Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-08-06
RETENTION OF MILLER in PRINT.
ING OFFICE IMPORTANT STEP.
SETTLED ONCE FOR ALL
1t Means That the Government viii
Not Submit to Labor Union
Dictaton in the Operation of Its
Functions-Strons Position Taken
by the President.

Washington, Aug. 1.-The Miller
case, in the government book binding
establishment, has, definitely settled
a question which has been agitating
the mind of federal officials for a good
many years-the question of whether
the government is to conduct its bust
ness after its own plans or be con-
trolled by labor unions. Several OF
the later presidents were unwilling to
assert the governments rights, be-
cause of possible political effects, and
it remained for President Roosevelt to
do it. The local book binders union is
now on record in the office of Secre-
tary Cortelyou as desiring to obey the
law and conform to all federal regula-
tons 1t is also considering the ques-
ton of changing its constitution so as
to comply with the law. Never again
will man in the government employ
be thrown out of his place for the
reason that labor union has expelled
him. This is a great victory for the
president and it should be emphasized,
because in the press of other affairs
it will probably be overlooked by the
general public.
All this has been accomplished by
the president without friction and
without mourning the ill will of organ
lied labor. All that the president did
was to cite the law and insist that it
must be lived up to. He could not
have done less; he did not want to do
more, for he has the interest of labor
at heart. 1t was so simple PROPOSE
tion that the public will soon begin to
wonder that former presidents did not
take it up and dispose of it.
Roosevelt has within ten months
touched labor at two widely separated,
but very important points. In the
anthracite coal matter he interviewed
i'll the interest of labor, to compel ar.
bitration of an issue which was caus-
ing the country to suffer; in the Miller
case he interviewed against the union
| to protect the rights of an individual
member who had been outrageously
treated, in violation of the law. In
both cases he proceeded with his
characteristic vigor and won his point
in the face of what seemed to be
heavy odds.
The feeling, rather widespread in
the beginning of the Miller con-
jured himself politically, is no longer
| entertained. On the contrary, it is
quite apparent that he had added to
| his strength. One reason for this re-
suit is the fearless manner in which
he handled the case. Having ascer-
tanned the facts. he announced his
policy without regard TO expediency,
and quickly convinced the local book
binders union that it was in the
wrong. This is important when 1t is
recalled that for many years men have
been dismissed from the government
printing office as on as they lost their
membership in the union.
1t is the order of the president that
Public Printer Palmer investigate de
novo the charges now filed against
Miller The former incidents are to
be overlooked, and the public printer
is to make his decision solely on the
matters contained in the charges; and
this decision the president is to re-
view. If the charges are true. Miller
will be discharged from government
employ. If they are not true. he will
remain, and the local union will be
compelled TO work with him.
The rules of the civil service and