The San Francisco call., 1908-11-18
LABOR CHIEFS DINE
AT WHITE HOUSE
Guests of the President Are
Subjected to Rapid Fire
of Questions
Needs of Workingmen Are Out
lined With Hope of Securing
Congressional Aid

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1I.-SubJectlng
his guests, who were representatives of
many of the leading labor organiza-
tions of this country, to q rapid fire of
questions, President Roosevelt tonight,
at dinner given by him in the White
House, endeavered to find out what Ia
Dor wanted from congress and in what
way he could be of assistance to the
toilers of the country. Although the
dinner began at s o'clock. it was al
most midnight before the gathering
broke up.
While the president did not commit
himself to any of the propositions sub
mitted by the various labor leaders
present, it was learned that he sought
full expression of sentiment from all
of them. Labor's attitude on various
questions was reiterated it was said.
and the president listened interestedly
to each argument presented.
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 corner of the long table
in the state dining room, which was
beautifully decorated with roses, the
president talked informally with cabi-
net officers. members of the United
States supreme court and labor leaders.
PRESIDENT ABLY AIDED
The president in his questioning was
ably seconded. Justice Moody Secretary
Straus and Secretary Garfield frequent
ly asking questions of some of the cap
tains of labor.
The plea for a bill of rights was
made by P. H Morrisey grand master
of the railway trainmen, while the
publicity board idea was advanced by
t. j. Dolan, general secretary treasurer
of the brotherhood of steam shovel and
dredge men
The presidents interest in these two
propositions was obviously awakened,
but as to his attitude upon them he
was noncommittal Although many of
the speakers expressed their opposition
to the boycott and sympathetic strike
propaganda, they urged that congress
should better define the Injunction
power of the courts, and they asked
for modification of both this law and
the Sherman antitrust law. They also
wished congress to define the exact
status OF labor organizations in gen
eral and whether they should be per-
mitted to solicit peacefully
GUESTS AT THE DINNER
The list of guests who attended the
dinner was as follows:
The President
Justices Holmes and Moody.
Secretaries Garfield and Straus.
Representative Herbert Parsons
Assistant Secretary of State Bacon.
Major General Leonard Wood.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Clarke.
COMMISSIONER of Labor NeIu.
Forester Pinchot.
Henry L. stinson, United States at
torney.
T, V. Powderly, formerly at the head
of the knights of Labor
Warren S. Stone. grand chief Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers.
J. j. Hannahan. grand master Broth
erhood Locomotive Fireme,4
F. S. Carter. grand secretary and
treasurer Brotherhood Locomotive
Firemen.
P =. Morrissey, grand master Rail
way Trainmen.
t. j. Dolan. general secretary-treas-
urer International Brotherhood OF
Steam Shovel and Dredgc Men.
A. l.. Faulkner. president National
Window Glass Workers.
David Mackay. president Building
Trades organization.
J. ]. Towers, secretary treasurer New
York State Council of Carpenters.
George w. Alger, attorney for labor
unions and writer on labor subjects.
Edward J. Gavegan, attorney for la
Dor unions.
Robert P. Bell, attorney for labor
unions New York
James Bronson Reynolds and Charles
Fl. Sheriff.. attorneys.
Lyman Abbott. of The Outlook
Lawrence S. Abbott. of The outlook.
Ernest II. Abbott of The Outlook.
The general impression prevailed
among the labor leaders after the din
ner that the presidents message to
congress would show flavor of the
conference.