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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1925)
Theodore Roosevelt Defies Civil Service Union Officials ■■ ■ ~ *? ** Orders Employe They Discharged Back on Payroll » No Objection to Organiza tion. He Writes, If It Does Not Override Laws of United States. fNot Inns ftfti-r ths rout strike was set tled. President Koosevelt had on his hands the question of labor union Influ ence in Ihe government printing office.) WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON. Oyster Bay, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1903. Dear Cabot: I was delighted to get your letter referring to what I said about lynch ing. I was sure you would heartily approve of my course, both on that occasion and also In reference to the trouble In the government printing office. As you may not have seen about tlie latter, I will say briefly what it was. The Bookbinders union, it appears, contains all of the employes in that branch of the government print ing office. It disciplined one of its members, expelling him from the union, and then notified Palmer that in consequence he must be turned out of the printing office. Palmer lay down and Consented. The facts were brought to my notice and I sent the two following letters: Orders Reinstatement. “Oyster Bay, N. Y.. July 13, 1903. "My Dear Secretary Cortelyou: "In accordance with the letter of tlie civil service commission of July 6, the public printer will reinstate ' Mr. A. Miller in ills position. Mean while I will withhold my final decision of the whole case until I have re ceived the report of the investigation on Miller's second communication, which you notify me has begun today, July 13. “On the face of the papers present ed Miller would appear to have been removed In violatioh of the law. There Is no objection to the em ployes of the government printing office constituting themselves Into a union if they so desire; but no rules or resolutions of that union can be permitted to oVerrlde the laws of the United States, which It is my sworn duty to enforce. “Please communicate a ropy of this letter to the public printer for his • information and that of his subor dinates. Very truly yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, lion. George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor." "Personal •'Open Shop" Order. Oyster Bay, N. Y., July 14, 1903. "My dear Mr. Cortelyou: ■ In connection with my letter of ye-terday 1 call attention to this judgment amt award by the anthra cite coal strike commission in its re *** port to me of March IS last: " It Is adjudged and awarded that no person shall he refused em ployment or In any way discriminat ed against on account of member ship or non-membership in any labor organisation, and that there shall be no discrimination against or interference with any employe who is not a member of any labor organization by members of such organization.' "I heartily approved of this award and judgment by the commission ap pointed by me, which itself included a member of a labor union. This commission was dealing with labor organizations working for private employers. It is of course mere ele mentary decency to require that all tlie government departments shall ho handled in accordance with the prin ciple thus clearly and fearlessly enun elated. “Please furnish a copy of this let ter both to Mr. Palmer and tlie civil Service commission for their guid tmee. Sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Hon. Georgs B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor.” • Accordingly Miller was was imme diately reinstated. There was a good deal of wild talk for the time being fcnd then things settled down. They threatened to strike and Clarkson Wrote to me in great agitation they Tnight do ro. I wrote him back that if they did not a man jack of the strikers should get back Into the gov ernment service while I was presl dent.. The result was that they fizzled out. Ijilior Angered. The country as a whole is well pleased. At the same time from tlie political standpoint there Is no use in disguising the fact that the country a* a whole will probably forget ell about it; while the labor union people who are angry will not forget, just as the country as ft whole may for get all about the legislation and exe cutive action which Really has result ed during the last two venra ip niak log the big corporation people hold themselves amenable to the law anil tlie public sense of SBecency, while these same big corporation people will not forget, and In every way, Includ ing the use of their organ. The Sun, will keep on doing all the damage in their power. The Wall street aituation li rreat ly Improved. The chance of a panic aeeme to be pretty well over. Of course the check to the boom and the Wall Street disturbance