West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-09-26
Organized Labor Demands His Re.
moral from ONCE.
RETENTION REGARDED AS INSULT
Sundry Accusations Made-Alleged vio-
latior Of Eight-hour Law unwar-
ranted Reduction Of Wage:
From the Washington %. c. Star.

Charles a. StilIings and his methods
of conducting the government print
ing Office.
In advance of official action 10y
certain labor bodies, the Trades
unionist, the official organ Of the
Central Labor Union and the Trades
Council of Alexandria, Va, demands
the elimination of Mr.. Stilings from
the public service, and gives its rea-
sons tor the de mand, besides making
strong editorial comments.
The article in the Trades Unionist
follows:
Mr.. Charles A. Stillings, stand up
The writer wants to say something
to you'll
When you took charge of the gov
contemplating off
You succeeded to an Office which
had been held by men of high stand
ing in the affairs of this country;
men who held the esteem and conf
dence of those who made pages of
glorious history; men who made
dignified The high Office of public
printer to the greatest government
on earth. You, Mr.. StillIngs, have
destroyed all the glorious history of
that institution, which has given 10
the country some of its great men
writer's, politicians, members of con
gress, cabinet officials, etc.
How2
BY your silly administration of
the office, by your petty and your
ridiculous orders and cownish as.
sumption of dignity, you have
brought down upon the institution
you think you represent the rldicule
of the entire nation. y
You and your attempt at the grand
stand has been pitiable 10 all but
yourself, and your vanity has pre-
vented you from seeing it.
You are public official, Mr..
Stillings, and as such we are address
ing you! We don't care a rap about
your private affairs-they are yours,
and no one else's. But as an Off
cial who deliberately violates the
law of the land, as you have done,
we propose to have something to say.
You have been the cause of more
strife, turmoil, and heart. burnings
in the brief time you have been
bungling the Office of public printer
than all of your predecessors, even
In the days when to the ;'vlctor be-
longed the spoils."
Why1
Because of your exalted ideas of
your own Importance you have de.
stroyed the working efficiency of
body of men, some of whom, when
dark clouds hung over this republic
like pail, shouldered a musket aud
went to the front, and amid shot
and she'll faced thousand deaths
that the republic might be preserved,
and who, for that very reason,
earned the right to feel that they had
more than "hired hands" interest
in the big printing office you preside
over so misersbly. BY your nag
ging and everlasting issuing of or.
ders and creating an air of uncer-
tainty many of these veterans are
afraid TO buy home or assume any
monetary obligations, because they
don't know when you will erupt next
and put them out upon the streets
deny them the right to the privi-
lege they have earned to make
living by reason of an honorable
and heroic service to their country.
And If you could hear the com
ments made upon some of your
latest doings. that by forcing old |
women, some of them widows of
veterans, to go through a tiresome,
distasteful examination for physical
fitness, to see il they are capableC2)
Of earning the measly stipend, the
ridiculously low wages you have
brought about in the Office, your
ears would Jingle, yea, more than
ungle, they would burn with shame.
You have reduced wages Of those
who could least sfford il.
You have violated The eigh, hour |
Law.
You or subordina,es have dis.
charged faithful employees Of years
standing, alleging incompetsncy, |
when such was not The case.
It's alleged you have violated The /
civil service Law. We believe o.
You have inundated old women
the widows and relatives Of union
soldiers.
You have made rules ,ha, nD
sweatshop would stand Tor.
Some Of your trusted employees
say you have made conditions intol-
cradle.