The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-05
LEECH NAMED
PUBLIC PRINTER;
WELL RECEIVED
Labor Leaders Are Pleas
ed With Presidents Sc
lection for Inlpor-
tant Office.
Senate Expected to Rat
ify Choice, When APP
Pointee Will Sail
From Manila.

From Manila.
The announcement from the White
House yesterday that the President had
decided 20 send the name OF John S
Leecn 10 the Senate tomorrow as sue
cessor o former Public Printer Still
ings. has been commended in all quar-
tiers.
Edward G. Jones, assistant director OF
the Bureau NJ Printing OF the Philip
pines, ii is announced. will succeed Mr..
Leech as director OF that bureau. al
though no definite decision has been
made. Mr.. Jones has been in the Phil
ippines as assistant since 1901, and is
thoroughly acquainted with the work
The sentiment expressed IS so geuer-
ally favorable that it is believed there
will not be the slightest delay on the
part OF the Senate in voting FOR the
confirmation Of Mr.. Leech-
On every hand there are not only
good words for the new appointee, but
expressions Of satisfaction and relief
that the appointment is TO be made
without further delay No public office
at the disposal Of the President holds
greater interest for so many people or
Washington.
Notwithstanding the peculiar con-
struction OF the public printing laws,
which practically limit the scope OF
eligibles for the position OF Public
Printer to practical printers versed IN
the art Of booItbinding." the field Of
candidates was both large and Iormid-
able.
Victory a Great One.
The victory for Mr.. LeesIis made the
more pronotlaccd because he won tie
appointment over such a strong field Of
candidates. while himself 500 miles
away. He IS understood, however 70
have had the warm support OF Secre-
tary Taft. who cjme in contact with
Mr.. Leech and his work while the Sec
rotary was governor Of the Philippines.
Mr.. Leech's name. according to the
Official statement issued from the White
House, will be sent TO the Senate to-
morrow II probably viii be eight
weeks or more before he viii be able
to assume the duties Of the position. as
1t requires about six weeks to make
tie trip from Manila, where he now
holds the position Of Public Printer of
tho Philippines.
The United States Government. soon
after taking hold OF the islands. real
lied that II would be necessary TO have
a modern printing plant 10 execute the
Government work Plans were immedi-
atoIy MADE under the supervision Of the
War Department to install a frst-clas
printing plant at Manila. one that
INF p
quired by the Government in the
islands
The Government Printing Office was
called on for experienced men as
nucleus 10 the force, and John S.
Leech, at that time foreman OF one Of
the COMPOSING divisions. was commits
stoned public Printer Of the Philip
pines. He in turn selected a score or
more Of skilled wOrkmen from the
printing and binding departments OF the
Office, and. with a full equipment OF
type and presses, set sail for the new
possessions.
The Philippine Government Printing
Onice Is located on the Bagumbayan
road. which encircles on the north and
east that section Of Mania known as
Intramuros (Walled City,
A Firm Union Man.
Although recognized as a stanch sup
porter u organized labor, and at the
present time ~ honorary member OF
Columbia Typosrs r0icaI Union, No. 1Ol, |
Of this city, Mr.. Lsecn is conservative I
and considerate. This was demon
strated IN his opposition 10 the forma-
ton OF 2. union among the employees
Of his plant. who we're mostly Fill
pinos, soon after the office was estab-
lished Mr.. Leech took the position
that the natives were not sufficiently
schooIed in the trades and arts TO be
formed into unions, but should be left
free 10 work out their own industrial
salvation for the time being. Before
his policy was thoroughly understood
there were mutterings Of discomfort
among the labor people Of this coun-
try but the unions were soon brought
to view the matter in the same light
that he did.
Mr.. Ievch always took an active in
terest in dnion affairs and was sent as
a delegate by Columbia Typographical
Union to the convention Of the Inter-
national Typographical Union held IN
Louis Vile in 1894, and again to the con-
vention held in Detroit in 1899.
When Frank W. Palmer, OF Illinois,
was made Public Printer for the sec
ond time, in 1897, Oscar J. Ricketts, and
Mr.. Leech. who both hailed from the
State of Illinois, were applicants for the
position Of private secretary. The con-
test was finally settled by a compro-
mise by which Mr.. Ricketts, was made
private secretary and Mr.. Leech was
made foreman Of the Fifth division.
T his position he filed successfully I'M
til selected to go TO the Philippines.
MIR. Leech had previously been a com
Continued on Eighth Pagz)