The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-23
ROOSEVELT And GONPEUS OUT
JgEY lock BORNS OYER THE
SHERMAN ANTITRUST LAW.
, President opposed to E%NemptIng Labor
Union From It's PrONIslOns-In His
special Message to Congress tie Win
TRY to Outline Republican Platform.

special Message 20 Congress lie VIII
TRY to Outline Republican Platform.
WASHINGTON, March 20 ,-President Roose-
,.t's special message to Congress, which
ill he transmitted this week, Is a doou-
r.nt Of more far reaching Importance than
has heen generally supposed. 1t has been
made known to the Presidents friends
that the message is intended 20 form the
basis for the Republican national platform
n 1907. instead Of being merely a grouping
n suggestions as 10 legislation which the
President desires to have adopted at the
preseut legislative session.
What is regarded as one Of the most
important features, II not the most i'm
tortant feature, Of the message from a
pdiucal standpoint is the Presidents dis
oulon Of labor boycotts. II Is declared
that the President takes issue with the
demands Of Samuel Gompers and the repre-
Wntatlyes Of organized labor that the Sher-
man antitrust law should be amended 90
Mto exempt labor unions from the operation
n the law, and lays down principles intor-
petsd 10 mean that the Republican party
should meet organized labor squsrely in the
bert campaign on the boycott proposition.
To attempt to explain this understood
attitude Of Nh, Roosevelt in the face Of the
novls1ge that the Administration has put
an embargo on prosecutions Of labor unions
for boycotting would be mainly specuh-
tive on the bp sis Of the information OF hand
A. 10 the position taken in his forthcom-
ing message But the information that
Mr.. Roosevelt virtually locks horns with
ogsnile1 labor In regard to the liability
n labor unions 10 prosecution under the
sherman law for maintaining boycotts Is
direct end positive and comes from a re-
liable source. Enough Ia known 70 show
hat an the several confereneNs between the
President, members Of the Civic Feiera-
ton end others, with the object Of pre-
parirg ? hill amendstoy Of the Sherman
law, Mr.. Roosevelt and Nh. Gompers came
n a deadlock
Nr. Gompers was insistent that the
lmendatory bill should include a direct
exception Of labor unions from classified
ton as combinations in restraint Of trade
and 1t is declared that corporation lawyers
Who participated in the conference we're
wiling that this suggestion should he
accepted, believing that the mandatory
legislation might fail II II we're not. On the
face Of the proposition, however, It APP
reared 10 be unconstitutional In that it pro-
uded for giving, special exemption.
Mr.. Gompers declined to sanction the bill
without this exemption, and the President,
tisdeclared, declined TO change his position.
Mr.. Gompers put his suggestions In the
following proposed amendments to the
Sherman law:
That nothing In said act or in this act is
Intended. nor shall any provisions thereof
hereafter be enforced. so as to apply to or
gsnizations or association not for profit and
without capital stock. nor 10 the members
Of such organizations or associations
That nothing in said act or In this act is
lntended, nor shall any provision thereof
hereafter be enforced, 80 as to apply to dny
arrangement or agreements or combinations
among persons engaged In agriculture or
horticulture, made with a view OF enhance
ltg the price Of their own agricultural or
Horticultural products.
The forthcoming message will contain,
however, a recommendation for the enact
ment Of legislation In regard 10 the issue
Of injunctions against labor unions.
The President will urge the passage Of a
law providing that no injunction shall be
issued by a United States Judge until due
notice has been given to the persons or
organizations sought TO be enjolned TO
Show cause why the injunction should not
he granted, 1t is urged further that IL there
is refusal 10 obey an injunction the con-
tempt proceedings shall be heard by a Judge
other than the Judge who issued the injunc-
ton. This proposed law is 10 be recon-
mended for enactment as part OF the pro-
ann Of legislative business which the
President and Republican leaders in the
senate and the House have mapped out
Tor the present session The leaders have
declined so far, however, to agree to include
this measure In the programme. and IL is
not likely to be adopted.
The present week will probably see the
completion Of the conferences between
The President and the Congress leaders
with a view to agreeing upon the measures
10 be adopted before adjournment. Up to
this time these include a resolution authoriz-
ing the Committee on Finance Of the Senate
and the Committee on Ways and Means OF
The House 70 make an inquiry into tarin
schedules, with the intention OF revising
tue tariT at a special session Pf the Sixty
fret Congress TO be called In March, 1903;
an employers liability bill, a financial bill
along the lines OF the pending kldrich meas
lTe aud a bill for the regulation Of child
Isbor in the District Of Columbia to serve
as a model for the States. The President
5 anxious to have the Congress leaders
agree to put through at this session other
measures which he will recommend IN his
special message, but has not succeeded in
obtaining their consent, These additional
measures include the bill 10 modify the
snti'trust law, limit the anti-injunction bill
and a bill for creating postal savings banks.
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