The labor world., 1921-12-24

not appreciate the efforts Of the Bur
Lesson administration to keep postal ex-
ponscs somewhere within the receipts
of the service. 1t was public busi-
ness and they were not interested in
Rurlcson economies because it did not
add to their profits.
On the other hand the postal en-
ploves never forgave Burleson or his
assistants for the manner in which
they were treated as such during his
efficiency and economy'' adminis-
1ration. They were coWed by a dis
ciplinc unbcconing in modern employ
mcnt. They were Subjected to a sur
vcillancc PATTERNED after that of the
i'Ear of Russia. The rule in the Ameri-
AN courts that the accused is prcsum-
ed to be innocent until groven guilty
was reversed in the postal service, and
every employc charged with an Of
f"nSe was held to be guilty until he
could prove his innocence.
Uiyil service rules prevent postal
cn'ployes from taking an active in
trrcst i'll politics. They did not and
they could not actively campaign
Hyainst the De- "cratic administration
as we understand political campaign
ing, but they employed means a thous-
and times more effective. The city
and rural carriers reach nearly cvorv
home in the land. They make their
visits 500 days a year. A crouch
dropped daily has in time it's psvcho-
logical effect. The attitude Of the
3urlcson regime towards postal en-
pioycs had become q matter of popu-
lar discussion long before the last
general election. Tt did more to
weaken the Wilson administration
than any other single factor
Mr.. Hays, keen IS he is, no doubt
made use Of it a~ chairman of the Re-
publican National committee. And
he has been wise enough to remove
the evils compla ned Of since he be-
came pCStmaser general. Indeed the
hardest rapS tf@t a government Of
1iclal ever gave burlc5onisin, which is
"Nnonyllous to Garyism, may be found
IN Mr.. Iavs' first annual report re-
GENTLY submitted to Congress. He
serves notice on governmental and pri-
ratc autocrats tLHt the postoffice de-
hartmcnt will not be model slave
en-.
eve are away in the postoffice
service from any i1ra that labor is a
"ommodity,' he says.
"To treat a postal employe as a
mere commodity IN the labor market
is not only wicked from a humani-
tartan standpoint, but it is foolish
and short sighted even from a business
standpoint.
An omrloye, who is conscious that
IT. is regarded as q rl"re commodity,
will do enough to get by and keep
job until he finds another, and he
VIII do no more. lie contributes moth
!ng to the morale Of Tie organization:
ihe chances are, III fact, there will be
10 morale to which to contribute. He
Srouchcs and passes on his crouch.
t'eellng TINT he is illtrcated by his
government he does his work baJlv.
ttat soon everybody is growing at
'I'e mail service ard at the govern
ment. "A postal emplovc, on the other
hand, who is regarded as human
beng, whose welfare is important to
his fellows, high and low, in the na-
CoNal postal organization, is bound
tc do his work with q courage, a zest,
and a thoroughness which no money
alone can buy. The security he feels
lie passes on to the men and women
lie serves. Instead Of a distrust Of
hls government; he radiates confidence
in it,
Mr' Lays presents this direct re-
huEc to the slave ideals Of Burlcson
. When we took hold of the odmin-
'91'a}'on OF the postal service, seek
ing for some point Of application in
an earnest desire quickly % improve
the service, we looked at the relation
that existed between the employees and
the department. It seemed that there
was the field in which the greatest
progress might be made in the shortest
time.
"That honest and efficient labor
should have voice in these phases
OF the management of business
which concerns working conditions
and living wage commensurate with
the value Of the service is but COM
mon justice.''
COURTS USUEF POWER.
The injunction granted by Judge
T,1n,};c m tba o,,p11oa+i on &c H. n