Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-30
Declines to Comply with Request
Of Labor Leaders to Discharge
Foreman W. A. Miller.
STATES HIS POSITION PLAINLY.
Cannot Recognize Fact that a Man is
Or is Not a Member of
Labor Union.

Roosevelt and five members OF the ex-
ecutive council of the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor including President
Gompers and Mr.. Mitchell, head OF the
Miners union, during which the case
OF Foreman w. A, Miller of the gov
eminent printing Office who was dis
missed because he had been expelled
from the local book binders union and
afterward was roinstated by direction
OF the president, was the principal topic
OF discussion. The conference was
granted at the request 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 statement in
which he announced that his decision
not to dismiss Miller was final, and
that the question Of his personal 1T
ness must be settled in the regular rou-
tine OF administration. The statement
in full follows:
Pursuant TO the request of Samuel
Gompers, president OF the American
Federation of Labor the president
granted an interview this evening to
the members Of the executive council
of that body, Samuel Gompers. James
Duncan, John Mitchell, James O'Connell
and Frank Morrison, at which various
subjects OF legislation In the interests
of labor as well as Of executive action,
were discussed Concerning the case
of William A, Miller, the president
made the following statement:
~ thank you and your committee
for your courtesy, and ! appreciate the
opportunity To meet with you. II will
always he pleasure TO see you or any
representatives of your organizations or
of your federation rs whole
AS regards the Miller case, have
little to add to what I have already
said In dealing with It | ask you to
remember that | am dealing purely
with the relation of the government to
It's employees. ! must govern my ac-
ton by the laws of the land which
am sworn to administer and which diff
ferentIate any case In which the gov
eminent OF the United States Is party
from all other cases whatsoever. These
laws are enacted for the benefit of the
whole people, and cannot and must not
be construed as permitting discrimina-
ton against some OF the people. ! am
president of all the people of the Unit
ed States, without regard to creed, coll
or birthplace. occupation or social con-
ditions My aim Is to do equal and
exact justice as among them ALL In the
employment and dismissal of men in
the government service | can no more
recognize the fact that a man does or
does not belong to a union as being for
or against him than can recognize the
fact that he is a Protestant or Cath
Ole "A jew or a Gentle as being for
or against him.
=" In the communications sent to me
by various labor organizations pro-
testing against the retention Of Miller
In the government printing office the
grounds alleged are twofold First,
that he is a non union man; second,
that he liz not personally ht. The ques-
ton Of his personal fitness is one to be
settled In the routine Of administrative
detail, and can not he allowed to con-
fiict with or to complioate the larger
question Of governmental discrlmlna-
tion for or against him or any other
man because he Is or is not member
of a union, This IL the only question
now before me for decision; and as to
this my decision Is final.
The members of the executive council
attending the conference constituted
the subcommittee appointed to take
up the Miller case at the meeting OF the
executive council held IN Washington
last week, At that time the sub-com-
mlttee wrote n letter TO the president
asking that time be set for confer
ence. It. was dated Washington. Sept.
~ was sent 60 the president at oyster
Bay, and Is in part as follows:
The executive council of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor is entrusted
with the affairs of the general labor
movement In the Interim of national
conventions, and has received nstruc-
tons regardiue various subjects Of
legislation in the interest Of labor as
well as of executive action There are
several subjects which have heen COM
mitted to our care and which We desire
TO bring to your attention with the
hope OF receiving your sympathetic
support Then again. the controversy
In the case of w. A. Miller who ,yns
dismissed from the public service ana
reinstated by your order, has been sub
mitted TO us Having these facts I'm
mind the executive council has selected
subcommittee for the purpose of
having an interview with you al whicr
these matters may be gone over with
you"
The letter which was sent by Mfr.
Hompers, then asked that an interview
be accorded the committee, and ex-
pressed the hope that inasmuch MS Mir
Mitchells engagements required him
TO leave Washington Tuesday evening,
and that his presence at the inyrvlew
was desired, that the president would
set the time FOR the interview before
his departure.
The reply Of the president was favor
hble to the request If Mr., Gompcrs and
The interview was set for tonight.
From the manner of the labor lend
ers as they came from the White House
II was evident that they We're not en-.
trey satisfied with the result Of their
interview. They declined 10 be inter-
viewed Mr., Gompers referring the re-
porters to the statement that would b.
given out by the PRESIDENTS secretary
regarding the Miller case. While he
was talking, ono OF his associates wish
ed II 70 be Impressed on the reporters
that the presidents statement should
he understood 10y them 10 be an entire
~ independent statement" and not as
an answer TO the councils REQUEST
The council also brought to tho at
tention Of the president several nattors
OF legislation IN which il Is Interested.
Among these Is the enforcement Of tbe
eight-hour ana the anti-iniunction bills
which passed the house of representa-
tlves at the last session Of Congress
Inc president Mr.. Gompers said. OK
pressed himself as favorable To the
principles OF the short hour work day
and his deep concern for the interest
or the wage earners Of the country.
The president also was asked by his
visitors TO take up the Ease " Enhraim
w, Clark, who Is confined In the Thorn
aston. Me-. iail under q sentence Of Ifo
imprlsonment for mutlny. Tho presI.
dent was asked 70 extend executive
clemency IN Clarks case.
GERMAN SOLDIERS.