The Washington times., 1919-11-14
RESIGN # j. s.
TABOOS UNION
Cor Cernment Workers Claim
Passage Of Myers Rider
Would Be Virtual Lockout.

Government service would follow the
enactment into law of the Myers
rider on the police pay increase bill
forbidding Government employees to
affiliate with the American Fedora
tion OF Labor, union leaders declared
today.
ence today. Chairman Mapes of the
House District Committee called ii
up under a special resolution from the
House Rules Committee.
Congressman Blanton Of Texas OBJ
jected, was given five minutes to dis
cuss the Myers amendment after he
had failed to have it voted upon by
the House.
The Myers amendment only goes a
step further than the House did in
passing bills permitting policemen
and firemen becoming members Of
union" Mr.. Blanton contended.
BIantes Predicts strike.
Yesterday between 900 and 1 ZOO
employees OF this Government came to
this Capitol to ask for copies of this
bill and to carry on their propagsn-
da," Mr.. Blanton charged. They left
their work and light this measure
on Government time"
OAoANSh lhdl III inc not
far distant future there would be
strike of the Federal employees
against the Government IL the Myers
amendment does not become a law.
He urged the conferees to leave the
Myers amendmnt in the bill.
Speaker Gillette named as con-
ferees on the part OF the House the
following: Congressman Mapes, Gould
and Woods of Virginia.
Herbert p. Jeeman, president of
Columbia Lodge, No. 174, of ma
chinists and Edward r. williams,
chairman of the conference board OF
allied trades at the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing, yesterday
afternoon headed delegations that
called on members OF the House and
Senate to protest against the Myers
amendment.
Thousands Of skilled workers now
In the employ of the Government In
its various departments would quit
their jobs before they would sever
connection with the union, which
has made such a lob possible" Mr..
Leeman said.
Benefits to he Lost.
Many local unions, with the aid of
the national body have been able to
lay aside substantial sums for death
and accident benefits and for other
purposes, the union officials said
These features, which have taken
years to develop, would be virtually
lost should the union be driven out
by the Government.
"We do not believe that after even
casual consideration the conferees
will give serious thought to the
Myers amendment" Mr.. williams de-
clared. However, IL they intend to
consider 1t, we want to be heard be-
fore final action is taken"
Senator Sherman opposes carrying
the amendment on the police pay bill.
II there is to be such legislation, II
should be in separate bill, he says.
Senator Calder opposes the provis-
ion, and will object TO it in confer
ence.
Senator Sheppard is non-committal.
He is willing to have the union Of
fcials lay their side of the question
before the conferees before he votes
on it.
Chairman Mapes, OF the House Dis
trict Committee, is concerned over
whether or not such legislation would
cripple the various important Govern
ment departments where skilled labor
is used. He wants this phase Of the
matter cleared up before he takes
final action. 1t has been pointed out
to him that the high standard of
qualifications required by the union
has been largely responsible for the
being able to set skilled
workers.
1t is a bigger issue than merely the
Question OF unionism, Mr.. Mapes
holds. II is the question OF whether
the Government will lose in efficiency
W the operation OF such a law.
Gould Wants Both Sides.
Congressman Gould, who was chair
man of the subcommittee that drafted
the police pay increase bill and who
wrote into the measure the provision
policemen to affiliate with
the American Federation OF Labor,
wants to hear both sides Of the case.
He believes there should be hear
ings at which both union officials and
those opposing unions would be given
opportunity to appear and state their
CONGRESSMAN Woods also wants
both sides TO outline their cases,
should the conferees go fully into the
matter OF the Myers amendment
Members Of the House yesterday
were told that 30 per cent of the
union printers and other union en-
ployes at the Government Printing
Office would quit their jobs rather
than surrender their union cards.
The same condition would obtain
at the Bureau OF Engraving and
Printing, II was said.
Lockout Is Claimed.
In a brief filed by the federation
with House and Senate members IL
was pointed out that the Myers
would operate as a virtual
lockout of union labor by the United
States Government, affecting suGn
highly organized institutions as the
Printing Office. the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing, the
navy yards and arsenals. now solidly
manned by union labor.
Denial is made that aff1liation with
the American Federation of Labor
means strikes. 1t is cited that four
composed exclusively of