Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-06
Bill to Permit Unions in De-
partmentS Discussed.
OPPOSITION BY OFFICIALS
Views Presented to House Civil
Service Committee.
F. OF L. OFFICERS ARE HEARD
Assistant Postmaster General Stew.
art Thinks Organization
Would Be Menace,

The opposition of the Post Office De-
| partment to the bill introduced in the
| House by Representative Lloyd of Mis-
| souri,. intended to permit government
| clerks to organize unions and affiliate
| with the American Federation of La
bor was voiced before the committee
| on reform in the civil service today
! by Mr.. Stewart. second assistant post
master general. Mr.. Stewart emphatic
ally declared that such unions par
ticularly those of the railway mail
clerks, would coerce the department,
destroy good administration and in
timidate Congress.
| The American Federation of Labor. ac-
cording to Mr.. Stewart, ''butted IN on
the controversy between the department
and Its employees. In reply to questions
asked him by members of the committee,
the second assistant postmaster general
SAID that in his opinion the executive or
ders issued by Presidents Roosevelt and
! Taft. which forbid clerks to petition Con
gress for increase of pay or redress, were
both wise and necessary.
In order to back up his statements that
unions of department employees would
operate for evil, Mr.. Stewart read to the
committee letters written by Organizer
Thornton of Minneapolis following the
iatter's discharge from the service, urg
ing commercial clubs and business men
to work on Congress in behalf of clerks.
Says Object Is a Strike.
These letters said Mr.. Stewart. at
ford all necessary evidence that the real
object of this proposed union is strike.
Mr.. Thornton urges business men to con-
slider the effects of a strike OF the rail-
way postal employees in the northwest
and then asks them to urge legislation
from members of Congress. The object
is not only to coerce the department, but
to intimidate Congress itself notwith-
standing the unrighteousness OF the
course of the clerks.
The second assistant postmaster gen.
eral told the committee he under
stood, as a result OF these appeals, the
business men of Minneapolis and st.
Congress with letters and kilograms
pointing out the serious features OF
railway mail clerks strike in the north
west
DO you deny the right of govern
ment clerks to strikeo" Mr. Stewart
was asked by Representative Wilson
OF pennsylvania, chairman of the COM
mittee OH labor. who has been u faith
the subject under discussion.
Il do Mr.. Stewart replied, the
clerks have right to resign, but not
to strike"
Mr.. Stewart told the committee that
the oath of the Brotherhood OF Railway
Postal Clerks stipulates that the clerks
must all resign and walk ont on the
same day if such a plan is approved
by vote Of three-fOurths of the men,
berS OF the brotherhood.
Employees Warned.
Representative Finley of South Caro-
lima. asked Mr.. Stewart what action
the department had taken with refer
ence to those of it's employees who had
expressed a desire to join the brother
hood.
They have been notified that the de-
partment is unaterably opposed to the
union, Mr. Stewart replied.
And what happens" Mr.. Finley con
tinued, IF the employees insist upon
joining after receiving this warming?
That remains to be seen replied Mr..
Stewart
The committee was told that the postal
clerks held secret meetings III Chicago
and st. Paul in March, at which the
Postmaster General and his suoordinates
were denounced.
But" said Chairman Wilson. If these
meetings secret how did YOU find
out what happcned? !
oh, Mr.. stewart rejoined. there is
alWa.-s :! way.
Federation Officers Heard
.After President Samuel Gompcrs and
Secretary Frank Morrison of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor had told tho
committee that some of the local branches
of the Railway Postal Employees 1'rotec-
tive Association had been permitted to
affiliate. although no charter had been
ssued TO the Brotherhood of Railway Post
al Clerks, owing to the fact that a
Slfiici. mt number of lora s had not been
formed. Mr.. Stewart made the comment
that these employees. forbidden to pc
| tition Congress themselves, now propose
to enlist the aid of the American Fede-
ration of Labor 50 that they can do in
directly what they cannot accomplish di-
rcctly. This is improper.