The Washington times., 1917-09-20
FEDERAL CLERKS
REFUSE TO YIELD
SUFFRAGE STAND

A tussle over woman SUFFRAGE
White House picketing, and the eight
hour day marked the sessions today
Of delegates to the first convention OF
Federal Employees Unions.
A resolution was introduced b.
Charles V. Mallett, OF Philadelphia,
declaring that the convention viewed
with regret any attempt to embarrass,
harass. and disturb the President OF
the United States by the picketing Of
the White House at this time. Mr..
Mallett wanted to urge the suffrage
workers to cease picketing, and de-
clared that such harRssing OF the
President was fundamental treason to
the country during the war. He was
applauded.
+. G. Swanson, from the Canal Zone,
raised a point of order against the
resolution, declaring that 1t was not
german to the convention business,
and that the delegates would be called
upon to censure the suffrage pickets
without having made any investiga-
tion, personal or otherwise, and with
out having a report OF the condition
and the action for which censure was
proposed. The point was sustained
by Temporary President McLarin.
Mr.. Mallett then moved that the
convention reconsider the resolution
passed favoring woman suffrage max
ing the point that 1t was not ger
main.
Miss EtherIdSe Defends.
Miss Florence Etheridge rose to the
defense OF the suffrage cause and de-
cIared, that the convention could ap-
prove the great principal Of equal
rights for which labor stood, without
paying any attention to picketing.
She asked the delegates to take
the dignified stand of the President
and ignore the pickets. They did
not represent the majority in the suf-
frage cause, she said, and the con-
vention by noticing them in reso-
luton would give them just what
they were seeking-publicity. She
held that the declaration Of equal
rights was german to the conven-
tion business as a great principal
for which labor stood.
The motion to reconsider was lost.
Another spirited debate developed
on the resolution fixing the conven-
tion's stand on hours. Delegates
from the border wanted a declaration
for an eight-hour work day. Miss
Etheridge and others objected that a
declaration for an eight-hour day
would put dynamite in the hands of
Congressman Borland and others who
would lengthen the present hours of
thousands OF employees in Washing
ton and throughout the country.
The border men in the immigration,
customs and other services II was de-
clared have a ten and twelve-hour
work day and they insisted on eight
hours.
Compromise SuEEested.
A compromise was suggested by
President McLarin that the convention |
declare for one days rest in seven !
and for the abolition of unnecessary |
overtime and extra compensation for !
all overtime exceeding eight hours a
day.
W. A. Holman, premier Of New
South Wales, was presented to the |
convention by President Gompers, Of |
the American Federation OF Labor, |
with whom he had held a conference. |
He told the delegates that they should |
have a thorough organization. and |
that the Government would benefit 1
from the organization. He said that |
as premier he was the employer OF \
more men than any other man in |
Australia and that he appreciated /
more than anything else the advice |
and suggestion received from the |
representatives Of the workers.
THE United States has the most
expensive civil service pension sys-
tenn that a government can devise. II
frequently pays salaries to two men
on one job because 1t has no pro
vision for retiring the man too old .
to do the work.
This is the view OF Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury Byron r. New
ton, who has been nominated for col
lector OF customs at New York.
-Four Years Conclusion.
Mr.. Newton gave this as the con-
clusion he had reached with respect
to pensions for Federal workers after
four years OF study of the question.
In an address last night at the ban
quet OF delegates to the convention OF
the Federal Employees National Union
he told of the pressing need of more
adequate pay and a just pension plan
for Government workers.
With two other assistant secre-
taries Of executive departments and
a number OF members OF Congress and
other officials, Mr.. Newton gave his
unqualified Endorsement to the organi-
zation of Federal Employees Union
and pledged their support