Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-10
.G G DEEMS
HIMSELF HONORED.
--,-- = -7----..----s
Because He is Excluded from List.
Of Labor Leaders Invited 10
The White House.
DEALINGS WITH PRESIDENT
Have AlNays Been on u strictly Bush
ness Basis-Other Leaders De-
cline to Discuss lie Matter.

Denver, Nov. lQ.--Gonsidera COM
ment was caused by that portion OF
the annual report Of President Samuel
Gompers, read to the convention of tie
American Federation or Labor yestsr-
Gay afternoon in Which Mr. GDmpers
SAID that President Roosevelt had is-
sued invitations To a number OF labor
leaders TO meet with prominent law
yers and jurists at a. dinner at the
Whlte House a week from today fol, the
purpose of discussing labor legisla ton.
PRESIDENT Roosevelt, said the report OF
M. Gonlpers. had excluded from the
list OF invited guests the officers OF the
American Federation OF Labor. includ
ing its president.
MI. Gonlpers. in an Interview on the
subject, refused to discuss the question
from a political standpoint hut con-
tented himself with 81 statement to the
effect that he deemed himself bonored
oy me exclusion and considers the
presidents act a tribute to his hon
esty.
FEELS HONoRED.
He said: II am honored by the pres
5ldeht Wilen ne excluded me from his
guest list 1T is a high tribute ~ thn
manner in which l have represented
me interests OF tile millions OF working
men and women banded together in tIle
RECREATION. both in the matter of PRESS
ing thu. administration for fair la Dor
ies' station and IN the political cam
patgn just ended
This is the FIRST affair ~ ~, 49,,
that ! know Of It the White House TO
which ] have not been invited, but de-.
5sr'te the fact that I have freduently
peeIlt asked to meet the president ana
MS MS trends sociallHI have never awaited
lnNsalf OF such an Invitation.
81, Ny dealings With the president have
8a ,'lN: been on strictly business
basis. have frequently requested 81
audience with him regarding matters
4 OF import to the federation and its
membership and have always been well
received and treated courteously. There.
\ however, my relations with the presi-
dent ended
by virtue OF the trust imposed
upon me by the federation. represent
the millions OF people of the country
who toll with their hands-the hired
men and women, so to speak If the
president or any other person cares to
say that | don't represent the mem
bershi p4 of the ericaus Federatiol1an
Labor. so be it. ! don't care to be-
come involved IN a controversy or crit
sicise such a stand
when the need presents T shall meet
President Roosevelt or any other presI-
dent or public man as the representa- :
tive of the workers of the nation, (.
they re- elect me and care to have mo
represent them
The other federation officials decline
to discuss the matter. but many labor
leaders in Denver declare that tile
action of the president is simply a
part OF a plan to divide the forces Of
organized sbor SO they would not be
effective in future contests.
John Mitchell, James Duncan and
Daniel j Keefe who We're invited by
the president. said they expected 10 he
in Denver at the convention session
next Tuesday. but would decide wheth-
er to accept or reject the invitation
when they received the presidents let
ter.