The Washington herald., 1919-04-28

strike a. means Of redressing grisv-
ances has long been known. has been
fully sst forth In his annual reports.
and notwithstanding the fact that the
Postmaster General has been de-
fnounced by the American Federation
Of Labor In national convention, his
views Oh this subject have undergone
mo change.
Absslsfely Firn On strikes-
The Postmaster General maintains
that the strike on the part OF en-
psoyes Of the government or those
working for the government is not
permissible. In fact II unthinkable
and that the utmost danger TO the
government ID involved In any sug-
gestion that there should be a recess
sion from this position. and that as
far as he Is concerned there will be
none, regardless Of plank walking"
or any other consequences.
However 3ustifiable q strike may
be as an effective means Of securing
the recognition of proper demands OF
labor against private concerns whose
interests are involved the principles
should not apply to persons employed
by the government
Now, in the matter Of telephone
and telegraph employees, they are AZ
present working for the government
and the Postmaster General insists
that a strike on their part is not
permissible and he will never concede
that II II. While they are WORKING
for the government. the wage psio
them In not fixed as that Of other
a dtf-
ferent treatment or method must pe
used in ascertaining what is q just
wage.
.sThe War Labor Board in a
matter of controversy between the
telegraph companies and their em-
ployes prescribed certain rules and
policies approved by the President,
which should govern their, rela-
tions. This was done before the
wires were placed under the con-
troll of the Postmaster General.
Since taking control. the Postmas-
ter General has strictly observed
these policies.
HIS Position On wires.
The wire administration has at
all times endeavored TO be abso-
lutely just and fair to all en-
ployes of the wire service, the
owners OF the properties and the
public. Often during the period
of control the question has arisen.
Shall those in temporary control of
these wire properties permit them
selves to be driven beyond the just
principles embodied in these poll
cies? Shall established govern
mental policies be abandoned or its
powers surrendered to employees
because of threatened strikes? To
allow this would be to concede the
assumed right of employees. serving
the government. to use the strike
as means of enforcing whatever
No such concession has been or
will be made.
The question is. as the Postmahter
General sees II. whether the orderly
processes OF government shall be ig-
nored. whether a labor organisation
can defy Its authority and put into
effect their will regardless Of the right
OF others and the public interest The
government undertakes to see that
even-handed Justice is meted out to
all. and where its authority is sought
to be exercised and an insistence Is
made that an outside agency be called
in to decide what action shall be taken,
IL yielded to. Is to confess that the
government has failed and cannot be
relied upon to do what Is right. In
the opinion OF the Postmaster General,
such confession would be indefensible
Again Attacks Publisher.
"Frankness requires the foregoing
statement by the Postmaster General,
but he again declares that il he can
prevent 1t this labor question shall not
be used by certain selfish publishers
to obscure the real issue.
THE Postmaster General stands
ready to meet this labor question at
the proper time and will not attempt
to dodge II or evade Il.
The Postmaster General insists
that the issue now Is, Shall these GER
tain selfish publishers who have been
bloodsucking the postal establishment
for years to the extent Of 1880. 900
annually be fully restored to this priv
ilege. having been choked of by con-
gressional action Of only one-third OF
their pap
THE Postmaster General says no:
and though all kinds OF deceitful
methods and plans may be brought
forward to evade the issue. he insists
that 1t be faced and settled, and ii is
sincerely hoped that IL may be decided
with both honesty and courage on
the part OF those with whom its final