The Washington bee., 1897-02-20
HON. THOMAS E. BENEDICT.

ONE OF THE MOST PRACTICAL hEN
WHO HAS EVER BEEN PUBLIC PRINTER
HIS CAREER AS A PUBLIC OFFICER
WHY HE HAS FAVORED THE COL
oRED MAN-HIs FIGHT FOR COL
oRED FRESHMAN.
On the front page of this paper will
be seen the portrait of Hon. Thomas
F Benedict, the Public Printer, who
has served two terms under the two
administrations of President Cleve-
land.
He is, no doubt, the most remark
able man who has ever held that office
or conducts an office upon so large
scale. He is remarkable, in that he
knows every employee in his depart
ment. If he doesn't know their names
he knows them by contact. He is the
only and first public officer who makes
personal inspections of his Office one
or two times day, which enables him
to know those either by name or by
face who is employed in the Govern
ment Printing Office. From the day
of his first appointment he has con-
finlleO 10 (IldkC IOI LAS DNob
government of that workshop Mr..
Benedict may retire from the ONCE
when Major Mckinley comes in, but
there will never be a man to succeed
him who can make better record than
he has. Whatever his faults may be,
as no man is without them, he has
never been the man to s'oop to petty
meanneSs, nor has he ever deprecated
merit in the colored man. He knows
no man by his color. This was his
record under President Cleveland's S
first administration, and it is his rec
ord now. What Republican Public
Printer, since the organization OF the
Office, has attempted, or even thought,
about appointing colored pressman
The PreSsmen'S Union, poisoned as 1t
is with prejudice against the colored
man, was, for the first time since its or
ganlzation, ,giventO understand In Eng
, lish vernacular, that Thomas E. Bene-
dict was Public Printer, and Grover
Cleveland President of the Unitei
States, and if an Afro-American was
found competent to fill the position OF
! pressman, after having passed civil
! service examination, he would be ap'
pointed.
One was found. The union kicked
consultations were held and resolu
tions passed. The Office was threat:
{ ened with dissolution; the Afro-Amer
J lean presSman was OStraCised by his
fellow workm en-; he was given some o
/ the heaviest work to do, and ever
/! without an instructor; reports were
made to the Public Printer that his
Afro-American preSsman was not com
petent; but this New York Democrat
as he was called, whose name had be
come a household word of abuse, gave
all to understand that Thomas E. Ben
edict was Public Printer, and Grove
Cleveland President of the UniteC
States. The Afro-AmeriCan pressmar
is still at the old stand, and Mr.. Bene
dict is Public Printer.
But is this all the Public Printer ha!
done for the colored man under
Democratic administration Ii the
Afro. American had been as true tt
himself as others have tried to be to
ward him he would, today, be po
litical factor in the great body polite
SO far as the Government Printing
,Office is concerned, Mr.. Benedict ha:
never, by subterfuges, evaded th'
civil service law, as some have don'
when they W .nted to get rid Of ap
pointing coIored applicants to office
Out of a batch of fifteen certified t.
him by the Civil Service Commission
eight colored were selected and aP
pointed by him. These are acts tha
should be remembered by this strug
Cling Afro-AmeriCan race.
] The time is fast coming when tn
lAfro- American in this country viii
, realize the Importance of supporting
princi. les and men who represen
principles, irrespective of party.
THE BEE cannot say roo much Il
favor of Mr.. Benedict. He deserve
| it, and if it were in the power Of TIL
sBEE it would do more than what
says.
J Let the Afro-Americans show b
their acts and deeds that they can az
: preciate kind treatment, let it com
I from whatever party it may or fror
iwhatever men or the representative
of any party.
Let whoever succeed Mr.. Benedict
a Republican, no doubt-do as we'll a
he has done towards the colored mar
{ and it is certain there will be no con
plant made.
Let come who may, THE BEE, O
| behalf Of those who have gratitude
will pay homage and remember
after days the courage, manliness an
, liberality Of Hon. Thomas E. BEN
dict.