New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-19
THE LABOR DINNER
WHY PRESIDENT GAVE 1T.
Further Conferences Held-Whte
House Doors Open to Al.

Washington Nov. 1S.-Further conferences at
the White House to-day in which the President
and men prominewt IN labor matters took part
made the attitude Of the administration toward
proposed labor legislation subject OF keen dis
cussion in Washington tonight Among those
who saw the President to-day were Charles p
Neill. Commissioner of Labor; Henry l. Slim
son. United States attorney at New York; Ed
ward ] Gavegan. of New York. attorney for
labor unions, and Charles H Sheriff., an at
torney of New York. all of whom attended the
labor dinner at the White House last night
It is learned from the highest authority that
the object OF the President in giving dinner
to friends of labor and in holding the suhse-
quent conferences was primarily to bring about
a better understanding between representatives
of the government and labor leaders, and to i'm
press on the labor interests of the country the
disposition Of the administration to receive their
representatives in conference on an equality with
all others The desire Of the President, it was
explained was to have the labor man feel that
he had right to present his grievances and de-
nands. and to demonstrate that neither the
Ia Dor leader nor the millionaire need come TO
the back door of the White House at midnight
in order to have conference with the Presi-
dent"
1t was suggested that mere invitation to the
White House was not to be taken as conclusive
evidence of an agreement between those invited
and the administration the questions under
discussion or on subjects that might develop
later
While the President believes that this attitude
Of the administration had been demonstrated
when labor leaders of Butte Mont, were enter
taned the White House, it is explained that
he desired before he retired from office to make
this disposition of the authorities even more evil
dent.
The reason members of the Supreme Court Of
the United States and executive officials
invited to be present merely TO enable them
to learn fromhthe leaders direct what they re-
gard as their needs.
Men who are in a position TO know the atti-
tude of the President on the subject say that he
has been deeply impressed with the idea of labor
unions employing attorneys of high character
and sound legal training TO advise them on mat
ters of policy and TO represent them in their
contests In order TO encourage this practice by
indicating his sympathy with it, he invited sew
eral attorneys who have been connected with
labor unions take part in the la Dor conference
held last night.
The occasion is said to have afforded free
exchange of ideas and to have been of ''iIIumi-
mating value" to the President. While he may
not adopt labor programme al the close of his
administration. lest he might thereby embarrass
his views on the needs Of labor either In his an
nuaI message to Congress when it convenes the
first Monday in December, in a special labor
message submitted later The ideas gathered at
the dinner will be of value in his discussion OF
what the President considers the primary
steps in the Improvement of labor conditions
The various conferences of the last two days
are said to have brought out more plainly
than before the desire of the la Dor inter
ests to eliminate lawsuits in collecting damages
under employers liability laws. 1t has been
found the labor leaders say, that the lawsuits
result in benefit to lawyers only. and that they
are not a necessary step in the insurance of JUS
tice either side. AS to d remedy for the al
legged abuses of the injunction there still seems
to be q wide difference Of views on the part Of
labor leaders.
Mr. Gavegan favors having the time for hear
inSs on the merits of injunction suits fixed by
law instead of by courts; the right OF de-
PENDANTS TO present evidence orally instead of
bv affidavits alone, and records of proceedings
for purposes of review by higher courts He
would put labor on equality with other citi-
gems in respect to court hearings.