general ly will have enme effect on the whole business world and times will not be ao good for the nrxt year or eo as they have been during the last year. The fault belongs wholly of course to 1 bin speculators, the promoters who have over-capitalized the great trusts, and the rerkless, greedy and over sanguine men generally; hut equally of rouraa these people and a rnnsld ernhle number of their follower* will not wish to shoulder the blame and wit! put It on me If they ran. Give my love to Nannie. Ws have had a lovely summer here at Oyster Bay, although of course with a good deal of work and worry. Ever yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Hon. H. C Lodge, >ar« United States Embassy, ,i London, England, I I ■ ■ ■- I. A LA SICA BOUNDARY TRIBUNAL. FOREIGN OFFICE. S. W. * Confidential Sept. 24, 1903. Dear Theodore: Th® Wall street opposition has very much subsided; it had begun to be fore I left, but the labor men seem to be pretty violent about the printing office business and I see you are fo meet Gompers and Mitchell this week. I believe myself you are not only absolutely right In the proposition, but that It will prove a source of strength ot you. As Root said, in a case where there are two courses be tween which one has to choose, after decision It Is permissible to feel anx iety as to whether choice has been wise, but where there is only one possible course one Is at least reliev ed from all anxiety. Your action was so thoroughly right In the printing office case that I do not see how anybody, labor leader or other, can make an Issue of It. Best love to Edith. Always yours, H. C. LODGE. To the president. WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON. September 30, 1903. Denr Cabot: Well, the summer has come to an end. On Monday, the 28th, we came back here. The last three days were very pleasant. It was brilliant fall weather. Grant La Forge and Dan Wister came out on Wednesday night, and Friday morning T took them on a three hours' ride. Dr. Lyman Ab bott was at lunch. The afternoon I spent chopping— having practically struck out all offi cial work, attending to my corres pondence In the evening. Friday was a delicious day, cool and fresh, and X on Blelsteln and Edith on Yakenka hod a four hours' ride. It was really delightful. George Bird Grtnnell, with whom 1 wanted to talk Indian reser vations. and ineldenlally some points on liig game zoology, was out for lunch. In the afternoon I played ten nit. Tells of Picnic. Saturday I took Edith off In a rowboat and we were out all day, rowing down to the great marsh at the end of Lloyd’s Neck, where we took our lunch and watched the white sails of the coasters passing up and down th* sound. I had a stiff row home against the wind and tide Edith thinks that the enclosed clippings, describing the woes of my tailor over my taste In dress, may amus® you and Nannie. Send them back to me when you have read them. Do the same with Mrs. Htuyvesant Fish's "appreciation" of Edith’* dress and my social habits. I have been reading Aristotle’s pol itics and Plutarch’s miscellany, and as ustiul take ru Immense comfort out of the speeches of Lincoln. 1 have just ran across a speech of his on lynching, delivered, I think, In IS36, which I wish 1 had remembered when I wrote to Governor Durbin. I should have quoted from It with a free hand. As soon ns I got hsrk here I had to take up various hits of work, espe daily the Miller case with the labor unions, and the postoffice scandals. Meets labor Meun. John Mitchell, Gompers and vari ous other leaders of the unions called upon me about the Miller case, and the announcement that they Intended to do so caused one of those curious panics habitual among our friends of the wealthy and cultivated classes. They got It Into their fool heads that as I was to hold a "conference” with the labor men, this meant that I Intended to weaken. They Immedi ately fell Into a panic anti screamed that I had weakdhed. It wa* some time before I discov ered that their trouble was with the terminology of the affair. I happened to soy to one shrill remonstrant that I certainly could not deny to anybody a bearing, whether It was !o the la bor people or the trust magnates. He seemed Immensely relieved, and said (hat as long as It was a "hearing" and not a "conference" It was all right. I did not attempt to find out exactly what the distinction was In his mind; but whatever It Wu» It seems to have been widespread, for all my financial and Intellectual friends have solemnly agreed that while It would be wicked to hold a conference It would be eminently proper to hold a hearing. Gompers “Sleek Article.” The labor leaders who saw me were entirely reasonable, Mitchell, of course, especially so; Gompers (who Is a sleek article) thought It better to be so. The others counted