The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-11
GIVEN SLABS IN THE FACE
What Organized Labor Got from Demo-
cratic officers and Legislature.
Matthews and Henderson Censured BY the Ty-
biographical UnOn-Why Labor Meas
ures Failed TO Pass Last Year.

tress over the antagonism shown by organ
lied labor TO two of the candidates on
their State ticket. One of these is Secretary
of State Matthews. who was nominated
with hurrah under the impression that
he was a gilt-edged candidate for Gov
ernor, and the other is is j. o. Henderson,
who wants another two years enjoyment
OF the emoluments of the Office of Auditor
of State.
The cause of this Democratic distress
goes back to the appointment of Chris.
Stein to the responsible position of clerk
of the State Board of Public Printing.
which was followed By vigorous protest
on the part of organized labor as repre-
sented in Indianapolis Typographical
Union No. /. Mr.. Stein has been O saloon
keeper. O deputy United States marshal
and @ serviceabIe ward worker but he has
never been a printer.
1t twas on Sunday. March l. 1891. that lndi-
annapolis Typographical Union. No. l. passed
resolutions protesting against the action of
Secretary of State Matthews and Auditor of
State Henderson. who constituted major
iuy of the Board of State Printing Commits
sioners in electing. in violation of law, this
man to act as clerk of the board, who has
no knowledge or experience in the printing
business.
Since the nomination of these WORTHLESS
by the Democratic State convention O
number of politicians have been moving
heaven and earth to get the resolutions ex-
punged. Two attempts have been made
very recently. both of which signally
failed, as the typographical union proposed
to stand firmly by what it has done.
The State expends from $4,000 TO S35. Zoo
year for public printing and stationery.
and the law provides that the Secretary of
State must certify to the correctness of all
warrants paid on account of the public
printing. The conditions OF the. contract
between the State and the contractor for
public printing are such as to require
practical printer to judge whether the con-
tracts have been fulfilled or not. AS al
example, bills for composition range from
$50 to $4,000 annually. The printing
clerk, unGoI the law. is compelled to meas
ure all this type. distinguish between the
different bodies of types. and COM
pute its correctness TO do such
practical printer, but Mr.. Matthews takes
his chances on the correctness of an &C
count on the advice of man who knows
all about q bung-etarter, but doesn't know
the difference between a shOOting-stlck and
a shooting star, who never saw n type meas
ure, and would not know how to use one If
it was placed in his hands. AS to Mr. Hen
derson. who shares with farmer Mat
thews the responsibility of this appoint
ment. the printers of this city know that
he was under special obligations to them
when he ran two years ago, as they gener-
ously kept hands Oft In a labor matter
where they could have materially injured
him.
The resolutions referred to read as fol-
lows:
Whereas the law requires that the clerk of the
State Board of Printing Commissioners shall
have practical knowledge OF the printing busi-
ness; and
Whereas Messrs. Claude Matthews. Secretary
OF State, and j. o. Henderson, Auditor OF State,
a majority OF said board. in violation OF the pro-
visions OF this law, and in utter disregard OF the
request OF organized labor, have appointed to
the said position man who has neither expert
ence nor knowledge OF any branch OF the print
Ing business, and Is unknown 10 the printing
craft;
Whereas, Said appointment was made largely
through the influence OF man whose hatred TO
trades-uniOns IL we'll known; and In view OF the
fact that one member OF the State board received
campaign in refuring certain charges against
him detrimental to his political interests; there
Resolved, That Typographical Union, No. /,
hereby enters Its protest against said unlawful
action on the part OF said majority of the State
violation OF public trust and dangerous TO
public interests. as well as a fragrant disregard
of the reasonable request of organized labor.
Resolved, That the secretary send copy OF
these resolutions, under seal OF the union, to
Secretary OF State Matthews and Auditor of
State Henderson, and TO all sister unions
throughout the state; that they be published in
the Labor Signal and Typographical Journal
and that our delegates lay the same before the
Central Labor Union and request its indOrse-
ment.
1t is understood that farmer Matthews
and Auditor Henderson are awfully dis
quieted over these resolutions, especially
since the two failures to have them recon-
sIdered and expunged. and that another
attempt will soon be made to blot them
from the record.