New-York tribune., 1903-03-11
FOR Il PRINTERS PENSION.
II Franklin Fund IN London Which
Ought To Be Completed Here.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I hope to have the honor OF presiding at
the seventy sixth anniversary festival OF the
Printers Pension. Alrnshouse and Orphan Asy-
lum Corporation, which will be held at the Hotel
Metropo4e London, on Wednesday. June 10
An important feature Of this institution, which
was founded in 1927 and was granted royal
charter in 1885, is that those who desire to be-
come recipients of its benefits must themselves
have been contributors to q nominal extent to
the pension funds
II may probably be known to your reeneFs
that Benjamin Franklin worked as compositor
and pressman In England in the years 1IZo-'@o-
The actual handpress at which he worked was
carefully preserved in England until 1S41, de-
spite many offers by United States citizens 10
purchase it In that year the press was nanoeo
over to an American visitor in England with
free hand to present it to the American nation
as he might think best. At the same time the
donors expressed a hope, which was cordiahy
reciprocated, that some form Of subscription
might be organized in the States for the founoa-
ton OF special Benjamin Franklin Pension TO
be devoted to the less fortunate members OF the
printing trade In England. to which any citizen
Of the United States of America would naturally
have first nomination.
The recipient of the press exhibited 1t IN
Liverpool before it was shipped, and ABOUT
$500 OF Of f75O required to found pension
of 10 shiIlings q week, was subscribed IN
England to the Franklin Pension. The press
was handed to the United States patent
Office in 1912, and in 1888 was transferred 10
the National Museum in washington. Ihere'
however, the matter seems to have dropped
So, as president OF the anniversary Iestl'aI
for this year venture to take the opportunity
of a short visit to the States to bring tnese
facts before your readers, in the hopes that
1 may receive some contributions, however
small, which will be duly 2cknowledged at tne
AAA lf7
make it more worthy Of the great name whlch
it bears. I am. yours faithfully, aithliy,-oonr
w. HUGH sPOTTIsWoODE.
Kings Printer.
New-York, March 10. 1903
P. S-Subscriptions may be sent to me, care
of Thomas Nelson & Sons. publishers and i'm
porters, No. 81 East Eighteenth-st.
1--WE gladly print the foregoing letter from
partner in the well known publishing house OF
Eyre & Spottiswoode. Mr.. Spottiswoode Will
preside at the coming festival Of the Printers
Pension Fund Association in succession to
long line Of distinguished chairmen, including
Lord Glenesk, owner Of The London Morning
POST; King Edward when Prince Of Wales. the
late Archbishop OF Canterbury. Mr.. Gladstone
Lord Rosebery Mr.. George Augustus Sala, Mr..
John Walter Of THE London Times; the Duke
of Cambridge and several recent Lord Mayors
The sum Of f450 is needed in addition to thae
now in hand to found pension yielding 1o
shings a week which would bear FrankEns
name It seems a pity and not quite creditaole
that whoever accepted the responsibility OF
securing Franklin's press for preservation In
this country did not take sufficient pains to col
Iect here the inconsiderabe amount of money
required to establish the Franklin Pension re-
spectabIy But now if typogra aphical unions and
practical publishers would each make small
contribution to the object the thing might be
done In a week without anybody feeling it'll