Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-18
LABOR LEADERS VISIT TAFT
Officials Of the American Federation
Confer with President.
MANY PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED
President Fakes Under Amusement
All Requests Made and Asks cues
tions. 60 Bring out Further
Information.

Taft discussed the problems of the work.
ingman for two hours today with the
members of the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor. The la
Dor leaders, headed by Samuel Gompers,
president Of the federation, called at the
White House and found the, president
keenly attentive and deeply Interested,
MIR. Gompers declared and not only did
he give the spokesman Of the party all
the time they desired to lay their mat
ters before him, but Joined himself in
the discussion in order to bring out fuller
information on the various subjects.
In the delegation were representatives
of most Of the trades affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor and among
them a number of leaders who stubbornly
opposed Mr.. paft in his presidential cam
paign. But the greeting within the eX-
e~cutiveS offices was alike cordial to all.
He told his callers that he would in
vestigate such of the matters presented
which seemed to him to require it and
would be glad to help in arriving at a
proper solution Of the difficulties in
which the working people found them
selves. while at the same time keeping
the interest of the whole people in view.
-Many Issues. Discussed. ices.
The labor leaders seemed pleased with
their reception. They took up with the
president an imposing array of problems,
Including the matter of injunction, the
eight-holir law. convict labor, the recent
Indictment of labor leaders in the south
for alleged violations of the Sherman
antitrust law, the danger of a dissolu-
ton of all labor organizations under a
strict Interpretation of recent decisions
by the supreme court, the maintenance
| Of international peace, labor problems on
the Panama canal, the adherence to the
tight of asylum in this country for po-
litical offenders from other lands and
child labor.
President Taft told the labor leaders
that he regarded the matter of an anti
Injunction law as one of the most i'm
portant phases of his administration IIc
added that he felt he had made mis- posi-
ton clear on the subject in his speech
of acceptance last July and had confirmed
that position in his inaugural address.
The president said he would be glad tc
consult further with the representatives
OF organized labor as to amendments
ETC., when a bill for the next congress
has been framed.
Dr.. Charles P. Neill, the government
commissioner of labor, was present
throughout the meeting, The executive
council members who called were: Sam.
uel Gompers, Frank Morrison, James
Duncan, James Mitchell. James O'Con.
nell, Max Morris. William Huber, Johr
B. Lennon, job r. Alpine and JOSEPH
Valentine.
Convict Labor Problem.
With reference to convict labor, Mr.
Gompers told the president that organized
labor desires only that this class of laboi
shall be regulated, not prohibited. Tn,
idea is to prevent convict-made goods
and work from coming into competition
with the labor Of free men. The fedora
ton asked that the president request al
additional appropriation from congress
for a s%tricter enforcement of the chilC
labor law in the District of Columbia
COMMISSIONS Neill seconded this request
and funds sufficient to employ at leas
two additional inspectors will be asked
for as an amendment to the urgent de
ficiency bill.
The federation council urged the presi
dent to use his efforts for an extension
OF the eight-hour law so tina II win ap
ply to contractors and subcontractori
furnishing materials and fittings for gov
eminent buildings and other government
works. The law now applies only t
government works aand the labor lead
ers pointed out that while the work o
actually constructing government work
might now be limited to eight hours, tn
preparation of the materials found tn
men employed by the subcontractorJ
working nine. ten and twelve hours
day. Mr.. Gompers said that both Presi
dents Mckinley and Roosevelt had ia
vored such an extension of the princlpl
of the eight-hour day. Mr.. Taft prom
Used TO give this matter especial consid
GRAFTON.
Status of Labor Unions.
Coming to the present status OF labc
organizations under recent decisions Of IN