Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-10-01
The Miller Case.

An important conference took place
at the White House Tuesday night be-
tween President Roosevelt and i've
members Of the executive council OF the
American Federation of Labor, includ-
President Gonpers and John Mitchell,
head Of tie Miner. union. during which
the case OF Foreman ". A Miller, OF
the government printing Office. who wa.
dismissed because he had been expelled
from the local Bookbinders union and
afterwards was reinstated by direction OF
the President, was the principal topic OF
discussion The conference was granted
at the request Of the labor leaders
The Miller cass was very fully pre-
serted by the member. Of the executive
council. AZ the close Of which the Pres
ideut made a statement in which be
announced that his decision not 70 dis
miss Miller was final, and that the
question Of his personal fitness must be
settled il the regular routine Of admin
isfratiop. The statement N full is as
follows:
Pursuant 10 the request Of Samuel
Goupers. president Of the American
Federation Of Labor, the President
granted al interview this evening 70
the following members Of the executive
council OF that body: Samuel Gompsrs,
LANES Duncan. Jonn Mitchell, James
O'ConnelI and Frank Morrison. at
which various subjects Of legislation IN
the interestSp- labor as well ss e1ecu-
tive action M discussed. Concerning
| the case Of t7Ysian 4 Miller the Pres
ident made sxe following statement.
~ thank you and your committee for
your courtesy and / appreciate the op-
portanity 70 meet you II VIII always
| be pleasure ID see you or any repre-
sentatives Of your organizations or Of
| your federation as whole.
:. AZ Regards the Miller case / have
| little 70 add 20 what have already said
In dealing with il | ask you 10 remein-
Der that am dealing purely with the
relation of tho government 70 its EN-
plCyes / must govern my action by the
| laws Of the land which | am sworn u
administer and which differentiate any
case in which the government OF the
| United States IL a party from all other
cases whatsoever. These laws are sn
acted for the benefit Of the whole peOple
and cannot and must not be constructed
az permitting discrimination against
some Of the people. am President oi
/ the people Of the United States, without
regard TO creed, color, birthplace, Oc
cupation or social condition. Ny aim II
10 do equal and exact justice az among
| them all. In the employment and dis
nnissal Of men in the government serylct
| can no more recognize the fact that
man does or does not belong 10 a union
AZ being for or against him than ] car
recognize the fact that he Is \ Protest
ant or Catholic, Jew or Gentle. a.
| being for or against him.
I'm the communications cent me BY
various labor organizations protesting
against the retention Of Miller in tins
government printing Office the grounds
| alleged are two-fold: First, that he u
/ a non-union man; second, that be IL rO1
| personally fit. The question Of his per
sonal fitness IL one 10 be settled IN th'
routine Of administrative detail ane
cannot be allowed 10 conflict with or fC
compiicate the large question Of GOV
ernmental discrimination for or again.
| him or any other man because he n oi
IL not a member Of union. Tnis ]!
the only question now before me fol
decision, and "a 10 this my decision u
final"