Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
FOREMAN ASHTON SCORED
Charges Against Him to Be Preferred
by His Union.
AFFAIRS AT PUBLIC PR1NTERY
Binders Say That Conditions Are
observation-disclosures in Be-
half Of Ashton.

l
The trouble between the book
binders and the public printer,
augmented by the recent suspen-
sions of members of the craft upon
the recommendation of Acting
Foreman Ashton, is to be sub
mitted to President Roosevelt. This
action was determined upon at a
meeting of the union held yester-
day afternoon.
The assistance of President Roosevelt
will be invoked by the Bookbinders' Union
of this city to remedy what the makers of
books term the unbearable conditions in
the bindery Of the government printing Of
flee under the foremanship of Mr.. Harry F.
Ashton.
Action to this effect was taken at a large
~ attended meeting of the Bookbinders'
Union at Typographical Temple late yester-
day afternoon. President J. L. Feeney
presided and the meeting place was crowded
to the walls. So important was the meeting
considered that the announcement was
made in advance that any member who
absented himself would be fined, provided
he was not excused for cause by the organ
ization.
In addition to the decision to present their
grievances to the President of the United
States, it is said steps were taken to prefer
charges against Acting Foreman Ashton.
who had been notified to be present, but
failed to put in an appearance
The meeting was a spicy one from start
to finish. 1t continued for three hours.
dtJrf r0 WI ir1n &c ca q n I'M o n
members made red-hot speeches denounc-
ing the present administration of affairs
in the bindery. where Mr.. Ashton is acting
foreman during the absence of the regular
foreman, Mr.. Espey.
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolutions were adopted recitng that
owing to recent unjust suspensions in the
bindery by Acting Foreman H. F. Ashton
for various alleged reasons it has become
| necessary for the Bookbinders' Union to
take action In the premises. I'VE feel thai
in the case of Mr.. A. ]. Tanner a serious
error has been committed" the resolutions
declare, "in accusing him of habitual loaf
ing" 1t is further recited that all the testi-
mony so far submitted Is favorable instead
of detrimental to Mr.. Tanner.
1t is therefore declared to be the opinion
of the Bookbinders' Union that on account
of the "deplorable conditions now existing
in the bindery" the matter be submitted to
ed to Investigate said conditions
The resolution will be presented to the
President personally by a committee of
three to be appointed or elected by the
bitration board at it's meeting next Monday
evening, to be held for that purpose. Sew
eral names were mentioned In connection
with the committee assignments. but moth
ing definite will be known until the board
meets.
According to an officer of the union. there
was an impressive scene enacted during the
course Of the meeting yesterday afternoon.
when the nine men who are said to have
been witnesses before the public printer at
the time of the Tanner investigation were
called before the bar of the union. to tes-
tify as to the transactions which are said
to have led up to Tanners suspension. 1t
is said their testimony was recorded and
notary public who was in the meeting hall
stepped forward and witnessed the affi-
dayits. These will be submitted to Presi-
dent Roosevelt. it is said. by the committee
of bookbinders when it waits upon him..
Substance Of Afadavits.
The same officer said that according to
the aff1davits, Mr.. Tanner did not loaf or
loiter unnecessarily while at work on the
particular job, as charged by Mr.. Ashton.
or while engaged on any other job, and
to the best knowledge and belief of the
atlantis Tanner has always been "a faith
full and conscientious employe of the gov
eminent"
Feeling ran high, 1t Is said during the
progress OF the meeting. and the opinion
was freely expressed that the disturbed
conditions in the bindery had been caused
by a lack of judgment and tact on the part
Of the acting foreman.
One Of the speakers asserted that every
member of the union who is employed in
the government bindery is doing fair
days work. and that the union would not
defend any of its members unless it felt
that they were doing an honest amount of
daily toll and were in the right.
1t was whispered at the close Of the
meeting that charges are being prepared
submitted to the board of arbitration Mon
day evening. Just what the nature of the
charges are could not be learned, but 1t is
said they will involve violations Of certain
laws of the bookbinders' organization.
One Of the members of the union stated
last night that the Tanner case was likely
to cause considerably more trouble than
did the now famous Miller case Of several
years ago.
What Ashion's Friends Say.
Friends Of Acting Foreman Ashton de-
clared last night that he was simply trying
to conscientiously and honestly carry out
TIE orders Of the public printer as to the
bookbinders giving the government "a fair
days work for a fair days pay" and that
In doing he is necessarily making enc
mics Of his fellow-craftsmen who were
feeling the shoe PINCH
An Official Of the government printing
office said some employees Of the bindery
are 'conspiring against the government to
keep the bookbindng output down to a
minimum" This the binders deny.
o