The Washington times., 1903-08-23
BOOkBINDERS' UNION
SETS FORTH ITS CASE
Official Statement of It's
Action Against Miller.
SAYS 1T WAS PREJUDGED
Relteration of Charges Of Bigamy.
MIller's Claim That He Lessened
Cost of Work Declared Untrue.

President Robert D. Barrett, of the
local union of the International Brother
hood of Bookbinders, has issued
statement, signed by himself and James
A Stoekman, secretary of the local
union, setting forth the position of the
local union in the now famous case Of
w. A. Miller, assistant foreman in the
bindery of the Government Printing Of
fee, who was discharged from his posi-
tion under the Government in May be-
cause he had been expelled from the
local union and reinstated in July by
special order of President Roosevelt,
who took the ground that Miller's ex-
pulsion from the union was not suffi-
cient ground for his discharge from
Government employment.
Since Miller's reinstatement the mem
bers OF the arbitration committee of the
Bookbinders' Union have been exceed
ingly reticent concerning their move
ments. and, in preface to their official
statement, they say great injustice has
been done them by those who are un-
friendly to organized labor, because Mil
ler's side of the case has been made
public, while theirs has not.
Comment On Presidents Course.
The statement continues in part:
"As Miller had not been discharged in
May, 1903, in the manner prescribed by
the rules recently approved by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, when he appealed on this
ground. the President was obliged to
take one of two courses. First. he could
have followed the precedents he had ap-
proved Of in two similar cases. that Of
Rebecca Taylor, who was removed by
the Secretary of War, and that of Nc
Clay. who was removed by the Secretary
of the Navy. Second, he could order
Miller's reinstatement and then have the
case taken up anew and in the way pro-
vided by his rules He chose the latter
method, we are led to believe. because it
would afford ample opportunity to ascer-
tain whether the union had good cause
for its course with Miller.
Upon Miller's reinstatement the rep
reFentatives of the union were informed
that they should present their proofs
against Miller to the Public Printer. AS
the information in their possession was
not In the form of either certified copies
OF records OF formal affidavits, they a
once took leave of absence so that there
could be no charge OF taking Government
time for the purpose. and Immediately
began the collection of proofs to substaIA
tiate their charges against him"
Here follows a recital Of the charges
of bigamy against Miller, which were
published In The Times q few days ago.
tho al POPS
Not Fit Person for Office.
''The proofs OF his false statements
about the personal character and in
tegrity Of the President of the United
States, and the Public Printer. the fore
man Of printing, his immediate superior,
the foreman Of binding, and the men and
women with whom he is employed. clear
ly demonstrate that he is not a fit nor
safe person to be intrusted with the re-
sponsibilities OF any position where
either personal character or integrity
is necessary"
The formal charges state that Miller,
by Misrepresentation, secured prices
from other cities which led members OF
Congress TO believe that the local Book
binders Union, by the price scale, was
robbing the Government, and they show
wherein the Misrepresentation occurred
The summons OF Miller TO appear be-
fore the arbitration committee and hear
the complaints made against him his re
fusal to so appear, and then the charges
preferred against him, based on those
charges, his appearance with counsel,
his trial and expulsion are all set forth,
and his claim that he has lessened the
cost of work in his division is declared
not to be true, and the reasons are
given. 1t is denied that the constitution
OF the Bookbinders' Union is In conflict
with the Federal laws. and extracts are
given to prove this denial