The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-19
HOW IT WAS DONE.
MhiteIaw Reid Adjusts His
Trouble With the Union.

New YORK, June 1.-THE Tribune
this morning published the following
statement:
1.-The adjustment between Typograph
ical Union No. 6 aud the New York
Tribune having become the subject Of
discussion since the nomination OF Mr..
Whitelaw Reid for the Vice. Presidency,
the officers of the union have prepared
the following statement. After It's ap-
prevail by Mr.. John Kenney, the presi'
dent of the Typographical Union, it was
sent this afternoon to Mr.. Reid at Ophir
farm. He read it and said it was ac-
curate.
1T is not true that this settlement
was made or fastened because of Mr..
Reid's candidacy for the vice. Presidency.
In fact it is known that Mr.. Reid was
not candidate. and did not expect the
nomination. The negotiations began
nearly two years ago. while he was
minister to France. Mr.. Charles j.
Dumar was then president OF the union.
Mr.. Dumar, anxious to secure the
Tribune once more as union ofiice,
selected as his medium of communica-
ton with Mr.. Reid, Mr.. John E. Null
holland, who had for years been con-
nected with the Tribune, but who then
had public Office as supervising inspec-
tor of the contract labor bureau at the
port OF New York, and who, in this
office, had been brought into contact
with the representatives of organized
labor throughout the country. At Mr..
Dumar's request Mr.. Mulholland
entered into correspondence wi Mr.
Reid on the subject of settlement.
His suggestions were favorablY received.
Matters were progressing and a settle
ment we'll within sight when Mr.. Null
holland was taken sick, and for several
months was confined to his room.
"Mr. Dumar had gone out OF Office and
William ]. Brennan had become the Of
fetal head OF the union, when at last
Mr.. Mulholland's recovery enabled the
negotiations to proceed. There were
difficulties in the way Of arriving at a
complete understanding by correspond
ence, and at the suggestion of Mr..
Brennan and other officers of the union,
Mr.. Mulholland went to Paris to consult
with Mr.. Reid personally. Mr.. Null
holl and's functions were those of an &C
credited representative OF the union,
and he was treated as such by Mr.. Reid.
"He reached Paris last Septemb Der,
carrying with him proposition from
the union and an official letter to Mr..
Reid from the president Of that organic
alton. Mr.. Reid entered upon consid-
Grafton of the case in the most friendly
spirit. He pointed out that practical
difficulty in the way of the immediate
acceptance Of the unions proposition
arose from the fact that the Tribune
was not an ordinary printing office, but
q linotype machine establishment. In
letter to Mr.. Brennan, dated October
ID, 1891, which MIR. Mulholland brought
back from Paris, Mr.. Reid discussed the
bearings of this point. He said:
- Your note of September II was
duly received. Its courteous and
friendly spirit are fully appreciated,
and it would be personal pleasure if
l could, in justice to my own interests,
and to those of my associates, accept at
once the full text of the proposal you
make. l have accepted all of it that is
properly applicable to the Tribune and
shall be pleased if you find it satisfac-
tory.
'"The Tribune does not EN- ploy com
positors at all, but linotype operators.
Your organizat ton is one ofcompositors.
The trade is absolutely different one
and a knowledge OF com position is not
necessary to become proficient in it,
With the single exception of the weekly
rate of wages, which is now and has
long been in the Tribune as high or
higher than the union scale, there is
not clause in your regulations in the
least applicable 10 the Tribnne. | am
paying the highest wages going, and
will gladly cooperate with you in main
tanning or even advancing them. With
your object that of keeping up wages,
am in perfect sympathy. will e ably
enter into the contract you propose to
attain 1T, and have sugge sted no modi-
fication that will interfere with it,
The unions proposition as modified
by Mr.. Reid was presented to the union
by Mr.. Mulholland. 1t was considered
at length by the executive committee.
Not all the members were fully salts
lied with it, though at one time its &C
ceptance seemed assured. Finally. how
ever, it was suggested that a new prop.
osition be drawn up on lines indicated
by Mr.. Mulholland. Pending the sub
mission to Mr.. Reid of this second prop
osition. and in view of the spirit of
friendliness that he had already dis
played, resolutions were unanimously
adopted by the committee declaring
the Tribune Office open to union men
and thanking those outside the union
who assisted in bringing about this
better understanding between Mr.. Reid
and the organization. Mr.. Reid left the
French capital. and when he returned
he was erwhelmed by the press of
official duties arising from his intention
soon to resign office. 1t was therefore
mutually agreed that the whole matter
should be permitted to rest until he
had returned to this country. He ar.
rived in New York last April and gave
the matter prompt attention.