Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-11-18
| THE PRESIDENT
Discusses Labor'S Needs
With the Labor Leaders,
A Notable Gathering With Free
Expression Of Opinions.
..t
While Not Committing Himself,
Much Good Expected to Result.

/
his guests, many of whom were rep
resentatives of the leading labor or
ganizations of the country to a rapid
cross fire Of questions. President
Roosevelt tonight at dinner given by
him at the White House. endeavored
to find out what labor wants from
Congress and in what way he could DE
of assistance to the toilers of the
country.
Although the dinner began at 8
o'clock it was almost midnight before
the gathering broke up. No news
paper men were present and the first
intimatiOn Of what took place was
eagerly sought from the guests as they
left the White House.
While the President did not COM
nit himself to any Of the propositions
submitted by the various labor leaders
present it was learned that he sought
a full expression of sentiment from
all Of them. Labor's attitude on vari-
GUS questions was reiterated. it is said.
The dinner was complete success as
far as could be learned. harmony ana
cooperation seeming to prevail
throughout the evening. No set
speeches were made, the President
merely rising and explaining to his
guests, after the last course had been
served that he had brought them to-
gether for an interchange OF views on
public questions.
Seated at the center of the long
table in the state dining room which
was beautifully decorated with roses,
the President talked informally with
a, ofEn hnrc nf the INIT :
ed States supreme court and labor
leaders. Good fellowship prevailed and
flashes of humor or story enlivened
the occasion Nor was the President
alone in his questioning. He was sec
onded by his lieutenants, Justice
Moody. Sec Straus and Sec. Garfield.
The general impression prevailed among
the labor leaders after the dinner that
the Presidents message to Congress will
show some of the flavor Of the confer
ence.
Questioned about the dinner after they
came ont. several of the labor leaders
declared they had enjoyed themselves
immensely at the Presidents table and
| that they had partaken of Bully din
ner" One went so far as to confess that
| he had enjeyed the candy which was
| passed around so much that he had stuck
four pieces in his pocket to take home to
| his little girl He said that it was fine
| to Eat off plates having on them the
| White House seal" While none of those
| who had partaken of the Presidents hos
pitality would tell exactly what had beer
said at the table. they declared that the
President had committed himself on any
of the subjects discussed.
! Occasionally the labor leaders woud
become involved in 6 debate which w"ulc
terminate in some tangible suggestion
being offered President Roosevelt In his
machine gun questioning covered, 1t is
said, every possible phase Of the labol
question.
The labor leaders talked without reser
walton and were FREQ to reiterate theil
pronounced attitude on some issues u
which Congress has in the past passed
an unwilling ear. But what seemed mos
significant of all. both to the Pres1fen
and other government officials present
was the suggestion that Congress SHOULD
pass a bill of rights into which all iabo
legislation should be Incorporated ant
should create a publicity board wnos'
purpose would be to Investigate an'
make public the details of controversies
between capital and labor.
The plea for bill Of rights wa
made by P. H. Morrissey. grand mas
ter of the Railway Trainmen, whil
the publicity board idea was advanced
by r. j. Dolan, general secretary
treasurer of the International Brother
hood of Steam Shovel and Dredg
4 Men.
The Presidents interests in thes
two propositions were keenly and OBJ
yiously awakened, but as to his at
titud4 upon them he was non-com
initial.
Although many of the speakers voic
ed their opposition to the boycott an
sympathetic strike propaganda, the
urged that Congress should better de
fine the injunction power Of the court
and they asked for modification of bot
this law and the Sherman anti-trus
law. They also wanted Congress
define the exact status of labor OF
CARNATIONS in strikes and whether the
should be permitted to ."Solicit peace
fully"
: There was divergence of opinio
on some of the propositions advanced
, but one of the leaders stated that til
President told his guests that the