Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-04-29
BURLESoN VS.. GoMPERS.
Postmaster General Makes Reply to
Labor Leader.

Labor leader.
Postmaster General RLrleson. in o
statement Sunday night, defended his
administration Of the postoffice de-
partment and his policy in Operating
governmental controlled telephone and
telegraph systems against charges made
Saturday by Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor that the postmaster general was
carrying out IAN archaic, autocratic
policy" in the conduct Of the Postal
Telegraph Company and the telephone
service and was completely out OF
sympathy with the trend of American
thought" Mr.. Burleson, in his state
ment, continued his criticism Of what
he termed certain selfish publishers.
The postmaster general said the val
ue and importance Of the service rem
dered by Mr.. Samuel Gompers during
the recent war was surpassed by few
men in America" and that the labor
official "is entitled to our grateful up
probation for this service, but this
does not imply that there should be an
acceptance of his views on all other
issues"
"As the postmaster general sees it"
said Mr.. Burleson in reply to the at
IdCh Oy uul. SOIlpCto VII illo la
bor policy, 1T is little short Of silly to
talk about collective bargaining with
an executive officer by civil service
employees under his administration.
The salary and wages to be paid such
employees, the hours of labor and
working conditions are fixed by the
executive branch. and It Is for the
executive head Of a department to
strictly follow the law in respect there
to. That the legislative branch can be
relied upon to act generously Is shown
by the postal establishment in which
within two years increases have been
granted aggregating more than $40,-
100000 annually.
1.-The attitude of the postmater gen.
eral toward organization of govern
ment employees and their affiliation
with outside organizations having the
strike as a means Of redressing griev-
ances has long been known, has been
fully set forth in his annual reports
and Notwithstanding the fact that the
postmaster general has been de-
nounced by the American Federation
of Labor In national convention, his
views on this subject have undergone
no change.
"In the matter of telephone and te-
legraph employees, they are at pres
ent working for the government and
The postmaster general insists that a
strike on their part is not permissible
and he will never concede that 1t
is
Mr.. Burleson said he had strictly OBJ
served the rules and policies laid down
by the war labor board for telegraph
employees before the wires were taken
over by the government, and added:
"Frankness requires the foregoing
statement by the postmaster general,
but he again declares that If he can
prevent it this labor question shall
not be used by certain selfish publish
ers to obscure the real issue. The
postmaster general insists that the is
sue now is, Shall these certain self
ish publishers who have been blood
sucking the postal establishment for
years to the extent of $72,000,000 an
nually be fully restored to this privi-
lege, having been checked Off by con-
gressional action of only one-third of
their pay The postmaster general
says no."