The record-union., 1891-07-03
snecial to the RrcoRp.uSrox.

WASHINGTON, july =. - President
Gompers and Secretary Evans of the
Federation Of Labor arrived from New
York this afternoon and called on Secre-
tary Foster in relation to the troubles in
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
and formally protested against the injus-
tice Of showing any favoritism TO par
ticular class of plate printers. Mr..
Gompers did not express any objection
to the Secretary's action ignoring the past
record Of seven discharged Knights OF
Labor, but insisted that it would be un-
fair to give those men preference over
other persons occupying places as chance
printers and applicants for presses. He
believed that the rules governing the
employment of plate printers should be
strictly observed.
POWDERLY MAKES A STATEMENT.
PHILADELPHIA, July ?. - General
Master Workman Powderly, of the
Knights Of Labor, tonight made public a
lengthy statement regarding the contro-
versy over the employment of plate
printers. He begins with the assertion
that the statements credited to Secretary
Foster ''are entirely and unqualifiedly
false The Secretary has stated that the
at Mansfield between Senator Sherman,
Major Mckinley and himself.
PoWderly asserts that the matter was
discussed ut Mansfield. and a settlement
advised, and Powderly holds proofs over
Mckinley's signature.
On the 30th of June Secretary Foster
concluded an agreement with MesSrs,
Devlin and Cavanaugh to restore the dis
charged men, and even went so far as to
write letter to one Of them indorsinp
the agreement. That letter Powderly saws
he holds. According to Devlin's mem
oranda, the terms were: THAT the seven
men dropped from the rolls in the plate
printing department shall be restored to
their former places Of equal importance
and pay, and shall be treated with the
same fairness and consideration as other
plate printers by the chief and assistants
in the bureau; that four of them shall be
restored within ten days, and the balance
within two weeks from date.'
just as the knights were congratulate
ing themselves upon the happy termina-
ton Of the trouble committee OF plate
printers was called in by Meredith. The
card which preceded them said: "a dele
cation from the GonperS Federation OF
Labor desires TO be heard before an agree
ment is arrived at with the knights OF
Labor"
''These men," says Powderly, chad
DeGil u1l1Itd Dy MereullH as 10 speech
and conduct while celebrating with the
Secretary; but Meredith forgot to tell
them the name of the organization they
were supposed to represent, and they
gave the name Of an association that does
not exist.
''After q short interview with this COM
mittee the Secretary turned to Devlin
and said: If there is to be fight with this
organization or yours don't know but I
had better fight yours DevIin retorted
that the Knights could do some fighting
themselves, and called Secretary Foster
attention to the fact that he had concluded
the agreement, but Foster said he would
have to send for Gompers before he could
arrive at a further understanding of the
case"
Powderly says, in conclusion: ''The
advisers of Foster have influenced him
TO so act as to give the controversy such
colOring as to create the impression that
it is struggle between labor organiza-
tions. Snch is not the case. Foster has
undoubted right to consult with Gompers
if he pleases, but the fact still remains
that none of the men involved belong to
any organization but the Knights OF
TabOr''