Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-11
GOMPERS AYERS
EXECUTIVE SNUB
IS COMPLIMENT
GLAD TO LEARN ROOSEVELT
IGNORED HIM
DOES NOT FEEL SIGHTED OVER
WHITE HOUSE DINNER
Considerable Comment Caused in Dem
yer by Labor Leaders, Severe Sar-
casm Relative to Presidents
Treatment
[Rx Associated Press.I

ENNER, NOV. lO-COuSlueFdple
comment was caused by that
- portion of the annual report of
President Samuel Gompers, read to
the convention of the American Feder-
alton of Labor yesterday afternoon, in
which Mr.. Gompers said that President
Roosevelt had issued invitations to
number of labor leaders to meet with
prominent lawyers and jurAsts at
dinner at the White House a week
from today for the purpose of dis
cussing labor legislation. President
Roosevelt, said the report of Mr.. Com
pers, had excluded from the list of in
vited guests the officers of the Amerl-
can Federation of Labor, including Its
president
Mr.. Gompers in an interview on the
subject refused to discuss the question
from a political standpoint, but con-
tented himself with a statement to the
effect that he deemed himself ''honored
by the exclusion and considered the
presidents act "a tribute to his hon
esty."
Honored by Exclusion
He said:
"I am honored by the president when
he excludes me from his guest list.
at is a high tribute to the manner
in which I have represented the in
terests of the millions of workingmen
and women banded together in the
federation, both in the matter of press
ing the administration for fair labor
legislation and in the campaign just
ended.
"This is the first affair that L know
of at the White House to which I have
not been invited, but despite the fact
that l have frequently been asked to
meet the president and his friends
socially [ have never availed myself
of such an invitation.
my dealings with the president have
always been on a strictly business
basis.
"I have frequently requested an
audience with him regarding matters
of import to the federation and its
membership and have always been well
received and treated courteously.
There, however, my relations with the
president ended.
Represents ToiIers
st, by virtue of the trust imposed
upon me by the federation, represent
the millions of people of the country
who toll with their hands-the hired
| men and women, so to speak,
"If the president or any other person
cares to say that / do not represent the
membership of the American Federa-
| ton of Labor so be it. | do not care
criticise such stand.
"When the need presents shall meet
President Roosevelt or any other prest-
dent or public man as the representa-
tive of the workers of the nation If they
re-elect me and care to have me repre-
sent them"
The other federation officials decline
to discuss the matter, but many labor
| leaders in Denver declare that the
action of the president is simply part
of 81 plan to divide the forces OF or
ganized labor so they would not be
effective in future contests.
viii Decide Later
John Mitchell, James Duncan and
Daniel J. Keefe, who were invited by
the president, said they expected to be
| in Denver at the convention session
next Tuesday, but would decide whether
or not to reject the invitation when
they received the presidents letter.
The report of the executive council
was n complete record of the actions
taken and the decisions rendered by the
council during the year.
Fourteen disputes between different
unions were considered during the year,
and the report explained what disposi-
tion the council made of these contro-
versies. Regarding the action of the
council in injunction cases and the
labor campaign made before congress
the report practically is repetition OF
that of President Gompers.
For attorney hire and other legal ex-
penses the council announced that $19,-
474 had been expended.
A large portion of the report was
taken up with the details of the efforts
made by the federation to secure the
passage of favorable legislation by con-
gress and the failures resulting. The
| matters had also been referred to by
| President Gompers.