The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-01
PRACTICAL PRINTER
DEFINED IN LETTER
Joe johnson Writes Unique
Letter to President
Giving Views.

An open letter from Joseph NJ. john
son. past president OF the Columbia
TypograpIicaI Union, TO President
Roosevelt auent the selection OF a
practical printer" 10 succeed Mr.. still
ings. created great mirth and interest in
labor circles last week. Mr.. Johuson's
letter Is characteristic He is a born wit,
a capable printer and q man of deep
thought
His letter to the Chief Executive fol-
lows.
To tile Hon. President Roosevelt,
President OF the United States.
Dear. Sir: understand that you are
haying more or less difficulty in arriv-
Ing at the exact meaning OF the term
practical printer. I admit it is a difficult
problem. Webster says that a printer is
a typesetter out doesn't say that he IS
practical. OF course / know that Web
ster is n bad with you on spelling, but
there IS a popular impression TO the et-
feet that he guessed the meaning of
good many words.
THE civil Service Commission in
poses an educational test-that is, the
practical printer who is an applicant
Tor a position az compositor in the Gov
eTnment Printing office is required 10
do sums in arithmetic, make guesses at
authorizations, and be able TO spell some
words according 70 Webster); he is re
quired to decipher bad manuscript and
write an editorial on some question sug
gested by the examiners, he is required
10 keen his verbs and nouns on an annie
able footing, and be able TO tell the diff
ference between an adverb and a
proverb.
''Of course a great many questions
asked by the examiners are of no prac-
tical value: others are not worth rap.
but as the Civil Service Commission
does away with favOritism and recOg-
nizcs merit only 1 am going TO try to
get along with 1t.
But a practical printer is one who
can 90 into q composing room and stand
mp 10 a case and set type Ben Franklin
fashion.
He generally has "a good opinion of
himself. knows that he is a better
printer than the foreman and he makes
that fact known 10 every one but the
foreman.
sometimes he is broke, but he is a
fellow of infinite resource and can gen
orally dig up.
He is able at all times. and without
3 minutes rehearsal, 10 use expressive
English regarding what he considers the
shortcomings Of the proof reader HIS
training, surroundings and prOvocattous
have rendered him letter perfect in tina
particular. or course you realize the i'm
UOrtance Of picturesque expression. but
II you could have had the advantage or
printing Office training and environment
you could say things TO Congress never
dreamed of uy Webster As II IS YOU are
handicapped But you have been going
some.
OF course there are many other minor
matters with which the average printer
is familiar; such, for instance, as being
able to travel by hand 10 the next town,
some also being able 10 prepare gump-
mullisan feast by the lonely roadside.
But these are merely accomplishments
and are not 10 be considered as essen
tfais.
Fl have addressed this communication
10 you IN the hope OF being able TO as
sIsC YOU in arriving at a conclusion of
the meaning OF practical printer, and
because / am not "a candidate for public
printer and am consequently lonesome,
Respectfully,
JOE NJ. Johnson