less. When not in my presence thev have passed multitudes or denunciatory resolu (Ions, but I had no difficulty with lliem when far® to face, in order that there should he no etinnee of rnls Interpreting nr misquoting roe, I fin ally read them my decision. (Hers the president quotes to T.ndge the derision renoertd In ths printing office case, tn it ha informs the labor leaders that he governs hs actions according to tite law of the land, and that he le "pres ident of ail t)te people of the lulled Htatee. without regard to rretd. color, birthplace, occupation or aoriat condition " Ha continues. "In t lie employmmit and dismissal of men in the government serv ice I can no more recognise the fast that a man doee or doca not belong to a union aa being for or agsinat him, titan t can racognlze ttia fart that he le a J'rntestant, or a Catholic, a .law or a tlentlle, as be ing for 0r against hint." Ilsnre he has AIIVRRTIHKMKNT. Don’t Shirk YourJIeals If Food DittrwM Dm to iMfigoatioa Sturt’* Dyapopaia Tablet! WHI Giro You a Now Stomack. Tt la really aatonlahlng tha way •no or two Htuart'a Iiyapepala Tab let* awaeten your aour atnmarh, atop faaalneea, end heartburn. taka off he bloat, make you feel eaay, con tented and ready for th* nant meal With a zeatful appetite. It In beoauaa theae tablets jrtra your atnmarh an alkaltn* affect. They alao aid dlgeatlon. You may eat meat, heana. pie, hot bread, aea aoned dlahaa, *a image, rbeeae and ao on and yet theae tablet* not only prevent dletre** of Indlgeatlon but aerve to atlmulate atomach and In teatInal aecretlona that enable you to get tha nutritive value of what you eat. They ar* th* atandard for dyapap tic ecndltlona and are void in drug atura* everywhere at «0 rant* a ho*. Try than today. They won’t fall na. ordered the retention of Miller, the dis charged employe of the government print ing office.) Mitchell slated he was absolutely satisfied with what I had said. The others appeared to be also. The union controlled by that indicted scoundrel, Sam Parks, thp Bridge Builders union, has just added Its mite of denuncia tion. Moody has been of the ut most assistance to me throughout this incident; so have Cortelyou. Garfield and Sargent (head of the Lo comotive Engineers.) Ever yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Hon. H. C. Lodge, care American Embassy, London, England. ALASKAN BOUNDARY TRIBUNAL Foreign Office S. W. Oct. 12, 1903. Personal Dear Theodore: I need not say how much I was In terested in all you tell me about the labor men. Nothing could possibly he hetler than the statement you so wisely wrote out and read to them. [ have been over It two or three times and I cannot see anything In it that Is not absolutely solid and right. That Is a platform on which we can all stand. I am not surprised that Mitchell behaved well; still less than that convict Parks has been passing resolutions against you. Ills re-election Is really u menacing in cldent. Ever yours, IT. C. LODGE. To the President. (In enforcing the civil service lawn, Coimnly*loner Roosevelt wan frequently at mlds with powerful politicians, end often ha found President benjamin jl unison none too positive a backer.) UNITED STATES CIVII, SERVICE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, 1). June 29, 1389. Dear Cabot: I am having a hard row to hoe. I have made this commission a living force, and In consequence Hie outcry among the spoilsmen has become furi ous; It has evidently frightened both the president and Halford* a little. They have shown symptoms of telling me that the law should be rigidly en forced where the people will stand It, and gingerly handled elsewhere. But I answered milltantly; that as long ns t was responsible the law should he enforced up to the handle everywhere; fearlessly and honestly. I am a great believer In practical politics, hut when my duty Is to en force a law, that law Is surely going to he enforced, without fear or favor. [ am perfectly willing to he turned out—or legislated out—but while in I mean business. As a matter of fact, I believe 1 have strengthened this ad ministration by showing, In striking contrast to the faclR under Cleveland, that there was no humbug In the law now. All the Chicago and Milwaukee papers are hacking me up heartily. The Indiana men are very angry— even Browne** has gone hack on his previous record. It Is disheartening to see such folly, hut Its only effect on me personally is to make me more doggedly resolute than ever to Insist on exact and full justice. Yours, T. R. •Ft. tV. Halford, secretary to the presi dent. ••Thomaa McClelland Browne, eon greasmun from Indiana. (Aa In previous letters, Ttoosevelt volcoa hr low his dislike of ths "mugwumps'’ ns voters of no party were known In those days.) SAGAMORE HILL, Oyster Ray, Long Island, N. Y. July 1, ’89. Dear Cabot: