a
second law was passed and stood the test.

It was chiefly in the field of executive action, however, that Roosevelt
was able to put his theories into practice. There he did not have to
deal with recalcitrant, stupid, or medieval-minded politicians, as he so
often did in matters of legislation. One case which confronted him found
him on the side against the labor unions, but, being sure that he was
right, he did not let that fact disturb him. A printer in the Government
Printing Office, named Miller, had been discharged because he was a
non-union man. The President immediately ordered him reinstated.

Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor, with
several members of its Executive Council, called upon him to protest.
The President was courteous but inflexible. He answered their protest by
declaring that, in the employment and dismissal of men in the Government
service, he could no more recognize the fact that a man did or did not
belong to a union as being for or against him, than he could recognize
the fact that he was a Protestant or a Catholic, a Jew or a Gentile,
as being for or against him. He declared his belief in trade unions and
said that if he were a worker himself he would unquestionably join a
union. He always preferred to see a union shop. But he could not allow
his personal preferences to control his public actions. The Government
was bound to treat union and non-union men exactly alike. His action in
causing Miller to be reinstated was final.

Another instance which illustrated Roosevelt's skill in handling a
difficult situation occurred in 1908 when the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad and certain other lines announced a reduction in wages. The
heads of that particular road laid the necessity for the reduction at
the door of "the drastic laws inimical to the interests of the railroads
that have in the past year or two been enacted." A general strike,
with all the attendant discomfort and disorder, was threatened in
retaliation. The President wrote a letter to the Interstate Commerce
Commission, in which he said:

"These reductions in wages may be justified or they may not. As to this
the public, which is a vitally interested party, can form no judgment
without a more complete knowledge of the essential facts and real merits
of the case than it now has or than it can possibly obtain from the
special pleadings, certain to be put forth by each side in case their
dispute should brin