Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-22
PRESENTED LABoR.s S CAUSE.

body OF the representatives OF oTgablleu
labor yesterday afternoon at the White
House, and talked TO them about
their urgent request for the enactment
of labor measures now pending before
Congress.
Samuel Gompers, president, and Frank
Morrison, secretary of the American
Federation OF Labor, headed the dele
CATION, which consisted Of about a
hundred members of the executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor.
Secretary Morrison read to the Presi
dent memorial of the executive council
of the Ametican Federation that dwelt
particularly on the eight. hour law and
its enforcement on government work, in
cluding the Panama canal, and the i'm
migration laws, especially the Chinese
exclusion laws.
President Corners and James Dun
can, of Quincy, Mass, first vice-presi-
dent OF the federation and president
of the Granite Cutters Union, followed
With brief addresses on the lines of the
memorial
President Roosevelt, after listening to
the statements, replied in an extended
address.
On the subjects of general immigra-
ton and the exclusion of Chinese labor
the President indicated that he was in
prsclica! accord with them, but on
some other matters he differed from them
radically.
President Roosevelt in his speech said:
Elf your body objects to the passage
of the proposed anti-injunction bill,
have no question that you can stop it,
for there is not capitalist concerned
who simply as capitalist is not against
it. though believe that a goodly num-
Der both of capitalists and wageworkers
who are concerned primarily as citizens
favor it. 1t gees as far as personally
think it .bould 60 in limiting the right
of Injunction. do not believe it has
any chance of passing because there has
been great criticism in both houses of
Congress against the attitude of the ad-
minisiration 10 goiDg as far as We have
gone.
Gas for the right of injunction, it is
absolutely necessary to have this power
lodged in the courts, though, of course,
any abuse OF the power is strongly to be
repro5ated. During the four and half
years that have been President [ do
not remember an Instance where the
government has invoked the right of in
junction against combination Of
laborers. We have invoked it certainly
score of times against combinations of
capital" D"
Mr.. Roosevelt presented reasons why
he approved the suspension of the eight
hour law on the Isthmus of Panama,
and told the labor leaders if they would
present the facts to support alleged
violations of the eight-hour Law in the
United States he would see that The law
Is enforced and the offenders punished.
He declared there are fewer Chinese in
the country than there were 80 years ago
and that the new regulations would still
exclude the coOlie class.
The President said he favored strict
laws to keep out unworthy immigrants,
but be wants the worthy admitted. He
defended his sction in prohibiting gnv-
ernment employees from petitioning
Congress for increased pay or privileges.
1t was agreed that Cn points of differ
eDce the executive council OF the fedora
ton should appoint committee of three
which should draft the views of the or
ganization and submit them 10 the Presi-
dent at a later date. 1t is likely that
President Gompers will be the chairman
Of that committee.
EARLIER in the day the delegation called
on Speaker Cannon and Senator Frye, OF
Maine, president pro tempore of the
Senate, and laid beipre them the same
memorial which they presented to the
president.
Speaker Cannon received the delega-
tion in the lobby of the House Of Repre-
sentatives. He resented the charge OF
unfairness against the House committee
on labor.
at is impossible for committee not
to have many men of many ideas in its
makeup" said the Speaker. 'In your
annual meetings you doubtless find a
great variety OF opinion. If you don t
have lot of damns / miss my guess.
No two men have the same ideas"
Mr.. Gompers praised Representative
Gardiner, Of New Jersey, chairman of
the House committee on labor, but said
that the other members of the committee,
especially the majority members, have
not in the opinion OF labor interests
shown ordinary intelligence in their
treatment of matters affecting labor.
"Tbe general policy OF Congress has
been to ignore the requests of labor,
President GOmpers concluded.
Speaker Canntn replied that he did
not think such criticism just. "You
are not the whole shooting match, but a
good share of it." said Speaker Cannon.
Legislation, policy and administration,
he urged, can only progress as fast as
they gain majority support.
When the memorial was presented to
Senator Frye he made no comment be-
yond mere statement that be would
lay the memorial before the Senate.
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