Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-09
Secretary Foster Says He Never
Offered Jordan His Old
Position.
The Letter He Received Was Sent
by Some Unauthorized
Parties.
Other Interesting Facts Concerning
the Interview With Devlin
and Cayanaugh.

WASHINGTON, July 5.-Secretary Fos-
ter, in speaking Of the labor controversy
today, said thai the letter which Jordan,
one Of the discharged men, claims to have
received from him offering him his old
position IN the bureau, was not sent by
him, the secretary. He explained that he
was discussing the case with Messrs.
Cavanagh and Deulin and had
submitted several propositions to
them which did not seem altogether salts
factory. He said he was willing to ap-
point seven men to places in the bureau
with the understanding that Jordan, who
is making a good living. would not return
to work. "They wanted more than this,
continued the secretary, land said they
we're afraid if Jordan were offered
place with this understanding
and it should get to the ears of Meridith,
he would crow over them and boast that
they had been defeated. | went so far as
to draft the letter to Jordan. There had
been several papers written during the
conference about these terms; places were
to be found for the other six men and he
would accent position in the bureau. |
agreed to give them this letter to be given
to Jordan, if they should promise on their
honor as men that they would either re-
turn to him or hand me Jordan's declina-
ton
Tlis was to sooth Jordan's feelings, as it
were. All this was contingent upon our
reaching an agreement: When | showed
Devlin and Cavanangh this letter, they
declined my terms, and | showed the let
ter to one side with the rest Of the rejected
manuscript. We were discussing the
situation further and endeavoring to find
another solution when I received the card
Of the delegation Of the federation OF
labor. Leaving Devlin and Cavanaugh
FOR few minutes | went over to talk to
the new corners, who told me some facts |
did not know before, For instance they
informed ne that there are now about
fifteen apprentices in the bureau waiting
for presses, who, under the rules. are en-
titled to presses ahead Of chance men.
This would so reduce the available new
work that men who are now on the chance
roll would not all get presses in the
new building. Thus to put on seven dis
missed men would throw out printers who
are ahead of them. After further talk on
the subject | returned to Devlin and Cav
anaugh, and soon afterward the confer
ence broke up. The letter to Jordan,
though signed, was but a draft, and Was
not intended to be sent. If he
received it, delegates from the knights of
labor must have taken it from my DIES k
1t had previously been rejected by them.
| do not accuse them of stealing the letter,
but dc say the letter should never have
gone to Jordan. 1t was null and void.
When | returned to my desk, [ said good
bye and swept the papers into the
drawer but did not notice that this
letter was gone. I have reason
to think they took the note sent in to me
by the delegates of the federation from
which Mr.. Powderly gets the information
about Gompers' federation.
The name was put on the card by my
private secretary in order to identify the
people in my mind"
WASHINGTON, July 3.-The secretary
of the treasury received letter this NOR
ming from Grand Master Workman Pow
derby, Of the knights of labor, reviewing
the case of the discharged plate printers
in about the same tone as his statement to
the public and, in addition, intimating
that the knights of labor will appeal the
case to the president.