The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-04
PLATE PRINTERS.
Foster Reviews POwderly'S Re-
view of the Case.
The Secretary Gives the History Of His Int
view With Cavanagh and Devlin-Ais-
representations Sharp Practice.

WASHINGTON, July 3.-The secretary OF
the treasury received letter this morning
from Grand Master Workman Powderly,
of the knights of Labor, reviewing the
case Of the discharged plate printers in
about the same tone as his statment to the
public, and in addition admitting the
Knights of Labor will appeal the case to
the President
Secretary Foster, in speaking on the sub
iect to-day, said that 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 ex .
planned that he was discussing the case
with Messrs. Cavsnaugh and Devlin and
had submitted several propositions to them
which did not seem altogether satisfactory.
He said he was willing to appoin,
the seven men to places in the bureau with
the understanding that Jordan, who is
making good living, would not return to
work. They wanted more than this
continued the secretary, land they Were
afraid il Jordan we're offered the place with
this understanding and it should get to the
ears of Meredith, he would crow over them
and BOAST tuey had been defeated. i went
so far as to draft a letter to Jordan. There
had been several papers written during the
conference in about these terms: Places
were TO be found for the other six men,
and would he accept position in the bu-
real.
Il agreed to give them this letter to be
given TO Jordan if they should promise on
their honor as men that they would either
return IL to me or hand me Jordan's declina-
ton. This was to soothe Jordan's feelings,
as it were; all this was contingent upon
our reaching an agreemeet. When |
showed Devlin and Cavanagh this letter,
they declined my terms and L showed the
letter to one side with the rest of the re-
jected manuscript. We were DISCUSSING
the situation further and endeavoring 10
find another solution. when | received the
card OF delegation representing the Fed
Grafton Of Labor. Lesving Devlin and
Cavanagh for few minutes, went over
TO talk TO the newcomers. who told me some
facts did not know before. For instance,
they informed me 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 the mer who are now on the chance
roll would not be able to get presses in the
new building. Thus to put the seven dis
who are ahead Of them.
''After further talk on the subject 1 re-
turned to Devlin and Cavanagh, and soon
afterward the conference broke up. The
letter to Jordan, though signed, was but a
draft, and was not intended 10 be sent. II
he received it, the delegates from the
knights Of Labor must have taken it from
my desk. 1t had previously been rejected
by them. / do not accuse them Of stealing
hrlf / ho LOT.
should never have gone TO Jordan, as it was
null and void when | returned it to my
desk. l said goodbye and swept the pa
pers into the drawer, but L did not notice
that this letter was gone. l have reason
to think they took the note sent in to me
by the delegates of the federation. From
Mr.. Powderly they got their information
about the Gompers federation. The name
was put on the card by my private secre-
tary IN order to identify the people in my
mind"