Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-04
NAMES
PUBLIC PRINTER
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
standpoint and that he has a reputation
as splendid organizer
Commended by Gen. Edwards.
Gen. Edwards chief of the insular bu-
reau. spoke in the highest terms of MIR.
Leech today to a Star reporter.
His selection as public printer here in
Washington he said. will be a distinct
loss to the Philippine Islands. but I can't
| imagine more eninently merited one
| than it is l am sure it will tend to re-
store good feeling and give the results de-
sired AS far as 1 have knowledge he
made no application, nor asked any one
| to interfere in his behalf or recommend
him for the position. He has at Manila
| one OF the most complete printing plants
in the world-more complete than this
one here, in that phOto-engraving and
every function of printing and illustrating
are done. He has only two or three Amer
leans under him. His work will compare
with that Of any other like establishment.
| and is done more economically than in
most places. He has broadened out; has
struck a happy mead in his estimate of
equities between capital and labor. His
| foremen and operatives swear by him.
| The Philippine government points to him
| as one of their most efficient officials
And the resident Philippine commissioners
| were only the other day speaking to me
| about him and his attitude toward the ma
t,ves as giving them more qualification
| than any other bureau chief in the Phil
ippine Islands Moreover. he knows the
| printing business from \ to L.
Mr.. Leech's Career
John S Leech was born in BLOOMINGTON,
ILL.,. July :. 1865 where his father and
mother still reside. He received a COM
| school nd of
fifteen. entered printing office in
Bloomington. where he served an appren-
| tlceship at the case. He then entered
| the off1ce of the Bloomington Pantagraph
| Where he was employed for some time as
compositor. He then went to Chicago
and worked as journeyman on some of
| the leading dailies of that city He came
| to Washington after the Inauguration of
President Harrison in 1889 and received
an appointment in the government print
ing office through the influence of Jona-
| than II. Rowell, then the representative
| In Congress from the Bloomington dis
| trict He was assigned to the job division
| IN the government printing office and
| later was transferred to the old second
division under Foreman John L. Kennedy
| After working on piecework for some
time in the third division. Mr. Leech was
transferred to the night proofroom as
proofreader and press reviser He held
the position Of press reviser during sew
eral sessions of Congress-
Mr. Leech, although a republican of a
very pronounced type, was not disturbed
| IN his position during the fncumbency
OF the democratic administration after
Mr.. Cleveland's second Inauguration
When President Mckinley was inaug-
urated in 1897. Mr.. Leech. in contunc-
ton with Mr.. Oscar J. Ricketts,. also of
Illinois. was instrumental in bringing
about the appointment Of F. W. Palmer
as public printer. Mr.. Palmer was ap
pointed public printer April l, 1897. and
| 1t is a singular coincidence that April
4. 1897-just eleven years ago today
he appointed Mr.. Leech as foreman of
the fifth division of the government
| printing office, which was at that time
| the largest and most important typo
graphical division in the establishment.
Goes to Philippines.
Mr.. Leech, 1T Is stated. demonstrated
| remarkable tact and executive ability in
| the position of foreman of the fifth
| division. He held this position until
September Is. 1901. Just prior to that
| time the War Department. acting under
| the direction Of Gen. Clarence r. Ed
wards, chief of ipsular division. had
| decided to establish a printing Office in
Manila, P. J., to do the printing OF the
Philippine government. Several candi-
dates for the position of public printer
| for the Philippines were presented for
the consideration Of Gen. Edwards. but
Hohe seemed W poose"S VIC 1odo's~S
Finally, Mr.. Ricketts,, who was then
private secretary to Public Printer
Palmer. suggested to Mr.: heech the a a.,H.
| for the SUPPLEMENTARY of the Philippine
printing ONCE. Mr.. Leech at first de
elined to consider the proposition tonss at Az H.
concluded to allow his name to be pre-
scented to Gen. Edwards. which was done
| through the instrumentality Of Mr.. Rick
Recommendation from Gen. Frank W.
Palmer, the public printer. Mr.. Leech was
introduced to Gen. Edwards who. after a
few minutes talk. rendered Mr. Leech the
Immediately set out to arrange for the
purchase of all the material and plant
necessary for the conduct OF the Philip
| two months in getting the plant together
and selecting competent force for the
Philippine office. which was made up
mainly p fo oes n from this the esy Mn
Leech sailed from San Francisco Septem-
Der 81, 1901. He had many obstacles to
overcome in the establishment Of print.
to be equal to all emergencies.
Mr.. Leech is a man of very. decided
opinions and Is very strong In his likes
the working people and was for many
years a prominent member of Columbia
Typographical Union. No. 1Ol, and still
MAINTAINS his cOnQeCllOn as union
printer. He was a delegate to the Inter
national Typographical Union convention
at Detroit in 1893.
Mr.. Leech is a member of B. b. French
| Lodge, F. A. A. NJ, of this city: Wash
ington Chapter. No. ., r. A. NJ, and
Washington Commandery. No. 1. He Is
also a Shnner. a member Of Superior
Lodge, No. q. Knights of Pythias. and
Of Ascalon Temple. D. o. X. X. He is
unmarried.
| ookbinders Pleased.
| Mr.. James L. Feeney, president of the
Bookbnders' Union, late this afternoon
said the appointment Of Mr. Leech was
particularly pleasing to him personally
and to his craft. He has known the ap-
pointee long time and regards him as a
splendid organizer. who as an executive
will bring about harmony and business
conditions at the government printing Of
fee. Mr.. Feeney said also that he regards
l I nt,,tv