Arizona republican., 1918-06-03

open to them for the Western Union employs less than twenty per cent of the total telegraphers in the United States. The company says in effect to its employees:
 | "Tf you desire to join the c. T. U. A. then we must part. So long as you re- | tain your position with the company | you will have every protection and | full right of appeal but we cannot agree that you shall join any organi- zation which imperils the continuity of the telegraph service which this com pany is expected to provide SfOr the government and public of the United States"
 It was proposed, should failure to conform with tsis agreement and to abide by the rules and principles of the board the Western Union might discharge such employe, and that the national war labor board would sus- tain such discharge"
 Sends Second Proposal
 Mir. Carlton, according to the re- port, declined to accept this proposi- tion. but rendered another in which he declared that his company holds that it's first obligation is to the govern ment and the public. in an uninter- ! vice. The company has reached the conclusion that this end cannot be achieved if its operators are members of the C. T. |. A."
 Mir. Carlton pointed out that the operators new have a basic S-hour day, premium for overtime, vacations with pay, semi-annual premiums, sick ness benefits at full pay for varying periods, pensions and life insurance, He expressed the opinion that a ma jority of the companys operators did not want to join the union, but he was willing to submit the question to a secret referendum ballot under the direction of the war board.
 In this referendum the operators were to be asked if they wanted tc join the c. T. U. A. or whether they were in favor of an organization to be confined to Western Union employees such organization to have the right ot collective bargaining. but not to em- ploy the strike or affiliate with any organization which employees the strike either for itself or for others"
 Company Employees Only
 Officers of the organization, he pro- posed. were to be employees of thS Western Union and differences be. . tween the organization and the com DunN were to pc afhltiaIeu DeIOfe tns l national war labor board.
 , "In the event that a majority of oul members withdraw it's objection to tha' union and membership herein will nC longer be cause for dismissal, but W, specify that the company shall not b' called upon to recognize that union noi shall it be required to deal with off cers of that union, as such, whether , employees or otherwise"
 Taft Makes Reply
 , To this Mir. Taft replied:
 T do not think our principles in clude the closed non-union shop in tn, ! status quo to be maintained. do no think our principles require us t, ignore or invite a breach of existin, contracts of employment in which me, affirmatively agree not to join union do not think you have such con tracts with your men. A mere under e standing that men will be discharge, who join the union does not constitut . such a contract on their part not t ! join unions. I think the making o n such contracts after the proclamation lof the presidtnt is not in accord wit our principles of action by him ap proved; though the making of then would be legal"
 "I think the plan upon which ou = board acts contemplates a waiver b d employers of such a right, just as e contemplates a waiver by employe }. of the legal right to strike as e method of securing industrial peac, IS With these views I think that you 1t last proposal does not square wit Il the principles on which our boar IT must act if the issue is made by tn
 employees part of our board. Yo
 deny to majority of your employe
 a right to join a labor union.
 Should Accept Proposal
 "On the other hand. I think tn l. proposal made by MT. Walsh an a presented by me to you at Philadel l. phia, Is one which you should acceI y in the interest of industrial peace. r. By it you do not recognize th 1t union or deal with it. You deal onl l. with committees of your employe er You take back your men discharge IS for joining union which, under ol
 principles. an employer should n,
 prevent their doing. The union woul se agree with the board not to ord, 2t or permit strike under any circun