Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10


Financial Secretary. Local Union. No. L. Internal
tionai Brotherhood of Bookbinders.
sage of the eght-hour law. It was also
afnHated with the Workngmans Assembly
an organization similar to the Central La
Dor Union, and in all demonstrations, pa
rades. public meetings. etc, the Bookbind-
ers' Society took a prominent part.
Strikes and Lockouts
During the early days OF the society
and also during the war strikes were of
common occurrence. Any infringement of
their rights and privileges was resented
Immediately. and In most cases they were
successful. One of the longest and most
stubborn battles they had was in the year
1858. AT that time there was no uniform
scale of wages, the compensation paid
running from $14 to SIS per week. The
bookbinders and the printers decided to
strike for a uniform scale of s18 per week
for day hands and eight hours per day
When the time arrived for the struggle
the printers weakened and refused to Join
the binders who went out alone, and
after contest OF seven weeks, in which
many exciting incidents took place, COM
promise was effected Public Printer De-
frees allowing them the increase of wages,
but stating 1t was not in his power to grant
decrease in the hours Of labor.
Marines and Piekets.
During the strike a company of ma
rines were on duty around the Office, and
the strikers had their pickets at the depot
and In the vicinity of the office so as to
prevent non-union men from applying for
work.
I'm 1868 they succeeded In having the
eight-hour law passed, and at a regular
meeting held on July l. 1868, a resolution
was introduced and unanimously adopted
setting forth that:
Congress having passed an act maxi
tr,rr afr ~ 40
out the government workshops of the
United States. thereby tending to amelio-
rate the physical and mental condition of
the working classes of this country, also
establishing q precedent which will sooner
or later be followed by all the private
manufacturing establishments throughout
the country. we, the Journeymen Book
binders Society of Washington. D. c.,
acknowledgment of that which is justly
due the workingmen of this government.
Respond to Call to Arms.
During the war the younger members Of
the society went to the 'front.' and in July,
1854. when Cen Jubal A. Earlys army
was in close proximity to the city of Wash
ington call for volunteers was issued to
defend the capital city. Every member of
the Bookbinders' Society, numbering ninety
I'VE in all, responded to the CALL and, lay
ing down their tools and aprons they
marched to the War Department. headed by
the foreman of the bindery, Mr. George P.
Gofr and were mustered in as Company G,
Interior Regiment. with the following Of
ficers: Captain, George P. Golf; first lieu
tenant Charles Lemon; second lieutenant,
John J. Byrnes; first sergeant. Warden
Bishop.
AFTER all the members were sworn in
they were dismissed to await further orders.
and shortly afterward the Sixth Army
Corps made It's appearance, and after a
short fight Gen. Early retreated OF
the ninety five members who were mustered
In on that eventful day forty-two years
ago, less than twenty are alive today As
scan the roster of that famous Book
binders Regiment I note the following
members who are still active members Of
the union and employed In the government
bindery: Thomas B. Penicks, Warden
Bishop. h. c. Espey. N. B., Gordon. J. II.
C. Hollins. A. G. Hullett, r. H. Marcellus
William H. Moran. Thomas O. May and r.
B. Hartford.
In April. 1856. when President Lincoln
was assassinated. the following call was
issued for special meeting:
.sWASHINGT0N D. c.. April II. 1855.
ITO the President Of the Journeymen Book
binders Society:
I'VE, the undersigned. members Of the
society. respectfully request that a meeting
OF the same be feld on this (MondayJ even
ing. at such time and place az you may
Designate for the purpose OF taking some
action In regard to the sad calamity that
has befallen our country
This was signed By = w. Mattin9ay,
Alex. Balm, Thomas p. Penlcks. H r.. Es-
poy. Wn1iAm Scott and G. W. Francis.
Death Dspacred.
ssNyof beinw a71ia to secure 4 han TIA -