New-York tribune., 1908-03-19
PRESIDENT AND LABOR
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
Programme Nay Be Upset-Pians
as to Message Changed.

Washington, March lS.-DetallS OF the con-
ference held yesterday between Seth Low OF
New York. president of the Civic Federation
and Samuel Gompers. president of the American
Federation of Labor. which are slowly coming
to light, indicate that labor is not yet COM
mitted to legislation about to be urged by
President Roosevelt along the lines of recon-
rnendation by the Civic Federation That there
is a difference of opinion which threatens TO
overturn the programme was learned tonight
from an authoritative source Mr. Low IS
said to have returned to New York much dis
couragcd- He had expected to be able to har-
monize the points which the labor interests.
represented by Mr.. Gompers, failed to conform
with the programme of the Civic Federation.
The officials of the American Federation OF
Labor are said to be withholding their support
from the programme because the President feels
that he cannot indorse legislation which would
Iegalze trade boycotts by labor unions The
provision of the proposed bill exenptins labor
organizations from the operations of the Sher-
man antitrust law was the medium through
which it intended to obtain full indorse-
nent by the American Federation of Labor At
the conference at the White House, which MIR.
Gompers attended. it appeared that organized
labor was in complete accord with the pro-
gramme of the Civic Federation Later, how
ever Mr.. Gompers conferred with some of his
associates in the American Federation and the
consensus of opinion that the President
in his message to Congress should recognize
the right of a labor union to withhold it's trade
from a concern whose manner of conducting Its
business was inimicaI to organized labor.
1t was said that the President would not
agree to this. and. in fact, was disposed TO urge
that boycotts should be suppressed by legisla-
ton which otherwise fair TO the labor
unions 1t was Mr.. Lows mission in calling on
Mr. Gompers yesterday TO show him that the
Presidents message. if it was to have force
must be framed in language in juxtaposition TO
the decisions of the Supreme Court on the qleS-
ton. No agreement was reached and. IN fact.
Mr. Ciornpers indicated that he would prefer
that the Sherman antitrust laws should con-
tinue to apply to labor unions rather than con-
sent to a programme which might effectualiy
stife for all time the use of the boyeot1 as d
weapon.
In the mean time the Presidents ideas IN re-
gard TO the message he plans to send to Con
cress urging a general relief measure, according
TO persons who have discussed the subject Win
him. have undergone a change III a message
is sent to Congress il will not be until after the
Civic Federation's bill has been introduced
That measure has been prepared, although us
provisions are not yet public, and the plan IS
TO have 1t offered in the House early next week
by Representative Hepburn. OF Iowa freSiueht
Roosevelt has not found a Senator VINO ap-
proves the measure on whom he is willing to
place the responsibility OF championfng IL IN
the upper body The bill will not be introduced
simultaneously in both branches OF Congress.
II will depend on the fate of the bill IN tns
House whether IT reaches the Senate at all
That the support of labor organizations -
necessary to the success of the programme Is
The belief expressed by some of the leaders or
the House tonight. The President was the
guest this evening Of Representative Long
worth az a dinner which was attended also by
Sneaker Cannon IL is not unlikely that the
subject of the Civic Federation's bill was dis
cussed-
Numerous conferences have been held at the
CanitoI between Senate and House Republican
leaders at which the prospects for the passage
OF a relief bill have been considered speaker
Cannon and Representatives Dalzel and Sher-
man met Senate leaders to-day at senator
AIdrich's committee room. Although none o.
those present had seen the bill. II was agreed
that only such legislation can pass AT this ses-
sion As meets with general approval among
Republicans II. as has been stated. the OH IS
drastic. the. chances for its enactment are
small
The views Of the leaders seem TO indicate that
a measure might be passed to exempt labor
unions from the operations or the anu-truse
law if organized labor supports sincerely o'her
provisions Of the bill, and that the antitrust
law might be modified to legalize traffic
agreements between the railroads. proVldeu
that such agreements can De divorced coni-
pIetely from pooling devices Ihe expressions
heard at the Capitol are opposed to a bill al
,bis tir,e which would deal with overcapitaliza-
tion of corporations attempt 10 regulate
stock trading. Labor leaders. however are pre-
paring TO demand. in connection with general
relief bill such as is in mind. provisions to pro-
hibt the issuance OF injunctions without due
notice of the proceedings TO the person TO De
en- Joined and also prohibiting the imposition OF
penalties in contempt cases which had not oeeR
submitted to juries- Such demands would give
rise to complications opposed to agreement on
,ba s,,hIe,rS N he embraced the bill