Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08
IN LABOR CIRCLES
Gu


a national union is characterized by Luke
Grant of Chicago as zone of the most I'M
portant happenings of the week in the la
Dor world" The clerks are to be affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor.
Mr.. Grant adds:
Some of the reports concerning the for
nation of the new national union gave an
entirely wrong conception of the project.
They pictured the postal clerks as 'defying
President Roosevelt and calling a strike
against the government The truth of the
matter is that plans had been under way
for almost a year, and the men who were
working to bring about the organization
never had any thought either of defying the
President or calling a strike.
1.-The Chicago Local Union Of Post Office
Clerks, which was the pioneer in the move
ment, was organized six years ago py
Thomas l. Kidd, at that time vice presf-
dent of the American Federation OF Labor
Some Of the men in that union were MEM
bers of various labor organizations before
entering the government service, and they
are thoroughly familiar with the aims and
objects of organized labor. Their principal
reason for Joining a labor union was be-
cause the old association known as the
United National Association OF Post ONCE
Clerks, had failed to accomplish anything
in the way Of lettering the condition of its
members According to the leaders of the
new organization the old association has de-
veloped into mutual admiration society,
whose officers are more Interested IN play
ing politics than in securing remedial legis-
lation for the clerks.
1.-THE formation of the new union may be
considered a revolt against the reactionary
policy Of the old association. The men at
the head Of the union declare they are pro-
gressive, and while some Of the usual
weapons used by labor unions to secure
concessions are in their case impracticable,
they believe they can accomplish more for
themselves by being a part Of the regular
labor movement.
while the recently formed union Is the
first In the country whose members are en-
ployed exclusively by the government. there
Is nothing new about government workers
Joining labor unions. Nearly all the ma
chinists, bOilermakers, carpenters, painters
and other mechanics employed In the gov
eminent navy yards are members OF their
respective unions and the national omcers
of those organizations have for years met
the heads of departments and discussed
wages and working conditions for their
men. The heads OF departments have al
ways shown a readiness to take up grew
ances when presented to them through the
union. Any concessions granted applied
equally to all employees, whether members
of the union or not.
1.-THE postal clerks believe that by Joining
the American Federation of Labor they will
have the support Of that body in asking for
improved conditions, and in this way get
concessions that they could not secure II
they stood aloof. Many believe 1t Is the
first step in the direction Of having the
letter carriers and other associations Of
government employees join the labor move
ment.'
The annual convention Of the United Ma
tional Association OF Post Office Clerks
opened Monday morning at Savannah, Ca,
and the officers say the convention may
consider the question of afhliating with the
American Federation of Labor. The officers
OF the union element say, however. that
the association has no such intention, but
that the report was circulated in order to
check the growth of the new movement
which threatens to absorb the old associa-
ton.
An idea Of the spirit which dominates the
two organizations may be gathered from
the leading editorials in the last Issue Of
their respective official journals. The union
element publishes monthly journal called
the Union Postal Clerk. The old associa-
ton also conducts a monthly publication
known as the Postal Clerk. In its last
issue the Postal Clerk says in an editorial
dealing with the American Federation Of
Labor going into politics:
1T is evident that the postal employees
are not In a position to join actively in the
labor movement. They cannot be loyal
members of organized labor and carry out
all the demands which organized labor has
a right to impose and must IMPOSE upon
its membership If labor is to be emancipat-
ed. We have no right to ask an already
over-burdened body to take up our load
The editorial closes with an appeal to the
postal clerks to ''manfully bear their own
burdens" and says they are in a position
to do 'far more for themselves than Or
ganized labor can do for Them
The biennial election of officers in the
Amalgamated Woodworkers' International
Union will be held during this week. For
president the candidates are D. D. Null
cahy Of Detroit, the incumbent, and Clyde
c. Kikendall, Springfield. Ill. The NOM
| inees for general secretary are John c.
Meiler of Chicago. who has held the office
| for the last two years. and T. s. Marble of
Colorado Springs. Richard Braunschweig
of Chicago. Herman Kunze. Chicago, and
P. c. Best. Springfield, IL. are candidates
| for treasurer. For delegates to the Amer
lean Federation of Labor convention there
| are about twenty candidates in the field,
| three of whom are to be elected. The most
prominent candidates are Richard Braun
! schweig and Anton Johannsen, Chicago;
Charles F. Gebelein. ST. Louis; d. d. Null
cahy. Detroit; Henry OFT. Cincinnati,
| George NJ. Guntner Boston and Villa "a
| Simpson, New York.