New-York tribune., 1903-07-24
ryRoM TIE rRrnuSE nuRsAu.I

Washington. July 23-Ths Presidents policy
union alike. has just begun to be realized by
the leaders Of organized labor in its full sig
nifcance They have learned that his declara-
ton In the letter to Secretary Cortelyou, pub
lished IN The Tribune Tuesday. really meant
that merely elementary decency' required
that the principle thus clearly and fearlessly
enunciated should be observed in all govern
ment work. and were brought squarely to see
that wherever the President has jurisdiction.
he will not permit discrimination between union
and non-union labor. The individuality of MIL
Ter. the dismissed and reinstated foreman, has
sunk into insignifcance. and with him the latest
charges against him unfit for public service
have practically suffered total eclipse.
AWAKENING FOR LABOR LEADERS.
The awakening to-day was when the labor
leaders learned authoritatively that President
Roosevelt will not consider the Indictment of
Miller which the bookbinders union has care
fully prepared. and that Secretary Cortelyou.
to whom it was delivered by a committee Of
the union. will not transmit it to Oyster Bay.
The President will leave to his proper subordi
mates under the law the consideration Of charges
against their subordinates. and will not inter-
fere in minor cases, contenting himself with de-
manding the observance OF the law. He has
made it Enthusiastically understood that he will
execute the statutes without fear favor and
that if the laws repugnant to an overwhelm-
ing sentiment in the country. it is for Congress
alone to amend or repeal them.
NEAR CRISIS IN GOVERNMENT WORK
condition bordering on a crisis has existed
for some time in every branch Of government
work where union labor is employed, regarding
the precise point on which President Roosevelt
announces the open door policy. This ques-
ton has nearly reached the strike" stage in
the government navy yards and srsenals on sew
eraI recent occasions. and has been brought
nearly to a head in other departments where
union labor is employed. It is known that the
President has been thoroughly decided on his
course of action for some time. and that the
Miller case compelled the announcement.
It is appreciated that not only has the Presi-
dent pointed out what he regards as the correct
attitude Of unionism and non-unionism to each
other. as far as government work is concerned.
but. acting on his fearless conviction that this is
the correct attitude in all branches OF industry.
has made the announcement general. and cited
the award of the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission on this point as authority for the uni
versal application of the principle.
UNION AND LAW IN CONFLICT.
In the case in question the Bookbinders'
Union lost no time in putting itself on record in
opposition to the Presidents declaration In
doing this. however. it complmented the Presi-
dent on his action. with the statement that
under the law he could do nothing else At the
same time the union voted that under its own
constitution its members would be compelled to
quit the employ of the government if the Presi-
dents order was literally carried out and Miller
actually re-employed. This situation seems to
show conclusively that the constitution Of the
union and the Civil Service laws are directly in
confiic-.
II is this very point which President Roosevelt
has emphasized in his decision which is con-
strued as a decided hint from the Executive to
labor organizations having dealings with the
government that their constitution should not
conflict with the laws of the land or the regula-
tions of the government
THE CASE OF MILLER.
The problem of disposing of Miller has here
tofore engrossed the attention of the Book
binders Union to the exclusion OF the broader
question involved in the Presidents statement
of the case. which has only now dawned on the