The Washington times., 1909-04-16
First Meeting of Taft and
Gompers Since the Cam
/, paign.
TAFT WILL REFUSE
SEVERAL REQUESTS
President to Acquiesce in Petition
For An Employers LA
bility Law.
By JAMES HAY, II.

Organized labor Is making It's plea
this afternoon 20 the President OF the
United States for the legislation Il be-
heves to be necessary for its welfare.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor and the
members of the executive council Of the
Federation. went to the White House
at 1:30 O'Clock this afternoon and Inn
inediately the conference began Con-
sidering that no man fought so hard as
did Gompers to prevent Mr. Taft's cleo
tion TO the Presidency. today's confer
ence is one OF the most interesting the
President has held since mis- Inaugural
ton.
Gompers. who assailed Taft and. In
turn, was assailed by Taft, is asking
the President TO incorporate in his next
message to Congress recommendations
for the laws organized labor seeks to
gut on the statute books.
1t is safe to predict that some oil
labor's demands are doomed to meet
with encouragement by this Admins
tration. not because OF any III feeling
between Taft and Gompers, but because
of the Presidents often repeated de-
claration of how he stands in regard
to these demands.
WnaI LaDOI W ants.
What organized labor wants can be
defined about as follows:
!. Amendment TO the Sherman anti
trust law so that It shall not interfere
with labors right TO strike and boycott
2. Legislation which viii prevent the
so-caIled abuse OF the power Of in
junction by the courts
g. Rigid enforcement OF the law for an
frnTrnrnFnaFlf
4 The enactment Of q Government
liability law. insurtng the payment OF
damages BY the United States to any
one injured in the service OF the Gov
ernment.
1T is also barely possible that in the
conference today Mr. Taft viii be told
tons than are now the rule put on the
admission of foreign laborers into this
country.
Gompers Has Little Chance.
There is small chance that this Ad
rnlnistration will amend the Sherman
law as Mr.. Gompers and his associate.
desire. There is also an equally small
chance that any legislation will b,
enacted TO interfere with the presen
procedure Of the courts in the maJte
OF injunctions.
day and a Government liability law vii
be met with acqutesence by Mr.. Taft 4
not doubted by any one familiar witt
his views on the subjects involved.
The refusal Of the first two requests
and the granting OF the second two vii
be In line with Mr.. Tafts campaign
declarations. Indeed, II Mr.. Gompers
articles ia the American Federationis
are 10 be taken as indicating his fina
opinion Of the Presidents policies, 1t Il
safe 10 assume that the executive cOun
eli went to the White House toda,
with little hope OF having their mrs
two demands received with favor.
Mr.. Gompers has recently published al
article In which he was extremely PCS
sinligtic about the Taft attitude towar,
organized labor.
The Presidents Attitude.
On the other hand, the President, de
spite the bitter warfare waged agains
him by the labor unions Of the entir
country 81 the campaign, has said re
peatedly that no Administration coul
be fairer TO the demands OF labor thai
his will be. But that he Will refuse {
60 beyond what he has already lai
down In his public speeches Is certain
made no apologies for his record Il
labor decisions while he was on IN
bench, and he is in no frame OF min
10 do II now.
Today's conference Is for the purpos
OF his hearing labor's demands prelimi
lie VIII say In regard 10 them In hi
message 20 the regular session OF Cor
gress next fall. This Is in line wit
his wish to collect before ne leave
washington all the Information an
data necessary for the preparation o
his message during the summer.
CContinued on PAGE ThirteanN