New-York tribune., 1903-07-31
PRINTING OFEICE REE0Rn

The promised Overhauling of the Government
Printing Office should be considered in no sense
an attack upon organized labor Only those
VINO Wish not merely to see the dictates of
labor unions take precedence of the basic prin-
clples of the American republic, but also to see
labor unions used an engine for defrauding
the government, will so regard it, In their
place and under proper management labor Or
ganizations serve useful purpose but honest
wage earners should not let themselves be de-
luded by rascals and adventurers into the de-
renee III the name of labor Of theft and treason
10 American principles.
Two distinct questions are presented for CON
sideratiOn by the situation in the Government
Printing Office One is the question of sjn1nla
honesty; the other is of the equal rights of
citizens. We are persuaded that conservative
labor unionists, when they examine into the
facts and put aside the spirit of partisanship
for their organization, will acknowledge that
the body IN the Government Printing Office
which has operated under the name of a labor
union has taken a wrong course and is entitled
to no sympathy in a policy which brings dis
credit selfrespecting workmen Labor
unions properly seek TO secure a fair days pay
for fair days work. The Washington union
seeks to secure a fair days pay without doing
a fair days work. 1t is an organization de
out of what the taxpayers pay for. The reforms
which the bOokbnders object to are not at
tempts to scale them down to "scab' prices
or 'scab" hours, but to get them to do what
union wOrkmen elsewhere consider reasonable
and honest work
For years lot of loafers and 'grafters' have
been cheating the government in the name of
organized labor. They have been making the
printing and bOOkbinding in the Government
Printing Office cost far more than a better quail
ity of work would cost If done in the highest
priced union shops Of New-York or Chicago, and
treating enemies of labor unionism
those who merely seek to make the office as
efficient as union shops elsewhere All that is
asked of the union men in Washington is that
they should deal honestly with the taxpayers.
and no self-respecting union man can ask that
shirking and loaf1ng and unfaithfulness to their
employer on their part be tolerated. When they
receive the full union scale OF wages and refuse
TO do a fair union days work they are simply
stealing, and organized labor certainly can
not number among its aims the protection of
thieves.
The second question involved is one on which
we can hardly expect such instant agreement
among labor unionists on the simple issue
Of honesty Yet when they think calmly they
must perceive that the government must pre-
serve an Illl)dTudl dtQluue lONaTu private
organizations. Much as they may desire to see
their unions dominate the trades, much as they
may dislike workmen who refuse to join the
unions and consider them enemies 10 the prog
ress and welfare of wage earners in general,
yet they must admit that these men-though
perhaps stubborn and nlisguided-have just
the same rights under the Constitution and laws
as themselves The government has no right
TO make membership in n private organization.
however worthy, a test of capacity TO hold
position under it. The employees in the Govern
ment Printing Office have been allowed to or
ganze themselves. but that organization must
be purely voluntary matter on their part, and
no man can be punished for exercising his legal
right TO go out or stay out Of that voluntary or
ganization. This principle is fundamental. In
the long run it means the protection of all citi-
zens. including union laborers. Without ii, their
enemies, intrenched in power, might ex-
clude them from all government work, for if
one influence can forbid 10 non-union men en-
ployment, another can forbid TO union men en-
ployment when it is in the ascendant The