Evening star., 1896-10-22

Dy any other company for the Glover Leaf
or ally tickets or checks which read by way
Of the Clover Leaf road. The result of this
would be to destroy all through passenger
traffic of the road"
In the petition the receiver attacks the
Joint Traffic Association agreement on the
ground that it is unlawful conspiracy and
violation of the interstate commerce law
ard combination TO destroy competitive
traffic. and that 1t is an attempt to give an
Unlawful advantage to these roads to un-
lawfully discriminate; that it Is an unlaw-
ful conspiracy at common law; 1t is in re-
straint of trade, and that 1t Is in violation
of the antitrust law.
The court gave the Nickel Plate road
leave to move for the dissolution of the
temporary order at any time.
The Case of Pressman Carter.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
have read with much interest and con-
siderable IL dignation the account given in
The Star of the 10Th inst. of the cowardly
effort of the Printing Pressmen's Union TO
have Edward L. Carter. a coloredA press
man at the government printing office,
ousted from his position. The reason given
by the union for its action Is based on
the fimsy and untenabls excuse that Mr.
Carter had not complied with the rules of
the Printing Pressmen's Union as 1ormu-
lated by the International Typographical
Union. But one who has paid some at
tention to the history of labor organiza-
tions in fFfS country and who knows the
spirit that dominates and controls the ma
jority of Them In their attitude toward
coiored workmen readily perceive that the
chief objection to Mr.. Carter is based on
the fact that he is colored man. If Mr..
Carter were morally unfit for the place
that he is holding and mentally or ply
sically incapable of performing his duties
properly, his case would be out of the
realm Of outside interference or public
criticism. But those most bitterly opposed
to Mr.. Carter admit, says The Star. that
In spite of the fact that on his appointment
he was assigned to the charge of one of the
most intricate printing machines in the of
flee he soon became its master and an ex-
pert in the art of running 1t. And yet the
union asked for his discharge. 1t failed
to obtain it. and every just man in this
community rejoiceS in it's failure. Mr..
Carter is product of the civil service ex-
aminations in when he attained a high
standing and through which he secured
his present position because he showed
himself superior to his competitors in the
peculiar kind of knowledge which his spe-
cial work demands. 1t is, therefore little
workman as Mr.. Carter should be the
subject of such an attack, which has just
been made upon him by an association
formed for the ostensible purpose of pro-
tecting the poor working man against the
oppressive measures of rich and powerful
employers. 1t is gratifying to know that
Mr.. Carter's excellent work and excep-
tional capabilities have defeated the pur-
poses of the union. 1t was fortunate for
him that he had such fair minded bench
of judges sitting in his case as the civil
service commission and Public Printer
Benedict.
This is not the first time in the history
Of the government printing Office that a
colored workman has been the object of
his brother printers attack. In 1869, when
Mr.. A: M. Clapp was the public printer
our fellow citizen. Mr.. Lewis n. Douglass,
was appointed to the position Of printer in
the Office This appointment was an inno-
vation, and met with the most intense op-
position and the severest criticism. But
his ground and declared that Mr.. Doug
lass should not be disturbed. The Inter
national Typographical Union met in AL
bany, N. Y. and branded both Mr.. Clapp
eral months of discussion of the matter
in the public press and in the union COM
mittee from the union recommended that
the matter be ended by making Mr.. Doug
lass member. The union, as body,
never acted finally on the recommendation
of its committee, and Mr.. Douglass has
been waiting for his certificate of admis-
sion into Its councils for twenty-seven
years.
With the close of this contest all fair ard
lfberal-minded Americans indulged the
hope that there would never again he an
attempt by government employees to use
them, through the favor Of others. to inject
into the administration of public Office
their narrow prejudces-and especially
that meanest of all prejudces. that which
Is based on color. But twenty years later,
In face of the wonderful progress in edu-
cation, wealth and character made hy the
ro-American, this same intolerant spirit
was exhibited in the bureau of engraving
and printing when opposition vas made by
the printers to the appointment OF colored
girl as a printers assistant But Secre-
tary Window took the same firm stand
with reference to this colored girl as the
dict have taken in the Carter case. The
bureau matter was fortunately given such
notoriety by the press that it was not long
before more than one hundred colored
girls had passed the civil service examina-
tions and were employed on the presses
that were making our greenbacks. If
this fight on Mr.. Carter will bring on re-
suits SO favorable to the colored people
uncalled-for and cowardly attack made
upon him as ar individual and some re-
turn for the insult offered through him to
a whole race of people.
There is no class of citizens in this coun-
try more loyal to its interests and to it's
general welfare than the colored Amerf-
can. And. strange to say, no other class
Of its citizens is so shut out from its best
employments. In its wars some of it's most
valiant soldiers have been colored men,
and in time Of peace colored men have
helped to build its cities and railroads,
have cultivated its soil, and in every con-
ceiyable way, open to them help to en-
rich its people. In return for these valu-
able, priceless services their chances for
making living by dignified trades and
vocations in private employment are cir
cumscribed, not enlarged. Like Edward L.
Carter, then, the negro-American is forced
to apply to the general government for an
opportunity to use trade that the unions
and labor organizations in the great cities
will not allow him to follow with profit
and In peace. 1t is pleasant to contem-
plate the strong sense of justice that moved
Mr.. Benedict and the civil service commits
sion to stand by Mr.. Carter in his fight.
It Is well to let such organizations as the
Printing Pressmen's Union see that there
are some ofhcials who are not to be fright
ened by their unjust demands, though made
on the eve of a presidential election.
ROBERT H. TERRELL.
Mckinley, Hobart and Madd Clubs.
A rousing republican meeting was held
last night at the Palo Alto House, In Blad-
eEsburg, under the auspices of the Mo
Kinley. Hobart and Mudd white and color
ed clubs Of Bladensburg The hote, md