Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-04-27
JUMPERS SAYS
| BURLES0N MUST
| WALK PLANK"
|rro,1hles Are Not Due To
| Reported Disputes.
I'm CLASS WITH
EX-DICTATORS
|Dcmocracy And Postoifice Depart
ment Have Nothing In
Common.

New York, April 26.-Samuel Com
hers. president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, assailed the admin
'istration of Postmaster General Bur-
|leson in a statement issued here to-
[dav. declaring that he must walk
The plank sooner or later
| Mr.. Gompers statement follows:
1.-THE troubles of Postmaster Gen
eral Burleson, which in recent
statement he attributes to a plot or
a conspiracy on the part Of the Amer
#ican publishers, are not due solely to
fany dispute there may have. been be-
tween the postmaster and the pub
Fishers, to whom he refers. The most
recent example of Mr.. Burleson's
|autocratic nature does not come as a
surprise to those in the labor move
| ment who have come in contact with
/ his administration.
Out of Sympathy.
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 autocracX everywhere. Mr..
Burleson needs only wider field and
better opportunity to fit him for sue
cession to some of the worlds best
known, but unlamented ex-dictators.
The only difficulty in Mr. Burleson's
way is that the world has received the
decision that it wants no more dicta-
tors. 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
eminent took over the telegraph sys-
TEN Of the country. Mr.. Burleson's
cold and autocratic treatment became
known to the workers engaged in the
postal service. Naturally, resentment
has followed this course and this re-
sentiment has increased in volume ex-
actly in proportion to the increased
field over which Mr.. Burleson rules.
Is Undemocratic.
The workers in various branches
OF the postmaster generals depart
ment have come to understand thor
oachly that democracy and the post
Office department having nothing in
common except under the same gov
eminent. Time after time, these en-
ployes have endeavored to secure the
opportunity to be heard by she post
master general through their repres-
entatlves for the purpose of present
ing grievances or just causes for
complaint. They have, sought to lay
before ne him their complaints in order
mat thew might have his considera-
'lon and in order that adjustment
might be brought about through the
democratic procedure of negotia-
.lon. These pleadings for an oppor-
UNITY 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, 1
nave had a number of conferences
WIN nm in which l have endeavored
=! 70 induce him to grant the opportun-
ny TO his employees to be heard thru
.nelf representatives. These efforts
d my own have also been in vain.
90, Poses as Generous.
III has been rather a favorite pose
WIN the postmaster general to ap-
pear as a highminded person, gen
s e' and sympathetic with his en-
pu.S Always, however, this sym
pa.hv mas been defined by him to
h"S mat if anyone of the employees
mad anything to present to him that
o,npioye might come and present the
use Under any circumstances such
: & course would be unsatisfactory and
m1elilgent employers nowhere sat-
s:npt 70 deceive anyone with an an
f nei and long since exploded idea.
S a., =, the most reatcionary and brutal
thnpioyers still endeavor to deal with
sAe e, workers as individuals.
al the case of the postoffice de-
o. ' S..leht' however. where the employ
TOD "a are &c scattered throughout the Uni.
.s ~ states, such an attitude as that
hooonneu by the postmaster general
no somes not only ridiculous and pre-
au us but constitutes an affront
tho On insult to the intelligence OF
Nov men and women in his depart.
c rs,s, and to the citizenship of the
'ountry as we'll.
an, Out of Harmony.
tar; ne position taken by the secre-
nan ,vs OF the war department, the
cnrs department and various other
win ei a. departments in dealing
thu n me workers, the declaration Of
pr s war labor board. approved by the
i cern ;uent Of the United States, con.
fa;lad collective bargaining. have
s;on eu 70 make the slightest impress
csn ~ IN the mind Of the POSTMASTER
line - and ne has insisted upon 1
harmn,co conduct as completely out Of
o''y with the balance Of the