The Washington times., 1909-01-09
Union Leaders Will Con-
tinue FOrIOrn Efforts to
Push Legislation.
TO GET NOTHING
AT THIS TIME
Special Session, Too, Offers Small
Promise of Passing
Bills.

Organized labor leaders are endeav-
orinE to get legislation ON the subjects
in which they are interested at the
special session of Congress next spring.
IL goes without saying that the odds
are against them. A special session
was called for the purpose Of revising
the tariff and other matters have no
show.
Efforts will be made to induce Mr..
Taft to use his influence to get Congress
TO take up labor legislation. If Mr.
Taft would say to the leaders Of Con
gress that ne hoped they would see
their way clear 10 the consideration Of
labor legislation at the special session.
there is no doubt his recommendation
would 60 long way.
Anti-Injunction Laws.
Anti-injuactiou legislation. of course,
is desired by labor This is more than
ever the case since the contempt de-
cisiOn against Samuel Gompers. John
Mitchell and Frank MorrlgoH. More
over, organized labor is greatly inter
ested I'm the proposed legislation con-
templated by the Civic Federation bill,
to take labor organizations out from
uTder the sherman antitrust law
Eight-hour day legislation also is de-
sired, as well as number of other
measures.
So far as the short session now IN
progress is concerned, there Is no pros
pect whatever of any labor legislation.
/ This is true on account Of the short
ness Of the session and on account of
the fact many members are resentfu
of the activity OF organized labor
against them in the late campaign A
great many members OF Congress take
the view that labor failed to accom-
pllsh Ia q political way the things IL
set out TO accomplish I'm the campaign
and that IL no longer need be serious
/ ~ TeCkoned with.
This feeling promises TO give the pro
meters or labor legislation good deal
/ Of trouble before they get Congress TO
/ do the things they want, or any Of
/ them.
Confidence in Taft.
| Despite the fact that President Com
| pers and his aides fought Taft, they
and their followers have a good deal
/ OF confidence that he means to "do the
] right thing by organized labor" Many
4 OF the labor leaders who spoke against
/ Tart In the campaign think he Is in
/ earnest In desiring that the abuses ia
/ the matter Of iniunctions be put 10 an
/ end. The PTesldeut-elect is recognized
/ as first OF all, "a highly capable law
I y er. who IS competent to deal with the
/ injunction question, and there is clear
Z ly evident a feeling among labor lead
/ eTs of a great deal Of confidence in him.
/ " nile the labor leaders are trying 10
/ get Tart 10 recommend the legislation
. they want AT tle special session, it Is
/ not expected here that labor viii get
( what % wants. Even If Alr. Taft would
I say 10 the Congress Leaders, that he
( would like % have an effOrl made t0
/ get labor legislation there would be
/ formidable obstacles iH the WY
Other Obstacles.
Speaker Cannon and the rest Of the
| House leaders. along with Senator.
Hale and Aldricl. could reply that they
/ thought it, very uuwise To compIicate
tariff revision with any other import
ant matters. Jf course, the Speaker
could take the position that r. other
cor mittees aside from Ways and
Means, Rules. and one or two Others
+ should DE named at the special ses-
sion This would head Off any DOS
/ siBility of labor legislation
Il is. moreover, deemed quite likely
this ls just what Speaker Cannon Will
} do. not merely because f. would ehui
Off labor legislation. but because f.
/ would hold the House absolutely ID
/ Tie tariff revision Speaker Reed took
this course so that MT Cannon would
have precedent IN his favor