlE LABOR
president Says His Intention in lssu-
ing Order Was Simply to Allow
Admission of Merchants
and Students.

Oyster Bay, +. l., July 12.--Immigratlon
to the United States and it's relation to the
labor problem, formed the subject OF
conference this afternoon between the
President and two of the important lead
ers of organized labor-samnel Gompers Oh
Washington and James Duncan of gum
cy, Mass, respectively the president ana
vice president of the American Federation
of Labor.
The conference was devoted particularly
to the consideration Of an order recently
issued by the President regarding the en-
forcement of the Chinese exclusion law
An impression had been gained by many
members of labor organizations that an
order was issued to some extent at leas.
to let down the Immigration bars so far
as Chinese are concerned The Fresioel ~
assured his callers, however, that no suen
construction properly could be placed on
the order, and that he was just as Vigor-
ously opposed to the admission 10 TINS
country Of Chinese coolies as they coulo
be. Mr. Gompers urged upon the PRESIDENT
the desirabilty for an intelligent prac-
teal and humane consideration of the gem
eral question of immigration by the peo-
pie, and by Congress- The people of this
country and of the whole civilized world
are entitled. he maintained to such
consideration of the problem.
Called Attention to Interpretation.
1--WE directed the Presidents attention.
said Mr.. Gompers after the conferen ~
ITO the Interpretation placed by some per-
sons on his recent order issued at the in
stance of the American-Asiatic associa-
ton concerning the admission to the Uni
ted States of Chinese BY many of our own
people, and by many Chinese. that order
| was looked upon as a letting down of the
| immigration bars so 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 further from his intention
| than that such an impression should be
gotten from the order, His determination
| is that both skilled and unslilled Chinese
| laborers shall be excluded from the Uni
| ted States and he says the law would
be rigidly enforced. His order related only
| to the so-caled exempt classes, mer-
| chants students, travellers and the like,
who heretofore have had difficulty In
gaining admission to this country because
of many fraudulent certificates issued to
them, and to coolies, who are not entitled
| to certificates. We went over the entire
matter thoroughly the conference being
perfectly satisfactory to us
Must Comply With Law.
"The President says he is determined
| that the diplomatic and consular represen-
tatives of the United States in China
| should perform their duties thoroughly
and impartally. and that the law as to
| the issuance of certificates to members
| of the exempt Chinese classes should be
complied with absolutely. He added that
| any officer of the United States who is
sued a false certificate would lose his
official office the instant his misconduct
| was found
1--WE also considered with the President
| the eight-hour law, and the difficulties
which we had encountered in securing It's
enforcement on government work. We In
stanced violations Of the law, and re-
| ouested him to consider them. He asked
MS to present the facts In formal docu-
| ment, he refusing to take up the subject
| at once Meantime he expressed himself
as being 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 or
the law, and many declined to regard II
| as 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 eight-hour day was
| obeyed.
"Our talk with the President was most
| satisfactory. We discussed generally the
condition and interests of labor, consd-
cred the subject of more rigid regulations
| for the exclusion from this country Of
vicious and illiterate immigrants, and
| talked of some legislation along these
lines which we regard 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. president OF the United
| Mine Workers of America. but he was un-
| able to meet the engagement.