Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-06-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

written anu compiled LOT the HERALD
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 5.-Secre-
tary Foster has returned from New York,
and will IN day or two decide what, if
any, action he will take upon the ex-
traordlnary demand made by Messrs.
Hayes and DeVlin of the Executive Board
of the Knights of Labor, which are a Fart
of the fight which has been going on in
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
nearly ever since Mr.. Meredith was ap-
pointed chef of that bureau by the late
Secretary Window. THIS fight, as under
stood here, is really between the Knights
of Labor and its rival organiz9 on, the
Federation of Labor, and ii rouble
seems to be that Mr.. Meredith has de
clined TO allow either of them to run the
bureau. More than year ago the Knights
of Labor preferred charges against Mr..
Meredith, and Secretary Window, after a
careful in vestigaton, declared them with
out foundation.
Since Secretary Foster came into the
Cabinet these charges have been again
brought forward by the Knights of Labor,
and Mr. Meredith was informed that if he
would relnstate seven Knights Of Labor
whom he had discharged for disObedience
OF orders they would he withdrawn, but
as that would have been taclt acknowl
edgement of the truth of the charges he,
of course, refused TO do it. Messrs. Hayes
aud Devlin last week went to the Treas
ury DEPARTING mt while Secretary Foster
was out of town and tried to bluff As
sistant Secretary Crounse into acceding
to their demand He told them that as
far as 10 could see there was nothing in
the charges they had made against Mr.
Meredith. He was then informed that
unless Mr. Meredith was removed the
whole strength of the knights of Labor
would be thrown against the Republican
party in the Ohio Campaign this year.
Judge Crounse told them that threats
would have no effect in this case, unless
they could present some good reason why
Mr.. Meredith should be removed. Messrs.
Devlin and Hayes then went to the
White House and repeated their demands
and threat to the President, who simply
declined to discuss the matters at all,
telling them that Secretary Foster was
the proper person to see. Those who are
folly conversant with the matter in ell
its bearings do not thiuk that Secretary
Foster will interfere with Mr.. Meredith
in bis methods of conducting the business
of his bureau, nor do they believe that
Messrs. Hayes and Devlin will dare TO at
tempt to array the Knights of Labor of
Ohio against the Republican party upon
any such fimsy pretext as the discharge
of seven me for disobeying orders.
The affair is creating a great deal of
talk here, because it is the first time that
high officials of any labor organization
have attempted in such bold manner to
dictate to the Government, and for the
same reason the outcome is watched tor
with much interest, although few believe
that the threat is any more than talk.
Secretary Noble is coming back this We k
and again there are all sorts of rumors
about his early retirement OF change to
another branch of the Government ser
vice, but there is the same lack OF anthem
ticity in these rumors that have dis
tingulshed all their predecessors Com
missioner Raum is treated in about the
same way by the rumor monGtrs. lie
saws that be has no idea of resiGning I'M |
less requested to do so by the President
and that the President has recently told |
him that he was entirely satisfied with
his administration of the Pension Office,
,ad yet nearly every one sou meet be-
ieves that we i'll have new Commis-
oner of Pensions in the near future.
The appointment of ex-Represeniative
owen, of Indiana, to be Immigration
is generally recognized as
peculiarly fitting one. Mr.. Owen Is
he author of the bill to restrict immigra-
ION be has made the subject SPECIAL
tudy for years, and bis appointment was
sked for by hundreds of labor organiza-
ions in all sections of the country. 1t Is
he intention of the administration to
trietly enforce the immigration laws, and
Though they are by no means perfect it
; believed that they can b, so admins
cred as to remedy many of the worst
buses
Ex-senator Blair, who is still in town,
rawing salary as minister to China, has
urned prophet. He says the Republican |
atlonal platform next year will declare
or the free coinage of silver.