The San Francisco call., 1904-07-29
GOVERNMENT OPEN SHOP.
n 0 act of President Roosevelt has caused more al
M tempts to prejudice labor against him than his az

n act of President Roosevelt has caused more at
VI tempts to prejudice labor against him than his ac-
4 ton in the Miller Miller was foreman
bookbinder in the Government Printing Office and was
IN the civil service Finding that in bookbnding the
Government was paying 20 cents for what cents
in private shops the work in each being by
union bookbinders, he insisted that the Government
should have good service private employer from
craftsmen OF the union. For this he was expelled
from the unon which thereupon ordered Mr.. Palmer
Superintendent of the Public Printing Office, to dis
charge him. and that done Miller took his
to the Civil Service Commission, which reported it to
the President who, in plain obedcnceo the law ordered
Miller reinstated. and that done
The merest tyro in the law knew that the President
had simply done his duty In the public service the Gov
ernment alone is the employer and the Government
alone can discharge from its employment If that
delegated private organization that
incorporated, it the acknowledgment by the
Government of sovereignty superior itself. Yet
this action of the President who would have violated
his oath had he done otherwise seized upon by
Democracy opportunity attack and abuse him
and make capital against him. No sensible labor union
believed that the President had done other
than right in the premises But the element that was
backing the fantastic candidacy Hearst was urged
by him push the Miller case for all the VOTES that
in it. Now all of these Democratic chickens are
coming home to roos and the getting crowded
City employees in Chicago belonging to a union de-
manded discrimination in their favor for that
Carter Harrison, Mayor OF Chicago, OF such
in the party that he urged as the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency He is the foremost Off
cial and powerful Democratic factor in the Middle
West. He is far better known in the party than
its nominee Judge Parker. He has represented its asp
rations and by authority declared its position and pur
poses many public occasions and has elected him
three times Mayor of Chicago. When he is dealing with
public issue arising in the municipal government of
which he is the head is the of his party least in
that jurisdiction much what President Roosevelt
does the of his party in the Union of which he is
the head
When the union employees of Chicago demanded sub
stantially what the Bookbinders Union demanded of
President Roosevelt, Mayor Harrison mindful also of
MS oath to the law, refused the demand and
his decision said; where belongs to a depart
ment such and policemen, has no right to
have divided allegiance. He owe allegiance to
only one master the city of Chicago"
The Democratic enemies of President Roosevelt may
now their clubs Mayor Harrison and union
aborers sensitive the requirements of good citizen
ship may how sincere and how right the President
was when he told them "A men must obey the law
No is above the law and is below it," That
simple guide public and private conduct. 1t does
juggle with words but expresses its compact
form the duty alike Of the citizen and of the officer cho
sen and to enforce the law.
We make point of this because it is notable and
impressive instance in which a leading Democrat has
confessed for the party that the President right
a matter that has been foremost among the personal
issues raised against him. The other issues of that
kind will share the same fate before the campaign is