The sun., 1908-11-19
ROOSBVELT'S LABOR POLICY
HE HOPES TO LEAVE 4 LEGACY
II 4 TO HIS Successor.
Not, Perhaps. IN the Form OF Legislation.
but In Certain broad Recommends.
items or Policies He's for Labor
II Insurance Echoes OF the Dinner.

Not, Perhaps. In the Form or LeglbauOn
hut in Certain broad Recommend
tlOns or POlicies-He's for Labor
~ Insurance Echoes Of the Dinner
WASHINGTON. Nov. 1s-The Labor
dinner" given at the White House last
night was of "iiluninative value" ac-
cording to statement made to friends
to-day by President Roosevelt. Whether
{ last nights function will result in reoom-
mendations bearing on the labor question
Ia the Presidents annual message TO
Congress remains to be developed. The
impression prevails that the subject
will be touched upon in the State paper
now being framed at the White House.
The President believes that he served
the public veal in bringing together
around the table in the State dining room
justices OF the Supreme Court high
& Federal officers and men representing
the various trades BY liberal inter-
change of views, such as was had on
matters affecting workingmen at the
dinner. the officers, including the Justices
OF the Supreme Court. had an oppor-
tunity to learn first hand just what the
labor unions desire and what opinion
labor leaders hold as to legislation needed
7 for their general up,ift and what their
opinions are of the high courts and
judicial Interpretation.
As to what may come of il all there
Is much left for conjecture, but the Pres-
4 dent evidently intends to leave few
concrete suggestions for the benefit Of
posterity before going out of Office. He
has been careful to impress upon his
callers that he seeks to avoid binding
his successor and would not admit to-
day that his annual message would fore
cast the policies he has in mind for the
benefit of labor. One suggestion made
Ito him to-day that lie use the informa-
ton obtained at the dinner in his annual
message he promptly repelled with the
remark that he could not discuss his
message in advance.
Mr.. Roosevelt exhibited some surprise
to-day that so much significance had
been attached to this dinner, which he
said was not an initial feast but the third
Of series of dinners given by him with
the sole object of cognizing repre-
sentatives of labor, the Others being a
dinner to John Morley and one to work
ingmen from Butte Mon. Three Of the
guests present at the dinner last night
pursued the discussion Of the TOPICS
raised there at the WI hite House to-day
They were Labor Commissioner Charles
T. Neill, Edward j. Gavegan. IAN attorney
tor labor unions" and Charles II. Sheriff.,
p New York lawyer.
They discussed with the President
the plan he suggested last night OF get
ting the representatives OF organized
labor together in agreement on plans for
legislation. The President pointed out
TO his guests that there was a divergence
Of opinion on the subject of anti-injunc-
tion legislation and that so long as there
was no concert of action results could
hardly be obtained The President has
little or no hope of securing labor legis-
htion of any sweeping character at the
next session Of Congress, but he desires
70 hts successor in Office in the shape Of
certain broad recommendations or poll
Ciess for the benefit Of labor, based upon
his experience in Office.
One specific recommendation he has
IN mind Is for form of labor insurance.
He let it be known last night that he had
been making study OF the German
system of compensating employees di-
reotly for injuries received in the line of
their work without the delays and un-
certainties imposed by the courts. He
believes that each industry should bear
inflicted upon workers in that particular
line of work and that the system Of COM
peneation should operate automatically,
making recourse TO the courts for redr ess
unnecessary.
Labor Commissioner Neill said that it
was a mistake to assume that last night
event at the White House was a disap-
pointment, The interchange OF views
which took place was Mr. Neill said,
highly profitable and gave promise of
better understanding on questions affect
ing labor and the courts, The impression
that the labor leaders who attended the
dinner were disappointed may have been
produced. it was explained by a remark
OF one OF labors representatives. who
said;
.We heard many honey ed words, but
hope that it will result in more than
honey
MIR. Gavagan said that he had already
made known his views on labor and the
courts. He believed. he said. that logis-
.aHon should be enacted 10 facilitate in
the courts hearing on the merits Of the
questions involved in labor Injunction
cases; that thu time of hearing should
be fixed by law and that oral testimony
should be taken as well as testimony by
'affidavits.
Several suggestions were made to the
President at the dinner last night by some
of the labor leaders.
II III. Morrissey, Grand Master OF the
Railway Trainmen suggested that Con-
gress ought to enact bill of rights pat
termed after some OF the bills of like char
acter that exist in States where. he said. !
the labor problem had been successfully /
dealt with by legislative enactment The
president was urged to recommend TO
congress that it pass a law that would !
definitely define the rights of labor This
idea was not brought out clearly in detail |
the impression conveyed being that It /.
involved general statute covering every /
phase OF the labor question.
r j. Do!an, general secretary of the |
11ternational brotherhood of Steam /
Shovel and Dredgo Men, expressed the |
belief that If there was more publicity |
regarding quarreis between capital and |
labor, particularly as to the causes lead
ing up to them, many strikes might be |
avoided, since public opinion would not |
support strike that had no good cause |
behind it. He suggested the creation |
of Federal board with authority to in
vestigate. mediate and keep the public !
Informed as to conditions.