The Washington times., 1903-07-28
LABOR WORRIED BY
open SHOP ORDER
May Seek Modification of
Presidents Ruling.
MILLER is STILL ON DUTY
Labor Unions Approve Conservative
Course of Bookbinders in Refusing
to PTecipitate Strike.

An air OF absolute peace and quiet pre-
Office
Members OF tho arbitration commit ee
OF the local bookbinders' union held a
meeting IN their rooms. over the cigar
store on North Capitol street. this
morning. but adjourned early and de-
parted elsewhere to hold secret ses-
sion. Action by the Public Pinter is
awaited before anything definite can be
done by the union
The conference at Typographical TEN
pie last night was attended by Samuel
GosaDers, president. and Frank Morri-
son. secretary of the American Fedora
tion of Labor; J. W. Dougherty. general
secretary of the international Union CT
Bookbinders: J. A. B. Espey. financial
secretary and treasurer, and the presi-
dents and secretaries of the four local
unions of the allied printing trades.
AS a result of the conference there
has been some talk of an attempt to
have the Presidents order reinstating
Miller modified so that it will not have
its present effect OF declaring the Gov
ernment Printing Office an open shop.
Difficulties in the Way.
1t is difficult to imagine how this
modification is to be effected. II will be
recalled that the President in his first
letter saws:
There is no objection to the en-
ployes OF the Government Printing ONES
constituting themselves into a union if
they so d2sire. but no rules or resolu-
tions CT that union can be permitted to
override the laws of the United States
which It is my sworn duty 10 enforce
Then. in the second letter Mr. Roose-
veit calls attention 10 the judgment of
the coal strike commission TO the ef-
feet that no person shall be refused
employment or in any way discrimi-
mated against on account Of member
ship or non membership in any labor
organization. and says that he heartily
approves this judgment, adding:
1T is,~of course. mere elementary
decency TO require that all Government
departments shall be handled in accord
ance with the principle thus clearly and
feariessly enunciated."
A Strike improbable.
II would seem that this is a sort of
stand pat" proposition not to be
changed. Failing in this. the Interna-
tional Union OF Bookbinders Will have
TO change its own laws OF order the
local union TO walk out. A strike now
seems beyond the realms of the pos
sible, owing to the difficulty OF rein
statement OF the strikers and the lack
of public sympathy.
The main hope Of the union men is
that the Public Printer, after an inves-
tigation of the unions charges against
Miller. win discharge him for the good
OF the service" and that such action
will receive the approval OF Secretary
Cortelyou and the President. This would
relieve them OF Immediately facing
positive Issue.
In the meantime several members of
the women's auxiliay union have an
noEnced their intention 10 leave the
union as soon as they are absolutely
sure they can hold their positions with
out belonging to the union Many Of
them were coerced into Joining the aux
illary, and one gave up her position last
fall rather than join.
Conservative Policy Approved.
Members ot labor unions in Washing
ton generally approve the course taken
by the local bookbindeTs' organization
IN refusing TO precipitate a strike at the
Government Printing once. At a meet
ing last night of the Central Labor I'm
ion. a resolution was adopted. which
reads in part as follows:
THAT we heartily indorse the wise and
conservative action OF the Bookblnders'
Union in requesting prompt considera-
tion of the charges now in possession Of
the Hon. r. w, Palmer. Public Printer,
affecting w. A. Miller's unfltness for the
public service. and tender them our
hearty support"
II Is said that the quiet influence of
President Gompers OF the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor had much to do with
the shaping OF the conservative policy
uoW lpfnO nurzffad nv fha booLhf,dor.