The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-19
USE OF BOYCOTT
STANDS IN WAY
President Not Willing to Accede
to Views of Mr.. Gompers, and
Outlook Very Uncertain.

WASHINGTON. D. c., March 1s.--De.
tails of the conference held yesterday
between Seth Low, OF New York, presi-
dent Of the Civic Federation, and Sam
uel Gompers, president OF the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. which are
gradually coming to light. indicate that
labor Is not yet committed to legisla-
ton about to be urged by President
Roosevelt along the lines of Recommend
dalton by the Civic Federation. That
| there Is a difference OF opinion that
threatens to overturn the program was
learned tonight from an authoritative
source. Mr.. Low is said to have re-
turned to New York much discouraged.
He had expected to be able to harmon :.
lie the points on which the labor in
tcrests. represented by Mr. Gompers,
failed to conform with the program
of the Civic Federation.
The Question of Boycotts.
The officials of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor are said to be with
holding their suppors from the pro-
gram 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 organizations from
the operations of the Sherman anti
trust law was the medium through
which 1t was intended to secure full
Endorsement by the American Fedora
ton of Labor. At the conference at
the White House, which Mr.. Gompers
attended, 1t appeared that organized
labor was In complete accord with the
program of the Civic Federation. Later.
however, Mr.. Gompers conferred with
some of his associates in the America n
Federation, and the consensus of opin-
ion was that the President in his mes
sage to Congress should recognize the
right OF organized labor to withhold
It's trade from a concern whose man.
ner of conducting its business is mimi
cal to organized labor
1t is said that the President would
not agree to this. and, in fact. that he
was disposed to urge that boycot.s
should be suppressed by legislation
which otherwise was fair to the labor
unions. 1t was Mr.. Lows mission
In calling on Mr.. Gompers yesterday
TO snow MIN that the Presidents mes
sage. II 1t was to have force, must
be couched in language in juxtaposi-
tlon to the decisions of the Supreme |
court on this question.
NO agreement was reached, and. In
TACT, Mr. Gompers indicated that he
PASiSi tiidl TIE sherman anti \
rust law should continue to apply to
abor unions rather than consent to a
program which might effectuaIly
'tifle for all time the use of the how
'ott as a weapon.
The Presidents Message.
In the meantime the Presidents idea
n regard to the message he plans to
END TO Congress urging a general rc-
ief measure, according to persons who
ave discussed the subject with him.
rave undergone change. If mes
age IS sent to Congress it will NOT
'e until after the Civic Federation.s
III has been introduced That meas
ire has been prepared although its
u oVlsions are not yet public. and n is
ne plan to have it offered in tn.
! ouse early next week by Representa-
I've Hepburn, of Iowa.
PRESIDENT Roosevelt has not found .
enator who approves the measure on
'hom he is willing to place the re-
possibility of championins It In the
pper body. Therefore the bill will
OF be introduced smultaneouslv in
9th branches of Congress-. # viii
epend upon the fate of the bil, IN
ne House whether it reaches the Sen.