New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-18
Agrees
To Union of
u. S. Workers
Organization Under Direc
ton of Compers; 600,-
900 Affected
SPECIAL Corrcspondencel


WASHINGTON, Sept. l7.-Under the
supervision of Samuel Gompers, and
with the sanction Of President Wilson,
preliminary steps were taken to-day to
organize union of all Federal en-
ployes, which will be affiliated with the
Federation of Organized Labor.
Fifty delegates from Federal Offices
in and out of Washington began a
series of meetings in which the Fed
eral Employees Union will be organized
There are sixty locals now, but the
aim will be to organize and afiliate
with union labor all OF the 100000
civil employees of the government.
This movement marks a decided
change in government policy. Hitherto
the unionizing of government employees
has been discouraged by the govern
ment on the ground that nan cannot
serve both the government and the
Federation Of Labor when their objects
conflict. and that the government could
not tolerate the inclusion OF It's EN-.
ployes in an organization whose chiet
weapon is the strike. A strike against
tho Government, it was held, would be
intolerable.
Burleson Against Unions
Postmaster General Burleson. Ike
bis predecessors, has fought the un-
sons of railway mail clerks and other
nostal employees, and caused the DIS
charge from the Chicago p0S,o"'ces
of Thomas +. Flaherty, president ol
the National Association or Post ol-
flee Employees, who was conspicuous
in the meeting of the unionlzed red
eral employees to-day.
The change in policy IN due 10 the me
influence of Samuel Gompers WIN
President Wilson. Organized labor
has grown in power under the wilson
administration, ad and particularly since
the beginning of the war. MI uoiI
ners has rendered signal service IN
marshalling the support OF the gov
eminent by organized labor IN the
war. and in helping TO suppress the
/ ". W. and other seditlous lapor
In opening the meeting. Mr.. Com
pers touched upon the condition
which hitherto have prevented the
unionizing of government employees
when he said: r,,os
Il appeal to you to have yourselves
aIwavs we'll in hand. | ask you 10 see
"a il that you always act wisely hhu
intelligently. Never under any CIR
cumstances use the full power you
possess, but always keep little some
thing in reserve for whatever ne"
contingency may arse.
81 call on you 20 do good service
rendering faithful work TO your EN-,
ployer, the government OF the Ohited
States. Be true TO yourselves ana 70
the mass of workers in your trade OF
in whatever line of activity 10 wnlch
YOU are giving your time.
eve are not organized 10 overturil
the Republic of the United States. II
ia too dear TO US. We are going 10
stand by it. We are going TO serve II
in any way we can. We are willing 70
make any sacrifices necessary 70 pre-
serve democratic institutions and the
ideals for which we are hghtlns'
but we intend TO see that while our
manhood il fighting at the front theif
homes do not deteriorate. We are go,
ing to see that the American standard
Of living is maintained. so that Amer
lean ideals may not suffer and tne
progress already made is not lost. Ihat
will be part of your work, as 1t is ths
work Of all of U.s."