The Washington times., 1916-04-22
ADVISES Government Employees
to Appeal to Congress Before
Walking Out.
POINTS TO BoRLAND RIDER
Says Uncle Sam Should Take
Lead In Salaries Paid to His
Aides.

"The American Federation OF Labor
does not believe in strikes for Gov
ernment employees" James p. Eagan'
ss,tor Of the Federation's weekly
News Letter, counseled members or
the recently organized Federal En-
ployes' Union. last night.
1--WE advise you not to strike, be-
cause we have a better way to en-
force our demands than strikes, In
tho case of Government employees.
That way is the way OF legislation
"You have a prsrty good example
Of that in the way we buried the Bor'
land rider, that worid have iengthen-
ei your working day.
but just as no one can order you
on 1 fr sympathetic @ R str Strike. 20 no ono
can tell you You cannot strike. 10
long as you are a Feder1l LABOR union
AFFLICTED directly with the American
jurisdiction over your own affairs.
When employer in other cities unite
and seek to join with You, IL will
I've time to consider submitting to out
side authority.
Says Government Must Lead.
There are those who will tell you
that IL you join the Federation you are
liable to have to strike any time. But
no trade unionist ever tells you that. 1t
ia the opponents of unionism who are
preaching that doctrine
In regard to conditions under which
the employees work. the speaker said:
Uncle Sam today has got the reputa-
tion of being the cheapest employer In
America. It Is mp to you to make him
the model employer.
"iou have got to obtain for yourselves
wages that trade unionists throughout
tre rest OF the country can point to and
say: III Uncle sam can pay these
wages, you must
Uncle Sam can no longer trail behind
Industry In this respect. The time has
come when he has got to be the leader"
The mass meeting OF the union was
held In the National Rifles ArInory.
Referendum Is Voted.
Referendum on the tentative consti-
tuition submitted By Chairman Andrew
J. Greene, OF the Interior Department,
for the constitution committee, was
voted by the union. The committees
report was amended on motion of
George 3. Squires. Of the Postoffice De-
partment, extending the time for final
returns on the referendum one week,
The ballots, which will be distributed
and returned by mail. will be accom-
panied by a complete draft Of the con-
stitution recommended by the committee.
In parallel columns will appear Rlterna-
tive sections recommended by other
members OF the union.
The ballots probably will be ready for
distribution. through union members in
each department. on Monday. Copies
viii be mailed to members absent on
fled duty for the departments.
Robert II. Alcorn, chairman OF the
joint civil service retirement committee
OF local trade unions. announced that
a, hearing on the Tavenner retirement
bill would be granted by the House
Civil Service Reform Committee next
Friday morning at 10 o'clock He de-
clared the bill to be "in the interest of
humanity. efficiency, and good govern
ment"
Plan To End Oppression.
A motion committing the union mot
to interfere with Congress In conduct
ing the affairs of the country" was
laughed down, and was not seconded.
President IT. NJ. McLarin, In address
ing the members. said:
1T Is hard to have to cay that you
believe there are heads of departments
and chief clerks and others in authority
IN the Government service who oppress
thers thess beneath them But we know that
And wo Intend to see them remeded.
We are not going to set up nm authority
that can remedy them. but we are
going to create machinery by which
the employees themselves can better
their own conditions"
Introduces New Officers.
President McLarin introduced the re-
Gently installed officers of the union
to the members. They are @. J. Pillow.
first vice president; II. l.. Watson. sec
ond vice president; II. A. Spilman, sec
retary: Miss Florence EthcridEe, secre-
tary and f. r. Reynolds. guardian.
The following members OF the execu-
tive committee. who are to continue In
office until the annual elections next
fall. also were introduced:
s. W. Caywood, Commerce: John W.
Gfnder. Treasury; George q. Sculres,
Postofrice; A. II. Mustain, War: L. ].
Newmyer. Agriculture Harry q. Nc
Gowan. Government Printing Office; c.
+. Booth, Labor; ]. l.. Dickcy, Navy;
John 8. Beach, Interior: w. A. Power.
Interstate Commerce Commission. and
s. II. Kalisher. Federal Trade Commits.
sion.