Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-10
CHANCE FOR A SNEAK"
HE CAN FREE HIMSELF OF HIS
VENOM AND SPITE.
Foremen Who Were Called or Recalled
as Witnesses-Exhibits of Tabular
Work by Both Machines.

two Lanston typesetting machines was in
session this morning behind closed doors.
with the ever faithful watchmen stationed
on the outside. The spectacle presented be-
hind the guarded doors was one that is
seldom witnessed in this country. There
were interested in the investigation and
subject TO have their good names more or
less tarnished by the result of the secret
taking of testimony two corporations and
scores of officials of the government who
have had something TO do with the pur-
chase and operation of the typcsetting ma
chimes.
The corporations were represented by
distinguished attorneys and their respective
officers. These attorneys hear all that ~
said, and are vigiant in Offering objections
to any class of testimony and In taking
notes of portions of the testimony they
wish to have rebutted by other witnesses.
They at liberty to call other witnesses
and to do anything they fit for the pro-
lection of their clients. the corporations.
Men Have No Representation.
On the other hand the men whose Off
cial conduct is being examined and who
are liable to dismissal and disgrace are
without representation of any kind. These
men do not even know that they are
under any accusation except some
member of the commission may in his
questions or statement divulge that fact
So far the method being pursued by
the commission is concerned the accused
man may never know that he had been
accused at all until his conviction is her
aided to the world and If any accusation
in the judgment of the commission is not
sufficiently important to cause them to
examine the accused there would be no
way in which he could ever know that he
had been under suspicion except in the
fltf
publish the proceedings of the commits
sion.
The system pursued a the government
printing Office Is III Its essentials, so far
as the status of employees of the office is
concerned. similar to that by which Mr..
Theodore II. Price, the well-known king
OF the cotton spectators, has been con-
demned and by report of the secret
service, without knowing that he was
even under suspicion. He was practically
indicted, tried and condemned before the
entire country without receiving infor-
nation that he was suspected or given an
opportunity to make any statement In his
defense.
In the same way any employe of the gov
ernment printing office may some day wake
up to the fact that he has been disgraced
by a report of the commission. SO tar as
the system is concerned, such result IS
entirely possible, under the proceedings or
the commission. 1t is possible that the
members of the commission may rise su-
perior to their system. and by vigilance
corrupt without a proper hearing. The
credit of such a result would not redouhu
to the system, but to the men enforcing Il.
The fact that every man In the govern
ment printing Office understands that he Is
the subject of autocratic surveillance with
out any guarantee of fair play is very eVi-
dent from the feeling that exists in the big
printery.
The Chance for the Sneak.
The situation was today made plain by
a foreman there:
"If there is a sneak I'm this Office he
said, his opportunity is great today. Any
man here may easily get before the COM
mission and free himself Of his Venomous
envy or spite 1t is a great day for the
sneak The principles on which the COM
mission is proceeding favor the protect on
of such a He may go before tEem
with every guarantee that they can give
him that his testimony will never he quoted
to his own injury lie can nailsh the
character of any man here ana reel no
danger cf Ietributon.
..1sbare would be no possibility of such
n condition were the investigation held with
omen doors. Then the sneak would nave 10
be responsible for whatever he says 10 an
ether mans injury The men accused Would
he able TO know from day TO day whether
their good name had been attacked ana
they would be able to defend themselves;
Leading members OF the typographical
union feel keenly the manner in which their
members being treated in this invesu-
CATION, but as a government commission
itself is the offender they are at loss
for a way in which TO defend themselves.
They DO not like the methods of the secret
service being used in their trial which In
wolves the good names of so many or their
me mbers. They feel the disgrace that
would fall upon them by any general scan,
dal that involves their members and they
are anxious to have the investigation now
being made full and complete as possi-
BILE. They want no guilty man TO escape,
but they believe that they are entitled 10
fair trials
Air of Mystery Resumed.
The air of mystery was resumed in the
government printing office today and even
the bob-taied Office cat was imbued with
the spirit of secrecy and avoided contact
with suspicious visitors. The Keep COM
mission resumed its sessions this morning
and not employe of the big building but
felt the presence of the inquisitors
So tight is the seal of secrecy on the lips
of the printers, pressmen bookbinders and
others that newspaper men could not draw
them into conversation today on such
commonplace topic the hot weather
rs it warm enough for your queried
Star reporter, addressing one of the officials.
An affirmative nod of the head was his
reply as he scurried away.
while the Keep commission is here"
said another In stage whisper. I'VE can
not talk"
But after they have gomez"
WELL" and a smile was his answer TO
the query.
A printer who is not on duty today said
the roofs os the houses on street imme-
diately opposite the inquisitor.al chamber
was the only space in sight that was not
guarded He suggested that a teepa thist,
armed with a good pair of binoculars,
might station himself on one of those roofs
and possibly by system of wireless
mind telegraphy read the testimony of tho
witnesses by the motions of their lips and
the expression Of their faces.
you can't do that, remarked another
printer; for they've already drawn the
blinds
An Emphatic "No."
Before the supposed investigation began
this morning Chairman Keep was asked II
the press would be admitted. the people
were quite anxious to know what was
transpiring In the secret chamber. Nj.