Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-04
Dor Officials Speak.

Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor. was the
principal speaker. He declared he has
no doubt but that the Borland rider
will find respectable interment in the
House; it deserves it, Addresses were
also made by Frank Morrison. secre-
taiy of the federation: F.. j. Tucker.
president of the Central Labor Union
T. F.. Giles. president of the Stenogra-
piers. Typewriters. Bookkeepers and
Assistants Union; Thomas F. F1aherty,
president Of the National Association
of Post Office Clerks, and others. On
the platform. also. were Grant Hamil
ton and w. II. Schafer. legisla tive
agents of the American Federation: Al
bert kugler. president of the Inter
national Brewery Workers Union, and
others
The union headed by Mr. Giles, known
as the Office Workers Union, desired
that the government employees should
join their organization. but II was
thought best to form an entirely new
organization, as II developed that the
national officers of the American Fed
GRAFTON had been instructed as long
ago as 1913 to endeavor to organize the
federal civil service employees into A
union affiliated with the federati and
some of the workers in the Office Work
ers Union. headed by Mr.. Giles. are not
government employees and not eligible
to the Federal civil Service Employees
Union formed last night
The temporary Oraginzatlon for the
new union was as follows: n. NJ. Nc
Larin. War Department. president; j.
n. kesecker. Interior Department, sec
rotary, and Paul D. May, War Depart
ment, treasurer.
Mr.. Gompers said, in part:
Saws Borland Aroused Courage.
<1n
Borland amendment will find respect
able interment in the House. 1t de-
serves it. From my viewpoint. now
that We know its life is limited and we
will hear little of it. ] think we all,
and you in particular. owe Mr.. Borland
a debt of gratitude. 1t is evident he
has done something no one else has
been able to accomplish.
Il am quite confident that 1t WASH
the intention of Mr.. Borland to arouse
the latent courage of the government
employees in Washington. And so !
firmly believe that Mr. Borland's prop
| osition has resulted in bringing the
civil service employees to realize that
too long have they been unmindful OF
their own welfare, and 1t has made
them determine to be on the firing line
| in future to see that no wrongs are i'm
posed upon them.
But, after all. in future much will
pend upon what YOU intend to do.
There is no law which prevents you or
any other employees of the government
| from organizing in order to bette, your
conditions. And If the organization OF
government employees means a disrup-
| ton of the governments affairs
would not be here tonight urging you
to organize.
III you want to prevent a recurrence
OF such an incident as the Borland prop
osition; If you want some degree OF
safety against discrimination and IA
voritism; II you want to secure the
promotions you deserve by seniority In
Office: II you want a proper retirement
and pension law: II you want to secure
the respect OF your superior off1cers
you can only do it by taking advantage
Of this psychological moment to or
ganize."
| Mr.. Flaherty. head of the Post Once
| Workers Onion. said. In part
| The law gives you the right of or
ganiEation without afTiliation with any
outside body which could enforce q de-
mand that you strike The American
Federation of Labor has no such right
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