The Washington times., 1894-04-19
THIS MATTER OF FURLOUGHS
Another Printer Discusses the Palmer
Method in the G. T. o.
THINKS NO UNION MAN OBJECTS
The Plan Has Been to Give Work, If Only
Little, to as Many as Possible-Will Bene-
dict Be Confrmed-Eforts to Hasten
Action by the Senate Committee.

az am astonished that union printers should
be kicking because several hundred other
union printers have not been discharged from
the Government Printing Office" said first
division compositor to a TIMES reporter last
night. practically that is what a savage
looking Democrat was doing in your paper
yesterday morning. The Democrat referred
to is only deluded with the idea that the Sen
ate Printing Committee will become fright
ened and bring in Mr.. Benedict's name before
they get ready.
Strengthening Democrat and his friend,
the stranger to the price of a shave"
should have some regard for truth. One
of them says he can only earn $500
a week. Now let US look into that
statement. He is evidently a time-hand,
for he says he receives $500 day. The en-
ployes out there have what is called turn
in" every two weeks. That is, their accounts
are closed up fortnightly. Well, am SO. 20
man myself, and 1 work only a few alleys
away from IS. L. D." who by the way has
worked there about twenty years under Re-
publican administrations, and 1 know that
previous to the "turn-in' which closed to-
day we have never been furlouGhed more
than two days in "turn-in," but in this
"turn-in" we have been furloughed just three
days. The pay for full ''turn-in" is $3.50;
$500 from that leaves S2s.s0. Half of that is
S1440. Now, what do you think of IS. L.
D.'s'' truthfulness? And mind you, as l have
said. this is the first '.turn-in'' which we have
ever lost three days.
IN n
can't meet his legitimate expenses on S14.40
a week. which is the lowest amount that he
has ever received in the q. p. o. unless he
lost time voluntarily! My God, how many
hundred thousand men in this land would
consider that q princely incomel There is
liable to be an outburst of disapproval unless
something is done. Well, who cares? 1t will
be a spectacle for gods and men to see sew
eral hundred union men 'outbursting because
the Public Printer does not discharge several
hundred of their fellowmen so that the out
bursters' can get in full time. 1 would also
like to know the union man who would come
out over his own name in the press and ad-
vocate a thing of that sort.
"a mass-meeting will be called to denounce
the parties responsible for the present situa-
tion. That is another bluff to frighten Sen
ators. Permit me to suggest that the meet
ing be postponed until the columns of unem-
ployed that are pointing toward Washington
arrive. Invite Generals Coxey, Kelly, Frey
and the other leaders to your meeting and
tell them that you are ''outbursting' with in
dignation because you can only work four
and a half and five days a week. and you
want three or four hundred members of your
union thrown out on the street SO that YOU
can get in full time. Tell the truth
''Public Printer Palmer has done the COM
mendable thing in time of almost universal
distress. He has given employment to the
largest possible number of men. And no
union man dare openly condemn him for en-
ploying so many printers that the average
number of hours of employment has to be
scaled down. The men that he might have
thrown out would not be able to find employ
ment anywhere. The machines and the hard
times have thrown thousands of printers out
OF work. Hundreds OF them are walking the
streets of every great city, and they cannot get
days work in month. How they would
rejoice to be permitted to earn S14 40 u week.
And If Coxey's and Kelly's and Frye's men
could earn one-half that amount they would
not be tramping to Washington. To the Dem
ocratic patriots in the G.. P. o. who are so
anxious to increase the distress among work.
ingmen, would say: Try to be charitable: re-
member that all the nation is suffering: want
Is everywhere and there is no silver lining to
the clouds that lower upon u.s. your lot now is
infinitely better than your Republican broth
ers will be when Benedict comes in and puts
them out in the street, and our time in the G.
P. o. will be brief enough without you out
bursting because our going is not accele-
rated"
And the first division compositor walked
excitedly away.