The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-23

Washington, March 21.-President
Roosevelt received a large body Of rep
resentatives of organized labor this
afternoon at the White house, and
talked to them about their urgent re-
quest for the enactment of labor mea-
sures now pending before congress.
Samuel Gompers, president, and
Frank Morrison. secretary Of the
American Federation Of Labor, headed
the delegation which consisted OF about
a hundred members Of the executive
council of the American Federation Of
Labor, and officials of practically all
the important labor organizations or
the country.
Secretary MORRISON read to the pres
iment a memorial CT the executive
council of the American Federation,
urging action ON the various demands
for legislation being made by the Or
gapized labor INTERESTS of the country.
The memorial dwelt particularly on
the eight hour law, and its enforcement
ON government work, including the
Panama canal. and the immigration
laws, especially the Chinese exclusion
laws.
President Roosevelt replied in an ex-
tended address.
The president said:
Mr.. Gompers: If your body objects
to the passage Of the proposed anti
Injunction bill | have no question that
you can stop it, for there Is not cap
italist concerned who simply as capl-
talist is. not against it, though l De-
Heve that a goodly number of capital
lists and wage-workers who are con-
cerned primarily as citizens, favor 1t.
The law was worked over, and sub
stantially whipped into it's present
shape at a number of conferences be-
tween representatives of the railroad
organizations, of the department OF
Justice, and of the bureau of corpora
tions, with me. 1t goes as far as L
personally think it should go, in limit
ing the right of injunction; at any rate
no arguments have hitherto been ad-
vanced which make me think it should
90 further. | do not believe it has any
Chance of passing beyond. There has
been great criticism in both houses of
ministration in going so far as we have
gone, and if you think it is not 1ar
enough, why you will have no earthly
difficulty in killing the bill. PERSONAL
ly, I think the proposed law most ao-
mirable one and l very sincerely wlsn
it would be put through.
"As for the right of injunction, II is
absolutely necessary to have this pow.
er lodged in the courts. though OF
course any abuse of the power is
strongly to be reproached. During the
four and q half years that nave peer
president l do not remember an III
stance where the government mas IN
yoked the right of injunction aga1ns
a combination of laborers. we nave
invoked it certainly a score OF time:
AGAINST combination of capital; thlnl
nossibly oftener Thus, though w
have secured the issuance of inJunc
+ions in q number Of cases against cap
italistic combinations it has happene'
that we have never tried to secure al
Injunction against combination
labor But understand me gentlemen
if ever thought it necessary, II
Thought a combination of laborers Wer
doing wrong, / would apply for an IN
junction against them just as Qulc
as against so many capitalists"
Referring to it's legislatives refer
ences the president said he would no
receive the petition but for its affect
ing the executive Regarding tnel
criticism of his signing the Panam
canal appropriation bin containing tn
proyiso for non-application of tn
eight hour law, the president said tha
if their statement meant that oppol
tunity was not given for hearing bs
fore him that statement is not in az
coriance with the facts. He says the1
was no request to him for hearini
He announced his emphatic belief
the eight hour law 'for our own pet
pie in our own country" but that a
eight hour law for the Panama ean'
sis an absurdity, as the conditions