Evening Star Newspaper, December 29, 1929, Page 77

e e THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER 29, 1929 street—possibly in the old Globe Building, erected three years before by Blair & Rives. ‘Though Mr. Wendell claimed to have mis- calculated in not allowing for the peculiar re- quirements of the work, yet, later on, when the contract plan was given up, we find him again doing the public printing as a subcontractor, and subsequently he was doing practically all of the Government printing, which led him, in 1856, to erect the largest printing office in the city, at H and North Capitol streets, and still referred to by a limited number of old-timers as Wendell's Printing Office. On June 23, 1860, the President approved a Joint resolution passed by Congress, which pro- vided for a superintendent of public printing, who was “authotized and directed to have ex- ecuted the printing and binding authorized by the Senate and House of Representatives, the executive and judicial departments, and the Court of Claims.” This act also provided for the erection or purchase of the necessary build- ings, machinery and materials for that purpose. IT was under this congressional provision that President Lincoln, on March 23, 1861, ap- pointed John D. Defrees the first public printer, or, as his title was then, “superintendent of public printing,” to which office he came espe- cially well equipped for the performance of the duties. Born in Sparta, White County, Tenn., on No- vember 8, 1811, Mr. Defrees was apprenticed by his father, at a very early age, to a printer in Ohio, in connection with which he took up the study of law. Having moved to Indiana, he was admitted to the bar there by the Supreme Court of that ~‘ate. However, it does not ap- pear that young Defrees practiced law to any extent, preferring rather to engage in news- paper work and devote his spare moments to his duties as a legislator, having been sent to the State Legislature and continued in office for sevgral terms. Resigning his seat in the State Senate in 1844, he bought the Indiana State Journal, a weekly paper, published at Indianapolis. He lived at the capital of the State and made his paper a daily, which he continued to edit and publish for a number of years. ‘When the Republican party was organized he left thq Whig party, then on the decline, espoused the cause of the new party, and in 1856 became the first Republican State chair- man, which position he occupied until 1860. Mr. Defrees was a born politician and his Intimate friends included such outstanding per- sons as Henry Clay, John J. Crittenden, Daniel Webster and Thomas Corwin. Lincoln highly regarded him, as is evidenced by his appointe ment to what was then, and is even today, con- sidered almost a cabinet post, which he filled with such marked ability that, after surrender- ing the office for a briéf while to Mr. Wendell, he was later returned by President Johnson, as “congressional printer,” the title having been changed in the meantime, When Gen. Grant became President, in 1869, he appointed Almon M. Clapp, the title of the office being again changed to that of “public printer,” and he continued Mr. Clapp as such during his two administrations, 1869 to 1877. President Rutherford B. Hayes, upon taking office; again appointed Mr, Defrees, and after his term of office expired in 1881, he continued to serve under President Garfield and for a while also under President Arthur, *having served as public printer, or its equivalent, under six Presidents—the entire time being about 12 years, or about one year short of the record made by Frank W. Palmer. Mr. Defrees died at Berkeley Springs, W. Va., October 19, 1882, and was mourned by a host of friends, who esteemed him for his many benefactions and his regard for his fellow man. Following Mr. Defrees came Sterling P. Rounds, who served from 1882 to 1886; then Thomas E. Benedict, 1886-1889; Frank W. Palmer, 1889-1894; then Mr. Benedict again, 1894-1897, and Mr. Palmer again for a second term, 1897-1905; to be followed in order by Charles A. Stillings, 1905-1908; John S. Leech, 1907; Samuel B. Donnelly, 1908-1913; Cornelius Ford, 1913-1921, and the present public printer, George H. Carter, who has served continuously since 1921. IN nearly every instance, except in the case of the present incumbent, this office has been filled by the President to pay some political debt. But with Mr, Carter, technical fitness for the duties was an important factor in his selection by President Harding, as he had ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the needs of Government printing, particularly through his service as clerk to the congressional joint com- mittee on printing. If the cld-timer of Wendell's day could return he would find a marvelous change in the Gov- ernment Printing Office. He would find Hard- ing Hall—a great recreation center on the eighth floor of the new building—and an up-to- date cafeteria with a capacity for serving more than 3,000 employes a day and, besides, what i8 said to be the finest industrial hospital