New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-21
THE STRUGGLES OF "THE NERCURT''

g A. PHILLIPS STATES THE PAPERS SIDE OF IT'S
TROUBLE WITH IT'S EMPLOYEES.
THE Mercury is trying hard to pull Itself out Of
tho hole into which the printers. pressmen and
stcreotypers put it by their unannounced strike at
1890 on Tuesday night The paper appeared late
on Wednesday afternoon. only little late yester-
dav morning. and Is expected TO be out on time TO-
day. s. A. Phillips. its manager; the sporting
editor Ernest Hanegan: the Sunday editor, Edward
Penuzen; the night editor. +. }. Ward: the cashier
f. + Murray and f. H. Haynes on Tuesday nigh-
and since then have been setting the type ana run
ming the presses in order that the paper might not
go under Non-union printers and pressinen are
said to be gradually being engaged, ard it Is ox-
nccted bv the management that the force will soon
be complete
Tho men who went out because they did not
receive their weekly salary on Tuesday were said
last night to be anxious to go back as soon as
they were paid. as they had no grievance against
the paper Mr. Phillips. the manager says that
they will be paid but will rot be taken back under
any circumstances. He intends TO employ no men
hereafter through the typographical union MT
Phillips said to Il Tribune reporter last night mat
the scheme OF a silver syndicate 10 purchase q 81
per cent interest in the paper from Mr. Noble the
proprietor was dead. only one payment OF sew
eral promised had been advanced, and nothing
further had been heard from James F. Graham
the syndicate's representative. Mr.. Noble, he said
will continue to control the paper, ana ne would
continue as its business manager
M Phillips made the following formal statement
Of THE Mercury's" troubles:
While the public generally is not Interested in the
internal affairs OF private concern nevertheless
inasmuch as erroneous statements have been CIR
culated in relation to The Mercury, deem IL only
proper that those who are Interested should know
the exact state of affairs To begin at the 9eGin-
ming in the early part of last month | entered into
negotiations with representatives. duly accredited
OF leading free-silver Democrats; for the sale OF
The Mercury to them. and on July IL contract
was entered into by William Noble with James
F. Graham. formerly Editor Of p Msrgrry
stock of The Mercury Printing Company A
and weekly payments were to follow. These prom
Uses have not been lived up TO- In the mean time
and SY' also as Mr. Mobiles representatve
For many months past THE Mercury" has been
always been met promptly. on last Tuesday night
the employees Of the composing ROOM including the
pg or SH for the following
paper. suddenly left their posts at 1879 p m; know
posing room should go TO the stereotyping depart
ment at 1880 o'clock Without giving the custom tom
denly quit knowing that 1t would be practically
impossible to get out the paper the following MN morn ra
suit in great injury to the paper ana
room in a crippled condition. but also called out
the stereotypers pressrnen. the engineer and the
T@ dnpIoHTs Oh nv, nv, ,h M her FOR one dav
In the last year The Mercury, has paid to or
sanzed LABOR 0H in D'H its Guiding as high as $4,000
month. When these men left their positions they
cut off this revenue from themselves. Having been
thus left in "A perfectly helpless position. so far as
mechanical help was concerned, !. with the as
sistance of several faithful employees in the ed-
toria and business departments, went to the com
posing room made up the forms as best we could
got THE Mercury" out on our press. and thus pre-
served its continuity of publication; AS manager
of the paper | expected to do this, and TO use
every means at my command to preserve the paper
at all hazards. For the last two days The Mer
curry has appeared In an imperfect form. and
greatly abridged far its news Is concerned
but we hope within the next day or TWO 10 nave
matters running smoothly. and to produce as com
plete paper as heretofore.
1t is only fair say that Mr.. Charles A. Albright
foreman OF the pressroom and for twenty lone years
connected with The Mercury Mr.. John Sheehan
foreman of the stereotypnS department, and Mr.
Richard Rice. superintendent of the mailing ROOM
together with their assistants, who admit there
was no grievance. forced out OF their positions
by the uncalled for action OF the printers Under
Union rules II was necessary That they should act
I'm sympathy with the printers. and The Mercury
bears them no ill-wlll. The employees OF both the
editorial and business departments of the paper
after many trials which few men would care TO
undergo ard nj great personal sacrifice. stuck 10
the paper manfully and Loyalty in order that 1t
,,foht lft.n