The Washington times., 1916-04-20
ALL OFFICE CLERKS
ELIGIBLE FOR UNION
OF STENOGRAPHERS
Vice President Bridaham Takes
Issue With Head OF Federal
Employees Organization.
GOMPERS AIMS AT PEACE
Will Confer With Officials OF
New Body on Affiliation with
Federation.
GoMPERS AIMS AT PEACE
.atenograhers''

Distinctions between "stenograhers
and other specialized office workers. ana
clerks" which the Federal Employees
Union emphasizes i'm recruiting MEM
hers among Government employees IN
Washington, n not recognized by tho
stenographers. Typewriters. Bookkeep-
ara and Assistants Union, No. n'H3. A.
r. OF L.
q Rridaham. first vice president
ana snokesman for the latter organiza-
t,on. has issued a statement In reply
10 ono by President II. NJ. McLarin
Of the Federal Employees Union making
the distinction.
In the statement Vice President Brida-
ham points out that his organizations
charter from the American Federation
Of Labor authorizes it to accept as mem
hers "stenographers. typewriters. book
keepers and. their assistants. and othce
clerks generally"
Twenty Per Cent Clerks.
Gully twenty per cent Of our entire
membership arc clerks" he adds. III
Mr.. McLarin Is right, and clerks are
not eligible to our association. the Fed-
Grafton OF Labor and every union oHice
in Washington Is not union Office out
n scab shop. because they are employ
ing non-union clerks"
Mr.. Bridaham Is a member Of spe-
cial committee of the StenoBraphers
Union, designated to protect the Juris-
dlction Of the s. T. d. and A. A. from
infringement" His statements are IN
dorsed by the union.
In regard to the claim by President
McLarin. of the Federal Employees
IV..t~ hat
pliers" in the Government OFFICES, the
statement from Mr.. Bridaham says:
"If he will examine the records OF
the United States Civil Service Com
fact that every person who enters the
Government service. takes an cXami-
nation for the character of work he or
she is to perform in the Goyornment;
that examinations are held TOT
'stenographers.' 'stenographers and
typewriters.' 'bookkeepcrs, and all the
other classes OF clerks which make uo
the body OF Government workers;
These people go on eligible registers
under the titles named; they are called
for by appointing officers by such title.
and they do such work In the depart
ments. - s an, n ~.
name OF clerk are simply to designate
the compensation paid to the worker IN
question. since such designation Is made
In appropriation bills"
e' Conference Tomorrow.
Affiliation of the Federal Employees
Union with the American Federation of
Labor will be the subject of a confer
ence tomorrow night. Members of the
unions executive committee. and sam
uel Gompers, president of the Fedora
ton, will he the Darleyers.
An application for affliation. 1t Is ex-
pected, will be laid before the executive
council OF the federation at Its meeting
In June of this year The council meets
four times each year. 1t is learned.
The Federal Employees Union. there
fore. will not have to wait until jan
uary, 1917 for consideration OF It's ap-
plicat'on, as had been mistakenly be-
iieved by members OF the organization.
An important item In its claim for
recognition by the federation, the local
union realizes, will be showing that
II does not infringe the Jurisdiction OF
an existing trade union. For this II VIII
depend chiefly . on the , distinction .r y
"stenographers, typewriters, bookkeep-
ers. and assistants"
Representative control by council.
subject to referendum on important
matters to the whole union: viii be an
important point to he decided by the
Federal Employees Union In the adop-
ton of ts constitution.
The alternative Is to continue the
present method Of having the whole
union retain direct control OF all Its
affairs, voting upon each in mass meet
ing.
This question will be discussed to-
night at a joint meeting of the unions
constitutional committee with Its pres
ent executive committee.
Whether membership in the proposed
council should be proportioned numer-
ically, or comprise a representative
from each. department or bureau, Will
also he gone into.
II these two matters can be disposed
of, a tentative constitution to be laid
before the whole union for referendum
vote. may be drafted at tonights meet
ing.