Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-28
COMPERS SAYS

became known to the workers en-
gagged in the postal service. Natur-
ally resentment has followed this
creased in volume exactly IN proper
ton to the large held which Mr.
Burleson rules. The workers in va.
rious branches Of the postmaster
generals department have come to
understand thoroughly that democra.
cy and the Post Once Department
have nothing In common except that
they exist under the same govern.
ment. Time after time these en-
ptoyes have endeavored to secure the
opportunity to be heard by the post
master. general through their repre-
s1Atatives for the purpose Of present'
ing grievances or just causes Tor
complaint. They have sought to lay
before him their complaints in order
that they might have his considera.
tien and in order that an ADJUST
ment might be brought about
through the democratic procedure OF
negotiation. These pleadings for an
opportunity to be heard have been
as vain as they have been frequent.
My own experience with the post
master general has been Of SINH
lar nature. Acting for the workers I
have had a number of conferences
with him in which / have endeav-
ored to induce him to grant the
opportunity to his employees to be
heard through their representatives.
These efforts Of my own have been
in vain.
1T has been rather a favorite pose
with the postmaster-general to ap-
pear as a high minded person. gen.
erous and sympathetic with his EN-
pIoyes Always. however. this SYM
pathy has been defined by him 10
mean that if any one Of the en-
pioyes had anything to present to
him that employe might come and
present the case. Under any cir
cumstances such a course would be
unsati Glory and intelligent en-
pIoyers nowhere attempt to deceive
anyone with that ancient and long
since exploded idea. Only themost
reactionary and brutal employers
still endsavor to deal with the work.
ers as individuals. In the case of the
post office department. however.
where the employees are scattered
throughout the United States. such
an attitude IS that assumed by the
postma- r-general becomes not only
ridiculous and preposterous but con-
stitutes an affront and an insult to
tine intelligence Of the men and no.
men in his department anc to the
The position taken by the secre-
tary Of the War Department. the
Navy Department and various 9TH
er government departments In deal
ing with the workers. the declara-
tions Of The War Labor Board APP
proved by the President OF the Unit
ed States. concerning collective bar
gaining have failed TO make the
slightest impression on the mind OF
the postmaster-general and he has
insisted upon line of conduct as
completely out of harmony with the
balance Of the government as 1t
could we'll be.
Mr.. BCrleson's troubles cannot
successfully be laid py him at the
doors Of those whom he may ass.ne
his enemies for pohtIca. purposes
only. because their source is some
thing deeper. Mr.. Purleson's trou-
bles arise from the fact that lie has
attempted with singular zeal to
carry out an archaic autocratic pol
icy. in the conduct Of the postal. tel
egraph and telephone services Of the
United states. Amy postmaster
genera. who will follow the same pol
icy will inevitably face the same
public condemnation and eventually
walk the same plank that Mr. Burle-
son must walk, sooner or later