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 GornPers.


| Soon after the United States Supreme
Court met Monday Messrs. Ralston, Sid
dons and Richardson, attorneys for Sam
uel 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, respec-
lively, for contempt of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia.
The defendants were sentenced for
printing in the American Fedcrationist
in the 1--WE Don't Patronize'' list the
name of the Bucks company, and in pub.
lie addresses otherwise violating the in
junction of that court.
The 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
IN the judgment, as did the District
Court of Appeals, in confirming the SEN
tence, the decree violating the Constitu.
ton of the United States, as e'abridpinp
freedom of speech and of the press. y
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-
fendants 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 wby
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 indulginp in
them.''
Decision 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 princinaI
otiicers-Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell.
FRANK Morrison and James o Council
halt the legislative program demanded
IRON the coming session of Congress by
'he Federation at its convention at To.
ronto.
The President was asked to recommend
the following:
law limiting the issuance of in iunc
tions in labor disputes
Amendments to the Sherman law On nc
to relieve organized labor from the onera.
tions of that statute
Extention of the eight-hour law SO as
to make it apply to all work done for the
government
AN appropriation by Congress for in
spectors IN sufficient number to bring
ahout thorough enforcement of the child
labor law in the District of Columbia
"A government compensation act or leg
| lsiation in the direction of ESTABLISHING
the liability of employers
The British trades statutes of 1905
was submitted to the President as
model for legislation in this country
These matters were laid before +b.
President chiefly by Samuel Gomners
who acted spokesman for the deieo,,
| ton.
On leaving the White House Gompers
said: Ihe 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 sup-
pose the President will go further than he
mas already done in advising anti i-injunct
ION legislation Nor is he expected to take