The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-17
LABOR LEADERS
RECEIVED WITH
BEAM|NG SMILE
President Taft Yesterday
Warmly Greeted the Chiefs
Of Organized Labor Who
Called on Him.
THEIR ACTIVITY IN
CAMPAIGN FORGOTTEN
Executive Learns Views of
Gompers and Others Upon
Trade Unionism and Prom
ised to Lend Aid.

| Washington, April 17.-Leaders of
organized labor. some of whom took
the stump last fall and advocated the
election of William J. Bryan as presi-
dent, had an amicable conference,
lasting several hours yesterday after
noon, with President Taft.
Its object was to enable the presi-
dent to ascertain the precise views of
trades unionism upon several import
ant questions affecting it's interests,
in anticipation of the drafting of his
annual message to congress next De-
cember
Samuel Gompers, President of the
American Federation, whose activity
in behalf of the democratic ticket in
the last campaign was the greatest of
all the labor chieftains. was among
those participating in the conference,
and his reception by the president
was as cordial as that extended to any
of his conferes.
Set Forth Views.
The labor leaders presented state
ment setting forth their views and de-
sires as to new legislation and during
the discussion which followed they
had ample opportunity to advance all
the arguments in their support.
The president, without committing
himself on any of the various PROPOSE
tions submitted, said he would give
consideration to all of them and make
such recommendations as we're consis-
tent with his own views. It is not ex-
pected that he will go as far as the
leaders do with respect to anti-injunc-
ton legislation or amending the Sher-
man antitrust law so that it will not
interfere seriously with boycotts.
A Real Love Feast.
Mr.. Gompers declared that the
president not only gave the spokes-
men of the party all the time they
desired to lay their matters before
him, but Joined himself in the discus
sion from time to time to bring out
fuller Information on the various sub
jects.
When the conference reached its
close the president told his callers
that he would investigate such of the
matters presented which seemed to
him to require such action, and that
he would be glad to help. as far as his
opportunities would permit. in arriv-
ling at a proper solution of the diff
culties in which the working people
found themselves, while at the same
time keeping the interest Of the whole
people in view
The labor leaders seemed pleased
with their reception.
Take up Problems.
They took UP with the president an
imposing array of problems, including
the matter of injunction, the eight
hour law, convict labor, the recent in
dictment of labor leaders in the South
for alleged violations of the Sherman
| antitrust law, the danger of dissolu-
ton of all labor organizations under
q strict Interpretation of recent decis-
ions by the Supreme court. the mainte-
nance Of international peace, labor
problems on the Panama canal, the ad-
herence to the right of asylum in this
country for political offenders from
other lands and child labor.
President Taft told the labor lead
ers that he regarded the matter of an
anti-injunction law as one of the most
4 important phases of his administration
He added that he felt he had made his
position clear on the subject in his
speech of acceptance last July at Gin.
| cinnati. and had confirmed that po-
sition in his inaugural address. The
president said he would be glad to con-
suit further with the representatives OF
organized labor, as to amendments
&C.. when bill for the next congress
has been framed.
Mr.. Charles p Neill, the govern.
ment commissioner of labor. was pres.
ent throughout the hearing. The
members of the executive council who
called. besides Samuel Gompers. were
Frank Morrison. James Duncan. John
Mitchell, James O'Connell, Max Morris.
| William Huber John B. Lennon. John
r. Alpine and Joseph Valentine.
Laud the Government.
| In beginning the interview with the
president. Mr.. Gompers said the coun-
Gil desired first of all to express appre-
citation of the action of the government
in standing by the principles OF the
right OF asylum in the United States
for persons charged with political o.
lenses in other countries, as exempli-
fled in the recent cases Of Pouren and
Rudowitz. the Russian refugees.
With reference to convict labor, Mr..
Gompers told the president that organ
lied labor desires only that this class
of labor shall be regulated, not pro.
hibited. The idea is to prevent con-
vict- made goods and work from COM
ing into competition with the labor Of
free men.
/ Coming to the present status OF labor
| organizations. under recent decisions
Of the courts, the discussioned widened
broadly. It centered about the SUI
preme court decision in the famous
hatters' case, under which certain
phases of labor organization methods
were declared to be In contravention
OF the Sherman anti-trust law