The Washington herald., 1907-01-09
EDWARDJORDAN dies
Widely Known Labor Man
Passes Away in Virginia.
FORMERLY A PLATE PRINTER
Was Employed in Bureau of En-
craving and Printing, Where He
Fought the Introduction of steam
Presses-End Came as Result of At
tack of Typhoid Fever.

Edward L. Jordan, one Of the most
widely known labor men in the country
died at his home in Ballston. Va. shortly
after o'clock last evening. from an at
tack Of typhoid fever
The news OF his death came as a severe
shock 10 his many friends in this city.
when ii was telephoned around by the
members Of his family. as it was thought
he was on the road to recovery.
Mr.. Jordan was born in Jersey City,
\. J., in August. 1855. The early years of
his life were far from encouraging and
did not point out great things for him
At the age Of four years his father,
Phalan Jordan. of whom il Is sufficient
TO say that he was an Irishman, ded.
After the death Of his father. his moth
er married a second time, but she 10 not
live very long after her second alliance,
so young Jordan was left total orphan
at the age of seven years. He was
obliged to look out for himself. and very
shortly was taken TO Bristol Pa. and at
the age of nine was put 70 work upon
the Lehigh and Delaware Canal.
Worked on Canal.
Here he stayed for some time. but as
the life was coarse and unc0ngenial to
him he soon left and went TO PhladeI-
phia and obtained employment in the
Office Of Bartis P. Newman. a plate
printer. There he learned the trade Of
plate printing-the trade 10 whicn he was
linked by the closest ties Of friendship
at his death, because Of his warm feeling
toward the members OF that craft
He left the office Of Mr. Newman in
1876 and obtained employment at the Ma
ti0nal Bank Note Company of New York
City. In 1877 he left the trade Of plate
printing for a short while and became
the general agent Of the International
Scrap Book and illustrated Magazine. il
was published IN Philadelphia and had an
excellent run under his management He
soon resigned TO accept a place in the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing in
Washington.
In 1SsH Nj Jordan gave up his position
in the Bureau Of Printing and Engraving
30 work for the interests Of his trade and
fcllow-cr3ftsmen. whose places were
threatened 10y the attitude Of T. O.
Graves. the then chief of that bureau
who was endeavoring To put in the bureau
in the place OF the hand roller presses the
power presses. which could not do the
work in the highest style of art. Those
presses Mr.. Graves said. were 10 be
placed IN the bureau and operated in the
interest of time and economy. but his
premises were wrong and his conclusion
was wrong. according % Mr.. Jordan. who
laid bare the fsilaCy Of his argument TO
Congress. Jordan claimed steam presses
would open wide the gates to counter
feiters.
Fight Lasted Three Years.
The hght between the printers. headed
by 1Ir. Jordan. and SIR. Graves. aided by
the patentees. lasted three years. and the
Congressional end OF the fight was
handled by Mr.. Jordan. He demonstrated
90 the satisfaction Of Congress that plate
printing is one of the few things that
requires the skill Of the human hands
There were number of men appointed
20 make the fight, all of whom declined
but two. His coworker. Michael Carney.
is still employed in the bureau.
At the time of his death. he was tho
publisher and editor OF a magazine
known as the Plate Printer. published in
the interest of the various printers un-
ions throughout the country.
Mr.. Jordan was the president Of the
Retail Liquor Dealers Association of the
United States. and for this reason he was
known all over the country as one Of the
leading men IN this line Of business He
was a member OF the Congressional com
mittee of the Plate Printers Union and
president Of that organization.
Air. Jordan was a bosom friend Of Pres
ident Gompers. of the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor and when the news Of Mr.
Jordan's death reached him. Mr.. Comp
ers simply stated that "One Of the best
men that ever lived is dead"
There have been no funeral arrange
ments made, as yet. but the funeral will
probably take place Friday morning from
the family residence ,RF he ,z.....-.-.4