The Helena independent., 1889-04-16
RUSSELL BIS PIE.
Are Government 0fiices Prizes to be
Dealt Out to Aid Private
Business Schemes2
The Son OF the President Connected d
With a Dicker Over the Public
Printers Position.
An Attempt to BulldoEe the international
typographical Union Dis
graceful Facts.


graceful Facts.
A Washington correspondent recently,
in speaking OF Russell B. Harrison, son Of
the president, alluded 20 him as modest
young man who had shown no inclination
10 meddle with the distribution OF federal
patronage outside of Montana, and
intlmated that the influence he had
exerted here was nothing beyond
what he was entitled to WELD, by
virtue OF his relationship TO the president
and his residence In the territory. As 10
the right Of Mr.. Harrison TO dictate the
appointments for Montana, that is a ques
tion for the republicans TO settle among
themselves. The correspondent quoted
above, however. was not aware that even
before he wrote the son OF the president
had invoked the aid OF the
national government TO further a
petty business scheme. People who have
watched the course of MIR. Harrison and
his business associates here In Helena, In
bringing pressure 10 bear upon the legisla-
tive council and It's officers for the passage
through that body Of bills In furtherance
Of his private business schemes will be-
fully prepared for this latest exhibition of
an attempt 10 prostitute the national ap.
pointing power 10 personal ends; but the
indication that the president himself Is a
party 10 the disgraceful scheme will startle
and shock many who have esteemed him
as a gentleman OF honor and correct judg-
ment In all the walks OF life.
Early In the present year the Helena
Typographical union adopted rule
a
newspapers In this city. To those not con
versant with the newspaper business II may
be necessary 10 explain that certain estab.
llEhments la the east furnish stereotyped
matter for large number OF minor prints
In the smaller cities, at prices far below
what the same amount OF copy" can be
set by compositors In the several Offices.
These plates are used as matter OF econo.
my mainly In weekly newspapers, and
when the Helena Typographical union
adopted the rule Ia question weekly
Journals were excepted from its operation,
At that time the corporation In this city
Of which Mr.. Harrison Is the president
was publishing n weekly print largely
made up OF plates, and this, of course, was
not affected by the new departure. When,
however, that corporation acquired the
moribund Daily Record the situation
changed, and during his brief visit 10 Hell
| ena In February Mr.. Harrison had con
versation with the president OF the prin-
| ters' union, In the course Of which he stated
| that his wish was 10 resort 10 the use OF
stereotype plates, by which means he
would be enabled to print y larger paper at
no greater OF at less cost than attended the
issuance OF the Old Record. lie argued
that the concession would cost the printers
nothing, as his paper would be
| obliged te have certain amount of news
matter set at the home Office under any
circ umstances. and under no conditions
would the composition bills be permitted
10 exceed that sum. The president OF the
union consulted with the members of the
executive committee, and upon their In
structi0ns returned the answer 10 Mr.. Har-
rls0n that The rule then IN force could not
be revoked. There the matter rested for n
time-in fact until the president OF the
union received communication from the
president Of the International union,
TO which the Helena union Is subordinate,
| In which the intimatioD was very distinctly
conveyed that q person very near the ap-
pointing power, and who was directly In.
terested In having the rule Of the Helena
union repealed, had conveyed 10 him
through third party the Information that
unless the Helena union receded from It's
position on the plate question II was more
than likely a non-uni0n man would be ap'
pointed TO the position OF public printer
with all that that implies, which
would signify the wedding out
OF union printers from the govern
ment printing office. That this Is no riillnp
matter may be seen from the fact that the
public printer has the employment Of 2, b0t
men In one branch or other OF the vast ~
tabllshment under his control The init.
nation was also as distinctly conveyed
that In consideration OF the repeal OF the
anti plate rule by the Helena union III,
| president OF the International union nigh
| rest assured that union man would be ap
| pointed. IL does not appear that namel
| were given In the communication, but III,
Inference, based upon his family and bust
ness relations, IL Inevitable that the persoi
alluded 10 was Russell Is. Harrison.
| II will thus be seen that Mr.. Russell II
| Harrison, In return for concession by IN
| Typographical union, which would resul
| In a saving TO him In his private bushes
of a few thousand dollars year, propose,
| 10 give one OF the most important bureau
Offices commonly supposed To be within tn
gift OF the president Of the United States
| Whether he could, In the phrase Of the day
deliver the go0ds, may be q question; bu
as throwing light upon that point reader
OF the INDEPENDENT Will recall that II
the issue OF this paper dated April 7 al
article was printed calling attention
10 the delay which was attending th,
appointment Of government printer, nj
though Mr.. Benedict, the incumbent, an,
whom republican papers have been fond o
representing as q thoroughly incompeten
Official, had tendeIed his resignation lmme
dlately upon the accession Of the Harrison
administration. and although there were
| score OF applicants, many OF whom ar,
men OF large experience In the printing
business The reason President Harrison
assigned for his delay In making a selec
tiOn for this important Office was that h,
| Ha.i nj "A I'M 40.
OF the highest order OF executive ability
because Of the large number OF wOrkmeI
who would be under his direction
and also on account OF the larg,
amount Of material-type, presses, pape
stock, etc.-of which the public printer ha
the purchasing AT the time the article II
question was written and printed IN,
rumors OF Russell B. Harrlson's attempt I,
bulldOze the Helena Typographical uni,i
through the International union had no
become public property, as they have re-
Gently become, or the explanation OF th'
presidents dilatOrlness might have been
irine easier.
To use an old phrase, everything Is fisl
that comes 10 the net OF the presidents son
who is using his influence with the presi
dent Of the United States 10 control govern
ment appointments for the enlargement o
his private and corporate bank account
No one has ever resorted 10 such measure
without covering himself and those con
nected with him In the operations with dis
grace. The question Of the justice OF th
position of the Helena union regarding tn
use Of plates does not enter at all into tn
issue, which SIMPLY Is: Has the son o
the president any right, legal or moral, 4
use the appointing power OF the govern
ment as a weapon with which 10 dragon
those with whom he may chance 10 have
dispute? And the further question IL sug
| tar fl...
the United states lend his official power Il
assist one OF his own family In private en-
terprises, no matter how legihmHte II
th, mselyes such enterprises may b..