Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-04
ThN Pytnters' Congress.
TIE INTERNATIONAL TYPOGRAPHICAL CONVEX

assembled at Franklin Legion Hall last night,
after their return from Mount Vernon, where
they had gone as the guests OF Columbia TYPO.
Union No. 1. Mr.. Armstrong presided, and the
proceedings were opened by the reading of the
minutes OF the secret session, showing that the
Louis matter had been settled by the admission
OF both the delegates to seats In the conven-
ton, and the subject Of dispute among the craft
sise 70 ana6an and
The committee on new business reporteai
resolution expelling George Palmer, OF
also reported adversely on the proposition to
strike out the law forbidding member OF the
union to apply for the position for less sum sum
than the Incumbent receives; adopted. Also,
adversely, on the proposition to strike out the
following section, and 1t was rec0mm1tted:
.The International Union diSapproves Of the
distinct classes In the settlement OF questions.
But where there Is job Office owned by the
having its own foreman and journeymen, in
frfngment on Union principles in the job de-
partment does not necessarily affect the hands
employed In the news department, or rice uersa
After long debate the whole subject was re-
committed to the committee.
MIR. CHASE PRESENTED AN APPEAL OF THE "DOwN-
TOWN" PRINTERS
OF Washington, stating that we, the under
signed, respectfully represent: That we have
been compelled to sever our connection with
Union 101 by the oppressive action OF said Union,
in notpermittfng us TO work In the private book
and job offices OF this City when 1t was admitted
the prices offered us could not successfully be
resisted. That we believe resistance would have
resulted In flooding the city with unprinciped
book and job offices, would, In due time make
inroadS upon the newspaper Offices. and that by
our accepting tie prices submitted by the en-
Of the principal book and job offices to an out
side element Of nOn-Union men, as above stated,
but stand as a barrier and protection to the
newspaper Offices, pledgtng ourselves not to
take the places OF Union men should trouble
arise In any newspaper Office. That In accept
Ing work In the offices where we are respect
lively employed we did not then, nor do we now
believe Union 101 had the right to control pri-
vate Offices, for the following reasOns:-1. That
four-ftfths OF the members OF Union 1O1 are en-
ployed In the Government Printing Office and
G. P. o. employees is fixed by law 8. That
said Union is powerless to carry into
execution its own laws or edicts with
1. That the scale of prices Of Union 1oi Is bit
the echo OF congressional enactments. 5. That
the same rules for the conduct OF the printing
OF great government like ours cannot be sue
cessfully maintained in the private Offices 1t
is held by us that the G.. P. O. has no right to
govern private offices, it being in no sense a
local establishment, but purely national one;
tiers In private employ, would be for the good of
all. For these reasons, we pray such action
and lust to allow to be Organized Union WITH
such rules for It's government, and scale of
prices, to affect only private Offices, whereby
the interests of both the employe and employee
may be considered. We are DESTROYS Of the
good opinion Of the virtu0us and humane. We
are particularly DESTROYS OF furnishing you with
the true state of our motives and objects the
oetter TO enable you to judge Of our conduct
With accuracy and to determine the merits of
the controversy with 1mpartiality. With the
ABOVE object In view we beg leave to represent
the differences existing between US and Union
lul-l. e.. The q. r. O--ffOYn StQn6nOnt q
follow: Last october the proprietorS of the
principal book and job offices reduced the price
offices employing about so men who derive their
means OF support from said offices, not being
able to procure the influence necessary to OBJ
tain employment In the G. P. o., and, therefore,
must necessarily depend on the private offices
for livelihood. We tried every means In our
power to induce Union 1O1 to grant us suspen-
the ground that 1T would have a tendency to
reduce the prices In the G. P. O., thereby virtu-
ally saying those employee In the private Offices
must remain in 1dleness while their families
necessaries of life. We asked them to give |
us the Crumbs that fell from their |
table, but they refused through fear |
The appeal eonciudes: I've desire to submit
the question whether members of trades |
union who are not controlled In their actions /
by the labor market have the right to dictate |
to those who are 50 controlled the rates for |
when they shall work? Is it fair is it just; is
it within Teason-aye! is it not arbitrary and |
oppress1ye-that those whose salaries are fixed |
that law.maktng power for relief, should die |
tate to those whose salaries are regulated by |
the labor market. We pray your honorable |
oppressive action Of Union 1O1. SO that those
whose salaries are governed by the labor mar
ket can control the Union, as we believe 1t was
in granting charters, to include those whose
salaries are fixed by law; but. on the contrary,
to those whose salaries are governed by the
labor market. We, therefore. pray that a
law be passed declaring the G. p. o. to be
National Office, controlled by such national
laws as you in your wisdom shall deem meet
those in private employ. This we believe to be
the only solution Of this difficult problem
Jesse j. Judge, VIM. A. Korts, JOS. E. Rat
F. Cumm1ns, j. E. Whiteside, J. r. Chandler, c.
c. Semmes, A. x. Weaver, j. w. Crooks, r. P.
H HaIDs Wm Anse = weaver Benton
A delegate moved that the appeal be laid on
the table.
The Chair-n no motion had been made I
would have ruled 1t out OF order.
The motion to lay on the table was lost-yeas
The appeal was then referred.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
Mr.. Martin, OF Chicago, presented memorial
setting forth that the Chicago Union had adj
mitted 100 "unfa1r" men and women to mem
bership, and asking charier be granted them
u.
Resolutions OF the st. Louis Trade and Labor
Assembly, In favor Of the eight-hour law, de-
clartng that those officers who have conspired
to cefeat 1t should be held accountable, &C.,
were read and referred. Mr. Barnes introduced
resolutions OF the same import, which were
referred. A resolution was adopted inviting the
lady friends Of the delegates to attend the con-
yention. The convention, at 10 O'Clock, went
into secret session.
TO-DAY'S SESSION.
The convention reasSembled at o'clock this
morning, and after reading the minutes, Mr.:
jackson ii. Ralston, formerly OF this city, and
low Of Quincy, Ill., delegate to Paris, read
his report, an exceedingly interesting docu-
ment, containing much information as to the
trade in Europe, the Improvements there, &c.
A recess was then taken to O'Clock.
THE CONVENTION RB-AssEMBLED
at O'Clock. Mr.. VIM. X. Mclean, one OF the past
presiding officers, was on motion invited TO
seat on the platform, under escort OF MesSr5
SardO, Of this city, and Evans of Philadelphia.
Mr.. Ralston then proceeded to finish his report
upon the Paris exposition, and gave an account
Of the condition OF Typographical Unions In the
principal cities OF the old world, which he WIS.,
fled while abroad, number OF members OF each,
condition OF offices, printers material and ap-
pliances He then made report as to the
manner in which he had carried out the In
structiOnS given him on his departure abroad,
by the International Union.