The Washington herald., 1917-06-29
PASTOR COMES BACK
AT DIRECTOR RALPH
VIII Continue Fight for Better
Hours in Bureau.

Director Ralph knows perfectly
well that he Is requiring hundreds OF
men and women to work from twelve
to fifteen hours a day and Sundays
too, under fear OF dismissal II they
refuse"
Rev. z. Albert Cook. pastor of
the Capitol Heights congregational
Church, which recently passed resolu-
tions protesting against long hours
of labor IN the Bureau OF Engraving
and Printing. yesterday hurled this
statement back at Director Joseph T.
Ralph in reply to his assertion that
employees were not working overtime
unless they desired.
II thank Mr.. Ralph for his invita-
ton to come over and investigate
conditions " said Mr.. Cook. Il have
been over, Mr.. Ralph, and / have
also investigated conditions, and l
know just what I am talking about
The pastor then issued an invita-
ton to the director to come over 70
his church and tell the members OF
the congregation why he does not
have three elght-hour shifts instead
of two twelve-hour shifts in the press
rooms. with many on the waiting list
desiring work in the bureau"
Director Ralph declared yesterday
thar Mr.. Cook knows nothing about
working conditions down there"
Has Employer Letters.
Mr.. Cook replied by saying he had
letters from employees to substantiate
his charges. He challenged Mr.. Ralph
20 most a statement declaring that all
who do not wish to work overtime
may be relieved upon application
without in any way affecting thelr
standing or the permanency OF ther
jobs
The leader Of the Capitol Heights
congregation contend that the work
of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing is not of such nature as TO
require undue speeding up. despite the
fact that the country is at war. LIB
erty bonds he says. may be delivered
a few weeks later without endanger-
ing the country's welfare
"Iet Mr.. Ralph come out TO Capitol
HEIGHTS next Sunday" said Mr.. Cook
He may have fifteen minutes in the
evening service to explain just how
he interprets the words of President
Wilson TO the representatives of labor
at the White House May i"
Quotes Soldiers Hours.
The words Of the President referred
to are in part as follows: Il have
been very much alarmed at one or
two things that have happened al
the apparent inclination Of the legisla-
lures Of one or two Of your states
to set aside even temporarily the laws
which have safesuarded standards OF
labor and Of life. feel that IL would
be inexcusable il we deprived men
and women OF any OF the existing
safeguards Of law
In reply to Mr. Ralph's wondering
query as to whether the same congre-
cation might pass resolutions against
. soldiers working more than eight
hours a day, the pastor declared that
soldiers hours are eight hours one
cay, and none the next, then eight
the third. an average of four hours
day Of service.
Perhaps Mr.. Ralph can tell US If
the President and the secretary OF the
Girls Union have certified to him
that all the women in the bureau are
Just dying to work as many hours as
possible for him. no matter how much
their health is affected by it. and if
so. whether that is the reason he mas
sent them off on a junketing trip to
Buffalo just row.
viii Keep Up Fight.
Finally. let me congratulate Mr..
Ralph on conscience which doesn't
trouble him in the least. 1 under
stand the leaders in a certain govern
ment with which we are at war make
similar affiTmations. \ man may be
untroubled by his conscience because
he hasn't any conscience. or again.
because his conscience is uniformed"
The pastor declares he will keep up
the fight on behalf of the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing employees,
who. he declares. are giving him sup
mort