Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-03-19
CL|NGS
To BOYCOTT
ASWEAPON
GOMPERS DlSAPPROVES
ROOSEVELT PROGRAM
Seth Low After Attempt to Sc
cure Approval of Civic Fed
GRAFTON Measure RetireS
From Field DiSheartened.


Washington March 1S.--Details OF
the conference yesterday between
seth Low of Ne wYork, president of
the Civic federation, and Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, which are slowly
coming to light Indicate that labor
is not yet committed to legislation
about to be urged by President
Roosevelt along the lines recommends
ed by the federation There is a diff
ference of opinion that threatens to
Oyerturn the program, il was learned
tonight from an authoritative source.
Mr. Low is said to have gone back
to New York much discouraged. He
had expected to be able to h&rmOniZe
the points on which the labor inter
ests represented by Mr., GOmpers
failed to conform with the prOgra m
of the civic federation. The officers
of the American Fdereation are said
to be Withholding their support from
the program because the president
feels that he cannot endorse lesislA-
tion which would lepalize trade boy
colts by the labor unoins. The pro-
vision Of the proposed bill eXempting
labor organizations from the opera
tons of the Sherman antitrust law
was the medium thrOueh which it
was intended TO secure full endorse
ment by the American Federation Of
Labor. At the conference at the
White House which Mr. Gompers at
tended, it appears. organized labor
was in con plete accord with the pro-
Gi'''a eederatiOn. Later
however, Mr.. Gompers conferred with
50 "a, u hns ASSISTANTS In the Ameri-
can federation and the concensus Of
opinion was that the president in his
rgF,ts
the right Of organized labor to with
hold its trade from concern whose
manner of conducting It's business
was inimical to organized labor,
II is said that 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. 1t was Mr.. Lows mission
in caliifs or .dl Goulpers yestc rdaN.
TO show MIN that the president mes
sage, if II was to have force, must be
couched i'm language I'm iuXtHpositon
with 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 law should
continue to apply to labor unions
rather than consent to "a program
which might cifectually stillc for all
time the use of the boycott as a wca-
non.
In the meantime the presidents
idea in regard to the message he
plans sending to congress urping re-
lief measures according to persons
who have discussed the subject with
him, have undergone change. If
message is sent to congress. il would
NOT be until after Che Civic fedora
tion bill has been introduced. That
has hptD VrpngTpH llt hnIlph
the provisions in it are not yet pub
lie and ii is the plan to have ii Of
fered in the house early next week by
representative Hepburn of Iowa.
President Roosevelt has not found a
senator who approves the measure
upon whom he is willing to place the
responsibility Of championing ne
measure in the upper body. There
fore the bin will not be introduced
simultaneously in both branches of
congress.
It would depend upon the fate of
the bill in the house whether it
reaches the senate at all. That the
support OF labor organizations is nee
essary to the success Of the program
is the belief expressed by some Of the
leaders OF the house tonight.
The president was the guest this
e',anine of Representative Longworth
at dinner which was attended also
by Speaker Cannon. 1t is not un-
likely that the subject Of the civic
feoeiation's bill was discussed,
Numerous conferences have been
held at the capitol between senate
ac house republican leaders at
which the prospects for passage OF a
relief bill have been considered,
Speaker Cannon and Representative
Balzell met senate leaders today. AL
though none Of those present had
seen the bill it was agreed that only
such legislation can pass at this ses-
sion as meets with general approval
among representatives. IT. as has been
stated, the bin is drastic the chances
for its enactment are small
The views Of the leaders seem to
indicate that a measure might be
passed to exempt labor unions from
the operations of the antitrust law
II organized labor supports sincerely
other provisions Of the bill. and that
the antitrust law might be modified
50 as to legalize traffic agreements
between the railroads provided that
such agreements can be divorced
completely from polling devices. The
expressions heard at the capitol are
opposed to a bill at this time which
would deal with over capitalization of
corporations or attempt to regulate
stock gambling Labor leaders, how
ever are preparing to demand in
connection with a geenral relief bill
such as in mind, provisions to pro-
hlbIt the issuance Of injunctions
without due notice Of the proceedings
TO the person to be eniuined and also
prohibiting the imposition Of penalties
m contempt cases which had not been
submitted to turtles Such demands
would rive rise to mplicatiuns on
posed to agreement on auV Of the sub