The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-24
MILLER GOES TO
WORK TOMORROW
Charges Preferred Against Him by
the Union Will Be Investiga-
ted at Once.
Government Bindery Employees Meet
Tonight to Consider Advisa-
bility Of a Strike.
Washington Star Points Out Where.
in the Binders Union Made
Its Mistake.

From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build.
ing, Washington.
Special to The Journal.
Washington, July 24.-W A. Miller Of
Minneapolis reached Washington this
morning and went at once to the govern
ment printing office, where he had an in
terv1ew with Public Printer Palmer, to
whom he said that he desired to go to
work at once. Mr.. Palmer informed him
that the certifica ton of reinstatement had
not arrived from the civil service COM
mission and that nothing could be done
IN the meantime. Later in the day, how
ever, the certificate was sent to Mr..
Palmer by special messenger.
Seen by The Journal correspondent, Mr..
Palmer said that he proposed to obey
both the letter and the spirit of the presi-
dents order and would put Miller to work.
probably Tomorrow morning, it being I'M
derstood that Miller has arranged to put
IN an appearance at that time. It is the
general opinion at the government print
ing office that there will be no strike.
Officers of the binders union are very
busy to-day getting ready for another
mass meeting tonight, at which the Ques-
ton of strike will be definitely de-
term1ned as well as general program to
be followed in case Miller appears to-mor-
row to take his former position. Officers
OF the union informed me that they were
trying in every way to avoid a strike and
hoped to succeed. This Is a much milder
statement than they made earlier in the
controversy.
Effect of Strike.
Chairman Proctor Of the civil service
commission, in answer to question as
to what the effect of a strike would be
on the binders, said that if they left their
work voluntarily, without some excuse
provided for by the civil service rules
they would have to be reinstated in the
| same manner Miller;. that is to say,
by certificates from the comm ission. He
did not care to discuss the case in any
way, but it is a fact that a strike will
take every man engaging in it from under
the protection Of the civil service and
will vacate his position. This involves
SO much difference from the usual strike
against private employers that the union
may well hesitate before proceeding to
such an extreme.
At noon officers of the union waited on
the civil service commission and laid be-
fore it a copy of the charges they have
| filed against Miller with Secretary Cor
telyou and the public printer. The union
expects toSbe 9ble to make these charges
good and that is apparently it's chief re-
| lance at present. Should it fail to do SO.
| the alternative of strike will then be
presented with full force.
VIII Investigate at Once.
! It is understood that the charges are
| to be taken UP at once and a strict in
vestigation had, both sides to have an
opportunity to state it's case in minute
detail. The investigation will be con-
| Quoted under the direction Of the public
| printer, who will report it in full to the
! civil service commission, which, in turn,
| will lay it before the president In the
| end, therefore, if Miller is removed on
| the ground of the good of the service, it
! Wi r1Nf he mill ha nnf
| This insures perfect justice and fair
dealing all around. The mere fact that
| Miller is persona non grata in the gov
eminent bindery Is not sufficient to lose
him his position. The specific charges
filed by the union must be thoroly SUBJ
stantiated. Miller stands by his former
| statements that the present trouble has
all grown out Of his policy Of cheaper
ing the work of the bindery and insisting
that the men work eight hours per day,
| the same as the printers. This statement
is denied by the union.
MIIIer's Strong Backing.
| Miller has back Of him in this matter
| Representative Gillett of Massachusett,
chairman of the house committee on re-
form in the civil service, and heads Of de-
partments in the postoffice, interior, war
and other branches of the government
whose particular work was the cause Of
the original trouble. Several of these
| officials have taken the pains to COM
municate with the president in Miller's
behalf, as has Mr.. Gillett. Miller is,
! therefore, not without staunch friends,
who believe that he is right, and that the
| time is come to determine whether the
unions are to run the government print
ing office, or the government itself.
The question thus becomes greater than
the mere personality Of Miller, who in
| the magnitude Of the issue which will
probably be involved, is well nigh lost
! sight Of. Such a struggle between the
unions and the government has been
| brewing for several years. It might have
! been precipitated long ago had members
| of congress had the courage to take the
initiative. Former Representative Heat
| wole of Minnesota is thoroly familiar
with the Miller case and had he remained
I in congress might have taken it UP next
i winter. In fact, he repeatedly intimated
| as much. The president is no tyro in
! this matter. When he was civil service
/ commissioner he saw a good deal of the
/ operations Of the unions in the printing
/ office, and while he is friendly to organ
lied labor, and will do everything he can
| to protect it in it's just rights, it is be-
| lieved that he does not countenance the
| policy of overleadership which 1t has as
! sumed In the printing office for many
| years. Whatever may become Of Miller
/ personally, there is no question but the
! Miller case will result in substantial
I curbing Of labor union rule in the print
| ing office and put matters there on a bet
ter basis than they have occupied for
| many. years, and this without impairing
i the, integrity Of the unions or involving
| any sacrifice of principle by union men.
| The Miller case would have been handled
| without friction had he been as discreet
! as his best friends advised.