The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-10
GEN. ALGER'S REPLY TO THE
TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.
To the voters of Michigan:
You have doubtless read in the De-
troit papers of to-day the proceed
ings Of the Detroit Typographical
Union of yesterday, and as / desire
to explain my connection with them
in order that there may be no mis-
understanding about the matter I
will state, that, some weeks since the
President, Mr.. Chas. S. Bell, and
one other member of the Union,
called upon me, stating the COM
plants of the Union towards the
Post, requesting that in case vacan-
cies occurred among the printers Of
the Post that no discrimination
should be made against Union men
being employed to fill such vacan-
cies, all..else being equal. Deeming
their request entirely reasonable, /
asked Mr.. Stickney to come to my
Office, and according to promise to
them laid the matter before him.
/ in the meantime advised the COM
mittee to visit Mr.. Stickney and say
that considered their request rea
sonable. Subsequently Mr.. Bell
called at my Office to say that the
committee had met with very courte.
Gus treatment from Mr.. Stickney
who acceded to their request, but
that they then wanted the foreman
of the Post, who is, understand,
non-union man, discharged, and a
Union man employed. l reminded
Mr.. Bell that he was going beyond
his first request, but that since had
my former conversation with him my
stock had been turned over to Mr..
Joy, and / had no further control in
the matter. Yesterday Mr.. Bell
called again and requested me to in
tercede with Mr.. Stickney, and if
possible to ask the latter to allow
non-Union men then on the Post to
join the Union ifthey chose, and also
that no discrimination should be made
against Union or non.Union men in
the employ of the Post. l repeated
to Mr.. Bell that l had no control
over the Post whatever, but had no
objection to making the request he
asked Of Mr.. Stickney, which l did,
and by the newspaper see MIR. Stick
ney saw fit not to grant it. l have
heard nothing from Mr.. Stickney on
the subject. Concerning my con-
nection with the Post will say, that
some years ago purchased one
seventh interest in it, for which 1
make no apology as it was purely
business transaction, paying cash for
it. and for some time, for pecuniary
reasons alone, have desired to dis
pose OF my interest in it, believing
that no paper can be successfully
managed unless the person having
the management of the same had
control and an interest in it. While
in Europe last spring, l understand
MIR. Joy arranged with Mr.. Stickney
to come and take charge of the Post
with the view of purchasing it if he
thought he could make it paying
institution. Some time after my
first interview with Mr.. Bell, Mr.. Joy
came to my Office for my stock, say
ing 1t was to be turned over to Mr..
Stickney, but that we were to hold
the stock as collateral for its pay
ment. Endorsed the certificate and
handed it over to my Secretary to
give to Mr.. Joy, as was just leaving
the city, and whether it has been
transferred on the books or not do
not know, as neither Mr.. Joy nor
myself have been in the city much
of the time since that date, nor have
spoken to Mr.. Joy since concern
ing it. So little have known about
The affairs Of the Post that until IN
formed by Mr.. Bell that it was non
Union Office / was not aware of that
fact, and had never paid any atten-
ton whatever to it. The action of
the Union toward me is as unjust as
anything can possibly be, as I have
done nothing that should call for any
such action. / trust my reputation
for fair dealing with the men in our
employ is such that l should be ex-
empt from any censure on that &C
count. We have always paid our
men the highest going wages, have
never paid in store orders, have al
ways paid promptly and have sup
piled them with the best food in the
market and as good as any used in
any lumber camps in the state of
Michigan, as any of the thousands of
men who have worked for us will
testify if they tell the truth.
If there is one thing priced by the
American people above all others,
that one thing is fair play.
r. A. ALGER.