Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-05-20
TAFT GIVES OPINIONS
AS TO CLERKS UNION
Afiiliation With the American Fedora
ton of Labor Spells Danger.

Harrisburg, Pa, May 14.-Much
against his personal inclinations. but
in the belief that it would do much
to silense sensational reports of the
seriousness of Mrs. Taft's illness. Presi-
dent Taft came to Harrisburg today.
In the few hours he was here the
president motored through streets lined
by thousands of persons, visited Repre.
sentative Olmstead of Pennsylvania for
half and hour and made speech to
several thousand persons.
The speech was delivered to the 10th
biennial convention of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen. The presi-
dent was introduced by Governor John
X. Tenor.
The president spoke of trades unions.
their good and bad points, and wound
up by defining his position in regard
to the utilization with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor of the government
clerks organization. The question. he
said, is most likely to come up in con
gress and presents a serious problem
which demands the attention of the
whole people.
g think, - said the president, "some
persons have gone to the extreme in
holding no combination of government
employees ought to be permitted. I
think, however, that in all govern.
ments, and 1 have given some time to
examination of the subject, the gov
eminent employees are permitted to
combine and have associations for
their betterment.
Might Use Boycott or Strike.
"The proposition now is that such
combinations should be allowed to affili-
ate with trades union organizations and
use the same methods for securing bet
ter terms of employment that are recog
nized as lawful and justifable by the
ordinary trade union-in other words.
that it is entirely proper for postal en-
ployes and others to combine in an asso-
citation to affiliate with the American
Federation and then to hold in reserve
as an instrument for enforcement of
their claims the boycott and the strike.
which are recognized by the American
Federation of Labor and supported and
justified by it.
Danger Shown in France.
"This presents very serious cues
ton, and one which, if decided in favor
of the right of government employees to
strike and use the boycott will be full
of danger to the government and the re-
public.
The government employees of France
resorted to it and took the government
by the throat. The government was
entirely dependent upon these employees
for its continuance.
''When those in executive authority
refused to acquiesce to the demands
the government employees struck. Then,
with the government helpless, all au-
thority destroyed, and government
activities checked, it was seen that to
allow the government employees to use
such an instrument was to recognize
revolution as a lawful means of secur-
ing an increase in compensation for
one class, and that privileged class,
at the expense of the whole public.
Where Organizations Differ.
81 do not think that either reason
able minded trade union men or en-
ployers will fail to see the broad diff
ference that exists between their cases
and that of the government employees
who are secure in the amount of their
compensation, their short working hours
and the greater permanency of tenure,
and who serve the government of all the
PEOPLE, the very existence of which will
be threatened should they combine to-
gether to quit the government service
in a body.
"The government employees are a priv
legged class, whose work is necessary to
AIRY on the government and upon whose
entry into the government service it is
entirely reasonable TO impose conditions
that Should not be and ought not to be
imposed upon those who serve private
employers"