Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-03

His Contribution to the Controversy Owe
the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing.

His Contribution to the Controversy Over
the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing.
General Master Workman Powderly Of the
| Knights Of Labor, who il now In Philadelphia.
has prepared the following statement relative
to the controversy over the unemployment Of
the plate printers dropped from the rolls Of the
bureau Of engraving and printing:
THE STATEMENT.
We have studiously refrained from saying or
doing anything which would even in the slight
| est degree embarrass the Secretary Of the
Treasury or the administration. Many Of the
reports which went broadcast from Columbus
while we were there were not only not inspired
by us, but were extremely annoying. Up to
this moment have not said q word publicly.
but feel that the statements charged to the
Secretary Of the Treasury merit some reeogni-
ton and denial, since they are entirely and un-
Qualifiedly false.
He has stated. so it 10 alleged and he has not
denied it, that the plate printers trouble was
not the subject Of discussion at the meeting
held at Mansfield between Senator Sherman
Maj. Mckinley and himself. That matter was
discussed at Mansfield, settlement advised,
and hold the proofs over the signature of
Maj. Mckinley himself. On hts return to
Washington the Secretary of the Treas
ury wired the general worthy foreman
OF this order, Mr.. Cavanagh. to come to
Washington that the matter could be settled
he complied with the request and on
June 80, at 10 am, had a moments
interview with the Secretary of the Treasury
who, without discussing the merits OF the
case, named 2 pm that day as a time when
ne would meet our committee. At that hour
Messrs. Devlin and Cavanagh saw Mr.. Foster
and concluded an agreement to restore the dis
charged men to their places. He even went so
far as to write letter to one of them asking
him to advise him whether he wished to be re-
employed. That letter embodied the agree
ment entered into. 1t is written in his own
hand and over his own signature. We hold that
letter as proof of what we say. Mr.. Devlin
made the memorandum OF the terms on which
the agreement was 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 roll in the plate printing depar tment
shall be restored to their former places or
places Of equal Importance and payment: and
that they shall be treated with the same fair
ness and consideration as other plate prir tiers
by the chief and his assistants in the bureau.
That four of them shall be restored within ten
days and the balance within two weeks from
this date.
Mr.. Devlin's first proposition was that al, the
discharged men should be restored to their
former places within ten days, but. in order to
conciliate the Secretary, he prepared the fore
going, and it was approved by Mr.. Foster.
Secretary of the Treasury, and Mr.. Meredith,
z,
1t was stated by Mr.. Meredith that the agree
ment could be carried out without the dis
placement Of any man in the department
DELEGATION FROM THE FEDERATION.
These deliberations we're concluded, and those
present were congratulating themselves upon
the happy termination Of the difficulty, when
committee of plate printers we're called into
the Secretary's chamber by Mr.. Meredith. The
card which announced their arrival bore this
inscription: "A delegation from the Gompers
Federation of Labor desires to be heard before
an agreement Is arrived at with the knights of
Labor"
These men had been called away from their
machines at IL o'clock that day, Just as soon as
it became known that Mr.. Cavanagh had ar
ranged with the Secretary of the Treasury for
an interview They were drilled by Mr.. Mere
dith as to their speech and conduct while de-
liberating with the Secretary, but the instruc-
lions were not complete; for Mr.. Meredith for
got to tell them the name of the organization
they were supposed to represent before the
Secretary, and they gave the name of an asso-
citation that does not and never did exist.
After short interview with this committee
the Secretary turned to Mr.. Devlin, and,
snatching some papers from his hands, said:
If there is to be fight with this organization
or yours l don't know but what had better
fight yours"
To that Mr.. Devlin replied: ST it Is to be a
fight guess We can do little of that our
selves"
Mr.. Devlin then called his attention to the
fact that he had concluded an agreement to
settle the natter that in that agreement no
man. whether Knight of Labor or member Of
the federation. was to be Disseminated against
or displaced; but the Secretary of the Treasury
stated that he would have to send for Mr.
Gompers before he could arrive at a further
understanding of the case.
The advisers of Mr.. Foster have influenced
him to SO act as to give the controversy such a
coloring as to create the impression that it is
a struggle between labor organizations. Such
is not the case. We have no fight, quarrel or
dispute with any labor organization, and this
contest will not be regarded by the general
officers of the Knights Of Labor. Mr.. Foster
has an undoubted right to consult with Mr.
Gompers II he pleases, but the fact still re-
mains that none Of the men involved belong
to any organization but the Knights Of Labor.