Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-27
.C0MPERs SAYS BURLEsON
WILL walk THE PLANK"
President OF American Federation of
Labor Launches Attack Oh
POStmaster.Gcncral
SAYS HE IS AUToCRATIc
Charges That This Policy Has Been
Carried Over to Telephone and
Telegraph Services by Texan With
Unsatisfactory Results.

NEW YORK. April 2G.-samuel
E,oGmpets. president of the American
,ninistration of Postmaster Gen eral
Burleson. in a statement issued here
today. declaring that he must walk
the plank sooner or later"
Mr.. Gompers charged Postmaster
General Burleson with carrying out
an archaic. autocratic policy In the
conduct OF the postal and telephone
said. "he needs only a wider field and
ao5 better o , for succession 10
uniamentcd eN-dictators."
Mr.. Gompers statement follows:
The troubles OF Postmaster Gen cral
ibu.ieson. which in a recent statement
one she 8, '2 b PS or
are not due solely TO any dispute Their"
may have been between the POST
whom he refers. Thc most recent cxo
ample OF Mr.. Burleson's autUcratic ma
ture does not come as surprise TO
ton.
labor was long ago forced to tho
pieiely out OF sympathy with the trend
OF american thought and was totally
unable to comprehend what America
meant when !, declared war upon au-
tocracy everywhere. Mr. Buricson
needs only wider field and Il better
.opportunity to Mt him for succession
unlamcntcd ex -dictators The only
difficulty in Mr.. Burleson's way is that
the world has reached the decision
that II wants no more dictators. The
United States PostOiiicc Department; is
one OF the very fcw places in the
world not set in accord with that de-
Claims Autocratic Treatment.
Long before tho United states gov
eminent took over the telegraph sys-
teins OF the country. Mr.. Buricson's
cold and auiocratlc treatment became
known 10 the workers engaged In the
postal service. Naturally. recruitment
has followed this course and this re-
sentiment has Increased in volume cx-
Held over which Mr.. Burlcson rules.
:, INC workers IN various branches
OF the Postmaster-General's depart
ment have come TO understand thor
oughly that democracy and tho Post
Office Department has nothing in com.
mon exeep, that they exist under the
these employees have cndeavored 10
secure the opportunity TO be heard by
the Postmas;er-General through their
representatives. for the purpose OF pre-
sent!nS grievances or Just causes for
s se1mpia NJ, The have souEh, TO lay
Te.ore MN their complaints in order
and In order that an adjustment might
be brought about through the demo
pIeadinss for an opportunity 10 be
heard have been as vain as they have
oeen frequent.
Relates Own Experiences.
NY own experience with the Post
fnaster-General has been OF s!,nila.
nature. Acting for the workers |
have had number OF conferences With
him In, which l have cndcavored 10
induce him TO grant the opportunity to
his employees 10 be heard through
their representatives. These eforTs
Of my own have also been In vain.
IL has been rather favori,c pose
With the acknowledgement, 20 apD.u-
As high minded person. generous and
sympathetic with his employees AL
ways. however. this sympathy has
been defined by him TO mean that II
any one OF the employees had any
thing to present to him that employcg