Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-01
TRADE UNION LEADERS
Comment on the Address
Made Public Last Night.
CONSERVATIVE VIEWS
POSITION ONLY ONE
He COULD TAKE.
Civil Service Law Makes an "Open
Shop''-Effort of Removal Of Mil
ler to Continue.

Ter TO COnL1nue.
The address of the executive council OF
the American Federation of Labor, made
public last evening, was the subject of gen.
eral discussion today by leaders of trade
unionism and men who are watching the
developments in this controversy with a
view of their possible effect on the political
situation in the next national campaign.
This address was not interpreted as being
antagonistic to the position of President
Roosevelt in favor of the "open shop in the
case of the government printing office. 1t
was looked upon rather as defense of the
union shop outside Of the government
service and as an argument in favor of the
advantages that were to be expected from
the employment of union labor generally,
whether in or out Of the government service.
Opinion of Conservative Leaders.
The executive council is practically or
unanimous opinion that the Presidents po-
sition was the only one that could have
been taken by him in strict observance
of the law. The conservative leaders from
the first of the controversy argued that
the American Federation of Labor would
be placed in unreasonable position that
would eventually have to be abandoned If
an attempt should be made to maintain
the government printing Office as union
shop exclusively. There were radical men
who did not at first agree with that view
and there are still men who oppose it, and
will carry their fight into the convention
of the federation, which meets in Boston
November g. But these men are in small
minority and do not include in their num-
ber. the important leaders So far as the
executive council is concerned it is doubted
whether a single member will antagonfze
the attitude of the President in the con-
vention.
The executive council regarded such
discrimina ton as would be brought about
by having the government declare that
only members of any particular organiza-
tiOn should be employed in the printing
office as in violation of the guarantees of
the federal Constitution. If such ques-
tion should ever reach the courts they
would have no confidence in having such
radical view upheld.
Provisions of the Law.
They also recognized the fact that the
language of the civil service law is such
that the open shop must be maintained.
The act of January 16, 1888 provides:
First. for open competitive examinations
for testing the fitness of applicants for the
public service now classified or to he classi-
fed hereunder Such examinations shall be
practical in their character, and so far as
may be shall relate to those matters which
will fairly test the relative capacity and
fitness of the persons examined to dis
charge the duties of the service into which
they seek to be appointed
Second that all the offices, places and
employments SO arranged or to be arranged
in classes shall be filled by selections ac-
cCrding to grade from among those graded
highest as the results of such competitive
examinations"
These and all other provisions of the law
point to the fact that the act of January
&c. 1SS3 contemplated that no discrimina-
ton should be made against any citizen in
the matter of aspiring for employment un-
der the government. These and other facts
have been conclusive in convincing the eX-
ecutive committee that the Presidents po-
sition was one that could not be contro-
verted.
Executive Committees Address.
The executive committee in it's address
stated that the President furthermore
made plain that in any form of employ
ment. excepting that SO circumscribed, he
believed the full employment of union men
was preferable either to non-union or open
shops
Had the President seen fit to have en-
bodied such a statement in his publication
of his views on the "open shop" the labor
ledUSrs WouIu nave Deeu greatly pledSeu.
The chief criticism they made of his first
statement on this matter was that it was
curt and that it failed to express any
sympathy with the cause of trade union
ism.
The address is also regarded as being Of
special Importance in relation to the next
convention of the Federation of Labor in
it's influence on the delegates. The execu-
tive committee, which comprises the officers
of the federation, expects to receive a GER
tain amount of criticism because it has
taken the conservative view of the Presi-
dent in relation to the "open shop" for the
government printing Office That criticism
will come from radicals and it may be
strong enough to seriously affect the re-
election Of officers The address tends to
satisfy trade un.on.sts who will be at that
maintained the principle of the union
shop and have strongly stood up for every
principle of the order.
Effort to Remove Miller to Go On.
The effort to have William A. Miller re-
moved from the bindeTy of the government
printing Office will continue as vigorously
as at any time during this controversy The
reasons being urged for Millers removal
have no relation to the question of the
"open shop
The Star stated yesterday that it had
been represented that President Robert D.
Barrett had appeared before the executive
council OF the American Federation of La
Dor favoring the policy of the 'open shop
only one that would be in conformity with
the law. This statement was not made by
Mr.. Barrett, AS represented, and he says
he authorized no one to so represent him.