The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-05-15

gross with petitions for their grievances.
think this right might I've denied to them
under the constitution without any vio-
lation of the provisions Of that instru-
ment, because. entering the public SER
vice, they may be subjected properly to
any conditions which Congress or persons
in authority think necessary to main
tain their efficiency and loyalty to the
Government.
But | am very willing to admit that
such limitations ought not to be any
more onerous than the interest of the
Government and the people at large re-
quire. The present executive orders per-
init and secure the forwarding to Con-
gress Of their complaints and their petit
t,ons for increase in wages, or the bet
terment of the terms of their employment.
| think these should he permitted hut
should he required to be made through
the superior officers of those who nre
arrayed in combination, and fina lily
through the head of the department. who
may bs given an opportunity to comment
upon the Justice or injustice OF the COM
plant and petition made.
in some respects u more important
issue Ia whether the employees OF the
Government should be allowed TO form
associations or combinat ions for the i'm
ment and their conditions as wage earners,
and IL 30 what methods such combina-
tions should be forbidden To pursue in
securing the object of their association
! think some persons have gone to the
extreme of holding that there ought TO
he no combinations of such employees
permitted. think. however. that in all
Governments. and have given some ex-
animation to the subject, the Govern
ment employees are permitted To combine
and have associations for their better
ment. but the proposition now is that such
combinations should be allowed to affili
ate with trades union organizations made
up OF the employees of private employers
and to use the same methods in securing
better terms of employment that are
recognized as lawful and j,istifiable in
the ordinary trade union; in other words.
that II is entirely proper for combnat ions
OF postal employees and others to combine
in an association To affiliate with the
American Federation of Labor. and then
to hold in reserve az an instrument for
enforcing their claims. presented to Con
gress. for increased compensation. or
the betterment of terms in other respects
the boycott and the strike which are
Instruments recogniI Icd by the American
Federation Of Labor and supported and
justified by it when used by the trades
unions affiliated in such federation.
This presents a very serious quest ion
and one which if doc ded in favor Of the
right OF government employees 10 strike
and ise the boycott will he full of danger
70 the Government and republic The
Gorernment employees of France RE-
sorted TO II and il took the Government
by the throat The Executive was ON
firely dependent upon these employees
Tor its continuance When those in
executive authority refused to acquiesce
In the demands the Government, am-
ployees struck and then with the chip
lessness Of the Government and the
destruction Of all authority and the help
ing OF government activities 1t was seen
that to allow government employees
10 use such an instrument was 10 recog-
nize revolution as a lawful means Of
securing an increase in compensati ion
for one class and thai privileged class.
AZ The expense of all the public
i do not think that reasonably minded
trade union men who ave fully alive 10
the necessity for rigorous means TO
enforce their rights in their controversies
with capital and with their employers
will fail 70 see the broad difference that
exists between their case in which they
are Contending for the betterment Of
their livelihood against the naturally
selfish motives Of their employers and
that Of the class Of government employees
who are privileged not only in tho amount
Of their compensation. the less number
Of hours Of their employment and the
creator ru.manency Of tenure and who
serve the Government Of all the people.
the very existence of which will he
threatened should they combine togat her
70 quit the government service all AZ once
md paralvze the benefits and the equal
benefits that that Government is prop
erlv supposed to confer upon the people
AT large