The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-09-25
ROOSEVELT WILL
SEE UNION LEADERS
The President to Discuss Open
Shop Question With Them
Next Week.
GOMPERS is AGAINST HIN
such, at Least, Is Alleged in Washing.
ton-Whether There Shall Be War
or Peace Must Be Determined
Very Soon.

Washington, Sept. 24.-Whether O.
not union labor is to engage in warfare
upon President Roosevelt with the sup,
port of the American Federation of La.
Dor will probably be determined dur.
ing the next few days. The executive
council of the American Federation
of we'll known labor leader
from all parts of the country. met here
Yesterday. held morning, afternoon and
evening sessions, but did not take uI
The differences which have arisen be-
tween the president and the local
unions over the case of Bookbinder
Miller. 1t Is thought the subject viii
come up for discussion, though prob
ably not for final action, today.
President Roosevelt apparently ap-
preclateS the seriousness of the situa-
ton, as he has invited MI. Mitchell and
Two or three of the other members of
the council, with whom he has a per-
sonal acquaintance, to take luncheon
with him at the White House next
Tuesday. Though these invitations are
seemingly personal and are
led by no intimation that the president
wishes to discuss the Miller matter, the
natural Inference Is that he would like
TO nave the action OF the executive
council postponed until after his arriv-
al here and conference with the leaders.
.HS III IS 10 conclude It's SeS-
slons Saturday night, and the president
has not asked for a conference, there is
a dlfference of opinion as to whether
or not action should be deferred.
Two Factions There.
The question is a most difficult on.
lor the executive council to settle, and
Two FACTIONS have already appeared
among It's membership. One favors
standing by the local unions in their
protest against the presidents action
even to the extent of ~condemning the
president and asking union labor every
where TO use its influence against him.
Inc other, Of which John Mitchell of
the coal miners Is the leading spirit,
seeks to harmonic the differences and
TO bring about peace on terms honor
able to both sides.
i believe President Roosevelt was
right in his decision-on the Miller case"
sald one OF the ablest of the moderate
men today. Miller was at work I'M
DER the civil service law and under that
law we have no right to demand his
dismissal because he ceased to be a
member of a union. When the question
OF putting the mar back was raised,
president Roosevelt could not have
done anything but that which he die
do. N
Criticism Of Roosevelt.
But there was no need for his doing
It in the way he did it. In the first
place. he need not have issued the or
der himself, thus calling attention to it
throughout the country, but he could
nave left it to his subordinates. We
think we know why President Roosc-
welt was anxious to figure IN the case
personally.
Again, there was no necessity for
ms calling attention to the open shop
Of the anthracite strike COM
mission. That was not the question in
VOWED. Miller was to be put back be-
cause the law protected him in his
IN the government employ. So
far the president was right. But he is
wrong In assuming that the open shop
principle is sound or hi it can be
rammed down the threats of the union
men or this country. There are places
where the principle does apply, as in
the government printing office on ac- !
count Of the civil service law, in the
anthracite region because of certain
conditions, and in other Industries for
similar reasons. But it cannot be an
plled universally, and before he gets
through Mr.. Roosevelt will discover
it cannot