The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-02
FOSTERS DOUBLE DEALING.
He Plays Fast and Loose With The
knights Of Labor.
ACCUSED OF TREACHEROUS CONDUCT.
lie Makes an Agreement with Them Which
He Brcaks-CrIsp and the Speaker
ship-Capital Notes.

the Treasury in regard 10 the reinstatement
Of DISCHARGED plate-puntors has been con-
fused and misrep1esented through the twist
ings of Secretary Foster. During yesterday
be tald % different parties three different
stories as 70 the status Of the controversy. In
The first place about noon he informed in
quiring newspaper men that he had
been fearless and firm" in dealing
with the representatives Of the Knights; that
he Informed them the department would not
yield an iOta Of its posiu u. soon after
wards Mr. Foster dictated an interview 10 an
Evening Star reporter. taking the same
ground and explaining his attitude. Mean
time he had made an appointment with DeVe-
lin and Cavauagh. OF the knights executive
board for q conference at +. d.. after the
Cabinet meeting. The meeting dld not take
place until about $50. The first thing oster
did WIS 20 inform the knights that the
star Of the afternoon would contain
what puupofted 10 Ice an interview with
him but that il was q fabrication from top 10
bottom and le would see the Press AssOcla-
tion did not use H. He then entered into negotI-
atiOns with the Knights who submitted NOM
orandum Of their demands slightly modified
Foster said he would have GO confer with Chief
Meredith. of the Bureau OF Engraving and
Printing. Meredith was summoned and after a
whispered conference with the Secretary the
2
accepted. It's main provision required the
reinstatement Of thedischarged plate printers.
AS the conference broke up Secretary Oster
said Il viii give orders to have that agree
mont referred rs carly as possible
The Knights representatives Immediately
reported TO their associates that the fight had
been won.
so AGBEENENT
During the evening Secretary Foster sent
word 10 the press associations that no agnee-
ment had beon reached and That as the mat
ter had resolved itself into contest between
the Knights of Labor and tho lederaton OF
Labor he washed his hands of the
whole thing Meantime bee had gone
few miles in the country 20 at
tend fete champetre IN behalf
Of the Spinner memorial. I'm short, Secretary
Foster had given several versions of the mat
ter 20 different newspaper mon. and last night
correspondents were seeking hlm IN every OLE
rection for tho purpose of getting the truth.
II 10 were possible 90 obtain the truth from
such O source. When ne returned 70 the
city it was too late even t. we any
thing to Eastern newspapers. At that
late hour Foster said be had not repuliated
the Star interview: that he bad only informed
the Knights that il was erroneous repre-
senting him as having uttered the sentiments
quoted 70 Cavanagh Now lt is susceptible
Of proof that Secretary roster old III DIS
afternoon interview with the Knights assure
them in the most positive manner that ne had
not uttered a word of the interview that 10
was q fabrication. la that assertion he was
seconded by his private secretary.
rosrrE'- NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
After sitting the whole series Of misrepre-
5entatiOus and faislhcau0Ns 10 develops that
Secretary Foster dd statA 10 more than
dozen men that be- bad REJECTED all overture,
of the Knights and would grant 10 conces-
siOns that at the Cabinet meeting the subject
was discussed and the Ireeident and his adj
visers expressed apprehension rs 90 the out
come of a labor fight On Mckinley and / Os-
Ter was advised 20 COMPROMISE. OF O. at least
teinpOrize that at his sIbse0 0uent meeting
with the Knights be practically surrendered.
But later ia the afterno. IL me received a tele-
gram from Secretary 0t-Stato Ryan and At
tOrney-Gcueral Watson, of OHIO, who had
gone % New York to interview lresidont
Golnpers. of the Federation OF Labor, and en-
list him and his organization IN Mckinley 8
behalf These commissioners replied
that Gomlers would take the field
for Mckinley and lead his forces for the Re
pubhcans but that Gompeis stipulated that
no concessions should be made TO the knights
OF Labor that al their oyoftures should be
ro oiected and open warfare with them IN
augurated. On the basis OF this telegram
Foster repudiated his agreement with the
Knights and virtually denounced them as
liars.
THE sECRrTARY's TETAcHrRy
TBr TINES correspondent was the first %
inform the Knights who We're assembled at
their headquarters eKu.tins over their sup
posed victory. of Fosters trcacherN. They
were astounded and ut first refused to ere bit
the information. Upon being convinced they
denounced Foster ln vigorous term,
but said they would prefer % wait for an
other interview with hin before making pub
lie the documentary evidence of the Secre-
tarys duplcity and double dealing. he
evidence viii be forthcoming and the effect
will naturally be 20 arouse the Indignation of
the Knights of Labor everyW here and inten-
sify their hostility 10 the ONO Republican
ticket
THE AGREENIFNT HEpUDATED.
Messrs Develin and Cayauaeh called upon
Secretary Foster to-day. and be briefly in-
formed them that the agreement made yes
teriay which required tie reinstatement of
the seven discharged pate-pnnters WITHIN
fifteen DAYS. could not be carried ont lie I
admitted entering into 1t. but sald that after
wards the Federation or Labor entered a pro-
test which convinced him II would be unwlse
for him TO keep faith with the Knights.
In brief the Secretary Tepudlated q solemn
compact into which be had voluntarily en-
tered An amusing feature OF the affair IS
that with the view Of bOlsterng up his sud
den change of purpose, Secretary Foster
quietly conferred with the superintendent If
the bureau % have three emplY Of that
establishment Who belonged 70 tine Fed |
Grafton of Labor wait upon him
and enter q formal protest against |
the enforcement OF the agreement with the |
Knights The whole transaction places o~ter |
in f. pitiable light and the knights ol lalor /
are now preparing complete expose OF tine |
entire transa ton. -uuported Dy documentary /
evidence, lor puolcatl )n
Cmsr ANp lHE srfAEmsHu.
Representative Crisp. of Georgia. is In the !
citv eu route 10 New York. where le VIII be |
one of the cl.ef speakers at Iammanvs |
Fourth OF July celebration Judge Crisp dis
cu,ses the speahersnip with Dis usual disele-
ton. lie SAYS 1T il topiar Vi for anl body TO
make predictions worthy of consideration.
and is gratihed that tle contest Is
entirely free rom bitterness Hc
deprecates anything ike sectonaa-m and
saws the party should select tine most suitable
man regardless af tho p.ace % residence.
Juaae Crisp has received @f"a otN o' or
tertion here and it is more than efor arpm
en-; that he Is in the very front rank OF
speakership candidates.
ALL QUIT IN CHINA.
Adyces have been received 40 the Navy De
partment from Admiral Belknap. commanding /
fhr A-iatic squadron. IN regard the trouble
in China he latest alvccs received are
datec Juno l-th, aud ln4l att tHat thnas ate
generally quiet. There are War-shps OF hye
nations now in China waters. and these be
SAWS have quoting effect upon the trouble
saig EIff ta %