St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-05
Jordan's Position as a Plate
Printer Discussed in
the Letter,
But It Was a Draft Of the
Document Which Was
Never Sent.
Secretary Proctor sitting
Around Waiting for SEN
atoP EdmundS' Seat.

WASHINGTON, July 4.-Secretary
Foster said this afternoon he had done
with the knights of Labor plate-prin-
rers' case for good, he hoped. The let
ter he was alleged to have written to
the saloonkeeper Jordan, Offering the
latter chance to go back to work, was
never sent to that individual. 1t was a
draft of one of several propositions. and
had been stolen from his desk. The
secretary pretty directly charges that
Devlin and Cavanagh at the time of
their conference with him purlOiped
the letter. However, it was not of much
account, as the understanding was that
Jordan did not intend to seek work again
at the bureau, but merely wanted some
thing to show that he was treated like
the other discharged Knights, and could
go back there with them if he wished.
Secretary Foster explained that he was
discussing the case with Messrs. Cav
anagh and DeVlin, and had submitted
several propositions to them which did
not seem to be altogether satisfactory.
lie said he was willing to appoint the
seven men to places IN the bureau, with
the understanding that Jordan, who Is
making good living outside, could not
return to work. They wanted more
than this" continued the secretary,
land said they were afraid that if JOr-
dan were offered the place with this
understanding and itshOuld get to the
ears of Meredith, he would
Crow Over Them
and make it his boast that they had
been defeated. l went so far as to
draft letter to Jordan-tnere had been
several papers written during the con-
ference-in about these terms: Places
were to be found for the other SIX men,
and would he accept a 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 return 1t to me
or hand me Jordan's decl,natlOn. ms
to sOothe Jordan'S feelings, as 1t were.
Ali this was contingent upon our reach
ing an agreement. When | showed
Devlin and CaYanagh this letter
they declined my terms and l showed
the letter to one side with the rest
of the rejected manuscript. we
were discussing the situation fur-
ther and endeavoring to ind announcer
solution when l received the card or the
delegation representing the tederatloh
Vi LdDOIs LtdNll- DIhlAh NtAiNh 49,
nagh for few minutes, | went over to
talk to the newcomers. who told me
some facts that did not know before.
For instance, they informed me that
there are now about fifteen apprentices
III the bureau waiting for presses, VINO,
under the rules, are
Entitled to Presses
ahead of the chance men. This would
so reduce the available new work that
the men who are now OIL the chance
roll would not all get presses III the new
building. Thus tG put on the seven dis
missed men would throw out printers
who are ahead of them. After further
talk on the subject l returned TO
Devlin and Cavanagh, and soon
afterward the conference was broken
I'D. The letter to Jordan, though
signed, was but draft. and was not in
tended to be sent. If he received it the
delegates from the Knights of Labor
must have taken it from my desk. 1t
had previously been rejected by them.
l do not accuse them of stealing the let
ter, but | do say that the letter should
never have gone to Jordan. 1t was null
and void. When | returned to my desk
said good-by and swept the papers
into a drawer, but did not notice that
this letter was gone. l have reason to
think that they took the note sent in
to me by the delegates of the federation,
from which Mr. Powderly gets his in
formation about the 'GomperS fedora
ton The name was put on the card
by my private secretary in order 10
identify the people in my mind"
The secretary received Master w rk-
man POwderly's letter this morning and
found it in substance similar 10 what
L. I,OA crix- hliqqTlNn-
He was Not Disturbed by 1t.
but Powderly's course was accepted as
evidence that the Knights were going to
Try to keep up a grievance. rms does
not disturb the treasury officials. Ihey
are willing 10 let the Knights and the
Federation of Labor fight out their rival
derby intimateS in his letter that the
knights of Labor will appeal the case
to the president.
Secretary of State Ryan, Attorney
General Watson and State Auditor Poe,
of Ohio were in Washington yesterday
on their way from New York to Column
bus. While here two or three days ago
MI. RYAN and Mr.. Watson had confer
ence with Secretary Foster with rela-
ton to the Knights of Labor troubles,
and to-day they called on him again and
had long talk about Ohio politics.
Mr.. Poe said to-day that he expected
that they would have a very lively cam
paign in Ohio after it once got started,
but that it had not vet got hot.
THE third party movement" he
said, sis thing no one can tell any
thing about. 1t is impossible to judge
of its extent. For my own part do not
think it will amount to much in Ohio
The crops are good. better than they
have been for years, and there is moth.
ing to make the farmers discOntented.'
''Will this trouble in the bureau Of
engraving and printing hurt Mckinley
in any way?" g
NO: do not think it will have any
influence in the election"