The Washington times., 1906-09-06
Suspended Sewer at @.
P. 0. Tells Her Story
of Grievance.

Miss Ellen F. Sydnor, sewer IN the
binderg Of the Government Printing
ONCE. who was suspended last Tuesday
morning by Acting Foreman Ashton. Of
the bindery. for cause. and later dis
charged by the Public Printer lor in
subOrdination In refusing 10 do piece
work TO which she was assigned by the
acting foreman, is seeking "a vindica-
tiou. Miss SydnOr, in speaking OF her
trouble today. said TO a Times reporter:
Personal animosity resulted I'm my
being virtually kicked out Of tile Office
where I have been employed for thir-
teen years.
Il have been shifted out Of office
which 7 retained for years through en-
ergetic service, and IN the eyes of the
new regime it has taken thirteen years
10 find out that I am Incompetent /
regret this notoriety, but I am deter
mined to stand up for my rights My
friends are with me, There are also
members of Congress Who viii come 70
my aid. Ny night is not only against
the head of the government PRINTING!
office but those subordfnales who have
jumped up on high perch clothed
with a little brief authority and have
sought TO deprive me OF my only means
of support
Thirty Years in Service.
MY whole life. OF 20 be exact. thirty
years OF il, has been spent In the Gov
eminent service. was in tho Bureau Of
Printing and Engraving as a money
counter and some years later was ap-
pointed by Secretary Sherman and sent
Il
Mass, to supervise the counting Of dis
tinctive paper and in this important
work / served satisfactorily for six
years.
Tuesday morning after ! reported for
duty after being on annual leave for
thirty days. 7 was told by William
Hyde, who has charge OF the bindery
blank work. TO report to Mr.. Ashton
acting foreman. Mr.. Ashton was ex-
tremely insolent and waved me away
with the curt statement that I should
report for piece work I was almost
dumfounded, but after bit Of inquiry
among friends, I was told enough to
make me believe that decision was
reached several weeks ago TO discharge
me I then went 10 MT. Ashton and
told him / could not do the piece work
he did not assign more of the younger
and more inexperienced persons to do
this work, for 1 had spent thirteen years
in getting a thorough knowledge Of the
duties of a blank sewer. and ] would
be at sea in any other sort Of work
Mr. Ashton became indignant at my
refusal 10 take up piece work and said
I was from that moment suspended I
made up my mind to so at once 20 Mr.
Ashion's superiors and get redress. /
approached Private Secretary Collins
and afterward entered the office of Mr.
SuIUngs TO lay my case before him per-
sonally. When / attempted To speak 10
him he brushed by me and walked
quickly out of his room, stating that
he would not listen To anything ] had
TO say.
Before had left the building, a mes
senger. ran up to me and said Mr.. Col
lins wanted to see me. i returned to
the office and MT. SuIlings was in his
office with the papers bearing upon my
record before him. / told him / would
not take up the piece work. as il was
equivalent 70 be discharged He asked
me to resign and I told him | would
submit under the circumstances to moth
ing less than discharge. j could rot
with justice 10 myself resign.
Mr.. Stillings ordered me out OF his
ofhce and said he would have me elected,
After Mr. Stillings had repeated his
Continued on Ninth Page)