The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-06

ONE ALLEGIANCE
ALL ALLOWABLE
Avowed Purpose of Labor Organize
lions Is to Exercise Coercive Infiu-
ence on Employers - Big Operations
for Past Year.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Condemn-
ing unionization of government en-
ployes, Postmaster General Burleson, in
his annual report just made public,
again urged repeal of the law of Aug |
"a, 1912, which has been construed as |
permitting federal workers to affiliate
with labor organizations. He says:
81 again call the attention of con-
gress to the improperly of government
employees owing allegiance to any or
ganization which might stand between
them and the government, and to the
actual menace 10 governmental author
ity which is involved in such afiEa-
tom
Mr. Burleson states that "enforce-
ment of the principle that government
employees should not hold an utilization
/ incompatible with their obligation to
the public service cannot be distorted
! into a reflection upon the efficiency and
| loyalty of the postal employees whose
devotion to public duty under the try
ing test of war was conspicuously
demonstrated" but adds that 1.-the
principle is enc which cannot be pru-
IDENTIFY disregarded.
The avowed purpose of labor organi-
cations, according to the report, is not
alone to advance the social and eco
monte welfare of members of their or
der, but also to exercise a coercivc
influence upon. the employer 10 compel
submission TO their demands. 1t is for
the purpose of coercion that strikes
and boycotts are resorted to. says Mr..
Burleson. and the government of the
United States is not TO be attacked or
resisted by any citizen of the land
:. 1t can only be upon the assumption
that the government is unjust, tyranni-
eal, and compliant TO force alone that
the contention can be sustained that
government employees require the sup
port of an outside organization to com
pei the government TO respect their
rights and do them justice.
Organizations which sanction
strike and boycott serve the private in
terests of the members of the order
The labor organizations are formed as
a defense against employers. When the
employer is the government of the
United States such an association OF
its employees is aimed at the govern
Torrance of public service.
Whatever interest labor may claim
in the products of its toll, it cannot b,
| claimed for government employees that
| they acquire q larger interest or greater
power in the government than that o.
other citizens because of the charac
ter of their employment. They have nj
right TO make an excuse of their publ,
employment for debating public polio,
or interfering with the orderly process
SEES of government.
''fhere is one federation one bi.
union formed TO promote the welfar
of its members, TO which they in com
mon with all other American citizen
owe allegiance. All organizations with
III the jurisdiction of this union mus
be subordinate to it and obligated I,
support 1.-THE government
According to the report. the post of
fee earned 1864 SAL ,126 III the yea
ended June 80, and. as expenses wer
calculated at $685., 49, .635 an inereas
of al1.59 per cent over the preceding
YEAR,, the department returned SUI
plus of 81, $40, 400 OF the revenue, III
air mail service contributed 1894 .S31 8
being operated at n profit of SOS, 1855