Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-19

States Supreme Court in making the
Sherman antitrust law apply to labor or
ganiZa tons "aS trusts, conSpiracieS and
organizations in unlawful restraint OF
trade
The decision was then reached to pre-
sent the document to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the Presi-
dent of the Senate, and Chairman Com
perS was directed to arrange for the pres
entation.
Conference Arranged.
Mr.. Gompers later announced to the
delegates that he had arranged for a con-
ference of the committee and Mr. Cannon
in the Speakers room at the Capitol at 4
o'clock this afternoon. The call on Vice
President Fairbanks will be made at $50
o'clock.
In his reply to Mr.. Gompers the speaker
said:
II will be pleased to meet with your
committee at the hour named"
At nearly ] o'clock this afternoon the
conference took a recess. 1t was notice.
able that since yesterday a number of
tional labor bodies have reached this city
and Joined with the conferees.
President Gompers denied the state
ment that there had been break between
Seth Low ana himself He said Mr. Low
is still in this city and this morning a
conference was held between Labor Com
missioner Neill. Prof. jerks Of Cornell
former Mayor Low. Mr. Gompers and
John B. Lennon, treasurer of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor. Being asked
the nature of the conference. Mr.. Com
pers said:
IT was for the purpose of determining
whether We can associate our efforts to
bring about the desired relief
Address by G. N. Bennett.
A feature of the session of the labor
conference last evening was an address by
c. N. Bennett Of Kentucky He represents
the American Society of Equity. and
stated that he spoke on behalf of 10000
farmers who had come to the conclusion
that the time had arrived when the agri-
culturfsts in the country were ready and
willing to cooperate with organized labor.
Mr.. Benefits speech was the topic of con-
versation among the delegates last night,
and the delegates appear to believe that
in the campaign the political program to
be adopted at this session will be sup
ported by the farmers of the country
President Gompers appointed the two
committees. provided for a. the forenoon
session yesterday. as follows:
On protest to Congress-W. r. Farley.
United Mine Workers of America; p. j.
McArdle. Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway Employees of
America: Joseph Valentine, Iron holders
Union Of North America: A. P. Kelley.
brotherhood Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen; c. N. Bennett, American So
ciety Of Equity; #. c. Parsons. Interna-
tional Typographical Union.
On address to labor and the people gen.
erally-G. w. Perkins. Cigarmakers' In
ternational Union; J. c. Balhorn. Broth
erhood of Painters. Decorators and Paper
hangers; James Kirby. United Brother
hood OF Carpenters and Joners: John b.
Lennon, Journeymen Tailors' Union of
America; Thomas Haggerty, United Mine
Workers Of America; NJ. c. Sullivan.
Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers In
ternational Union. and William Launer.
Glass Blowers Association of the United
States and Canada
Not Yet Committed.
Details Of the conference held yesterday
between Seth Low of New York presi-
dent OF the Civic Federation, and Samuel
Gompers, president OF the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor. which are slowly COM
Ing to light indicate that labor is not
yet committed to legislation about to be
urged by President Roosevelt along the
lines OF recommendation by the Civic
Federation.
The officials of the American Federation
of Labor are said 10 be withholding their
support from the program because the
President feels that he cannot indorse
legislation which would legalize trade
boycotts by labor unions. The provision
of the proposed bill exempting labor or
CARNATIONS from the operations of the
Sherman antitrust law was the medium
through which it was intended to secure
full Endorsement by the American Fedora
ton of Labor. At the conference at the
White House. which Mr.. Gompers at
tended. it appeared that organized labor
was in complete accord with the prog ram
~
Mr.. Gompers conferred with some of his
associates in the American Federation.
and the consensus of opinion was that
the President in his message TO Congress
should recognize the right of organized
labor to withhold its trade from con-
Germ whose manner of conducting its
business was inimical to organized labor.
Position on Boycotts.
1t is said the President would not agree
to this and in fact that he was disposed to
urge that boycotts should be suppressed
by legislation which otherwise was fair to
the labor unions. II was Mr.. Lows mis-
sion in calling on Mr.. Gompers yesterday
to show him that the Presidents mes
sage. If it was to have force. must be
couched in language in juxtapositon TO
the decisions of the Supreme Court on this
question. No agreement was reached and
in fact Mr.. Gompers indicated that he
would prefer that the Sherman antitrust
laws should continue to apply to labor
unions rather than consent to a program
which might effectualy stife for all time
the use OF the boycott as a weapon.
In the meantime the Presidents idea in
regard to the message he plans to send to
Congress urging general relief measure.
according to persons who have discussed
the subject with him, have undergone a
change. If message Is sent to Congress
II will not be until after the Civic Fedora
tons bill has been introduced. That
measure has been prepared. although its
provisions are not yet public. and it is the
plan TO have 1t offered in the House early
next week by Representative Hepburn of
Iowa. President Roosevelt has not found
senator WHO approves the measure on
whom he is willing to place the RESPONSE
biity of championing the measure i'm the
upper body. Therefore the bill will not
be introduced simultaneously In both
branches of Congress. 1t will depend
,Ipou the fate of the hill in the House