The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-12-02
Labor Leaders Discuss
A. F. of L. Legislative
Program With Presi-
dent T att Monday
Delegation Headed by
Samuel Gor1apers.
100 a Year in Advance

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Soon after the United States Supreme
Court met Monday Messrs Ralston Sid.
dons and Richardson, attorneys for Sam
nel Gompers, John Mitchell and Frank
Morrison. formally applied for writ
of certiorari in the Bucks Stove Company
case, in which Gompers, Mitchell and
Morrison were sentenced to Jail sentences
OF twelve, nine and six months, rcspec-
lively, for contempt of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia
The defendants were sentenced for
printing in the American Federationist
in the owe DOM Patronize'' list the
name of the Bucks company, and in pub
lie addresses otherwise violating the in
junction of that court.
Tic petition asked that the court issue
writ which would require the Court of
Appeals of the District Of Columbia to
certify to the Supreme Court for final
determination the appeal taken by the de-
PENDANTS against the Bucks Stove and
Range Company.
Application for the writ was based
on the claim that Justice Wright erred
Court of Appeals, in confirming the SEN
tence, the decree violating the Constitu-
ton of the United States, as "abridging
freedom of speech and of the press.''
The brief also attacks the decree in
that nothing was done by the defendants
outside of their constitutional rights
1t IS claimed also that the "decree
was void in that it condemned the de.
PENDANTS for an act committed before
the injunction became effective: also in
GUIDING acts occurring long after the date
upon which a petition was issued to re-
quire the defendants to show cause why
they should not be adjudged in CON
tempt
The petition cites that the Judgment
was illegal and void, and beyond the
jurisdiction of the courts indulping in
them
Decislon was reserved. The lawyers
IN the case expect it next Monday.
PRESIDENT Taft on Monday received a
delegation from the American Fedora
ton OF Labor, composed of it's principal
offcers-Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell
Frank Morrison and James o 'Connell-
and discussed with them for an hour and
half the Legislative program demanded
from the coming session of Congress bv
the Federation Mt its convention Mt To.
ronto.
The President was asked to recommend
the following:
law limiting the issuance of iniunc.
tons in labor disputes.
amendments IN bo Sbor,,,..
to relieve organized labor from the opera.
lions of that statute.
Extention of the eight hour law so az
70 MAKE 1t apply to all work done for the
government
An appropriation by Congress for in
spectors IN sufficient number to bring
ABOUT thorough enforcement of the child
labor law in the District of Columbia
"A government compensation act or leg.
lslatlon in the direction of establishing
the liability of employers
Inc British trades statutes of 1906
was submitted to the President as
model for legislation in this country
Ihese matters were laid before tho
PRESIDENT chiefly by Samuel Gompers
who acted as spokesman for the delepa.
ton.
On leaving the White House Gompers
SAID: The President listened with
care and discussed the various questions
win us He promised to give them his
pest consideration and some of them he
assured us he would recommend,
Gompers declined to say what the
PRESIDENT would recommend, but it is
learned that there is little reason to sun
pose the President will go further than he
mas already done in advising anti-in junct
| ION legislation Nor is he expected to take