Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-09-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Oorrespondent0
Washington, Sept. IA, 1908.

cause of the action of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor taken in
connection with the w. A. Miller
case and the Presidents declared
"open door" policy with regard to
union and non-union labor, in the
Government service. The Central
Labor Union of the District of Col
umbia has sent to every organiza-
ton affiliated with the Federation
a copy of resolutions requesting
the President to dismiss Miller and
retract his avowed policy with re-
gard to union and non-union labor.
1t is seen that this is the first step
in an organized opposition to Presi-
dent Roosevelt's nomination.
There are, it is claimed, $500, 1000
members of the federated labor
organizations and the results of an
opposition if it could throw this
vote in block would doubtless
prove formidable.
The idea that the Presidedt will
for moment consider the possi-
bility of receding from the stand
he has taken is not entertained by
those who can view his actions, in
so far as they relate to union labor
from a dispassionate standpoint.
Mr. Roosevelt is firmly convinced
that he is in the right in his
"open-door' declaration and it
would appear that this fact should
have appealed to the labor organi-
zations. 1t is pointed out that in
working for the government labor
ers are under no necessity of
organing to protectct themselves
or to secure shorter hours or larger
wages, whatever may be the condi-
tions that confront them when
working for individuals or corpora
tions, The government always
pays literally and is an easy task
master. 1t is, therefore, obvious
that the unions would be wiser to
accept the dictum of the President
rather than to antagonize him.
In the case of Miller, it is stated
on excellent authority that strong
recommendations have gone to the
President that he be dismissed,
these recommendation being based
on facts other than he has been ex-
pelled from the bookbinders'
union, and that patience on the
part of the unions would probably
be rewarded with the discharge of
their old enemy. In view of the
action of the Central Labor Union,
however, the discharge of Miller
might now be ascribed as fear on
the part of the President and there
is nothing that would prove more
repugnant to him than to be called
upon to take action which might
be SO interpreted. 1t is claimed
that already ten states have been
heard from endorsing the resolu-
tions of disapproval of the Presi-
dents course.
Colonel Charles J. Bonaparte, to
whom has been intrusted the in
vestigation of the Indian Territory
land scandals, has been in Wash
ington and has discussed, with
Judge Ryan, acting Secretary of
the Interior, the work he is about
to undertake. When seen by our
correspondent, Colonel Bonaparte
said that he had as yet formulated
no plans and could not therefore
discuss the coming investigation
intelligently. He could plainly
see however, that it would be
necessary for him to spend some
time in the Territory notwithstand-
ing the fact that he would call to
his assistance several able lieuten-
ants in conducting the investiga-
ton. 1t is expected that Colonel
Bonaparte will plead the cases in
the prosecutions growing out of
the Postoffice investigations and it
seems likely that ne will be an ex-
ceedingly busy man for the next
few months.