The national Republican., 1869-06-21
AN ADJOURNMENT SPRU>G
GREAT EXCITEMENT AND CONFUSION

AN ADJOURNMENT SPRUNG
GREAT EXCITEMENT AND CONFUSION
SPEECH OF MR.. A. T. ckvls
Ho Proph's sizes Evil to the Government Office
Ever since the last meeting Of Columbia
typographical Union tho printers OF the
city, and indeed Of the whole country, have
been exercised in view Of the application OF
Lewis II. Douglass, tho colored composltor
at the Government office, for membership In
the Union, and tho evident intention Of the
Congressional printer and his employees to
force him into the Union, II possible. The
action of the National Union, by decided
majority, in declaring Douglass "rat,"
and the subsequent meetings Of the Govern
mcnt printers, In which resolutions dcnun-
ciatory Of the national body wcro adopted,
have served to increase the excitement.
Tho stated meeting Of the Union OF this
city, which was held on Saturday evening
last, was therefore looked forward to with
great interest, as IL was expected that some
decisive action would be taken upon the sub
jcct. The meeting Of the Union was called
to be held in Odd Fellows Hall, us quite o
large room was required to accommodate
the many "fypos" Of the city. The printers
began to assemble rs carly as Z o'clock, and
all were endeayoring to obtain a forecast Of
the nights proceeding. A significant fact
was noticed by our reporter, which was that
nearly all of the printers In the city Offices
were supplied with black marble, provided
probably in case ballot was to be taken.
Whether or not the friends Of Douglass were
provided with white marbles did not trans.
plrc.
THE MEETING.s
About S:l5 o'clock the president of tho
Union, Thomas Rich, esq, assumed tho
chair and called the meeting to order.
After some preliminary business, the sec.
rotary read communication from one Of the
reporters Of the REPUBLICAN, asking that he
might be admitted TO the meeting of the
Union for the purpose Of making report ol
the proceedings. Some opposition was cx,
pressed to allowing but ono paper of the city
a representative, when Mr.. Wilmington sub.
mitted motion that the reporters Of the
several newspapers OF the city he admitted
Some little objection wps made, and Mr.
Cayis moved TO lay the motion on the table
Not adopted.
A vote was then taken by tcllcrs, aud the
motion was adopted by large majority.
Mr.. McGill, the representative OF tho
typographical Union Of Memphis in the
| National Union, was introduced by Mr.
| Elvpn 10 Faoot,aI ,rttI a..
invited to u seat at the side OF President
Rich.
The Chair then stated that tho report o.
the committee on nominations was In order
The Secretary stated there were two re
ports, and Mr.. Hunt, reading clerk, pro
cecdcd to read
THE MAJORITY REPORT,
which, after reciting the names Of severa
printers who had been found worthy o.
membership, referred as follows to the cas-,
Of the colorcd compositor
| In regard TO the application Of Lewis II
| Douglass, your committee hndi nrst, that h,
has served a sufficient length OF timc at tn,
business: second, that he gives satisfaction ~
teri AMI third, that the only place he hs
worked since journcyman, where there WA
union, is Denver, Colorado, In which place
yer Union, No. 10, under the seal Of fhe union
che is not considered a 'rAt,' from tho fact tina
he was not union member, and that thei
union never took any action In regard 10 Tn
race and color that should deprive him OF be
coming member Of typoEraphisai union"
your eomm'',ee are therefore Of the opinio,
commend that he be admitted to msmbershil
SoS%Sis TyISsTr,nsissai union' No. ioi
| L, II. PARKINSON, Chairman,
| Jos. II. PALNEn.
The reading OF this document concluded
the clerk proceeded TO read the
i MINORITY REPORT,
which, after referring 10 those candidate
who had been acted upon fnvorably, con
tinued as follows;
In the case Of N. +. Ethel your oommItio
ask for iurth T".imc, as reports have been ell
culstn .Ld not properly cleared up In rcspse
t~h.Im.
y The case Of Louis II. Douglas, for member
shl is embarrassed with difficulties whic
makes 4 statement OF the facts necessary TO
proper understanding Of It.
From the articles which have appeared 1
the public journals, through the procurement
Of his friends and Others, 1t Is ncertAipe
that Louis II. Douglass was born In ls+l
entered his fathers office In Rochester 10 1856:
and attained HIS m'jority IN 1862. In 1901 o
l3d3-fOr both statements are made on his al
thOrity, u the latter be not miiprint In tn
Star OF May t3-lhe paper was discontinue
AMI he entered the army. Disablcd and dil
school in Maryland for some months In lsG'
aud In the same year went to Denver, Ool,
RADIO, where he obtained employment as
compositor In the Gd=eHe office, and continue
therein until discharged some tinc in 1901 70
reasons oseiliating between failure to get hi
pay and prejudice Of caste, From beaver
came to WashingIun, and found ready en-
ploymen In the Congregational printing oiflcs
Such Is rapid review OF the facts OF tn
case, and now for the law.
The plain requirements OF the laws OF thI
Union and Of I he National Union are, not
admit 10 membefshlp a printer without car
} who comcs from n place where Union exist
unless he brings from Eueh Union a certIaea,
satisfactorily explaining why he has none.
Apply the law to the facts. When he le
Rochester, New York, on the dlscontinuanC
OF his ialher's paper In lsO2 or 1858, he had a
tRined his majority and was eligible to Unio
membership, even II that Union made majo
ity prerequisite, OF which there is no ev
T dence. lie admits he m'dc no application b.
cause of minority. After service ln the arm!
AS already stated, in 1896 and 1867 he woTkt
In beaver at an office Ia bad repuie and sti
under the ban OF uniom No, 10, According
7 his own admission he neither made apple
: tiOn for membership ihIU4gh nn officer OF N
Union, as pt"scribtd by general Union law
i nor through any reputable craftsman, but col
tinuci In the office where he hrst found on
plOy Inent until dismissed thcrefrom for one
two reasOLi already Hdvertcd to. The cha
aciCr he established for himself Ia Deny,
still attaches, aud does not lift him above tl
operation Of the general law, outside OF while
, Union No. lOl cannot safely travel
The committee do not think It proper to n
. ice Arguments from parties outside OF our u
tcrests Oh this question. with which the pre-
r has teemed for n month or more.
Applying TO the ease laws which regulate Il
disposition Of all others the committee are co
strained to recommend that the applicant
not admitted.
Your committee would respectfully ref
5 to papers numbered from one to i've, incl
| sivc,
All ofwhleh is respectfully submitted.
A. U. SHAW, COMMITTEE.
Ofthc papers referred to In the report, v
give the following extracts;
mo, ~
Ngws OYFIGH,
! DESyER, COLORADO May n, lso. =
. A, e. 2dg, esq!
DEAR sin; Your letter of May II Is receive
:, In reply to your inteTrogatOrieA would 81
1 that In the years ls06-BT there were two color,
printers here, brothers | believe, by the nan
OF Douglass, claiming 10 be the sons of Ere
Douglass both worked In the Gd=eHe otfic
then as now, n % rat" concern. Neither ey
, applied for membership In our Union. Ill
they donO so, judging from the sentiments
y the members ot the Union at that time, th'
l., would have been denied admission solely
= account Of race and color. Their deportme
while here was such hH would commend the
In any community As upright and worthy nj
and were highly respected among their poopl
, believe after working on the Gdsciie sho
, time, and falling to receive his wages, one
them left and opened a school for eolored chill
| L., hI,h, ha aI