The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-30
Gompers Attacks
Burleson
Labor Leader Made a Catspaw
BY Magazine Lobby in Fight
To Re-establsh Postal Graft

New York, April 16-Samuel Com
pers. president Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, assailed the ad
ministration of Postmaster General
Bur!eson in statement issued here
today. declaring that he must walk
the plank sooner or later"
Mr.. Gompcrs charged Postmaster
General Burlcson With carrying out
..an archaic. autocratic policy in the
conduct Of the postal, telegraph aud
telephone services Of the United
States" and said che needs only u
wider field ard better opportunity to
fit him for succession to some of tho
worlds best known but unlamented
exdictators.
NIr. Gompers statement follows:
The troubles Of Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson which in a recent state
ment he attributes to plot or con-
spiracy on the part Of the American
publishers are not due solely to any
dispute there may have been between
the postmaster general and the pub
fishers to whom he refers. The most
recent example Of Mr.. Burleson's au~
tocratic nature does not come as a
surprise to those in the labor move
ment who have come in contact with
his administration.
Labor was long ago forced to the
conclusion that Mr. Burleson was
completely out Of sympathy with the
trend of American thought and was
totally unable to comprehend what
America meant when it declared war
upon autocracy everywhere.
"Mr. Burleson needs only Il wider
field and better opportunity to fit
him for succession to some of the
worlds best KNOWN but unlamcntcd
ex-dictators. The only difficulty in Mr..
Burleson's way is that the world has
reached the decision that it wants no
more dictators The United States
postoffice department is one Of the
very few places in the world not
yet in accord with that decision.
Long before the United States gov
crnrnent took over the telegraph
systems of the country. Mr.. Burle-
sons cold and autocratic treatment
became known to the works engaged
in the postal service. Naturally re-
sentiment has followed this course
and this resentment has increased in
volume exactly in proportion to the
increased field over which Mr.. Eur
leSon rules.
"The workers in various branches
Of the postmaster generals depart
ment have come to understand
roughly that democracy and the post
Office department has nothing in com
mon except that they exist under the
same government. Time after time
these employees have endeavored 10
secure the opportunity to be heard by
the postmaster general through tkeii
representatives for the purpose o:
presenting grievances or just cause.
for complaint. They have sought t.
lay before hn their complaints in or
der that they might have his consid
Grafton and in order that any adjus
the democratic procedure Of nesoti
atoms. These pleadings for an oppor
tun!ty to be heard have been as vain
as they have been frequent.
My own experience with the post
master general has been Of similar
nature. Acting for the workers / have
had a unmber Of conferences with
him in which / have endeavored tt
induce him to grant the opportunity
TO his employees 10 BIC heard through
their representatives These effort:
of my own have also been in vain.
II has been rather 4 favorite pose
with the postmaster general to appear
as a high minded person. gcnerou:
and sympathetic with his employees
Always, however. this sympathy has
been defined by him to mean that ii
any one OF the employees had any
thing to present to him that employee
might come and present the case. I'm
der any circumstances such q course
would be unsatisfactory and intelli-
cecievc ANYONE with that ancient and
long since adco. Only the most re-
dictionary and brutal employers still
endcavor to deal with the workers a:
individuals.
"In the case of the poStoifice de-
pertinent. however. where the en-
ployecs are scattered throughout the
United States. such an attitude as
that assumed by the postmaster gen
eral became not only ridiculous and
prcpoStcrous but constitutes an cftront
and an insult TO the intelligence OF
the men and women in his department
and to the citizenship Of the country
as Well.
The position taken b* the sccrc-
taricS OF the War department. the
navy department and various other
government departments in dealing
with the workers, the declarations OF
the war labor board. approved by the
president Of the United States con
corning bargaining have failed 10 make
the slightest impression on the mind
of the postmaster general and he has
insisted upon q line of conduct rs
completely out Of harmony with the
balance Of the government as il coulG
we'll be.
Mr.. Burleson's troubles can not
successfully be laid by him at the
doors of those whom he may assume
,rn his anin,iaS for OOIitical OurDOSc.;