The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-04-17
LABOR LEADERS
AND TAFT MEET
HAVE LENGTHY DISCUSSION OF
PROBLEMS OF AMERICAN
WORKING MAN.
TAFT MAKES PROMISE
To Give All Possible Aid in Solving
Problem-Gomper and Asso-
ciates Pleased With Reeep-
tion BY Executive.

|
Washington, April 1G.-Prcsident
Taft discussed the problems Of thu
working man for two hours today
with the executive council Of tie
labor leaders head by President
Gompers called at the White House
TO present to the president a number
of matters of violation TO organized
labor. They foun> ne chief magis
| trate keenly attentive and deely in.
terested, Gompers declares. and not
only did the president give the
spokcsmen of the party all the time
| they desired to lay their mat ers be-
| fore him, but Joined himself in the
discussion from time to time to bring
ont fuller information on the various
subjects as they were reached.
When the conference had reached
it's close the president told his callers
that he would investigate matters pre-
sented which seemed to him require
such action, ana that be would be
glad to help as far as his opportuni-
ties would permit, in arriving at a
proper solution of the difficulties in
which the working people fornd them
ing the interest of the whole peope
in view
The labor leaders seemed pleased
with their reception. They took up
with tho president an opposing array
of problems. including iniuncticn, the
eight hour law. convict labor, tho
recent indictment Cf the labor lead
ers in the south for alleged violations
of the antitrust law, the dissolution
|of all labor organizations under the
strict recent decisions by The supreme
court, the maintenance of -iRterna-
tional peace, labor problems on the
Panama canal, the adherence to the
right of asylum in this country for
political offenders from other lands
and child labor.
Taft told the leasers that he re.
garded the matter of the antiinjunc-
tion law as one of the most import
ant phases of his administration. Taft
said he would be glad to consult fur
ther with the representatives of CT.
ganized labor as to amendments, etc,
when the bill for the next congress
fill be framed, In beginning the iu-
terview with the president Bompers
said the council desired first of all to
express appreciati>u OF the action of
the government in standing by the
principle of the right of asylum in
the United States for persons charged
with political offenses in other coun-
tries. as exemplfied in the recelt
cases of Pouren and Rudowitz the
Russian refugees.
The council further expressed its
appreciation of the attitude of the
government in its effort to extend the
opportunities for the maintenance of
international peace. With reference
to ccnvict labor Gompers told the
president that organized labor d.
sires only that this class of labor
shall be regulated, not prohibited.
The idea is to prevent convict made
goods and work from coming into
competition with the labor of free
men.
The federation council urged the
president to use his efforts for the ex-
tension of the eight hour law so that
II would apply to contractors and sub-
contractors furnishing materials and
fittings for the government buildings
and other government works. The
law now applies only to government
works and the labor leaders pointed
out that the work of actually con
structing government work might
now be limited to eight hours, prepa.
ration of sometimes oc-
curing just across the street from the
structure-having suffered by reason
of men quitting work or Withholding
their patronage.
Taft was asked If there was any
truth in the report that the Ameri-
can workingmen. principally laborers
belonging to American unions. are TO
be laid off the Isthmus of lpaNama to
make room for foreigners. The presi.
dent said he had not even heard of
srch report and did not believe it
could be true.
CREDITORS WANT REMINGTON
CO. AOJUDGED BANKRUPT.