Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-03
PLANS TO PROTEST
THE B0RLAND RIDER
Organized Labor to Hold Mass
Meeting at National Rifles
Armory Tonight.
SAMUEL GOMPERS SLATED
AS PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
]. Edwin Giles Declares That Gov
ernment Employees Have the
Right to Unionize.

!. Edwin Giles. president OF the
Office Workers Union OF Wash
inSton. which is affiliated with
the American Federation OF
Labor. today announced that all
plans have been completed for the
big mass meeting to be held to-
night at National Rifles Armorv
by organized labor. in its at
tempt to defeat the Borland rider
pending i'll the House OF Repre-
sentatives which seeks to increase
the hours OF labor OF government
employees without additional pay.
Samuel Gompers will be the
principal speaker.
Mr.. Giles made public a statement to-
day. in connection with plans for the
mass meeting. designed to correct the
impression which he says has unfo1tu-
nately land wrongly" obtained circu1a-
ton that government employees are not
allowed to become members of labor
unions Mr.. Giles said that every gov
ernment worker in Washington. as well
as the members of labor organizations
generally. will be welcomed at National
Rifles Hall tonight. and that not only
is there nothing in the laws of the
United States to prevent their taking
part in labor meeting, but he asserts
that the laws specifically give govern
ment clerks and other employees the
right TO form unions.
Such organization. he said. would be
a sure deterrent to any future action
along the lines of the present effort to
increase the hours of labor of govern
ment employees without corresponding
increase in pay.
Effect of Mistaken Idea"
These mistaken ideas of the clerks
alone stand in the way of the immedi
ate organization of the strongest sort
of a union. Mr.. Giles said. But we
are going ahead just the same. for we
have been assured by the labor leaders
in Congress that the Borland amend
ment will be doomed if we do our part
in the campaign against its enaction.
President Gompers and Secretary
Morrison of the American Federation
of Labor also have been giving their
personal attention to the matter and
both will speak before tonight's meet
ing. Others who will be called on for
remarks are President John ii. Fergu
son Of the Maryland State and District
Of Columbia Federation Of Labor, and
Thomas II. F'laherty of the National
Federation of Post Office Clerks.
Various Organizations Protest.
Protests against the proposed action
from various organizations throughout
the District continue to be voiced. The
federated branches Of the National
League of Government Employees. meet
ing in special session at Hotel Manhat-
tan unanimously adopted resolution de-
claEins:
I'VE are opposed to the attempted leg
islatio known as the Boralnd rider, in
creasing by one hour the working day of
government clerks, for the reason that if
enacted it will result in decreased eff
cheney i'll the working machinery Of the
executive departments of the government
and impose unnecessary hardships on
these faithful employees.
Branches No. 80. IS and ! were rep
resented AT the meeting of the league
last night, which was presided over by
George l.. cain. president Of the Ma
10
ploycs. The resolution VA submitted
by T.. w zoe. president Of the Wash
ington federated branches, and passed
alnost without discussion
Would Hamper University Work.
President Charles H. Stockton of
George Washington University states
that the passage of the rider would
seriously affect the university. requir-
ing complete change in schedules
and greater expenditures for additional
instructors.
about 20 per cent of our students
are in the government Or have private
employmenS" President Stockton said,
and these attend the late afternoon
classes from > to !. 1t is easy to un-
derstand. therefore. that if the gov
ernment hours are prolonged ii would
mean the changing Of these classes to
might classes and the hiring of an ad-
ditional corps of Instructors. This
ould increase the tuition aad would
be "A great hardship TO those who are
now obtaining a college education
through :heir own endeavors."
Action by Garrett Park Citizens.
! The citizens of Garrett Park, Md
| after meeting in public assembly
Wednesday have framed a resolution
urging the senators and representa- :
tives from Maryland to do all in their
| mower to defeat the rider" The reso-
| luton claims that the Borland propo-
! sitiou proposes to reduce the salaries
| of the employees affected more than 20
| per cent as a result Of the increase in
| hours Of labor without n correspond
| ing increase III pay.
The resolution further sets forth
that the "changaS in departmental con-
ditious such as contemplated by the
Borland amendment make the public
service less desirable and less attrac-
tions which should be found in govern
| ment employees" and that "a serious
effect of the provision under dis
cusson would be to disrupt the whole
social and business life of Washington;
Yet this radical measure is proposed to
the House of Representatives with
| out serious considerations. without the
| recommendation of "a single responsible
administrative official, and without Civ
/ ing those who would he most affect ed
/! by the !egislatio an opportunity to be
| heard in their own behalf"
Samuel Gompers Commended.
A resolution also was unanimousI,
| pa ssed commencing the efforts OF
| President Samuel Gompers and his as
sociates on the executive commAtee OF
prevent the increase in the hours OF
| labor of the executive departments at
Washington"