Newton D. Baker to Woodrow Wilson

CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Mr. President
Mr. Gompers and five others, comprising the Executive Committee of the American Federation of Labor, called on me today. They came to repeat and urge a suggestion made some-time ago to me to the effect that in their judgment it would be an inspiring thing if you would proclaim to the American people and to the world in general that the eight-hour day has now become the accepted basis of industrial employment in this country.

These gentlemen said that the workers in Germany and Austria would be affected by such a declaration, that Labor in this country, both organized and unorganized, would be stirred and stimulated by it, and that it would have a tendency to make labor difficulties in this country impossible during the war.

I pointed out to them that the maintenance of existing standards could hardly be interpreted to mean so revolutionary a change of existing conditions as such a proclamation would entail; that at once, upon such a statement from you being made public, all workers at present employed more than eight hours would feel that they had your authority to demand an eight-hour day and to enforce their demands, no matter what industry might be involved or what disorganization might follow from the unwillingness of their employers to yield the point; that this was particularly so in the steel industry where relatively very few of the employees had succeeded in getting the eight-hour day. I further pointed out the unwisdom of executive legislation on such a subject, particularly when there was a want of power in the Executive to enforce such a declaration of opinion. They argued the matter quite earnestly and asked me whether it would be possible for them, as a body, to meet you so that they might lay their views before you. They will be in Washington until Thursday when they leave to attend various meetings throughout the country preliminary to the general convention.

I explained that your engagements are made many days ahead and your time so occupied that it seemed unlikely that your attention could be gotten at this time. I report the matter to you because they will probably ask me whether such a meeting as they desire is possible and also because you may desire to meet them in order to point out to them the unwisdom of action at this time which would tend violently to disturb the labor situation of the country. As a matter of fact, the labor movement is making very rapid progress now and it would be a great pity to cause a reaction by unwise and untimely demands.