Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
Director Ralph Of Engraving
+. Bureau Explains Connection
With Cuban Printing Plant.
ACTION HAD BEEN RATED
ANTAGONISTIC TO UNION
Rejoinder by President Of Interna-
tional Steel and Copper Plate
Printers Organization.

The answer of Director Joseph E.
Ralph of the bureau of engraving and
printing to charges made against him
by representatives of the international
Steel and Copper Plate Printers Union
Of North America at hearing on the
Carlin bill before the committee on
judiciary of the House of Representa-
tives in March has been made public.
together with a rejoinder by 1nterna-
tional President William Holder and p.
j. Ryan, editor of the Plate Printer,
the official organ of the union.
The Carlin bill would prevent the
of engraving and printing to any for
eign government or Individual.
Answers to Criticism.
In answer to criticism of his acts as
director of the bureau which developed
at the hearing in the discussion of the
bill Mr.. Ralph sent letter to Repre-
sentative Webb. chairman of the COM
mfttee on judiciary. on March is. 1915,
the day following the hearing, in which
he declared that he personally had no
objection to the enactment of the Dill,
.as it would place at his disposal for
more important duties of his position
a great deal of time necessarily given
to diplomatic officers of foreign coun-
tries who came to the bureau with re-
quests from his (the director's) supe-
rior officers for information regarding
the business of the bureau.
The call on the bureau for informa-
! ton by representatives of foreign gov
.ernments. he said, is no new practice,
sas the bureau has, almost since its or
sganization, given such information as
might be requested to representatives
of foreign governments for the reason
that il has been the policy of the
government, as expressed through va
rious letters from the Secretary of the
Treasury dating back as far as 1855.
to extend any possible courtesy to
these representatives of friendly for
-eign governments"
Incloses Copy of Correspondence.
With reference to the charge made
by the union that the director in 1911
materially assisted Jose Lopez Rodri-
sRuez, a private citizen of Havana, Cuba,
in establishing private plate-printing
plant in that city to the detriment of
American industry. MIR. Ralph inclosed
with his letter copies of correspondence
In 1913 between Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation of
Labor. and himself this subject,
which. he says. fully explains my con-
pection with the establishment of the
plate-printing industry in Havana"
He further states that any information
he has given foreign governments was
done upon direct instructions from his
official superiors. except as to the Gu
ban matter and in that case whatever
information was furnished was done as
. matter of courtesy to George P. Fos-
ter. manager of the Cuban plant. who
for many years was an employee of the
bureau of engraving and printing and
was president of the Plate Printers
Onion.
Rejoinder by the Union.
The rejoinder made by the Inter-
national Unions representatives, Will
liam Holder and p. J. Ryan. to Mr.
Ralph's letter says. in substance:
"Concedins as we do do that it is
the policy of international law to re-
ceive diplomatic representatives of for
eisn governments and that this policy
should ever apply il we wish to main
tain our friendly relations abroad. we
maintain. nevertheless. that this is not
the question at issue in this case and
that the Carlin bill does not attempt
to alter this policy. The wrong COM
planned OF is the assistance given pri-
waite individuals who come to our
shores. go to the executive officials of
the government. and are given the
time, knowledge. skill and experience
Of our government officials, which.
when received. is used in the establish
ment in foreign countries of industries
in competition with similar industries
in this country. These competing in
dustries employ cheap unskilled labor
in opposition to our American labor
This rs the real nature and gravamen
of the case"
The alleged assistance given by Di-
rector Ralph to Jose Lopez Rodriguez
In the establishment of plate print
ing plant now in operation in Cuba is
the rejoinder declares, clearly against
the principle of protection to American
industries.