Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-22
SOME FAVOR STRIKE
Roosevelt Surprised Organized
Labor by Directing Rein
statement of Miller
LEADERS SEE FAIRNESS OF 1T
While Printing Office Bureau is Prac.
ticaIy Controlled by Organized La
Dor, No Provision is Yet Made in
Civil Service Law Providing That
Only Union Men Can be Employed.

Washington, July 22.-Organized la
Dor is somewhat agitated over the &C
ton of President Roosevelt in direct
in the reinstatement in the government
printing office of Foreman Miller, who
was dismissed by Public Printer Pal
mer, because he was not in good stand
ing with the bookbinders union. The
printing Office bureau of printing and
engraving, and the navy yard are prac-
tically controlled by organized labor,
and heretofore it has been Impossible
FOR nonunion man to hold position
in any of these departments.
President Roosevelts attitude that
the laws of the United States are SUI
perior to the laws Of labor unions has
somewhat surprised many members of
the unions. but some of the leaders
who know that President Roosevelt is
a staunch friend of labor. heartily en-
dorse the stand taken by him. Even
the leaders themselves are willing to
admit that there has been disposition
on the part Of the unions to dictate the
policies of some of the government
departments and to override the OFF,
Gals This tendency Is becoming
stronger every day, and recently there
has been disposition to make de-
mands which were considered unreas-
n. a tod 10 ~
something was done to check this ten
dency, certain branches OF the govern
ment would be governed by the rules
and regulations of labor unions instead
of the laws enacted by congress.
The greatest difficulty has been eX-
perienced with the government PRINT
ing office, and while few strikes have
occurred In that institution, 1t has re-
CURED all the ingenuity and diplomacy
of the public printer to prevent lheH
During the construction of the new
printing office, however, strikes were OIL
almost daily occurrence. Ihey were
caused by trivial matters, generally,
and the public printer and his assist
ants have frequently been called from
their desks to settle many strikes
which were ordered on short notice
Great interest is manifested In what
win occur when Miller returns TO
work. and while there is no disposition
on the part of the leaders 10 take issue
with the president, there are many VINO
favor a strike when Miller returns TO
his old position. Practically every en-
Move in bureau of engraving and print
ing IS a member of a labor organiIa-
in
organized labor to close the institution
where the money of the goNeriiiiisn'
and postage stamps are printed.
A member of the cabinet was asheu
today what would be the effect OF fres-
ident Roosevelt's ordering the rem
statement of Miller and writing le'tef
saving the laws of the United states
and not those of organized labor would
govern in the department.
.sE,very thinking man knows President
Roosevelt is staunch friend of organ
iyed labor" said this officer he mas
demonstrated this many times. But
owing to the attitude OF labor III was
deemed best that the president shouiu
make il plain that the national laws
must govern. He is not opposed 10
organized labor. Lately there has oeeh
n disposition on their part to interfere
with the affairs of certain departments
and If this tendency is not checked
the government probably would be
handicapped. Before taking action, the
president conferred with some OF the
labor leaders and they indorsed his ac-
ton. Every laboring man knows the
president is his friend, and what has
been done is in their interest.
The tension in the labor
situation was greatly relieved
when local union No. 4, Inter-
national Brotherhood of Bookbinders,
agreed that President Roosevelt was
perfectly justified in his action in di-
recting Public Printer Palmer to re-
instate W. A. Miller as foreman in the
bindery at the public printing office.
Secretary Cortelyou will be notified to
this effect by the arbitration board to-
day.
An officer of the union said after the
called to consider the case:
president Roosevelt, as every one
knows, is a warm friend of organized
labor, and we feel confident he will up
hold our contention as far as Miller is
NNcll Iie INdaiS tiC ltaSoiis
for which the union expelled him.
The union realizes under the civil
service rules that the president had all
the best of the argument. While it is
well understood that no one can be en-
ployed at the government printing Office
unless he belongs to a union or the union
to the employment, no such
provision has as yet been incorporated
in the civil service law. and conse-
quently when friends of Miller submit
ted the pro position to the president that
Public Printer Palmer had discharged
him merely because the union had ex-
PEELED him there was no course of ac-
ton open to the president except to di-
rect his reinstatement, and officers of
local union No. 4 We're sensible enough
to recognize the fairness of the presi-
dents attitude, which the union in
dorsed at it's meeting last night.