The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-10-02
WILL NOT GUST HIM
Roosevelt Announces Final De.
cisiOn in Miller Case.
Fresldent Knows No CIasa-Inws
Cannot be Administered to
Permit Discrimination
Charges Against Miller

CHarSes against Miller
Inc Bookbinders' Union of Wasbipg-
ton, u. T., expelled w. A. Miller Ioremsn
OF the government office. for conduct nm
becoming member of the Organization
MS uIscharge was then secured and no
appealed to President Roosevelt for ra.
lhstatement, alleging he was being dis.
crlmlnated against The Dreaident
deemed his complaint well. founded and
he was given his old position.
LABOR organizations throughout the
country were then appealed to and
many nave requested that Miller no
ousted oe
Inc presidents reply to the Feder-
ation committee Tuesday shows his de-
Cision il final. "'' uo-
Conference With the Prasido,,
Washington, Sept % An important
consultation took place at the White
mouse To-Day between President RoOse-
vert ana hve members Of the executive
rouncll Oh the American Federation of
LABOR, including President Gompprs and
Mr. Mitchell, head of the miners union
during which the case of Foreman w A
Miller, OF the government printing office
VINO had been expelled from the local
bookblnders' Union. and afterward was
relnstated by direction of the president
was the principal topic Of discussion.
Inc conferance was granted at the re
quest OF the labor leaders. The Miller
case was very fully presented by the
members OF the executive council, at the
close OF which the president made a
statement, IN which he announced his
decision not TO dismiss Miller as final.
ana the question of his personal fitness
must be settled in the regular routine of
administration.
Statement of the President
Following is the statement of Presi.
dent Roosevelt:
pursuant to the request OF Samuel
Gompers, president OF the American
feueraLlOn OF Labor, the president
granted an interview this evening to the
members OF the executive council Of that
Douy-Samuel GOmpers, James Duncan.
John Mitchell, James O'Connell and
ffank MorrlsOn-at which various sub
lects ol legislation in the interests OI
iabor, as we'll as executive action. were
discussed. Concerning the case of W. A.
Miller, the president made the following
statement:
thank you and your committee
ior your courtesy, and appreciate the
opportunity to meet with you. 1t will
always be pleasure to see you or anv
representatives of your organic Ations or
OF your Federation as whole.
As regards the Miller case. | have
little TO add 70 what have already said.
La dealing with it, | ask you to remem.
Der that | am dealiog purely with the
relation OF the government TO its en-
ployes. L must govern nv action by
the laws OF the land which | am sworn
TO administer, and which differentiate
any case in which the government of the
United States is party from all other
cases whatsoever. Thpse laws are en-
acted for the benefit of the whole peOple.
and cannot and must not be construed
as permitting discrimination against
some OF the people
1 am president of all the people of
the United States, without regard to
creed, color. birthplace, occupation or
social conditions. My aim ia to do
equal and exact Justice among them all.
La the employment and dis .nissaI of men
III the government service can no more
recognize the fact that man does or
does not belong to a union, as being for
or against him, than can recognize the
TACT that be Is a Protestant or a Catho
lie, Jew or a Gentle, as being for or
against him.
In the communications sent me by
various labor organizations protesting
against the retention Of Miller in the
government printing office, the grounds
alleged are twofold-frst, that he is a
nonunlOn man; second, that be is not
personally fit. The question of his per-
sOnal fitness is one to be settled in the
routine OF administrative detail, and
cannot be allowed to conflict with or to
compllcate the larger question of gov
evnmental discrimination for or against
him or ony other man because he is Dot
a member OF union. This is the only
question now before me for decision, and
as to this my decision is final.'"