Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-03
I. Y. POYDRRLY
Makes Statement on Ruelavlns
and Printing Bureau Trouble.
Ono Thousand 1an Out Of Work.
LocomaiYe Works Closed.
Raudall Club Refuses to Invite Gov
Hui to Its Bar qust.

PHiLApELrHIA. July s.-6eneral Master
Workman Powjerly Of the Knights OF
Labor has prepared . statement relative Il
the controversy over the employment oi
plate printers dropped from the rolls OF the
bureau of printing and eugrsying auWash
ingtop. He says Secretary Foster has
stated, it 10 alleged. and be has not denied
il. thst the plate printers trouble
was not the subject OF the discussion
al the meeting held st MAn.iiaid between
Senator Sherman. Major Mckinley and
hiuseif. That matter WAS discussed al
Mcssfield. And settlement advised. aud
bold the proofs over the signature Of Major
Mckinley himself. Ga his return to
Washington. the secretary of the treasury
order, Mr.. CavsnAgh, TO come TO Washing
ton. tha, the matter could be settled.
Messrs. Devlin and CavsnAgh called al
the treasury department June 80. saw Mr.
Foster, ard concluded All agreement 10 re-
store the discharged men 10 their places.
| lie even went so far as TO write letter TO
QUE Of them asking him TO advise him
whether he wished 10 be re-employed.
| That letter embodied the agreement entered
into. 1t Is written in his own hand writing
over his own signature. We hold that
letter as proof of what we say. Mr.. Dew
lin made memorandum Of the terms .on
which the agreement wks based and on The
| strength Of which he wrote the letter.
The terms are as follows, That the
seven men who have been dropped from
the rolls in the plate printing department
.hall be restored to their former places, or
to places Of equal importance sud pay
they shall be treated with the same fair
ness aud consideration Ms the other plate
printers by the chief and his assistants in
the bureau. Four of them thsll be restored
within 10 days, the balance within two
weeks from this date. The proposition
WAS approved by Mr.. Foster. secretary OF
the treasury and Mr.. Meredith, chief Of the
bureau of engraving and printing.
IL was stated by Mr.. Meredith that the
agreement could be carried out without the
displacement of any man in the department,
These deliberations were concluded when
the committee Of plate printers WAS called
into the secretAry's chamber by Mr.. Mere
dith. The card which announced their ar
rival bore this inscription "A delegation
from Gomper's Federation Of Labor desires
10 be heard before an agreement is arrived
st with the Knights Of Labor.
These men were called away from The
machines at IL O'Clock that day. just re
soon as it became known that Mr.. Cavsnagh
had arranged with the secretary Of the
treasury for an interview. They were
drilled by Meredith as TO their speech aud
conduct while deliberatng with the secrs-
tsry. After n short interview with this
committee, the secretary turned TO Mr..
Devlin and, snatcbing some papers from
bis hand. said "lf there is to be fight
with this organization Of yours. done
know but what | better fight yours"
10 that Mr.. Devlin replied - it be fight
| guets we can do a little Of that ourselves. y
Mr.. Deviin then called his attention to the
fact that he hsd concluded an agreement TO
settle the matter; that in that agreement no
man, whether Knight OF Labor or mem
btr of the Federation, WIS to be dlscrimi-
mated sgxinst or displaced, but the secre'
tary of the treasury stated that
he would have to send for Mr..
Gcmpers before he could arrive q,
further understanding Of the case
Advisors of Mr.. Foster have Influenced
him to 30 act rs to give the controversy
such colofiDg AS to create the impression
that ii is a strugge between labor orgsnizs-
tions. Such is not the case. We have no
@ isht, quarrel or dispute with any labor or
gsni2 rion.