Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-13
CHAMPION OF LABOR
Position Which May Be Tender
ed Mr.. o. ]. Ricketts,.
RESULT OF RECENT INQUIRY
Proposed Placing Of Government
Work in Outside Offices.
CHANGE VIEWED WITH ALARM
Meeting Of typographical Union to
Be Held Sunday Afternoon to
Consider the Situation.
RESULT OF RECENT INQUIRY
CHANGE VIEWED WITH ALARM

The statement was made today on good
authority that Mr.. Oscar ]. Ricketts,. late
foreman Of printing at the government
printing Office, is being seriously considered
for appointment as the representative of
organized labor before Congress and the
government departments. Primarily the
proposition was advanced that Mr. Rick
etts be asked to serve as legislative agent
of Columbia Typographical Union, of which
he is member, before the Senate and
House.
inns matter was brought to a head by
the action of Commissioner of Patents Allen
In advertising for bids from outside firms
to do the printing of the official Gazette
and patent specifications
authority to have this work performed
outside OF the government printing office
Is said to be contained In simple clause
In the legislative appropriation bill which
Is now before the Senate committee on ap-
preparations. The clause in question Is said
to abrogate that portion of present law
which requires such prip ing to be done at
the government printery.
While the clause In the legislative bill
will affect between 800 and 400 employees of
the government printing Office, should 1t
be enacted into law, senator Is reported
to have said that the precedent, IL estab-
lished In this particular case, might be
followed by other departments and bureaus
of the government. with the result that
eA0 ootPut VI Tue plB print SHOP WOutQ
be greatly reduced. resulting in CORE
spending reduction III the force of printers
pressmen. binders, folders and other en-
ployes
View Of the Outlook.
This outlook Is viewed with alarm by the
thousands of workers In the big typograph-
fcal beehive, and 1t is understood in the
discussion of the matter the fact was men,
toned that while other labor organizations
have representatives at the Capitol Column
bia Typographical Union is without such
actual representation.
A meeting of the local printers union will
be held Sunday afternoon, and 1t was stated
today that the proposition to request Mr..
Ricketts, to serve in the capacity men,
toned may be brought before that body for
consideration
His peculiar qualifications for the place
were discussed by labor leaders today. and
the ground was taken unanimously that he
was the right man for the position. His
extensive acquaintance and influence with
public men Of both parties was referred to.
In this connection the report was current
this afternoon that there was probability
Columbia Typographical Union, but also
the great American Federation of Labor
with its approximately 100000 members
In every state and territory of the Union.
Under Consideration.
Nothing definite could be learned about
this latter proposition. but a leading MEM
Der of organized labor said the matter Is
under serious consideration. Mr.. Ricketts,
could not be found this afternoon, but one
of his friends said he did not believe Mr..
Ricketts, would be averse to the PROPOSE
ton.
The late foreman of printing Is a prac-
teal printer and union member and is
known to be in full sympathy with organ
lied labor 1t Is said sufficient salary
will attach to the position of labor repre-
sentative before Congress and the depart
ments.
There are said to be five such representa-
tiyes now. One OF them is Mr.. j. L. Feeney,
who represents the bookbinders and the
A +. of L.