Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-06-18
From our regular Correspondent /
Washington Letter.
WAsHINGToN, June 8, S9l.

| WAsHINGToN. June s, hs9l
Secretary Foster has returned from New
York, land will in day or two decide what,
II any, action he will take upon the extra
ordinary demand made by Messrs Hayes
ana Devin of the Executive Board Of the
knights OF Labor, which are a part of the
night which has been going on in the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing nearly ever
since Mr.. Meredith was appointed chief
OF that bureau by the late Secretary Win
dom. This fight, as understood here. il
really between the Knights Of Labor and
its rivai organization, the Federation Of
Labor and the trouble seems to be that Mr.
Meredith has declined to allow either OF
them to run the bureau More than wear
ago the Knights of Labor preferred
charges against Mr. Meredith, and Secre-
tary Window, after careful investica-
tion, declared them without foundation.
Since Secretary Foster came into the
"a met these charges have been again
brought forward by the Knights of Labor,
and MIR. Meredith was informed that if he
would reinstate seven Knights of Labor
whom he had discharged for disobedence
OF orders they would be withdrawn, but
As that would have been tacit acknow-
ledgment Of the truth OF the charges he.
OF course. refused TO do it. Messrs HAYES
and Dcvin last week went to the Treasury
Department while Secretary Foster wa,
out of town and tried to bluff Assistant
Secretary Crounse into accedinr 10
their demand. He told them that as far
as he could see there was nothing in the
charges they had made against Mr.. Mere
hith 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
ONO 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. Deylln and
Hayes then went to the White House and
repeated their demands and threat to the
President, who simply declined to di,cuss
the matters at all, telling them that Sccre-
tary Foster was the proper person To see 4
Those who are fully conversant with th,
matter in all its bearings 40 not think that
Secretary Foster will interfere with Mr..
Meredith in his methods of conducting
the business Of his bureau. nor DO th.y be-.
ileve that McsSr-. Hayes and Devlin will
dare to attempt to array the knights of
Labor Of Ohio against the Republican
party upon any such fimsy pretext as
the discharge OF seven men for diSobeyiny
orders.
The affair is creating great deal of
talk here, because it is the first time that
nigh officials of any labor organization
have attempted In such bold manner !
TO dictate 70 the Government, and for the
same reason the outcome is watched for
with much interest although few believe
that the threat Is any more than talk
Secretary Noble is coming back this
week, and again there are all sorts Of ru-
nors about his early retirement or change
TO another branch OF the Government SER
wee. but there is the same lack of anthem
,lclty in these rumors that has di-tin.
way by the rumor mongers. He says that
he has no idea of resigning unless request
"a to do 80 by the President, and that the
President has recently told him that he
was entirely satisfied with his admins
.ration of the Pension Office and yet near
y every one YOU meet believes that we
will have new Commissioner Of Pensions
IN the near future.
The appointment of Representative
owen, of Indiana, to be Immigration
Commissioner is generally recognized As a
peculiarly fitting one. Mr. Owen is the
author of the bill to restrict immigration;
he has made the subject a special study
for years, and his appointment was asked
for by hundreds of labor organi cations ia
all sections Of tue country. 1t is the inten-
tion of the adm nistraton TO strictly en-
force the immigration laws. and although
they are by no means perfect it is believed
that they can be so administered as to
remedy many of the worst abuses.
Ex-senator Blair. who is still in town,
drawing salary as minister to China,
has turned prophet. He SAYS the repub-
lican national platform next year will
declare for the free coinage of sill