The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-03-26
By Willis T. Monard

w hCiIIN0 yin, -. Ill Will De
of interest to know that the first
colored printer to receive an ap-
pointment in the Government Print
ing Office was Lewis H. Douglass
in 1868. Mr.. Douglass was the eldest
son of the illustrious Frederick
Douglass. Mr., Douglass was also the
first colored printer to be admitted
to membership in Columbia Typo
graphical Union No. 1O1, (the Wash
ington branch.)
In 1870 William A. Lavalette, of
Pennsylvania, received an appoint
ment in the office and enjoyed the
distinction of being the only colored
proof-reader there. Later on SAMUEL
King and Charles H. Smith received
appointments.
During the years from 1872 to
1884 the number of colored Con-
gressmen increased and as a result
the number of colored printers in
creased at the Government Print
ing Office. Among those who re-
ceived appointments were Ralph
Langston, R. F. Chisholm, H. D.
Pryor, William A. Lavalette, Jr.,
George H. Proctor, Edward G. Male,
William Fl. Armstead and A. G.
Leonard.
When the Democrats came into
power in 1885. all the colored print.
ers. with the exception of A. G.
Leonard, were discharged for politi-
cal reasons. Mr.. Leonard came from
Illinois and was fortunate enough to
have Democratic Congressman to
intercede for him. In 1889 the Re
publicans returned to power and all
colored printers were reinstated.
The following printers received APP
pointments in the office: Bernardine
Smith, Emmett Jones, William Sy-
phax, w. T. Menard, William +.
Cobb, w. C. Smith, Phil H. Brown.
T. T. Simmons, Arthur Martin. ]. c..
Keelan, Arthur Smith, Stephen Wall
and C. B. Whipper.
During the Harrison administra-
ton there were about twenty colored
printers employed in the Government
Printing Office.
Democrats Back In
Everything was going on smoothly
until March 4, 1898, when the Demo-
Gratis again returned to power and
reduced the number of colored print
ers to one-the writer Of this article
who was fortuntane to get let
ter of rentention from Senator Call
of Florida.
All colored printers who worked
at the Government Printing Office
became members of the international
Typographical Union. Two of our
group-R. F. Chisholm and H. d..
Pryor-served at different times on
one of the committees of the local
union, the Grievance Committee.
There is touch of irony in the APP
pointment of colored man on such
committee when you consider the
general attitude of labor unions to-
ward the Negro race.
One of our group, Henry p.
Slaughter, was elected chairman of
the branch office in the Department
of Agriculture, and William L. Cobb
was elected one of the tellers of an
election of officers of the local
union.
During the Mckinley and Roose-
welt administrations the following
colored printers were appointed :
Henry P. Slaughter, Ira T. Bryant,
Elias Webb, r. L. Holland, John
H kins, j. E. Smith, A. B.
Hughes, C. W. Williams. G. w.
Shaed, Z. H. Fisher, Thaddeus Cole,
F. Morris Murray, and w. c. Rob-
inson. Only four of that group are
still Employed. Edgar Smith,
Gregory w. Saed, Charles w. Will
liams. and Edward H. Fisher.
During the two administrations of
Woodrow. Wilson the colored prin-
tiers at the Government Printing Of
flee were not disturbed. AT the pres
ent time there are five colored mono
type keyboard operators. Edgar
Smith, Charles w. Williams. Gregory
W. Shaed, Russell F. Drew and
lvans ]. Garnett.
The hand compoistors are Edward
H. Fisher, H. w Davis, William A.
Jones, William c. Peace. Dennis NJ.
Scott, George p. Lane and Greed
Parker. There is one colored press
man, ]. A. Houser, and two colored
bookbinders, Hugh Russell and Phil
lip Barnes. There are two colored
apprentices.
The colored employees of the Gov
eminent Printing Office play very
important part in the production of
Government publications. The copy