Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-10
Issues q the Campaign That Deserve Thougtfu Consdera
ton by Evely Voter IN the Country

Three questions of the roniing cam
ir;is;n deserve special Notice. hthourb
they may not he thu leading ISSUES they
present considerations that no thought
iil citizen can disregard. These are
limitations of trades unionism in the
public service: the rights of the negro
as cltiZen and before the law, ana
civil service reform. 1t will be very
embarrassing for any person who is in
teicSt"d in any Of these causes to cast
vote against the present President OF
the United States.
TrAdes-tnionism in Pubic Service.
The professional labor people" are
now divided into two classes in their
attitude toward Roosevelt One class
friendly to him and caDable of making
distinctions, expresses regret that
existing law doe; not prescribe that
Government shops shall all be union
shops" SO long rs this is not the legal
requirement they are willing to
acknowledge that Roosevelt did right
in enforcing thu law of the land instead
- the law of the trades union in re-
storing w. A. Miller and assistant
foreman in the bin iery department of
III" Government Printing Office. to his
place after be had been dismissed by
the public printer ut the behest of the
unions, in accordance with the eStab-
liShed customs of that office.
But there is another group Of IL Dor
agit&tors who are unwilling to make
any such subtle distinctions as this.
They condemn Roosevelt unreservedIy
for his action in the Miller case. These
ctr in hai inr ;cfa
unon the law for the laws own sake,
and they ask pertinently. why Roose-
welt could not have disregarded it Just
as did the long line Of his predecessors.
Thev propose TO punish him now for
medding with their affairs.
Tho "cs0luta Grover Cleveland was ir
the presidential chair while stubborn
non-unionist in the Government Print
in~ Office drew the high salary to
which his skill entitled him. but was
kent pulling a strap to open and shut
4 door MS q sign Of his degradation.
The tartful Mckinley was in office
when 4 woman had found har way into
the Government Printing Office who
proved 50 unwilling to ioin the union
that a -Ince had to he rroc,1rcd for her
in the rural free delivery offices. to
which she was necarred.
IT is just to thes" Presidents to say
that personally they probably knew
nothing about either case. leaving such
matters to their suborlnatps. Thprn
has been no socrat. however. Of the
way unionism CONTROL Il everything in
public service. The first President 70
restore tho law o. the land to its nlaca.
uniting an end to a regime Of real law
l""sn3ss. was the present Eeruhliran
CondiIate. The more aggressive trades
urioniets, now bent on defeating him.
point with pride to the fact that his
candidacy has been in MANY instances
deserted by those who seemingly were
most concerned over the maintenance
Of the rights Of free labor.
The attitude Of the Democratic party
i'm Congress is very clear and Of record.
In the session just closed the "anti-
Injunction bill" to prevent the applica-
ton Of that legal remedy to repr"ss
certain forms Of mob violence, received
The e,nport of every Democrat in the
committee Of the House Of Representa-
ties which considered il except one.
hut tho vote Of no Republican. Singu-
larry enough. party divisions fell on
exactly the same lines on the bill to
require manufacturers Of supplies to
mt those engaged on Uncle Sans con-
tracts into a snecial class by them
selves or an eight-hour day. thus sera-
rating Government jobs from the o-di-
nary work IF the world. 1t Is seldom
that marty lines are drawn so rightly
~ ony measure Of tariff or finance as
y, tho measures whiC h Samuel Gompcrs
hr;rre before Congress.
The reasons for the Democratic
nortv.s s,avishness to union labor are
not far to see. The southern members
have very little trades nnionism at
80, hit they want Northern support.
Mnrtbern Democratic members, who
come chiefly from Tammany Hall and :
mo factory cities. tell their Southern
on,,easues that such measures are
demanded by the labor vote" Of the
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