Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-24
PRESIDENT REPLIES TO MEMO.
RIAL OF AMERICAN FEDORA
TloN OF LABOR
TELLS HIS OWN VIEWS
Explains Why Eisht-Hour Law Would
Not Be Advisable in Panama-says
That Chinese Coolies Must BE Kept
Out Of the United states-Anti-In-
junction Bill.

Washington, d. c., March 22.-Ad-
dressing the repres OF organ
lied labor who called on him yester-
day afternoon, President Roosevelt re-
piled In an extended address to me-
mortal of the executive counsel of
the American Federation, urging &C.
ton on various demands for legisla-
ton being made by organized labor in
terests OF the country. The memorial
dwelt particularly on the eight-hour
law and it's enforcement on govern
ment works, including the Panama ca
nal, and immigration laws, especially
the Chinese exclusion laws.
On the subjects. of general immigra-
ton and exclusion of Chinese labor,
the president Indicated that he was in
practical accord with them, but on
some other matters he differed with
them radically.
Anti-Injunction Bill.
The President advised the delegates
that! If they objected to the. passage
of the proposed anti-injunction bill
there is no question but they can stop
it, for, he said there is not a capital
list concerned who, simply as capital
list, is not against it, though he ex.
both of capitalists and wage workers
who are concerned primarily as citi-
Zens, favor it. He expressed the
opinion that the bill has no chance of
passing, at the same time declaring a
wish that it would be put through be-
cause he thought 1t an admirable law.
During the four and half years
that l have been President" he said,
81 do not remember an instance where
the government has invoked the right
of Injunction AGAINST a combination of
slaborers. We have invoked it certain
sly q score of times against combina-
tons Of capital. / think possibly Of
Stnne1sF Thus, though we have secured
the issNance OF injunctions In a num-
her or eases agains.. capitalistic COM
hinatioEs, y has happened that we
lave never tried to secure an injunc--
ton against a combination of labor.
But understand me, gentlemen, 1t l
ever thought it necessary, II thought
"a combination of laborers were doing
wrong, I would apply for an injunc-
ton against them just as quick as
against SO many capitalists.
The Eight Hour Law.
The President then referred to the
eight hour law and its application to
the Panama canal He pointed out
the fact that white men could not be
secured to work on the canal and that
it was necessary to depend upon ne
groes and called attention to the fact
that the first of the week these labor
ers work well but by the end Of the
week, large proportion are absent or
doing very little. The application of
the eight hour law would be an alb
surdity and would mean indefinite de-
lay and injury to the work on the 18TH
mus. The President insisted that am
pie opportunity had been afforded for
a. hearing on the eight hoEr law. He
declared himself e,nphaiically. in ia
vor of the eight hour law ."for our own
people in our own country" but that
it could not be made applicable to the
tropics. The President asked for n
specific statement of violations Of the
eight hour law and promised, to see
that the law is obeyed.
Must Keep Out Chinese Labor.
Concerning the Chinese question the
President said that instead of there
being an influx Of Chinese there are
fewer in this country now than there
were ten years ago, or twenty years.
or thirty years ago.
ut is my deep conviction" said the
President, "that we must keep out Of
this country every Chinese laborer,
of the collie class. This is what the
proposed law will do; it will be done
as effectively as under the present
law; and the present law is being han.
died with the utmost efficiency But
will do everything in my power to
make it easy and desirable for the
Chinese of the business and profes-
sional classes, the Chinese travellers
and students 20 come here and I will
do all can to secure their good treat.
ment when they come; and no labor.
ing man has anything whatever to fear
from that policy. +, have Il right TO
challenge you as good American citi.
zens to support that policy; and in
any event shall stand unflinchinglv
for it; and no man can say with sin
certify that on this, or indeed on any
other point, he has any excuse for
misunderstanding my policy
To Appoint Committee.
The delegation remained with the
President about three-auarters Of an
hour, and the subjects suggested were
! considered sainformally after tbe I'D.
dresses had been delivered. 1t was
agreed that,on points Of difference the
executive council of the federation
should appoint a committee Of three,
which should draft the views Of the
organization and submit them to the
President at later date. 1t is likely
that President Gompers will. be the
chairman OF that committee.
Earlier iii the day the delegation
called on Speaker Cannon and Senator
Frye of Maine. president. pro tempore
iaf tho sanata