Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-06-21
Adjournment without Action.

MAJORITY ana Minority Reports.
An Exciting Time.
Adjeurnmen, without Action.
On Saturday evening q regular monthly
meeting of COLUMBIA typographical Union,
No lOl, was held At Odd Fellows Hall That
place was selected for the meeting because il
was anticipated that the interest felt In regard
otoe question as 70 the admission to the Union
az the Government Printing Office, which A.
was understood would be taken mn. would
induce such full attendance of members thar
me room IN me City Hall in which the meet
accommodate me crowd. This precaution
proved TO he wise one. as nearly all Of the
msmoers OF the Union were present.
BY eight o'clock the hall was we'll flied and
me conversation on the all-engrossing question
between members was quite animated About
u CLOCK the assemolage was called to order
ing at once proceeded 10 business. A letter
Was read from a reporter OF a morning paper.
a-klng admission for reporters Of the city
papers, and, after some discussion, the I MON
adopted a motion TO ADM; the reporters OF the
city press. The report OF the committee on
| nomIna ATOMS for membership baving been an
nOuLced IN order Mr.. Hunt read the report of
the majority, which, after recommending the
election OF several members, says
'Iu regard 10 the application Of Lewis
douglass, your committee find first, that h-
| has served sufficient length of time a. he
business second, that he gives satisfaction as
acOmposIior. and that he has good character:
and third, that the only place he has worked
SINCE Iourneyman, where there was a union.
Is Denver. Colorado, in which place, saws Mr.
Iohn l. watkins, secretary OF Denver Union.
No 40, under the seal OF the union, he is not
considered 'rat, from the fact that be was
not a union member, and that their usion never
TOOK any action IN regard to the matter: also
that there is no reason except race and color
that should deprive him ofbecomng a mem Der
oil typographical union
Your committee are therefore Of the opinion
that Lewis II. Douglass is a fair man, and re-
IL Columbia typographical Union, No. IO!.
Respectfully submitted,
l.. H. PATTERSON, Chairman,
Jos. III. PALMER"
The reading OF this report was received with
applause and Kisses, and cries Read the
Other" &c.
ing several applicants favorabiy says:
In the case of " +. Ethel your Committee
ask for further time, as reports have been CIR
euiated and not properly cleared mp in respect
The case of Louis H. Douglass for member
snip Is embarrassed with difficulties which
makes statement OF the facts necessary 10
proper understanding OF il.
From the articles which have appeared In
the public journals. through the procurements
OF MS friends and others, IL is ascsrtaued thar
Louis II. Douglas was born in lsil, entered his
fathers office in Rochester in 1852, and attained
his majority in 1862. In 1862 or lS6S-for both
sldtemeEts mace on MS dutnOrlty, ar the
latter be not a misprint in the STAR of MAY
s3-the paper was discontinued and he entered
the Army. Disabled and discharged there
from, he subsequently tangh, school IN Mary
land for some months in 1860, and in the same
year went 10 Denver, Colorado, where he op-
tanned employment as composItor IN the
Gd-ette office. and continued therein until dis
charged some time in 1s67 for osciIl atinC
between failure 10 get his paw and pre- 10 lice OF
caste. From Denver he came TO Washington,
and found ready employment in the Congress
sional Printing Office.
Such a rapid review OF the fac Is Of this
case, and now for the law.
The plain requirements OF the laws OF this
Union and OF the National Union are. not 10
admit TO membership a printer without card
VINO comes from place where u Union exists,
unless be brings from such Union a certificate
satisfactorily explaining why he has none.
Apply the law 10 the facts. When he left
Rochester, New York, on the discontinuauce
OF his fathers paper in lc62 or 1863, he had at
tanned his majority and was eligible to Union
Membership, even If that Union made malority
prerequisite, Of which there Is no evidence.
he admits he made NO application because OF
minority After service in the army, as already
stated, 40 lct5 and 1-61 he worked IN Denver al
an efiice in bad repute. and still under the ban
of mon No. 10. According TO his own adn.is-
SION, he neither made application for member
snip through an offlcer OF the Union, as pre-
scrlbed by general Union laws, nor through
any reputable craftsman. but continued in The
office where he first found employm ent uutI
dismissed therefrom for one OF two reasons
already adverted 70. The character he estab-
lished for himself in Denver sill attaches, and
Gees not lift him above the operation of the gem
eTal law, outside OF which MON No. iUI can.
not safely travel.
The Committee do not think it proper to
notice arguments from parties outside OF on
Interests on this question, with whicn the press
has teemed for a month or more.
applying 10 the case laws which regulate
the disposition OF ali others the Committee are
constrained to recommend that the applicant
be lot admitted"
The COMMITTEE (Mr. A. c. Shaw respectfully
refer TO papers Numbered from 10 ). inclusive,
as follows:
Ne'cs Office, Der Yer. Colorado, May "a. Io69.-
A. c. Shar, Esq.-Dear Sir: Your letter OF Nav
i would say that IN the years 1861 there
were two colored printers here, brothers be-
leve, by the name of Douglass. claiming TO be
the sons OF Fred. Douglass: both worked In the
GGzeus office, then as now a ssrat" concern
Neither ever applied for membership in our
Union. Had they done SO, Judging from the
sentiments of the members OF the Union al that
time, they would have been denied ADMISSION
solely on account Of race and color. Their de.
pertinent while here was suco would com.
mend them 10 sny community as upright and
hsir people. / believe after working IN the
GGcette a short time, and failing 20 receive his
wages, one Of them left and opened a school for
colCred children, in which vocation he proved
himself an efficient teacher.
AS neither Of them were Union members, and
have not been grated by our Union for work
looked upon as Gratis The question OF ad mis-
sion into your Union or rejection should, and
i doubt not will, be decided soel v upon rnrc
anc color; and IN that case sce hare no doubf OF
the result Of your Deliberations.
Nos, respectfully,
=, JOHN L. WATKINS,
Sec. Denver Typo. Union, No. H.
mo 81
OfCe # TIE Daily Weekly Rocky Noautain y u.s.
DsRrsr. Colorado, May "a. ISt9.-A. c. .StGt,
Esq, Washington. ~. Dear Sr: Your note
OF 18th az and. Louis Douglass formerly lived
here and worked for a time IN the GGxetts OIL ce
lie AercT applied fer ddaiSsi0n in Union No 49,
The C0zetIe has always been a ''rat" Office.
Please remember ne TO Mr. Dummer. His
letter 20 Us has been answered by The Secretary
OF the Union.
Yours truly. WV. N. BYHgs.
mo. j.
Union and Adrertiser Office, Racbsster. " Y,
May ~, lso9.-Hr. 4. 4. SadU.-Sir: Your note
OF May l., In regard te the colored printer
Douglass, came 10 hand in due time. i take
the first opportunity OF replying ID it. i would
have written 10 you sooner could i only have
found the man wanted. ! made several efforts
&c see him personally; but failing in that,
addressed him a note. Tie inclosed is his
reply. Mr.. Oliver was the foreman OF Mr.
Douglass Office for some yeaIs. and is of course
capable OF answering all questions ia regard to
the Douglass boys. From otner inc uiries which
1 have made believe he states ali the facts If
know and will get it if possible
p. S.-Rochester typographical Union No.
K aA m ~ mr. ran ef..,a