The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-23
MESSAGE is WEIGHTY
Presidents Desires Will Be
of Some Importance.
BASIS FOR PARTY PLATFORM
G. o. =. TO Rely ON Document Soon to
BE Launched from White House on
Voyage to COnEress-Mr. Roosevelt
Refuses to Give in to Samuel Com
perS on the Boycott Question.

President Roosevelts special message to
Congress. which will be transmitted this
week. is a document Of more far-reaeh-
ing importance than has been gem
orally supposed. 1t has been made known
to the Presidents friends that the mes
sage is intended to form the basis for the
Republican national platform of 1905. in
stead Of being merely grouping of sug-
gestions as to legislation which the Presi-
dent desires to have adopted at the pres
ent legislative session.
What is regarded as one Of the most
important, if not the most important fea-
ture Of the message. from a political
STANDPOINT. is the Presidents discussion
of labor boycotts. It is declared that the
President takes issue with the demands Of
Samuel Gompers, and the representatives
OF organized labor. that the Sherman anti
trust law should be amended so as TO ex-
empt labor unions from the operation OF
the law. and lays downs principles inter
preted to mean that the Republican party
should meet organized labor squarely in
the next campaign on the boycott propo-
sition.
Explanation Speculative.
To attempt to explain this understood
attitude of Mr.. Roosevelt in the face OF
the knowledge that the administration
has put an embargo on prosecutions Of
labor union for boycotting, would be
mainly speculative upon the basis Of the
Information at hand as to the position
10 be taken in his forthcoming. message.
But the information that Mr.. Roosevelt
virtually locks horns with organized labor
in regard to The liabilir Of labor unions
to prosecutions. under the Sherman anti
trust law, for maintaining boycotts. is d.
rect and positive and comes from re-
liable source
Enough is known TO show that at the
several conferences between the Presi-
dent members Of the Civic Federation.
and others. with the object Of preparing
bin amendatory OF the sherman law
Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Gompers came to
a deadlock
Mr.. Gompers was insistent that the
amendatory bill should include direct
exception Of labor unions from classif-
cation as combinations in restraint Of
trade" and IL is declared that corpora-
ton lawyers who participated in the con-
ference were willing that this suggestion
should be accepted. believing that the
amendatory legislation might fan II II
were not.
On the face Of the proposition. how
ever, it appeared to be unconstitutional
in that it provided for giving special
exemption. Mr.. Gompers declined to
sanction the bill without this exception.
and the President, it is declared, declined
TO change his position
GOmpers' suggestions.
Mr.. Gompers put his suggestions in
the following amendments to the Sher-
man 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 organizations or associations
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 intended, nor shall any provision there
OF be enforced. SO as to apply to any ar
engagements. agreements. or combinations
among persons engaged in agriculture or
horticulture. made. with a view Of en-
HANGING the price Of their own agricul-
tural or horticultural products"
The forthcoming message win contain.
however, a recommendation for the en-
actment Of legislation in regard 20 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 10 the persons or
organizations sought to be enjoined TO
show cause why the injunction should
not be granted.
II Is urged further that IL there is re-
fusal 60 obey an injunction the contempt
proceedings shall be heard By a Judge
other than the judge who issued the in
junction This proposed law is 10 be
recommended for enactment as part of
the programme OF legislative business
which the President and Republican lead
ers in the Senate and the House have
mapped out for the present session.
The leaders have declined so far. how
ever, 20 agree 10 include this measure IN
So ~ -'N--i---Nf c"N ~ - iAvL AlhtlS 10 De
adopted.
Conferences 10 End.
The present week probably will see the
completion OF the conferences between
the President and the Congress leaders.
with a view to agreeing upon the meas
ures to be adopted before adjournment.
Up to this time these include a resolu-
ton authorizing the Committee on Fl
nance Of the Senate and the Committee
on Ways and Means of the House to
make an inquiry into tariff schedules.
with the intention OF revising the tariff
AT a special session OF the Sixty first Con
gress. 70 be called in March. 1903; an
employers liability bill, a financial bill
along the lines of the pending Aldrich
measure, and a bill for the regulation Of
child labor In the District of Columbia.
TO serve as a model for the States
The President is anxious to have the
Congress leaders agree to put through at
this session other measures which will
be recommended in his special message.
but has not succeeded in obtaining their
consent.
These additional measures include the
bill 10 modify the antitrust law. the anti
injunction bill, and a bill for creating
postal savings banks