The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-03
POWDERLY'S
The Knights Leader on the Plate
Printers Controversy.
SAYS FOSTER WAS "INFLUENoED'
Between Labor Organizations, and
That Meredith "Tutofed" an Al
legged Committee = Mr.. Gompers
Sustains the Rureau Chief

SuStains the Bureau Chief.
PHILADELPHIA, July IA statement
relative to the controversy over the EN-
ployment of the plate printers dropped
from the rolls of the bureau of printing
and engraving at Washington has been
issued by General Master Workman
Powderly. He says:
"Prefacing what may be said regard
ing the merits of the controversy with
the treasury department, let me say
that none of the interviews, reports or
statements which have from time to
time appeared in the public press have
emanated from the general officers or any
person under their jurisdiction. We
have studIously and purposely refrsined
from saying or doing anything which
would even in the slightest degree en-
barrass the secretary of the treasury or
the administration. Up to this moment
have not said word publicly, but
feel that the statements charged to the
secretary Of the treasury merit some
recognition and denial, since they are
entirely and unqualifiedly false. He has
stated, SO it is alleged, and he has not
denied it, that the plate printers trouble
was not tho subject of discussion at the
meeting held at Mansfield between Sem
ator Sherman, Major Mckinley and
himself.
Says He Has the Proofs.
"That matter was discussed in Mans
field, settlement advised, and hold the
proofs over the signature of Major Nc
kinley himself. On his return TO WASH
ington the secretary of the treasury
wired the general worthy foreman Of
this organization, Mr. Cavanaugh, to
come to Washington that the matter
could be settled. The general worthy
foreman complied with the request and
on June 20 Mcssys. Devlin and Cava-
naugh called at the treasury department,
saw Mr. Foster and concluded an agree
ment to restore the discharged men to
their places. and he even went so far as
to write to one of them, asking him to
advise him whether he wished to be re-
employed. That letter embodied the
agreement entered into. 1t is written
in his own hand and over his own sig
nature. We hold tnat letter as proof of
what we say.
Approved by Foster and Meredith.
1.-The agreement was approved by Mr..
Foster, secretary of the treasury and
Mr. Meredith, chief of the bureau of en-
craving and printing. 1t was stated by
Mr.. Meredith that the agreement could
be carried out without the displacement
of any man in the department.
tThese deliberations were concluded
and those present were congratulating
themselves upon the happy termination
of the difficulty, when committee of
plate printers were called into the sec
retary's chamber by Mr.. Meredith. The
card which announced their arrival bore
this inscriptions:
"'A delegation from the Gompers
Federation of Labor desires to be heard
before an agreement is arrived at with
the Knights of Labor
"These men had been called away
from their machines at II O'Clock that
day, just as soon rs it became known
that Mr. Cavanaugh had arranged with
the secretary of tie treasury for an in
teryiew.
Drilled by Mr.. Meredith.
"They were drilled by Mr. Meredith
as to their speech and conduct while de-
iberating with the secretary, but the
instructions were not complete, for Mr..
Meredith forgot to tell them the name
of the organization they were supposed
to represent before the secretary, and
they gave the name of an association
that does not aud never did exist. After
short interview with this committee,
the secretary turned to Mr. Devlin and
snatching some papers from his hand
said:
"'If there is to he fight with this or
ganization or yours l don't know but
what had better fight yours
"TOthat Mr.. Deviin replied: IL it is
fn bn hnht I,,. l.tt1a Of
that ourselves
"Mr. Devlin then called his attention
| to the fact that he had concluded an
agreement to settle the matter; that in
/ that agreement no man, whether u
Knight of Labor or member of the Fed
Grafton, was to be Disseminated against
or displaced; but the secretary OF the
treasury stated that he would have to
send for Mr.. Gompers before he could
arrive at further understanding of
the case.
"The advisers of Mr.. Foster have in
| ffuenced him to 30 act us to give the con-
troversy such coloring as to create the
impression that it is a struggle between
labor organizations. Such is not the case.
We have no fight, quarrel or dispute
with any labor organization, and this
contest will not be so regarded by the
general officers of the Knights of Labor.
"Mr. Foster has an undoubted right
to consult Mr.. Gompers if he pleases,
but the fact still remains that none of
the men involved belong to any organi-
zation but the Knights Of Labor"
Mr.. Gompors' Protest.
WAsnINGToN, July 3. President Goin-
pers and Secretary Evans, of the FEEDER
alton of Labor, arrived from New York
yesterday afternoon and had a confer
ence with Secretary Foster in relations
to troubles in the bureau of engraving
and printing. These gentlemen formally
protested against the injustice of show
ing any favoritism to particular class
of plate printers. Mr.. Gompers did not
express any objection to the secretarys
action in ignoring the past record of the
seven discharged Knights of Labor, but
he insisted that it would be unfair to
give those men any preference over
others occupying places as chance print
nra and apnltpa "a for, l1racSpq