National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-23
An uKJusr1r1ABIE STRIKE"

The compositors in the "news room" of
this journal notified us on Saturday night
after twelve O'Clock, that under the direc-
ton of Typographical Union, No. 1o1, of
which they are members, they would work
no longer at the rates paid them under an
agreement entered into on the 18th inst.
This notification was sudden and unex-
pected, and presents strange and unfa-
vorable contrast with the seven days mott
fcation served upon them before that
agreement was made. We are enabled,
however, to get out our paper as usual. and
will continue to do so in the future without
regard to the rules of the Union, that or
ganization having forfeited all right to
respectful consideration by its unwarrsnt-
ed and tyrannical action in this case.
1t is due, however, to our former COM
positors and ourself to explain that this IN
fortunate result follows from the short
sighted and selfish policy pursued by the
majority of the printers who belong to the
Union, and who are also employees of the
Government Printing Office. The latter
agreed about the LIST inst to allow our old
compositors to work on the best terms they
could secure at our hands. Those terms
were fifty cents per thousand ems for piece
work, and pro rata rates for week wages.
They were accepted, and for two
weeks our desire to retain the services
of men, some of whom have been en-
ployed on the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN for
fifteen years-from its very foundation, in
fact-was gratifed. They were paid
promptly, and no complaint was made
either by ourself or them. In short,
the management Of the office in every par
ticular was mutually satisfactory, and
would have continued so if the printers of
the Government Office had not, by the
power of superior numbers, and after q
prolonged struggle, in which the "down-
town" printers were in the minority, sue
ceeded in revoklng that agreement.
To even the inexperienced reader thi
sudden act will appear tyrannical, unjust
and unworthy of men who pretend to be
members of the most intelligent craft or
body of workmen in the world. 1t was
evidently designed to cripple us, and to
prevent the regular issue of our paper
this morning. When the reduction of
wages took place, it was talked of for
months, and finally, as we have explained,
it was not effected until after we had
honorsbly given our compositors timely
notice of our determination. We submit
that the entire proceeding has the appear
ance of a conspiracy to injure US in our
business, and to deprive our readers of
whatever instruction, benefit or pleasure
they may derive from an uninterrupted
delivery of the paper.
We part with our former employees with
many regrets, not the least of which is
aroused by the fact that they have sub
mitted to the domination of needless,
selfish and thoroughly incompetent ma
jority of an oath-bound organization, to
which they cannot with any regard for
their self-respect, independence and man.
hood, yield anything but reluctant ale
glance in the future. When Congress
meets, however, it is certain that the entire
subject will be investigated, and to be
hoped that such legislation will follow as
will equalize, in the interest of economy,
the prices paid by the Government, and
thereby enable individual publishers to free
themselves from the extraordinary exactions
which could and would not be asserted if the
Union were not controlled by Government
employees.