I have now read your book (Lite of Washington) carefully through, and can otily reiterate what I have al ready said as to Its worth. It is head and shoulders above what you have already done; and it is ttie life of Washington.' You have now reached what I am still struggling for, a uni formly excellent style. The contrast between your description of Virginia society in this hook and in your "His tory of the colonies" is bo great ns to be almost amusing. Moreover, though you have no absolutely new material, your chapter on “Washing ton as a party man" (I am thankful you took that exact title: It acts as a mordant to set the picture) la in reality as absolutely new as If based on Mass, never before unearthed. It is a great work. I was glad to hear from you in ap proval of my western trip, when I made “a slam among the postoffices." I have been seriously annoyed at the mugwump praises, for fear they would discredit me with well meaning but narrow republicans, and for the last week my party friends in Wash ington have evidently felt a little shaky. This has no effect on me whatever; I took the first opportunity to make a slash at the Port Huron man especially to show that I was resolutely bent on following out my course to the very end. Even Halford, however, says he is alarmed at the feeling against the law in the west; but as I told him, it had far better be repealed than allowed to remain as under Cleveland a non enforeed humbug. If you get the chance do dwell on the fact that It Is to Harrison's credit, all that we are doing In enforcing the law. I am part of the administration; if I do good work it redounds to the credit of the administration. This needs to be Insisted on; both for the sake of of the mugwumps and for the sake of Harrison himself. How fortunate it is that I did not get the assistant secretaryship of state! I could have done nothing there; whereas now I have been s real force, and think I have helped the cause of good government and of the party. Best love to Nannie. T. R. Sagamore Hill, July I, S9. Oyster Bay, Long Island, N. Y. You blessed but jaundiced sage: Your letters were so very gloomy that they made me quite regain my spirits. Edith thoroughly agrees with you about interviews; so I cry pec cavi and will assume a statesmanlike reserve of manner whenever report ers come near me. Seriously, 1 was only led into saying as much by the not unnatural desire to hit bark at the western politicians who were hit ting at me. I had an extremely good letter from Col. Clapp,* which I shall show to Halford and the president. I have no Idea that I shall he asked to re sign, and it would need really treach erous treatment to make me do so of my own accord. As fat- as I can see at present all that the commls* sion will do before October will he to finish the fight with the Milwaukee postmaster and try to get one In Grand Rapids Indicted (both are dem ocrats!; and I may have a single ‘'in terview" on the practical character of our examinations just before leav ing In July or August, for the west. The praise I am now receiving from the mugwumps excites in mo more good-natured amusement. Your book has permanent value; your work In congress for the country has permanent value; your children's children will feel honored to bear your name:—you can snap your fin gers at the snarling host of little yclpers, whose lies are predestined to rot in forgotten obscurity. Best love to Nannie. Yours, T. R. •editor of the Bouton Jsurnsl. UNITED STATER CIVIH SERVICE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D. C. July 11, 1889. Dear Cabot: 1 read your speech with great care. I wonder whether It did not occur to our mugwump friends that it wa* an honor to the community to have in congress a man capable of making such a speech. Your remarks about Indiscriminate, abusive criticism of course go to my heart; I'm going to try to drag In something of the sort Into my volume for New York*—for Freeman's series if I ever write it. I regard this dis honest jealousy of decent men on the part of the people who claim to be good, and this wholesale abuse, as two of the most potent force* for evil now exlatent in our nation. The foul and coarse abuse of an avowed parti san. willing to hurt the nation for the sake of personal or party gain, is bad enough; Hut It receives the final touch when steeped In the mendnclous hypocrisy of the mugwump, the mis railed Independent. I have rome hack to my work. The commission had a very satisfactory interview with the president. The obi boy la with us—which was ralher a relief to learn definitely. During the hot weather we ahall have comparatively little to do; It is pretty dreary to sizzle here, day after day. doing routine work, ami I shall take tnv six weeks In the west with n light heart and a clear conscience. I shall start about August 8. Give my bent love to Nannie, and tell tie it is everything for me to have 1211 as a home. Yours ever. T. R. T guess from what the Press says I will stay in unless knocked on the head by congress. ♦History of V..rU City It. C. I,. UNITED STATES CIVII- SERVICE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, J). C. July 28, ‘SS. Dear Cabot: I do wish the president would give me a little active, even If only verbal, encouragement; It la a deadweight to staRged under, without a particle of sympathy from any one of our lead ers here, except old Proctor.