Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26
TAFT IS CRITICISED
Denounced by Speaker at
Mass Meeting of Clerks.
RECENT ORDER RESENTED
Forbidding Employees Calling on Rep
resentatives Declared Outrage.
SALARY QUESTION DISCUSSED
Members of Congress Tell How to
Accomplish End-Nearly 5000
Persons Present.
RECENT ORDER RESENTED
SALARY QUESTION DISCUSSED


Hall last evening. the occa
sion being a mass meeting of government
clerks. called at the instance OF Fulton
r. Gordon. who presented a plan whereby,
he said. the movement for higher salaries
could be made a success. The plan con-
templates the writing of letters by the
to their friends and relatives at
home In the states and have them exert
their influence with their representatives
and others in arousing public sentiment.
Former District Commissioner Henry l..
West was introduced by Mr.. Gordon
the chairman of the meeting. The speak
erS included Representatives Davis of
Minnesota. Cooper OF Wisconsin. Goulden
OF New York and Bennett of New York.
besides Mr.. West and Mr.. Gordon. Music
was furnished by the Nordica Mandolin.
Banjo and Guitar Orchestra. Walter r.
Holt. director. At the close OF the meet
Ing resolutions were adopted thanking Mr..
Gordon, the speakers. the orchestra and
all others who had manifested interest in
behalf of the government employees. Near
ly 5000 persons were in the audience.
Letters of regret were read from Sena-
tor Brown of Nebraska. who expressed
cordial approval Of the movement. from
Representative CarIin of Virginia, who
also expressed sympathy. and from Rep
resentat We Cary OF Wisconsin, who was
prevented from attending the meeting by
illness.
Address of Chairman West.
In his opening remarks Chairman West
said the government employees were the
backbone Of Washington business life.
He had found them intelligent. law
abiding men and women, who supported
the District charities and its many good
works. Whatever is done for the govern
ment clerk. he said. is done for the whole
city. The burden OF the cost of living.
he declared rested more heavily upon
them now than ever before. and IL had
been allowed to become heavier and
heavier each year without relief from
the employer. Everywhere in the United
States. he declared. employers have help
ed their employees. except in the National
Capital, where those who rendered faith
full, efficient service have been neglected.
He told his hearers that the movement
had been started aloEg proper lines and
IL 1t we're not successful 1T this Congress
1t would be with thu next.
The first speaker wds Mr.. Gordon. who
referred to President Taft's order for
bidding government employees to call
upon or petition members OF Congress
as "muzzle OF slavery and an out
rage" Mr.. Gordon said he had inter-
viewed thirty members OF Congress re-
Gently on the proposition to increase
the wages OF the government clerks
and he had found only one opposed to
it. Publicity. he said. would bring sue
cess. He promised. IL necessary, to
take the question to the next national
conventions and have a plank inserted
in the platform OF the party making
the fairest promises. Civil service, he
said, N all right in theory. but not In
practice. because it is not properly
carried out.
Money Could Be Saved.
s1siya mo business rep real business
men," he said, lat the head of the vari-
Gus departments and / will show how the
government can be conducted and 100 per
cent more work done than is now done
for the money paid.
He thought Congress did right in rais-
ing the salaries of senator's and repre-
sentatives 80 err cent He then turned
upon Congress Its own arguments made
in support of the measure. They made
mistake, he said. when they did not
also increase the salaries Of the $4,000
government employees as we.. They
ought to have commenced at the BIO tom
and worked upward, instead of reversing
the order.
Referring to the suggestion of a repre-
sentative that clerks who did not like
said 81 900 of them had resigned In the
last eight years. Mr.. Gordon suggested
as a slogan Our government, the model
employer Of the world and urged that
every DOuy 40 Ills DcSl u lildl tiulh
about. He criticised President Taft's
order again. and then unfolded his letter
writing plan, he said. Ito bring both the
President and Congress to terms
Representative Davis. the next speaker.
began with the rather startling dec'ara-
ton, IT am sorry to be here tonight" but
the dismay was dispelled when he ex-
planned that 1t was because he was sorry
there was necessity for such meet
ing. He said that four years ago he had
become interested in the government en-
ployes and had made considerable inves-
tigation concerning them. As q result,
he said. he had introduced bill pro-
yiding for a hor' zontal increase Of 20 per
cent Later, however. he had become
convinced that was the wrong way to do
it, because the man who most needed the
increase would be the one who would get
the least.
He said the attention of members OF
Congress had not been called to the facts.
Not 10 per cent of the members. he SAID.
ever had stopped to consider the subject,
and the average member had never nao
his attention called to it.
You won't need to write to their con-
stituents," he said. "but I think a little
campaign right here in Washington Will
bring about the desired results. although
1 will help you with your letter plan.
Mr. Davis said the men on the hill are
not all rascals and thieves; they have
much of the milk Of human kindness In
their hearts. but they are human.
Representative Cooper referring to an
incident noted in the conference report OF
the Senate and House. where the salaries
of five nremen had been reduced from
$50 to $50 month. declared this dis
grace. Four of the men, he said, were
white and one colored; four of them had
families. and all had to work Sundays
and holidays.
THE government of the United States"
he declared, has no right to ask man
to work for such a salary as that
Promises His Vote.
At the earliest opportunity. he promised.
he would give his vote to remedy this.
He urged his hearers to arouse public
opinion as the most potent force known
to control Congress.
Representative Bennett Of New York
told his hearers he had but q brief time
to remain in Congress. but said If they
waited to win out by sitting idle and re-
lying on the justice of their cause they
would wait till doomsday. He told OF
some OF the increases In salaries he
helped to bring about during his six years
In Congress, including raises in the pay
Of letter carriers and postal clerks. none
less than 500 q year: increases In labor
ers' wages In the New York custom house
to $40 a year, and the raise to s. q day
OF the pay Of the fremen in the New
York post Office building.
Mr.. Bennett said he did not believe 1t
possible to enact a law In this country
to prevent q government employe from
petitioning members Of Congress.
Representative Goulden, the last