Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-21
LABOR AG|TATORS
DISTURB BURLES0N
Declares His Policies as to Tele-
phone and Telegraph EN-
ployees Misrepresented.
DENIES UNION DISCRIMINATION
Scores Propagandists Who Will
fully Foment Discomfort
and Dissatisfaction.
[Rv Associated Press.I

NEW YORK. March 20.-Pos,master-
General Burleson. in u letter made pub
lie here today. to Secretary OF Labor
Wilson, regarding the labor situation
in connection with the governments
control OF telegraph and telephone
wires. charges few agitators" are
continuously conducting propaganda
which engenders unnecessary dissatis-
faction among employees.
The st-Orice Departments poll
cics arc misrepresented. Mr.. Burleson
the government discriminates against
employees who are members OF Ia Dor
unions.
The Postmaster General asserts
equal treatment in the matter OF
wages, conditions and consideration OF
grievances is given both TO union and
nonunion employees, and denies there
has been permitted any discrimination
against employees becan use OF labor
union affiliations.
The letter deals with memorandum
prepared by Felix Frankfurter. chair
man of the War Labor Board, relative
to telephone and telegraph workers.
which Secretary Wilson had asked the
foSt oStmaster-General to consider
Mr. BurieSon declared that Professor
t.rankfurter, in studying this situation
did not consult the Post-Ohicc Depart.
ment's wire control board. of which Mr.
Burleson is chairman. and that Profes-
Sor frankfurter consequently failed to
learn facts.
Much Of the. dissatisfaction which
now now prevails" the letter reads. lis not
due TO any failure on our part to
remedy claims as TO wages or hours or
working conditions. but is due entirely
TO the few agitators and the propa-
sanda which they have continuously
conducted.
Many Of these persons have no con-
nection with the telegraph or tclc-
phone service. have no interests in Ito
nH hai
hood depends on their ability to engen-
der belief in the minds of the en-.
piSyees that they are serving them.
which they seek to do by fomcntinE
discomfort and dissatisfaction. In at
tempting to do this they do not hesi-
.aIe 70 misrepresent our policies. the
conditions existing in the service or
matters affecting employees"
MT. Burleson alludes to orders which
nave been issued from time to time 10
.ne various wire companies under Fed
ORDERS prove that employees have. the
privilege of Joining labor unions il
they wish to do so, and also that Elm
of collective bargaining, regardless OF
membership in unions.
He denies the truth OF "thc widely
heraided statements made by the few
agitators that employees dismissed be-
cause OF union affiliations twhilc wire
companies were under private controD
nave been refused employment because
" 'i'c"S tloHS. his icISer contains
re-emPloyment statistics intended 10
show no such discrimination vas main :
taincd.
Mr.. Burleson refers 10 strikes in v.
r,ous parts of the country and do
c'ares the governments policies were
such that union and nonunion en-
pioYees were treated with the same
fairness. adding "the method OF the
rev agitators and labor leaders in
dealing with the members of their
union is truly autocratic and hurtful to
doned or looked upon with favor by
the government"