Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-30

The executive board Of the Knights Of Labor,
Messrs. Powderly, Hayes and Devlin, did not
materialize at the Treasury Department today,
though it was announced yesterday from
Columbus that they had left there with the in
tention Of visiting Washington to see Secretary
Foster and endeavor to settle the cases Of the
discharged plate printers of the bureau Of en-
craving and printing. The Secretary, how
ever, had . good chance to ventilate
his views on the situation, for early in
the day he received . call from an indiyid ual
named Cavanaugh Of Cincinnati, . member Of
the Knights Of Labor and prominent in Ohio
local politics. II seems that while the row was
being discussed in the papers during the recent
convention Cavanaugh went TO the Secretary
and asked for a chance to discuss the matter
with him. He was told to come to Washington
after the convention, and his visit this morning
was the result.
THE sEcRKrARYs POSITION.
The Secretary was very frank with him. He told
him that he had not found that Chief Meredith
had been guilty Of any wrong, and that he did
not propose to dismiss him to please any dis
charged employees. He was willing to give the
men work as soon as the increased force goes
on, when the new building is completed, but
that there should be no REIMBURSEMENT
or vindication or anything Of that sort,
nor should anybody be dismissed to
make room Tor these men. He did not pro-
pose to change the status Of any body. The men
must make applications and they would be ap-
pointed as fast as there were presses to be run.
They might even have to start in again a. help
ers- he pointed out to Mr.. CavanaugL, as he did
later to STAR reporter, the folly Of the claims
Of the Knights of Labor I'm view of the fact
that the executive board is making . fight
fnr h. L. Il
q member Of that body. He referred
to the rule of the organization whereby bank
ers and saloon keepers are excluded from men,
bership. Jordan, the main factor in the case,
Keeps a saloon on 9Th street in this city. The
Secretary asked: "As q banker, would the K of
l.. tight for me in case was in troubleY'
WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH MKrNLEY.
In talking to . STAR reporter about the
matter later in the day the Secretary said:
Il do not think that the question Of inter-
fering with the Ohio campaign has really
been very seriously considered by the execu-
tive board. At any rate do not believe that
Powderly has taken any stock in the
scheme. In fact 1t seems 70 me
that the Columbus correspondents played
havoc with the truth in that matter. don't
think that the threats Of interference were the
cause OF much uneasiness at the convention,
and know very definitely that the subject was
not broached during the talk between Sherman,
Mckinley and myself. / do not see what there
Is for them to base a fight on that would appeal
to the public. 1 have made a PROPOSE
ton which 1 think takes the wind
out of their sails when offer to
appoint all of the men to presses. They in turn
gave their case away when they offered to let
the charges against Meredith drop If should
reinstate the men. If there were any truth in
the charges they would make no compromise.
Ther l do not know how they could consistently
go before the public and appeal for its sympathy
in behalf Of man who has no right in the or
ganization. They cannot plead ignorance Of
Jordan's occupation, for l have information TO
the effect that both Hayes and Devlin knew Of
the saloon and the identity Of its proprietor.
Il do not know whether or not the members
OF the executive committee are going to call on
me, nor do 1 care very much, for / have
adopted . policy in this matter that think ID
logical and sensible. / can make no more con-
cessions than have and can offer them no
derive from my proposition to Mr.. Cava-
naugh."
PowDERLY AND OTHERS LIE Low.
1t was learned by the reporter after he had
left the Secretary that Mr.. Cavanaugh came on
from Cincinnati in company with Messrs Pow
derby, Hayes and Devlin, and, after registering
with them at the National Hotel this morn
ing. went to the Treasury Department a. q
sort Of advance guard to sound the Secretary,
taking advantage Of the promise of an audience
which the Secretary made in Columbus II
will be seen from Secretary Fosters remarks
that he succeeded in sounding" and, further,
that he was diplomatic enough not to mention
the names or the whereabouts of his lste travel
ing companions.