The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-30
CannotRecognizeAny Union
or Non-Union Limitations
as Affecting Miller Case
Any More Than Racial or
Religious Qualifications.
Issues Formal Statement At
ter Long Conference Last
Night With Subcommittee
of American Federation of
Labor.

bCAOlC all
nounced his final decision in the Miller
case. and took the ground that union
and non-union lines could not be recog-
nized In the employment and dismissal
OF Government employees. So far as the
question of unionism is concerned, the
Presidents announcement means the re-
tention Of Foreman Miller in the Govern
ment Printing Office. AS to the personal
fitness of Miller. Mr.. Roosevelt says this
is a matter to be settled in the routine
OF administrative detail and is not be-
= fore him for consideration.
The statement was issued Immediately
following the departure from the White
House of the members OF the special
subcommittee OF the American Fedora
ton of Labor at 1920 last evening. In
the course of the day, the President
conferred with Acting Secretary Gar
field. OF the Department of Commerce
and Labor, on the Miller question, he
discussed the case at luncheon with
John Mitchell. and in the afternoon. he
talked with Commissioner Sargent, of
Mr.. Garfield and Secretary Cortelyou. is
on the committee to look into certain
phases of Government Printing Office
affairs. The evening conference with
the Federation subcommittee began at
9:15. and lasted two hours. The Presi-
dents official statement was then given
out as follows:
The Presidents Views
Pursuant to the request Of Samuel
Gompers. president of the American
Federation OF Labor, the President
granted an interview this evening to
the following members of the executive
council of that body: Mr. Samuel
Gompers, Mr.. James Duncan. Mr.. John
Mitchell. Mr.. James O'Conneli. and Mr..
Frank Morrison. at which various sub
iects OF legislation in the interests Of
labor as well as executive action were
discussed. Concerning the case OF VIII
liam A. Miller. the President made the
following statement:
September 20, 19es.
81 thank you and your committee for
your courtesy. and 1 appreciate the
always be a pleasure to see you OF any
opportunity to meet with you. 1t will
representatives OF your organizations or
of your federation as d whole.
''As regards the Miller case, 1 have
little to add TO what / have already
said In dealing with it ask you to
remember that am dealing purely with
the relation OF the Government to its
employees / must govern my action by
the laws OF the land, which I am sworn
to administer. and which differentiate
any case in which the Government of
the United States is party from ell
other cases whatsoever.
These laws are enacted for the bene-
fit OF the whole people, and cannot
and must not be construed as permit
ting discrimination against some OF the
people. / am President of all the peo-
pie of the United States. without regard
TO creed. color, birthplace, occupation.
or social condition. Ny aim is to do
equal and exact justice as among them
all In the employment and dismissal
OF men In the Government service can
no more recognize the fact that man
does or does not belong TO a union as
being for or against him than l can
recognize the fact that he is a Pro-
testant or a Catholic, a Jew or a Cen
tile. as being for or against him.
in the communications sent me by
various labor organizations protesting
against the retention OF Miller in
the Government Printing Office, the
grounds alleged are twofold: % That
he is a non-union man; (2) that he is
not personally fit. The question OF his
personal fitness is one to be settled in
the routine of administrative detail. and
cannot be allowed TO conflict with or
to complIcate the larger question of
governmental discrimination for or
against him or any other man because
he is or is not a member OF q union
This is the only question now before
me for decision. and as to this my decis-
ion is hnal''
Other Questions Taken Up.
The members of the subcommittee |
we're selected by the executive |
council OF the American Federation of |
Labor last week for the purpose of |
taking up with the President. not only |
the Miller case. but also other import
ant labor questions. Accordingly. the |
subcommittee. when in conference with |
President Roosevelt last night, talked |
Dver with him the eight-hour bill and |
the anti-injunction bill. both OF which |
passed the House OF Representatives at
the last session OF Congress. The
President expressed himself as favor
able TO a short-hour work day, and
aeeply interested in the welfare of the
workingmen- The committee further re-
zuested the President to extend elem
sncy 20 Ephraim w. Clark. confined in
he Thomaston. Me, jail, under a life
sentence for mutiny.
Il was given out By Mr.. Gompers there
Eould probably be no further conferen-
;es with the President regarding the
Miller case.