Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-13

DIVERSE OPINIONS.
Senator Root Says Striking Must Not
Be Turned Against Public Inter-
ests.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 13-Fol-
lowing bitter debate, in which Sena-
tors Root and LaFollette passed acrim
onious words, the Senate this after
noon voted 49 to to permit postal
employees to organize, but to prohibit
the affiliation of any of their organi-
cations with others that countenance
strikes or lockouts. The effect of the
amendment is to bar organizations
which cooperate with the American
Federation of Labor
Postal clerks won victory in the
adoption of a further amendment
granting them the right of appeal to
Congress and permission to furnish
members with information as to their
work.
Washington, Aug. ia sensa-
tional debate involving the right of
postal employees to organize, to af-
filiate with labor organizations and
to strike at will marked the session
of the Senate today.
Senator Smith. (Dem. S. c. con-
tended that no law prevented an
American citizen from joining any
organization. If postal employees
were dissatisfied with their compen-
sation, he shouted, or with the condi-
lions of service they had right to
give up their positions at will.
"No organization under which a
strike against the government by pos
tai employees conld be arranged
AMI should be tolerated." said
Senator Roct, of New York.
Some organizations of govern
ment employees might prove
commendable but none must assume
to coerce the government, Root ad-
ded. He favored the Bourne amend
ment and that the legislation should
not go beyond that point That
amendment would not permit strike,
Root said, paralyzing the government,
stopping the mails and coercing the
authorities.
Striking is not illegal but is a
right" declared Root, "but it must not
be turned against the public interest
at will be sorry day for this
country when we put upon the stat
ute books the right of employees to
strike against the government"
A lively colloquy followed between
Root and Smith, the latter declaring
that postal employees had right to
quit the service and tina. that vas
equivalent to .tr!king.
Root insisted that if such a con-
tention should be recognized there
would be no government.
Senator Sutherland (Rpn. Utah.
said the original provision as to org
anization was equivalent to an invita-
tion for the postal employees to affil-
ate with the American Federation of
Labor. That body would then be able
to call out postal employees on SYM
pathetic strike. Sutherland said he
would prohibit such affiliation so they
would not be subject to such call.
Smith retorted that Sutherland's
statement that labor organizations
were dangerous and a menace to the
government. Sutherland denied that
and charged that Smith misrepresent-
ed what he, Sutherland, had said.
Smith answered that Congress should
come out directly and by law pro-
hibit such organizations and not seek
to accomplish the same result by indl-
rection.
"This whole matter is directed
against the American Federation OF
Labor" said LaFollette. eve might
as we'll talk plainly. There is no
other organization with which body
could affiliate. But the American
Federation of Labor has never ord
cred strike and never will. 1t is no
part or its functions.
"This proposed legislation is at the
behest of the postal authorities. They
seek to increase their power, extend
their espionage and exercise more In
fuence over the private affairs OF
their subordinates.
Reorganization among government
| on, n1oynec will never result in q