The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-18
Dinner That Lasts From Eight
O'clock Until Midnight De-
voted Mostly to Talk.
ENACT RESULTS OF THE
MEETING NOT ASCERTAINED
Free and Informal Discussion.
in Which Demands of La
bOr Are Considered.

=
{ Subjecting his guests. who were rep.
! rescntatires of many OF the leading
labor organizations of the country, 70
a rapid fire of questions, President
Roosevelt tonight, at 4 dinner given by
him at the Waite House. endeavored
to find out what labor wants from Con
! gress. and in what way be could be
! Of assistance TO the toilers of the coun.
I try. Although the dinner began at s
/ o clock, it was almost midnight before
/ the gathering broke up.
While the President did not commi;
himself TO any OF the propositions sub.
mitted by the various labor leaders
| present, it was learned that he sought
z full expression of sentiment from ali
! OF them. Labor's attitude on tho
various questions was reiterated, it is
said and the president listened inter
! cstediy to each argument presented
/ No set speeches were made. the presi.
! dent merely rising and explaining to
/ his guests, after the last course had
| been served, thas he had brought them
! together for an interchange OF views
! of public questions.
Many Notables Present
Seated at the center of the long
! table in the state dining which
was decorated with roses. the president
I talked Informally with cabinet officers.
! members of the United States Supreme
/ court and labor leaders.
/ Nor was the president alone IN his
| questioning. lie was ably seconded by
! his lieutenanTs. Justice Moody. Secrc-
! rary Straps and Secretary Garfield fre.
/ dueutly asking questions Of some OF the
captains Of labor.
The general impression prevailed
( among the labor leaders after the dim
! ner that the presidents message TO
| Congress will show some OF the flower
The first guest to leave the White
House after the dinner and conference
| was Associate Justice Moody, who
came out of the front door a few
minutes after Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs
Longworth had entered on their return
from the theater.
/ Questioned about the dinner after
they came out. several Of the labor
leaders declared that they had enjoyed
themselves immensely at the presi-
dent 8 table, and that they had par
taken of ga bully dinner. One went
so far az 70 confess that he had en-
loved the candy which was passed
around 50 much that he haad stuck four
pieces in his pocket TO take home 10
his little girl He said il was fine to
eat "of plates having on them the
White House seal. -
Guests Non-Committsl.
While none of those who had par
taken of the president s hospitality
would tell exactly what had been said
al the table, they declared that the
president had not committed him.
self" on any of the subjects dis.
Occasionally the labor leaders would
become involved in a debate, which
wonld terminate in some tangible sug.
gestion being offered. President Roose'
velt, in mis- machine-gun questioning
covered. it is said. every possible phase
Of the labor question.
The labor leaders talked without re
serve, and were free TO reiterate Their
pronounced attitude on some issues 10
which Congress has in the past turned
an unwilling ear. But what seemed
most significant Of all. both TO the
president and other government oiii.
cials present, was the suggestion that
Congress- should pass a bill Of rights
into which all labor legislation should
be incorporated; should create pub
Lefty board, whose purpose would pe
10 investigate and make public The
details of Controversies between capita
and labor.
Morriesey Makes Plea,
The pIea for a bill of rights was
made by P II. Morrissey, grand master
of the Railway Trainmen, while Tho
publicity board idea was advanced by
r I DoIap, general secret2ry .treasurel
Of the International brotherhood ol
Sfeamshovel and Dredgemen.
The president 5 interest IN these two
awakened, but as to his attitude upo;
them. he was non-committal. Although
,nanv of the speakers expressed thel
nnposition 10 The boycott and sym
pathetic strike propaganda, thel
!, urged that Congress should better de
fine The injunction power OF ine S2uI - -
and thcy asked for modification o
hotb tbis law and the sherman anu
trnst law. They also wished CoDgTes
Ia define the exact stains ol !1p9
Nominations, and whether they sGoult
he permitJcd 10 "soliclt peacefully.
4 Every angle Of labor g demands wa
discussed although there was no con
"roio nian tbreshcd out upon which tn
nresideut can proceed with the con
y;ction that his position on some lhlnG
, will he accountable 10 all the labor III
tercsts represented at the dinner.
! There was a divergence or oplnl9n OF
some Of the pToposihonS advanceo' W;
: one of the leaders stated that tne pres
. Dent dem - told his guests that their differ
l ences would ultimately result IN NOR
comprehensive IDEAS, and tnat ne G;na maef'
; them TO get together on eyerythlne'
e | possible, and present unlled lloH''
: Highest Court Represented
, From the supreme court ItG,,. tnerG XII %oi
I .Justice Holmes and Justice MOODY oo. t
from Massachusetts The. cabinet wa
rnnrcscntcd ,,T Dy Secretary James II. Gar
Confined on Page Ten.