Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-18
The Government Printing Office.
THE WHOLESALE DISCHARGE OF wAsHINGro
WORKMBN.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR.
Has We poor workingman and workingwoman
belonging to this District friend to speak In his
or her behalf? For week or more have waited
for an ADLER pen than mine TO be employed In cry
ing against the coldblooded cruel policy OF ostra
cism against the unfortunate citizens OF Washing
ton, which is suddenly manifested by the authori-
ties OF the government printing office So far
however, have waited I'm vain and still the cruel
sport OF deprivlng men and women or the means
to earn bread for their little goes without
abatement lean then no longer refrain from giving
voice TO the Indignation with which have noted
the dismissal! OF workmen for no reason on earth
save that they are Of no value to the party In
power as voters We have no votes; therefore we
are 70 be deprived of bread. Thus the fat or Mr..
Rounds, and rigidly his minions carry out the
orders, while the public printer is
save the mark Enjoying his vacation while men
and women by the score are thrust out from the
great printing house, right on the threshold OF
words, Mr.. Editor, but they are all too true. We
have no one TO speak one word for in this emer-
gency. No public man, no great political leader,
would dream or champontng our cause, however
Just, however earnestly appealing to the sense OF
fairness, 10 the heart OF every upright man. VIII
not, then, The STAR be our defender? VIII not
the great journal which has been to us friend SO
many years exert its influence to from this
wanton attempt TO deprive US OF employment and
TO compel us to become wanderers from our child
hoods home, to break all family and social ties,
and to go forth in search OF bread? Surely we
nave TlSnC 10 expect IL Nearly Two hundred
d1SmisSalS already have been made, and the end.
we hear, is not yet And this, be 1t known, is not
on the score of a scarcity OF work, nor
is 1t on account OF deficiency OF money. In
week or two you will the ONCE lighted up from
cellar to garrett. engaged In printing the annual
reports and the avalanche OF public documents
OF all descriptions, which viii keep this large es-
adjustment busy all the winter long. Money
also is more plentiful than the last appropri
alton being larger than ever before But neither
work nor money are for us. We may witness
strangers enjoying the banquet, while we must
turn deaf TO the pleading OF our little child
ern for what We shall not be able to give them
We have no votes Slr-tn9t Is the sum and sub
stance OF our offending. In common with many
another 1 stand here In enforced idleneSs, with
nothing on earth save an aged mother and a
house full OF children. What am / TO do? Go
away7 Who will feed them until succeed in
finding work that Is denied me In my birthplace?
And must !, who have ever made my boast that my
two hands were enough TO secure me in
dependence, must /, for the first time in
over forty years, ask for aid from friends or see
my family suffer? Yet this is the situation
in which not only /, but scores OF unfortunates
are placed. 1t is terrible, Mr.. Editor, and
must be experienced to be fully realized. /
hope THE STAR will take up our cause. Cry
aloud and spare them not, and perhaps you will
shame these men into undOing the most heartless
blow that has ever yet been dealt the citizens OF
Washington. PRINTER.