Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-29
GOMPERS SUBMITS VIEWS
Issuance of Injunctions by Federal
Judges.
TO IGNORE SHERMAN ACT
Amendment of Interstate Commerce
Laws Favored-Conferenc
at the White House.

Improvement of the condition OF thy
laboring men which ii ia desired the
President shall incorporate in his annual
message to Congress were urged upon
President Taft today by a delegation Of
labor leaders. headed by Samuel Gompers.
president OF the American Federation of
Labor. John Mitchell second vice
president James O'Connell. third vice
president and Frank Morrison. secretary
of the federation accompanied Mr.. Com
pers to the White House.
Every year, before the annual message
of a President is sent to Congress. the
federal officials see the chief executive
their interests. Today's visit was ar
ranged for Saturday. President Gompers
submitted a number of matters which it
was hoped the President would be able
to favorably consider. The foremost of
these pertained to the issuance of in
functions by federal judges. particularly
as they apply to personal liberty and
their use in the settlement of disputes be-
tween employers and employees. In sup
port of their contention that the existing
power Of judges should be limited Mr..
Gompers submitted to the President a
copy Of the British trade dispute act.
passed by the British parliament in 1905.
The British Practice.
I'VE feel said Mr.. Gompers, that
what Is accorded the British workmen
under the British crown can safely be
given the American workmen. One pro.
vision Of the act is as follows: AN &C.
tion against a trade union, whether OF
workmen or masters, or against any
members or officials thereof on behalf
<,f hov, on1 an nf1 f1n~ tNAV ~
the trade union in respect of any tortious
act alleged to have been committed by
or on behalf of the trade union. shall not
be entertained by any court"
The exemption of labor organizations
from certain provisions Of the Sherman
antitrust act was discussed for some
time. the President showing deep inter
est in the views of the labor leaders.
The Antitrust Act.
The President has practically decided
that his message to Congress will not
make detailed recommendations for
amendments to the Sherman antitrust
act. His decision. which is decided
change in his intention from few weeks
ago. is largely based upon the fact that
there are pending in the Supreme Court
and on their way to that highest tribunal
number of important cases involving
Interpretation of the provisions Of the
act. The President feels that specific
recommendation from him at this time,
on the threshold of these decisions, might
be construed as an attempt to influence
the court. After the court has thrown all
the light possible on the subject the
President will give it further thought
and send to Congress recommendations
looking to limitations and restrictions.
The Presidents change of mind has
been recent, as he has stated in a number
Of speeches hfs belief that there should
be amendments to the law. At the be-
ginning Of his administration. too. he
asked the best legal minds in his cabinet
to give their close attention to the amerd
ment Of this law. Attorney Gene n /
Wickersham has spent many hours WORK
ing upon the proposition. and formulated
amendments which the President has con-
sidered wise and in line with his own
views.
Amendment to the eight-hour law so
as to extend its provisions to contractors
and subcontractors for government work.
and requesting an appropriation to pay
inspectors for duty In enforcing the child
labor law in the District OF Columbia
were other subjects taken up by the labor
leaders.
The President intimated that in many
Of the subjects placed before him lie SYM
pathized with the demands of labor.