The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-17
THE PRINTERS.
Meeting oftho Columbia Ty pogrnph-
Heal Unlon-The Question of che
Admission of Douglass Postponed
. "A History Of Douglass.


Heal Union-The Question of the
Admission Of Douglass Postponed
"A History OF Douglass.
Ono Of the largest meetings Of the Colum-
bia typographical Union ever held In this
city convened In the Council Chamber, at
the City Hall, on Saturday evening last
The unusual number was brought together
by the announcement that matters directly
connected with the interests of the craH
would be before the Union for lie considera-
ton. Inc principal points expected to be
agitated were the admittance or rejection Of
Douglass, the colored compositor at the
Government office, to membership, aud the
reception Of the Communication from the
Congressional printer relative to the appren-
tice system. By half-past seven O'Clock tho
printers commenced TO assemble, and In
squads OF four or FIVE were earnestly discuss
Ing the several matters to be brought before
the Union. - -
II was plain that the great mass Of the
men employed ut the outside Offices were de-
cidedly ayerse to the admission Of Douglass,
and also to any change In the apprentice
system at the Government office. With few
exceptions, the Government men were very
reticent, and seemed averse to committing
themselves TO any policy. The argument
used by the city workmen was that, leaving
out all questions Of race or color, Douglass
because he was "rat /" that he had worked
10 two cities Dorchester and Denver) where
there were typographical socities, and neither
OF these organizations would grant him q
card recognizing him as q worthy typo. On
the apprentice question, opinions seemed TO
be divided, some arguing that the Govern
ment Office should be placed on the same
footing as the private offices OF the city. Tho
difference now Is that the private Offices are
QllAwpd 4. n .fxfxn
seven workmeh, while the Government Is al
lowed but ten apprentices altogether. As
there Is an average Of two hundred and
twenty-five men employed In the Government
ofhcc all the year round, to place Il on the
same footing as the private Offices would en-.
title 1t to over thirty apprentices. j..
The discussions OF these questions oeeu-
pted me time OF the printers until O'Clock,
when Thomas Rich, esq, the president Of
the Union, called the meeting to order
About three hundred aud twenty-n men
we're In the room, standing, closely packed
together and eager for business to com
mencc. At this point motion was made
and carried that the reporters Of the city
press should be excluded, and the typos
commenced making yigilant search for the
'knights Of the pencil, /" who were compelled
inside, and the following Is the resume OF
the business transacted:
After the reading Of the minutes of the
last meeting the names Of several candidates
were proposed; among others that of Lewis
III. Douglass. These nominations were re-
ferred TO the committee on candidates.
Mr.. Jesse Judge then offered preamble
and resolutions, rcciting that as Lewis II.
Douglass, composition now Mt work at the
Government printing office, had come to this
Union without n card from the Union In the
city where he had last worked; and az per-
nit Tor him to commence work had been
irregularly given him by the secretary OF
this Union
ReSoipsd, That tho permit heretofore granted
be revoked, and that he no longer be allowed
Union.
The reading of Mr.. Judges resolutions
, created good deal of excitement, and the
fact was noticed that the question of color
was entirely ignored In the resolutions.
The Chair decided that tho resolutions
were not In order for the reason that the
case OF Douglass was now In the hands Of
committee for investigation. Tho decision
was given amid good deal OF confusion.
An appeal was made from the decision OF the
Chair, pending which a motion to adjourn
manded.
The Government Office men, seeing that
there was no possible chance for them TO get
favorable action on Douglass nomination,
decided TO vote to adjourn, and as the five
hundred aud odd names were called BY the
secretary, 1t was noticed that the Govern
ment men were voting nearly solid In the
Affirmative. The time necessary 10 call the
roll and record the votes, was about one
hour and half. The result Of the vote was
yeas i6s, nays $50. So the Union adjourned
to the third Saturday In June. II Is under
stood that at the meeting OF the National
Union In Albany, on the first Monday In
june, this question Of color aud card in Doug
lass case will be brought up, and some ac-
ton VIII be taken advisory to the Union of
this city.
The colorcd compositor, who is one of the
causes OF all this controversy, is a son Of
Frederick Douglass. He learned his trade
In his fathers office, In Rochester, eommcpc-
Ing In 1859. lie ontinued at work in Roches-
ter until 1852, when he went into the Union
army as a sergeant major Of the Flfty-fourth
Massachusetts volunteers, and served for
two years. Immediately after the assault
on Fort Wagner, In the spring Of 1854, where
he was commended for conspicuous galiantry,
he was discharged by reason ofdisablllties. He
then went to Talbot county, Maryland, where
he taught school at q town within eight or
ten miles OF the place from which his father
ran away from slavery.
In 1855 he represented Maryland In the
delegation which waited on ex-Prcsidont
|
colored people Of the country. He was tbe
secretary Of the delegation, and his s,ther
the chairman. It was at this interview that
Frederick Douglass replied to Nj. johnson.
You send US to the people, and 10 the peo.
pie We Will 60" In the latter part Of iSC8
Lewis went to Colorado Territory, aud
worked few days on the Denver Ddiiy Ga
seae. lie was forced to leave the paper on
account OF one OF the white compositions re-
fusing to work with ''nigger." We under
stand that the eomposltor who refused to
work with Douglass on the Gazette Is now
employed ut the Government printing office.
seemingly reconstructed In harmony with
the fifteenth amendment.
; As the case now stands, Douglass has n
month TO work at the Office without being
worried In regard to his status in the estab.
lishment. 1t was matter of regret that The
adjournment was sprung, as II precluded the
| reading OF the communication Of Mr. Clam
In regard to apprentices, and prevented the
transaction OF other business OF interest To
the Union.
ForRTn WARD REPUBLICAN CLn.-Tbc
regularly organized branch of the Fourth
Ward Republican Club held Il meeting nj
Kendall Green barracks on Friday evening
last, with Mr.. David Brown In the chaIT'
and Mr.. Anderson Woodfork. secretary py,o
ten. About hfy persons were present.
| amer few preliminary remarks by the
Chalr, the canvassng committee reported
their duty performed. Addresses were made
by Messrs. Gaines, Helm, Tunia, McKeeyer
and Woodfork. Rev. DR.. D. b. Nichols was
unanimously spoken of as being eminently
qualified to represent that portion OF the
Fourth ward in the City Council, and a
committee OF three were appointed to wait
upon that gentleman to ascertain whether
ne would accept the nomination as a NOM
Der of the Board of Common Council. Mr..
Tunia offered the following resolution, |
which was unanimously adopted;
Re'oiUed. That any person or persons claim.
ing to be Republicans who shall In any wAy |
favor the so called eitizens' ticket during the
present campaign shall be denounced as tn
tors 70 the Republican party, and deemed IN.
worthy the confidence or countenance 80
privately. heS OF