Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-06

more than 100 per cent, and instead of 200
there are now 800 members of the union,
the majority of whom are employed in the
bureau of engraving and printing.
a large number of the members of this
very formidable organization are the in
divtduals who print al of Uncle Sans Sc
curities, the bonds, notes, internal revenue
stamps and postage stamps. Through
these mems hands pass notes varying in
denomination from 81 to $4,000. Their
work is of the most delicate character, it
being each printers duty to see that each
impression is perfect and kept in a spotess
condition. All this work is done behind
lock and key. If a note or bond or other
security is mislaid, all the printers and
their assistants in the room in which it is
lost are detained until it is found.
Local Union No. is the largest one of the
seven plate printers organizations affiliated
with the International Steel and Copper
Plate Printers Union of North America.
Besides controlling the bureau of engrav-
ing and printing, it has jurisdiction over
large number of printers employed in the
United States coast and geodetic survey
service and several plate printing estab
liShmentS in the city.
During the time the union was affiliated
with the Knights of Labor, in 1885, the
plate printers employed in the bureau of
engraving and printing We're identified in
the controversy with Mr.. E. O. Graves.
then chief of the bureau, in the matter of
hand and steam press printing. In order
that the printers might obtain congress
siOnal recognition the union appointed a
committee, consisting of MesSrs. E l.. Jor-
dan and Michael Kearney, to go before the
Senate and House of Representatives.
Through this committees hard and inces-
SAINT work the steam presses which were
in the bureau of engraving and printing at
that time We're removed and hand ma
chimes We're rcinstalled.
In 1898 Mr.. Claude NJ. johnson, then d.
rector of the bureau, and Plate Printers
Union. No. ., FLASHED over the question of
presses. Mr.. Johnson endeavOred to have
ste INT lrro in ht,ra
The union demonstrated, and again ap-
pealed to Congress to have laws enacted
prohibiting the use of steam presses on the
government securities. A committee was
appointed to represent the printers before
the Fifty-fifth Congress After consider
able work the following clause in the law,
now on the statute books was enacted:
That hereafter all bonds notes and
checks shall be printed from hand roller
presses"
In the following year the law was further
amended to provide:
THAT hereafter the faces Of all tobacco
stamps from two pounds upward and all
beer whisky, cigar and oleomargarine
stamps, shall be printed from engraved
plates upon hand-roller plate-printing
presses"
There has been no further attempt to in
troduce steam presses. To install the steam
machines would require an act of Congress
repeating the pre- sent law, which, of course,
would be met with vigorous opposition from
organized labor
The union is more Of fraternal organiza-
ton than a labor craft it being the duty of
certain committee to see that all the
members are employed, and to look after
them when they are in need. The union
has also established benefit fund, from
which disbursements are made In the time
of death of members. The craft is gener-
ally known for it's extreme generosity, hav-
ing always responded heartily to all ap-
peals from organized labor. At the last
meeting Of the body, funds were appro-
,Nrfa tod Il Siri6 i1tin twill
coal miners of Pennsylvania.
The relations between the Plate Printers
Union and the American Federation of
Labor are of the most cordial chara cter,
the printers being represented annually at
the conventions of the federation. Mr.. c.
I. Smith, chairman of the executive board
of the union, has been chosen delegate TO
the coming convention of the federation to
be held in November at New Orleans. La.
At the last election of officers the follow
ing were chosen to serve for one year:
President, Henry w. Szegedy; vice presi-
dent, Theodore Rooney; recording secre-
tary, John ]. King; financial secretary:
John F. Hardie; treasurer, D. j. Logan;
executive board c. T. Smith, chairman;
William Yates, Theodore Rooney. Henry
w. Szegedy A w. Stockton and William
Slocum.
President szegedy was born in st. Louis,
Mo, February %, 1857. When a child he
went to New York and received his edu-
cation in the public schools Of that city,
He came to Washington when he was quite
young and entered the bureau Of engraving
and printing as an apprentice. After serv-
ing the required time, he became a full
f1edged plate printer and entered the ranks
of unionism. He has been president of the
local plate printers since $685. and has also
held the Office of president Of the Inter-
national Steel and Copper Plate Printers
Union Of North America two terms, during
the years 1889 and 1901. He had the dis
tinetion of being the president of the local
Central Labor Union for six terms, from
1893 to 1901. being elected semi-annually.
Mr.. John F. Hardie. financial secretary of
the body. Is New Yorker, having been
born in New York city, November Is, 1871.
He attended the public schools and served
his apprenticeship in that city. He worked
at his trade in the metropolis until 1896,
when he removed to Washington. He en-,
tered the competitive examination for a
position in the bureau and made a high
mark. He enjoys the distinction of being
the first plate printer who entered the bu-