The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-18
TOLD
WHAT 1T WANTS
AT President RoOSevelt'S Ban
quet Last Night
GOMPERS NOT MENTIONED
The Banquet Seemed to Be Character
lied by Harmony-There Were
No Set Speeches
Made.

Washington, d. c., Nov. 1s.-One OF
those present at President Roosevelts
labor dinner last night gave today TO
the United Press statement Of the
discussion. President Roosevelt, Com
missioner of Labor Neill and NIB. r.
Nolan, secretary treasurer OF the Inter.
national Brotherhood of Steamshovel
and Dredgemen. and Robert P. eBll, at
torney for labor unions. made state
nents. The use Of the boycott was
the principal subject of discussion.
President Roosevelt did not intimate
any future course Of course except to
assure that the coming administration
would seek the assistance OF the labor.
ing men. There was absolutely no re-
ference TO President Gompers. His
name was not mentioned act the din.
ncr.
President Roosevelt subjected his
guests to a rapid cross-fire of ques-
tions, endeayoring TO find out what
labor wants from Congress and in what
way he could be Of assistance. Al.
though the banquet began at eight
o'clock il was nearly midnight when 1t
broke up and the departing guests we're
rcticent about talking 10 the news.
puper men, none OF whom were present.
The dinner was complete success, as
far as could be learned, a spirit of har.
rlony and co operations eeming to pre-.
yail throughout the evening.
No set speeches were made, the Pres.
ident merely rising and explaining to
his guests, after the last course had
been served, that he had brought them
together for an interchange of views Of
public questions.
Seated at the center of the long
table in the state dining room, which
was handsomely decorated with roses,
the president talked informally with
cabinet officers, members of the United
States supreme court and labor lead
ers.
Good fellowship prevailed and occa-
sioually flashes of humor or an apropos
story enlivened the occasion. Nor was
the president alone in his questioning.
Justice Moody, Secretary Straus and
Secretary Garfield frequently asked
questions of some Of the captains OF
labor.
Questioned about the dinner, after
they came out several of the labor
leaders declared they had enjoyed them.
selves immensely at the presidents
table and that they had partaken Of a
"bully dinner" One went so far as
to confess that he had enjoyed the
candy which was passed around so
much that he had stuck four pieces in
ms pocket to take home to his little
girl. He said that il was fine to "eat
of plates having on them the White
House seal"
The labor eladers talked without
reservation and we're free to reiterate
their pronounced attitude on some is
sues to which Congress has in the, past
turned an unwilling ear. But what
seemed most significant of all both to
the president and other government OIL
cials present was the suggestion that
Congress should pass a bill Of rights in
TO which all labor legislation should be
Incorporated, and should create a pub
Ecity board whose purpose would be to
investigate and make public the details
Of controversies between capital and
labor.
The plea for bill of rights was
made by P. Fl. Morrissey, grand master
# the railway trainmen, while the pub
licitv board idea was advanced by T.
j. Dolan, general secretary treasurer Of
the international bTotherhaad Of steam.
shovel ard dredgemen.
The presidents interest in these two
propositions was keenly and obviously
awakened, but as to his attitude upon
them he was non-committal.
There was a divergence of opinion
on some of the propositions advanced
but one of the leaders stated that the
president told his guests that their
differences would ultimately result in
more comprehensive IDEAS, and that he
urged them to get together on every
thing if possible and present a united
front.