Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-20
NO STRIKE AT
BIG PR|NTERY
Statement by President of
Bookbinders' Union.
sDICTATION NOT Attempted
Status of Difficulty Practically Un-
changed Today.
CASES UNDER INVESTIGATION
Important Questions Involved-Mat-
ter to Receive Careful considera-
ton at Meeting Tomorrow.
.DIcTATlON NOT ATTEMPTED
Status of Difficulty Practically Un-
changed Today.
CASES UNDER INVESTIGATION

ONCE Is threatened by the BookblnderS
Union and no dictation to government off,
Gals as to the schedule of daily work re-
quired of employees in the bindery is con-
templated by the union means for ad-
Justing the difficulty in the binding depart
ment Of the printery following the order Of
Acting Foreman Ashton for more work
each day. Emphatic statements to that
effect were made today to Star reporter
by j. L. Feeney, president of local Union,
No. 4. International Brotherhood of Book
binders. in discussing the points at issue
between Mr.. Ashton and the bookbinders.
The status of the difficulty remains prac-
tically unchanged today. Public Printer
Stilings has received the communication
from Mr.. Feeney detailing the matter and
containing the information that the book
binders had decided to hold meeting to-
morrow evening for the purpose of taking
further action looking to a satisfactory adj
Judication OF the trouble.
Mr.. Feeney expects before evening to re-
quest an interview with Mr.. Stiiiings with
view of laying all of the contentious Of
the bookbinders before the public printer.
Up to a late hour this afternoon no action
had been taken by Mr.. Stillings on the COM
munication Of President Feeney.
1t was stated at the printery today that
the cases of Alvin ]. Tanner and Fred j.
Schlick. employees Of the bndery who were
suspended last week for cause were still
yesterday. it was largely due to the suspen-
sion Of Tanner that the bookbinders deter
mined upon more decided steps III support
of their claims.
No Strike, Mr.. Feeney Says.
There will be no strike" Mr.. Feeney said
today. I'VE don't look for one and we don't
want any. There are few radical men,
bers. but the majority are conservative and
sensible and will not listen to talk Of
strike in this case. Personally am opposed
to that method of settling labor differences,
and believe that the same position is taken
by the majority Of members of our organi-
zaton l fully believe that the day of ar
bitration for all labor disputes has arrived.
"At the same time l must add that the
men employed IN the government printing
Office have the privilege Of stopping work
whenever they deem it advisable. They
are clearly allowed this right under the
law.
II want to emphatically deny the story
that has been published all over the coun-
try to the effect that the bookbinders
union has prescribed a certain stint or
scale of labor, for the control of it's men,
bers In the service of the governm ent. The
union has never had the authority to pro-
mitigate rules governing the work of the
men and has never assumed such a privi-
lege The organization has never endeav-
ored to enforce any special schedule that
might be favored 1t simply contends for
the privilege of presenting to the authori- 4
ties what is considered a fair days work.
In making up such a schedule the attempt
Is to provide a rate not for the fastest nor
the slowest, but for the average workmen
We claim the right to submit such
scheme. and feel that it should receive due
consideration but in case 1t Is not ac-
cepted we do not assume the authority to
force 1T upon the government. When a
stipulated scale Is accepted 1t is generally
the case that the government adds to it in
many details.
"Stint" Not Prescribed.
1T has been claimed that heretofore there
has been task or stint prescribed by the
union in effect in the division of the bindery
where work known as cloth forwarding Is
done. This Is entirely untrue. The only
regulation governing this work. so far as
the union concerned, was that which
had resulted from mutual agreement be-
tween the officials of the Office and the
bookbinders. To show that the men are
doing their full part this task as it has
stood for long time it need only be men
toned that no public printer has ever ap-
pointed men from any of the best binderies
OF the larger cities to this department
without allowing them at least two weeks
time In which to attain sufficient speed for
turning out the regular amount of work in
eight hours.
This is known as job work and Is the
highest class Of work In the office The
books are done in leather and only skilled
Job forwaTders' are employed in that class
of labor. The books are intended to be-
come the personal Property Of senators and
representatives and for that reason the
men take much pride and care in the class
OF work done.
Several of the members Of Congress are
disposed to criticise the workmanship on
these volumes. and unless it Is done we'll
complaints will be heard in the House OF
In the Senate.
Now. concerning the increased amount
OF work required by the government, no
doubt there are many men who. by exert
Ing themselves to the utmost, could comply
with the demands. but / believe that the
result would certainly be the turning out Of
greatly inferior books
Confident Of Kindly Consideration.
Mr.. Feeney expressed confidence that the
protest Of the bookbinders would at least
receive kindly consideration by the public
printer.
II have had dealings with Mr.. stillings
for q long time" President Feeney said,
land I am sure that he is a thorough be-
lever In arbitration. / feel that he will
take UP this matter and thoroughly investi-
gate 1t and that we will receive justice
from him."
Mr.. Feeney. in speaking Of Acting Fore
man Ashton, asserted that Mr.. Ashton had
acted little hastily In the matter 1t was
the belief of Mr.. Feeney that the trouble
could have been prevented had Mr. Ashton
laid the matter before the union
Had he come before the organization
ana stated just what he wanted" Mr..
F'eeney added, II believe every effort would
have been made to meet the requirements.
Had Mr.. j. A. B. Esby. the regular fore
man of the bindery. who Is ILL., been at his
post of duty this trouble would not have
occurred. as Mr.. Esby Is a conservative
business man. and the men would In fact
have gone to extremes to please him."
Mr.. Feeney went on to state that a sue
cessful foreman or superintendent of any
establishment where many skilled laborers
are employed must st all times have the
good will and confidence OF the employees
Without this. he said, 1t is impossible to
secure good results. He called attention to
the fact that Mr.. Ashton Is a member of
the union and Is considered to be in thor
ough sympathy with unionism II was
the opinion of President Feeney that Mr.
Ashton had shown impetuosity In dealing
with the bookbinders.
Membership Of Union.
The local bookbinders' union has a mem
bership of CSC and has been In existence
nfty-six years. Affiliated with the brother