Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-07-06
THE COLORED PRINTER. DOUGLASS.


Columbia Iypssra phieal Unisn-Addre..o of
The M.jority.They warn the President Of
the International Unien-Workm ans hip
and Character, and net Politics, the
Gauge Of Membership.
typographical Union, No. 10l, in this city
have addressed q mmunicaton to the Preei
dent of the International Typographical Union,
in answer to the address of the minority Of the
Union, which asked for q revocation
Of the charter OF No. 10l, and the granting
ola new charter If necessary. After referring
to the proceedings Of the meeting Of the M
nority, held ON the 18th Of June, the majority
in this address say that for some time past an
enmity has been manifested toward the mem.
printing ONCE By those employed elsewhere.
They allege that this animosity arises on the
application Of a colrred man for membership,
concerning which AFFAIR they give the follow
"a few days before the regular MAY meeting
Of the union Mr.. Lewis II. Douglass obtained
employment at the Government Printing
tor membership, and obtained from the proper
omcer Of the Union permit to work until his
case could be acted upon. The news spread
caused q grand rally at the May meeting of
those opposed to tbs recognition Of the right of
colored men to earn an honest livelihood on
equal terms with whites. Dsemine 1t impoll.
tic 10 oppose the admission OF Mr. Douglass on
the ground Of color, the minority Iesorted to
the subterfuge OF denouI eng bIm as q "rat,'
As soon as his name, with others had been re.
ferr' TO the Committee on Nominations
which COMMITTEE els charged by the constitution
with the duty OF exam mining into all applica.
tons for membership-and before the COM
mitiee had time to report, this minority be.
came clamlor0us for immediate action. Reso.
lutions were introduced, which asserted that
Mr.. Douglass had been rejected by the Den yer
Unicn as an improper person, ceusured the
al Sop reta for in n
TO work, and ordered a rev ocltion OF said per.
init. The authors Of this resolution. knowing
its utter falsity and fearful OF its contradiction
demanded and loudly insisted UPON the pre-
vious question. A scene of the widest con-
fusion followed A point Of order was now
RAJ ed, That after an application for memb er-
chip had been referred to the COmmitee on
Nominations for investigation and report, and
before the COMMITTEE had time to report, reso.
luiions preludgng the case could not be en-.
tertained. The Chair sustained the point Of
order. The confusi ion now became SO great
that il was found impossible to transact any
other business, and the Union, by a vote OF 15s
to $50, adjourned. Before the time for our next
regular meeting arrived the National Typo.
graphical Union assembled at Albany. One of
the delegates from this Union, elected before
this question came mp or was f0reseen, acting
stIuctions from the Union. without the know
ledge, advice, or consent of its mem bership, in
troduced q resolution, which was adopted by
that body, censuring the Congressional Printer
rat" calling upon Columbia Union to reject
his appI ication, and pledgiDg the support of the
National Union in such action. This action of
The National Union was unjust, absurd, and
unparalleled as Will be seen by the folio wing
considerations
I. The National Union had NO jurisdiction of
the matter, and consequently its action was
extra judicial and not binding. Each surbodi.
nate union is Of a necessity The Judge OF the
qualifications OF applicants for membership,
subject to the requirements of the constitution,
nj Nv.Iwv
case OF appeal. In this instsnce M appeal bad
been taken, no constitutional requir-ment vio-
lated, and the case Eot properly brought before
2. The National Union, by its action, attempt.
ed to PREJUDICE ana decide a case while yet IN
the hand OF the committee on nominations of
tunity to report, and before any action In the
case by the Union had been possible.
3. This actioniof the Union was based upon
the simple assertion OF one Of Mr.. Douglass
mcst violent enemies, without a particle of
evidence being prod uced on either side, and
without giving the accused, or his friends. any
nonce or opportunity OF hearing or defence.
=. The decision was contrary to truth and
evidence, as is clearly shown by the reports Of
the committee, and documents in our posses
sion.
contrary to law, custom, and usage in this or
any other similar organization.'
They deny that Mr.. Douglas is q "rat," or
one who works for less than the Union prices,
but that on the contrary, the proprietor of the
Office where Mr.. Douglass worked in Denver,
swears he always paid him Union prices
Referring to the exciting proceedings Of the
June meeting they say
knowing that great in justice had been in
ficted upon MIR. Douglass and his friends by
the minority Of Columbia Union and by the
National Union, we determined to all
constitutional means in our power TO defeat
their schemes and elect Mr.. Douglass. At the
regular June meeting OF Columbia Union
there was an unusually large attendance of
DlnplasS
coming in full force with black balls in their
pockets The ma jority of the Committee ON
Nom nations reported favorably ON the applI-
cation OF Mr.. Douglass. mInorty-one
member-of the Committee repor ted ad versely,
without, however, adducing any satisfactory
reason for his rejection A motion was made
was carried-yeas, 229; nays, 16i. Toe ma.
jority report was then adopted rira roce
Before ballot in his case was taken the
Union, upon motion, adjourned, as 1t had a
the minority report on the table was a test
vote. The result-229 against 16i-showed
that the friends Of Mr.. douglass had a large
majority, but rot two.thirds majority, which
IL necessary to elect. liza ballot had been
taken at that meeting 1t would have resulted
In the rejection OF Mr.. Douglass The conse-
members of the Union employed at the Gov.
eminent printing ofice. numbering over 30 to
strike.
Concerning the efforts Of the minority to
break up the Union by a revocation OF Its
charter, they retort by saying article thirteen
OF the Constitution provides that this Union
shall not be dissolved as long as fifteen mem.
bers desire to preserve its organization. That
the majority, which is over two hundred, are
determined TO preserve the Union.
Abiding to tine question of color they cay
ga review OF the facts in the case of Mr.. Doug.
lass cannot fail to convince any unpre JUDGED
mind that the entire ground of objection to
him 10 on account Of his color. The less
hypocritical OF his opponents admit OF this,
violent
OF the minority formally offered 10 comprimise
the difhculty by granting Mr.. Douglass per-
init from the Union TO work as long as b. de.
sired, psovided we would withdraw his name
from the Union, thus virtually confessing that
he was fair printer, and they were willing
that they should work, but We're determined to
prevent the admission OF colored men into the
Union. This proposition il is needless TO say,
was promptly rejected by the ad vocates Of Mr..
Douglass on the ground that it was IN violation
OF the letter and spirit of the constitu lion of
the Union to license rats, (the minority claim
that MI. Douglass is rat,) or to work with
them; THAI If Mr. Douglass was a fair printer
he should be admitted Into the Union; il not
he should not be ALLOW wed to work In fair
ofhce; that the printers of the Government
Printing Office could not consent to work with
fellow.craftsman " no was deemed un worthy
to become q member OF the Union.
We DO not believe that collar should be made a
bar to the admission Of Mr.. Douglass, be-
cause
l. 1t is not made so BY the constitution of our
Union.
.. Because distinction ON account OF color is
laws OF the land.
8 Such distinctions are detrimental tn tho