The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-23
THREATS OF UNIONISTS
BOOKBINDERS WILL STRIKE IF
MILLER BE REINSTATED.
Printing Office May Go Out in
Sympathy.

WASHINGTON, July 22.-President Bar
rett, of the local organization of book bind
ers, to-day announced that every book
binder in the government printing offices
and the members of the allied unions will
quit work if William Miller, foreman in the
Government Printing Office, whose dismiss
sal from that office the President recently
revoked, is permitted to resume work. The
local union officials to-day sent commune
cation to Secretary Cortelyou, of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor. express
ing their position against Miller's reinstate-
ment The union also gave out state
ment reciting the development in the case
and charging Miller with using scurrilous
language about those employed under him
and slandering the book binders organiza-
ton, of which he was member.
The public statement issued by the Book
binders Union in the Miller case says that
the trouble originated in a charge against
Miller; that the charge was considered by
committee empowered to adjust differ
ences; that Miller not only refused to make
an explanation TO a member OF the COM
mittee deputized TO call on him, but spoke
in an insulting manner our organlZd-
tion," the statement reciteS, docs not or
cannot dictate the policygof conducting at
fairs of the bindery in the Government
printing ONCE. Inc rules are Ut Sdlue do
control all the union shops in the United
States. That Mr.. Miller has cheapened
any class of work for the government and
that that was the cause OF his suspension
and expulsion is not true. Miller's meth
DDS were the most unbusinesslike of any
foremans in the Office and his tactics in
furnishing men under him were, contempti-
BILE. In Office and public places he made
use of scurrilous and abusive epithetS about
employees, causing a dstrust in his division
to permanence of employment.
The statement says he ignored the no.
tees to appear before those delegates to
inquire into his case and alleges that the
testimony of witnesses sustained the
charges TO the satisfaction of the union.
He also is charged by the union with hav-
ing sought to influence legislation deroga-
tory to the interests of the society and
with having furnished "a certain member
of Congress with price schedule of book
binderieS in other cities, with view TO
showing that the bookbinders in the Gov
eminent Printing Office were not doing
sufficient work., and with having given to
this representative an official copy of his
former trial (which the union alleges was
a 'surrepttious' act" the copy being the
property of the society.
The statement closes as follows: THE
union has never requested Mr.. Mfler's dis
charge from the Government Printing Of
flee. 1t should be noted, however that our
constitution forbids us TO work with suS-
pended or expelled member. We learned
that Mr.. Miller had been discharged on
legal charges preferred by the public print
er in accordance with the civil-service law.
Our evidence clearly demonstrated that he
had continually abused the public printer
in public places.
The statement makes personal allegations
against Miller and says that affidavitS have
been placed in the hands of the proper Of
f1cials for full and complete investigation.
Mr.. Miller is now in Minneapolis.