The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-31
POST OFFICE WORKERS OA1HS
CHICAGO MEN PLEDGED FEALTY
TO UNIONS FIRST.
Report OF Inspector Stuart Shows That
Allegiance 10 Labor ORGANIZATIONS Is
Made Paramount to Everything Else
THE Eject had for the Service.

CHICAGO. Aug 3O-Pos, Office Inspec-
tor James F.. Stuart confirmed in part to-
day the report from Washington that he
had made report TO Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow regarding the
organization of Chicago postal employees
in affiiation with labor unions. Infor-
nation was received from Washington on
Saturday that Inspector Stuart's COM
munication on postal unions was exhaust
i've and confidential and that President
Roosevelt was likely to take action in the
postal service similar to that taken in con-
nection with the Government Printing
Office at Washington.
Inspector Stuart declined to divulge
the nature of his report but admitted
that one had been submitted covering
the union labor of the Chicago Office.
at is my duty, said he. "to report on the
condition of the Chicago post Office. This
l did in my regular report. took up the
matter Of unions among postal employees
az a subject matter of inspection. How
ever, it contained no emergency feature
and do not anticipate that the President
will take any action The President may
never hear of my report, in fact"
Col Stuart said the postal employees
had paraded thest reefs as members of labor
unions, and that the unions had been in
trenched in the post Office here for years.
He denied. however, chat any recent occur
renee had inspired his reference to postal
employees who are members of labor
unions and expressed surprise that any
particular attention should be paid to his
report, although he was averse 10 going
into details.
Ii is learned from other sources, however,
that the local postal authorities are seeking
information regarding the oaths or oblga-
tons taken by postal employees upon Join
ing labor unions. Members of the Typo
graphical Union employed in the Washing
ton office are said to have taken oaths to
support their union under all circumstances
and to make their allegiance to il para
mount to any civil service obligation to
support the Government II is said a similar
obligation is taken by the Chicago postal
clerks who are members of the local union
This and other matters affecting the
Federal service are said to be under in
vestigation in Chicago
Inspector Stuart in his report TO Washing
ton is said to have traced the history of the
local post office unions from their incep-
ton. describing their injurious effect
upon the service and telling of attempts
that have been made to regulate them
The Chicago Post Office Clerks Union,
with a memb' rship numbering upward
of 400, is affiliated with the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor. Tho only other postal
union ia mutual benefit association which
is said o be similar to the Post Office Clerks
Union, although up to date it has not been
affiliated with the American Federation
Of Labor,
President Roosevelt ruled in the case
Of Foreman Miller of the Government
Printing Office in Washington that the first
obligation of an employee is to the Coy
eminent and practically that no discrim-
nation should be made against non-,nI on
men Col. Stuart refuses to say. however.
what recommendations he has made, if
any.
at would be manifestlv improper for me
to make any such matter public, said he,
"all have to say is that | made an nspcc-
ton of the Chicago Post o lice and included
the Post Office Clerks Union as part of
that report.