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Show WHO SENT IT? Secretary Foster denies Ever Writing Writ-ing to Jordan. Offering: Him His Old Postion in the BureauThe Bu-reauThe Secretary Talks Freely Of the Trouble; . Washington, July 3. The Secretary Secre-tary of the Treasury received a letter this morning from "Grand Master Workman Powdcrly, Of the Knights of Labor, renewing the case of the discharged dis-charged plate printers, in about the same tone as his statement to the public, pub-lic, and in addition intimating that the Knights of Labor will appeal the case to the President. Washington, July 3. Secretary Foster, in speaking on the subject today, to-day, said that the letters which Jordan, oneof the discharged men, claims to have received from him offering him his old position in the bureau, was not sent by him. The Secretary explained that he w as discussing the case with Messrs. Cayanaugh and Devlin, and had submitted several propositions to them w hich did not seem altogether satisfactory. He said he was willing to appoint seven men to places in the bureau, with the understanding that Jordan, who is making a good living, would not return to work. They wanted want-ed more than this," continued the Secretary,' Sec-retary,' 'and said they were afiaid if Jordan" were offered a place with this understanding and it shoull get to the ears- of Mereditn, fie 'Would crow over them and boast, they had been defeated. I went so far as to draft a letter to Jordan. There had been several papers written during the conference, in about these terms : Places were to be found for other six men, and would he accept a position in the bureau. I agreed to give them this letter to be given Jordan if they should promise on their honor as men that they would either return it to me or hand me Jordan's declination. I done this to soothe Jordan's feelings as it were. All this was contingent on our reaching an agreement. When I showed Devlin Dev-lin and Cavanaugh this letter they declined de-clined my terms, and I shoved the letter let-ter to one side with the rest of the rejected manuscript. We were discussing the situation further and endeavoring to find another solution, when I received a card of the delegation representing the federation of labor. Leaving Devlin and Cavanaugh Cava-naugh for a few minutes, I went over to talk to the new comers, who told me some facts I did not know before. For instance, they informed me there are now about fifteen apprentices in the bureau waiting for presses. Who, under the rules, are entitled to presses ahead of chance men. This would so reduce available new work that men who are now on chance roll would not all get presses in tlie new building. Thus, to put on seven dismissed men would throw out printers who are ahead of them. After further talk on the subject sub-ject I returned to Devlin and Cavanaugh and soon afterward the conference broke up. The letter to Jordan, though signed, was but a draft and was not intended to be sent, if he received it. The delegates from the Knights of Labor must haye taken it from my desk. It had been previously reiected bv them. I do not accuse any of them of stealing the letter, but I do say that the letter should never have gone to Jordan. It was null and void. When I returned to my desk, I said "Good bye" and swept the papers into the drawer, but I did not notice the letter was gone. I have no reason to think they took the note sent to me by the delegates of the federation from Mr. Powderly. The name was put on the card by my private secretary in order to identify the people in my mind. |