* 1 am a little weary over the case of the— postmaster; he has a strong pull, and the president has slumbered on his case over a week; if he is not dis missed, as we recommend, it will be a black eye for the commission, and practically an announcement that hereafter no man need fear dismissal for violating tlie law; for if tills man has not violated it, then it can by no possibility tie violated. The other day I wasted a dollar and a half on Swinburne's new volume of poems—but threw it away when I at last came 1o a sonnet addressed to "Our J-ady of I-aughter," Nell Gwynn, and containing the rather startling assurance that the virtuous Nell was one whom "neither court nor state could taint.'* I cannot count • nBrno idiocy beyond a certain point. Yours, T. B. •S«cr*t*ry of War Proctor, later »*n a tor from Vermont. (For many year* William McKinley and Thomas B. Rce«l wers outstanding figure* in t ho republican party. Roosevelt *«» h Reed man In 1*89 Reed won ths speakership of the house. He became known h* f,C*ar" Reed Seven year* later he was t® be one of the aspirant* for the republican presidential nomination, won by McKinley.) UNITED STATES Civil, SERVICE COMMISSION, Washington, D. C. August 1, '$9. I)i'ji r Cabot: Today I caught a glimpse of the president, and repealed to him the parable of the backwoodsman and the bear. You remember that the praper of the backwoodsman was "Oh I.ord. help me kill that bear: and if you don't help me, oh Herd, don't help the hear.’’ Hitherto I have teen per fectly contented if the president would preserve an impartial neutral ity between me and tlie bear, but now, as regards Postmaster Paul of Mil waukee, the president must help somebody, and I hope It won't be the bear. I guess he'jl stand by us all right, but the old fellow always wants to half-do a thing. I saw McKinley the other day; a ml explained to him that I was support ing Reed; he was as pleasant as pos sible—probably Ihicjlum be considered my support worthless. Yours, T. R. (To b# Continued Tomorrow, with more letters of Roosevelt’* earlier jears). (Copyright, 1925.) African Missionary Talk* to Newcastle Congregation Hpi-clsl Oi.pHtcli to Til, O mu Ini Bee. Newcastle, Neb., March 8.— Rev. K. D. Alvord, an agricultural missionary to East Africa under th. American board, who 1* on furlough, spoke here tc^day at both morning and evening service* 1n the Community Congrega tional church. The lecture Sunday evening which showed the industrial side of the mission work, was Illus trated with slides and Mr. Alvord spoke of the native life, customs and the African big game for hunters. 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That means the superfine oats you want—the Large: 3 pound*, 7 o*. finest grown, the most delicious in all the world. \ \ I WHY 9,000 Omaha Women Bought Thors— 9,000 Omaha women are now using Thor Electric Washing j Machines. Many of these ma chines have been in use for twenty years. This vast army of women use the Thor because— /' The Thor —saves health ' I —saves time f | —saves money | —saves clothes * ij —saves labor | —does perfect work 1 —is easy to operate | —is durable 1 —is safe . J —is guaranteed Make Your Washday There are in use throughout the entire United States more a v in np • ! \ , than 800,000 Thor washing AJOV L/3V 100' machines; a staunch recom- J J 9 W • iuendation o f superiority. Thor Washers Now Offered at Balance in 24 Months < No woman can atiotd to wash clothes by the old-fashioned method. Scrubbing over the washboard is health-wrecking. An '■ electric washer will aid you in keeping your health, your youthful ness and your attractiveness. Will You Be the Liberator? In our window you will see a housewife standing shackled to the old fash ioned washing equipment. She is a martyr to the drudgery of antiquated housekeeping methods. On March 21—the first day of spring—someone will insert the proper key into the lock which will release her from her shackles. Come to the Electric Shop and get a kev free. If vour kev opens the lock on March 21, you will be declared the liberator, and you will be awarded, absolutely free, a Thor Electric Washer. “Electric Shops" i 43d and Leavenworth 15th and Faraam 2314 M St. Nebrdskd Power <§. I.OW RATES COURTESY—SERVICE