Evening star., 1911-05-27
Frank Morrison Objects to
J. A. Emory's Statement.
FRENCH STRIKE THE BASIS
Alleged Danger in Permitting Gov
ernment Employees to Unionize.
LABOR LEADERS EXCEPTIONS
Shows Difference Between Confed-
Grafton Rules In France and Those
Of American Federation.

Contending that the Lloyd bill Is bad
In principle and that It's enactment might
lead to the affiliations Of associations of
government employees with union labor.
resulting possibly at times In sympa-
thetic strikes that would interrupt the
orderly dispatch of the mails James A.
Emory of the National Association OF
Manufacturers today made an argument
against the measure before the House
committee on reform in the civil service.
Frank Morrison of the American Fedora
tion of Labor and other union leaders
were present at the hearing. One state
ment made by Mr.. Emory provoked a
heated controversy between him and Mr..
Morrison.
Mr.. Emory cited the case of the French
strike of 1910 In illustration OF his con-
tention that 1t would be dangerous to
pass any laws that would seem to coun-
tenance strikes by government employees
Secretary Morrison interrupted to re.
mark that the French organization that
had ordered the strike in question diff
fered radically in principle from the
American Federation.
Difference Pointed Out.
I'VE seek to settle our differences
through agreements, conciliation and ar
bitration,'' said Secretary Morrison. "The
French confederation tries to adjust Its
troubles through the medium Of strikes
Mr.. Emory replied in substance that the
plea of Mr.. Morrison was specious. and
he charged that the federation made free
use Of the boycott.
THE federation has never indorsed
sympathetic strike. In fact, Is opposed
to such procedure, and nobody knows
that better than my good friend Emory,
observed Mr.. Morrison. Mr.. Morrison
was given permission to file reply with
the committee to the charge of Mr..
Emory.
The Lloyd bill, which was under dis
cussion. provides In effect that govern
ment employees shall be accorded freer
liberty of speech. and that restrictions
that now lie against their association. with
organizations formed for the purpose of
improving labor conditions shall be re-
moved
Contention of Advocates.
It has been contended by supporters Of
the Lloyd bill, among them labor leaders.
that rules and regulations. particularly in
tho postal service. that prohibit govern
ment employees from making direct state
ments to Congress for redress Of alleged
grievances amount to a denial of the
constitutional right Of petition.
1t has been further contended that the
regulation that prohibits postal employees
from joining labor organizations is an
abridgment OF the liberties Of the indi-
vidual.
Answering these contentious. Mr. EN-
ory insisted that the right OF petition
was regulated under all circumstances by
law. A government employe was ac-
corded the privilege of peutioning Con-
gress through his superior officer or Off
GERS. Civil employees were treated in this
army and the navy and the enlisted men
Of those establishments. Direct petition
In these cases was estopped by the cir
cum stances Of the employment 1t was
regulated by law.
Privileges Given Up.
Mr.. Emory pointed out that members Of
Congress arc required to give up priv
leges that they exercised before entering
official life. This amounts to a great
sacrifice. especially in the case OF a men,
Der who Is a lawyer" said Mr.. Emory.
'NThe lawyer member sacrifices property
departments. Every man who enterE
public service must adjust himself to cir
cugnstances that are made by rules and
regulations designed for the general well
fare"
THE right to carry a gun, which Is q
valuable right is regulated by law" In
terjected Representative Martin Dies, who
halls from Texas.
Coxey's army came to Washington in
1893 and met a law that read Keep of
the grassl' continued Mr.. Emory.
There was what some people would CON-
tend was a denial of the right OF petition.
Coxey and his followers came here to in
duce Congress- to pass laws adjusting GER
tain that thew heliAved had heNn
committed
Mr. Emory added that the regulation
which kept Coxey and his army of the
lawns Of the Capitol building was legal
and could not be Justly held as a denial
Of a constitutional right or guarantee.
Discussing the second section OF the
Lloyd bill relating to the formation OF
Organisations by government employees to
improve labor conditions MI. Emory said
| 1t was highly Objectionable.
One View Of Results.
IF II means that such organizations
are to be permitted to follow the meth
DDS of labor unions 1t means that the
people of this country will be threatened
at times with interruption Of the mail
service. resulting in great loss to COM
merce and trade. and suffering TO the
people, said Mr.. Emory. Mr.. Emory
intimated that he had in mind "sympa-
| tbetic strikes. which brought Secretary
Morrtsion to his feet
Suppose we put provision in this bill
specifically prohibiting government en-
| ployes, who may be organized. from
going on Strikes" asked Representative
Prouty OF Iowa Would you still OBJ
ject to the bill?'
Mr. Emory did not give a direct re-
ply to this question. AS q general prop
osition he thought the principle was
bad one, and that once authority was
| given government employees to affiliate
! with labor unions the relations thus en-
tered into would be prolific of mischief
Indians Seek Citizenship.
p j. James and James Thomas full.