The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-12
UNION OF CLERKS
FACES UNCLE SAM
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES Or
CANNING UNDER FEDERATION
OF LABOR.

have taken up the matter OF organlz'
ing a union the better 10 protect their
interests, the matter having been for
mally discussed with the officers OF
the American Federation of Labor
Samuel Gompers, president of the A.
F. of L., said to a reporter:
The government clerks who have
appealed to the federation for assist
ance in organizing seem TO be much
in earnest in the project. We VIII be
glad TO aid them, as we are to aid any
group of men and women who are
wage earners in perfecting an organ
ization TO protect their interests"
Mr.. Gompers was asked if any ar
rangements had yet been made for
calling together the government EN-
ployes to take the preliminary steps
in forming their organization
Il cannot discuss plans for such
meeting at present" replied Mr.
Gompers.
IL is well understood among the
government clerks that the first steps
toward the proposed organization are
to be taken quietly and with no show
OF antagonism 10 the federal govern
ment Of the heads of the departments
and bureaus.
Extra Half Hour a Bugbear.
Mr.. Gompers said that he was glad
to see that the clerks so far in nearly
all the departments had escaped hav-
ing an extra half hour added to their
daily working hours without an in
crease OF pay.
THE American Federation OF Labor
will help in every possible way to pre-
vent this increase in laboring hours
without an increase in pay" said Mr.
Gompers. But even this scare may
be over for the time being it may re-
cur.
/ The purpose OF organizing union
of the government employees is to be
ready TO obtain justice for the en-
ployes whenever It becomes necessary.
Once It is firmly organized and affili-
ated with the American Federation OF
Labor and with the laboring men Of
the country standing with the govern
ment clerks union, the organization
will be a power for much good.
The proposed union will be there
to take up questions of salary adjust
ment with the government officials
There Is a tendency at present to in
crease the salaries Of the high officials
Of the government and to economic
at the expense OF the government
| clerks and all other minor employees.
/ This is unjust These men and wo-
men are being asked to work long
/ before. Yet they do the hard work
OF the government.
No Question Of Striking.
There is no question of strike
with the government employees. They
will not strike, but seek, through rea-
son, to obtain their just demands.
| They'll lie requested to work overtime
| by the government, and the nature of
| the government service will demand
| that they work overtime sometimes.
| But there should be some arrange
ment whereby the overtime work may
be equalized and not fall upon one set
/ OF employees all the time. AS it is,
! there are numbers of clerks who are
constantly compelled to work over
time while their fellows get off at
regular time"
The feeling among the government
employees is growing steadily in favor
of organization. They feel that,
while for the moment their hours OF
work have not been increased, there
is no guarantee that they will not be
increased in the future. They wish
to be forearmed against such move
ment, which would mean more work
and no more pay.
Much Overtime Labor Required.
In all the departments there is talk
OF the increased work demanding
much overtime labor on the part Of
the clerks. A clerk in the postoffice
department today said that in his
room seven clerks had resigned, anC
that no others had been put in theil
places The clerks who remained
were being compelled to do their owl
work and the work OF the seven who
had left. This is a species of govern
ment economy, said this clerk, whicl
is causing much feeling among tn
federal employees.
Clerks pointed out that they ar
: frequently the victims OF variou
\ heads of divisions or of bureaus, an
that under the present conditions the
had no means for obtaining reliet
They believe that II they were strong
Iv organizad thev would he able 4