The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-07
PRESIDENT IS NOT
FAVOR|NG BOYCOTT
Taft Speaks Plainly to DeIega-
tiOn of Business Men From
the Quaker State.
CONTROVERSY RELATING TO
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Labor Leader Gompers Says
Executives View Is a
= disappointment"

WASHINGTON. April s.-President
Taft today told delegation OF nifty busi-
ness men from Bethlehem and South
Bethlehem. Pa. that he did not believe
in boycotts and that. so far as he was
concerned he did not believe disputes
With third parties warranted the abro-
CATION OF government contracts with any
The delegation, which was headed by
H. j. Meyers. called AT the White house
as dlslnterested persons. tho chairman
declared, to protest against the reports
spread by labor aSitators that the Beth
lehem Steel works. because OF the strike
Of some OF Its employees. was turning
out an inferior quality OF work.
Mr., Meyers said efforts had been made
to have this government as well as for
eign customers Of the steel concern, boy
that Incompetent woremen had been en-
ployed To take strikers places.
Basis of Opposition.
"T haven't followed closely what has
happened at Bethlehem at ALL" said
President Taft. 'T don't know what tho
statements are to which you refer, | can
only say this-that l am utterly opposed
20 the principle of boycott. Every Is
sue ought TO be settled on its own merits
II The Bethlehem work isn't up TO con-
tract, then the government ought not
90 give the contracts to IL. II II IS then
:he contracts ought 10 60 to it without
regard TO controversies that Bethlehem
may have with third persons.
Therefore, without knowing anything
nbout the facts, say to you that II
Bethlehem does not do good work. IT is
for the government to find out and TO
act on il and TO refuse its contracts on
that ground, and not because IL is con
cerned in a fight or a controversy with
its employees.
In so far as the public or the govern
ment or part or the public IS interest
ed in the controversy between the EN-
nioyees and tho companies, that id
determined on the merits OF that con-
government business. That is the posi-
zion / occupy. II is the position my
administration. so Tar as l can control
it. il will occupy"
Sentiment Of Gompers.
When the speech OF President Taft
To the business men OF South Bethlehem
called to the attention of President
Gompers of the American Federation Of
Labor. he said:
THE presidents utterance TO the dele
gallon OF business men OF Bethlehem.
who are coerced by the Bethlehem Steel
company, is but coniirmatory as well as
disappointing. Disappointing that he
would carry his former attitude toward
labor 10 the logical conclusion, regard
less of underlying causes. confirmatory OF
his utterances and actions in every ma
reral issue in which the real interests OF
labor were involved.
According 10 the presidents position.
il Is not the governments s concern how
h;utally and inhumanly the workers OF
a concern are treated; il matters NOT
whether American workers are displaced
by the lowest elements of foreign labor
coolie. Japanese or Slav--it is simply
question OF product So long as The
product Is acceptable, the producers may
do as they please.
The president stands pat on the tariff
or products from foreign countries and
stands equally pat on the free trade I'm
labor from all climes and under any con-
ditions."
The committee representing the bust
ness men also called upon the secretaries
of war and navy, practically repeating
what they had said to the president.
4 committee representing the striking
employees Of the steel plant arrived In
Washington today and will so 10 the
White House tomorrow.