in the. country, every facility and every conven- fence being provided by Mr. Carter for the health and comfort of the big family of Federal employes serving under him, and in whom he takes a personal interest. His record has been & clean and enviable one, and when the his- torian in after years speaks of his administra- tion he no doubt will place it in the front rank, both for results and for efficiency. LESS than a year ago, the writer attended a banquet of old-time printers of the Govern- ment Printing Office—men who had worked there twenty-five years or more ago. Not only were some of the present employes there, but qQuite a number who had left there years ago for other flelds of activity in which they had distinguished themselves. There were in ate tendance successful physicians, lawyers, busi- mess men and at least one member of Congress who had set type in.the G. P. O. in the days be- fore the linotype and monotype machines, and who told stories of their experiences in the good old days of yore. The affair was arranged by John Greene, deputy public printer, who, like nearly all of those serving in supervisory positions at the “big shop,” began at the bottom of the ladder Old building of the Government Printing Office, at North Capitol and H streets, erected in 1856. many years ago. The banquet was a great success, for rarely, if ever, had so many veteran printers been brought together at one board before. That you may be interested in knowing just who attended upon this occasion, their names, as preserved by the writer, will be given: H. M. Allen, Eugene Andrew, Arthur Armstrong, James Armstrong, J. F. Atkinson, J. E. Austin, G. H. Ball, C. M. Ballard, H. B. Barnhart, Charles Barton, Mark Barnum, C. F. Bauers, Oscar Bellinger, J. R. Berg, A. L. Bowen, G. E. Bradley, R. E. Bragg, H. H. Brayton, J. H. Broadnax, W. S. Bullis, M. E. Bullock, W. R. Burgess, Ed Burkholder, A. M. Butler, J. H. Butler, L. H. Burton, G. A. Carney, W. S. Car- penter, W. H. Chase, J. W. Childress, J. N. Cobb, Dewitt Corkins, J. A, Cotter, W. F. Coun- cell, Edwin Davidson, A. A. Davis, F. L. Davis, Elmer Dement, L. M. Divine, W. F. Dorsey, C. O. Doten, W. H. Drayton, J. A. Dres, C. S. Elder, G. C. Furbershaw, J. A. Galleher, C. H. Gardner, Charles Garrels, H. J. Gaylor, A. C. Gibbs, Joseph Gibson, H. E. Giles, Samuel Gompers, H. B. Goodrell, G. R. Gray, H. P, Griffin, John Greene, C. 8. Gunn, W. L. Gutelius, Murray Hackett, W. T. Hall, H. B. Hallock, P. J. Haltigan, B. E. Harrison, G. W. Harvel, P. M. Hatley, George C. Havenner, T. W. Haworth, J. H. Heslet, J. L. Holland, C. E. Holmes, W. E. Holt, E. B. Horen, Vincent Howard, Harry Hughes, Merlin Hull, Amos Hunt, E. A. Huse, A. L. Huss, J. A. Huston, M. P. Jackson, Maurice Jarvis, Z. T. Jenkins, H. B, Judson, James Kane, Jerome Kendall, R. E. King, W. L. Kirby, M. J. Knoble, S. C. Koons, E. A. M. Lawson, W. M. Leavitt, M. P. Leffler, Arthur LeMerle, W. R. Love, D. R. Lyons, J. A. Massey, R. H. Mayers, J. E. Maynard, T. A. McAloon, G. W. McCord, H. M. McElfresh, Willlam McEnaney, T. L. McEnaney, Daniel McFadden, Andrew McGarraghy, T. P. Mc- Keon, A. J. McMillan, W. A. Mitchell, George Montgomery, T. P. Moore, J. W. Morgan, T. Frank Morgan, J. R. Moss, R. M. Moler, C. F. Mullen, H. L. Murray, Philip Nachman, E. J. Newcomb, I. A. Nicholson, Charles O'Connell, Harry O'Donnell, H. J. Outcault, August Paland, G. E. Partridge, Samuel Patch, J. E. Payne, William Peacock, S. G. Pulliam, C. W. Radley, H. L. Ragland, Frank Razee, E. L. Redfield, H. J. Redfield, Hugh Reid, C. P. Reicks, L. C. Richards, D. J. Roberts, J. G. Roberts, Valentine Ruff, E. H. Ryan, E. C. Saltzman, J. A. Scan- nell, W. S. Schinnerer, George Sehorn, John S. Shaw, T. J. Sheridan, G. L. Sherman, W. S. Sill, W. D. Skeen, F. D. Smith, Shelby Smith, J. F. Spence, C. A. Stretch, E. A. Sullivan, W. F. Tappan, H. C. Town, C. F. Trogner, L. C. Tuttle, L. C. Vogt, J. K. Wallace, Jason Water- man, T. J. Waterman, N. G. Watts, W. 8. Waudby, L. D. Weeks, J. B. Weitzel, F. P. Weston, H. W. Whittaker, E. S. Wild, B. G. Wil liams, J. H. Willlams, G. G. Wilson, T. P. C. Willis, 'C. M. Wright, R. E. Houart and W. E Young. I'rhhardfio:etttthemmuoxtheold printers who worked in Wendell's establish- ment when it was transferred to the Govern- ment. But a list of the employes in 1881 is available, and though the writer hesitates on giving them all, yet his great desire to serve the women prompts him, at least, to give the names of those who were working in the big press room at that time. O. H. Reed, & most magnificent man, was in charge, his assistant being A. J. George H. Carter, public printer since 1921. Donaldson, and the feeders, many of whom have gone to the Great Beyond, but whose friends and relatives will read with pleasure their names, were as follows: Martha Allison, S. M. Antrim, Sallie Baldwin, Ellen Barmes, Bettie Bartlett, Jennie Baylie, Maria Bentner, B. C. Bickford, Mary Blush, Adelaide Bosley, Unetta Boynton, Carrie Braunlein, Catharine Burke, Mary Callaghan, Josephine Carlisle, Annie Carpenter, M. I. Chaney, Victoria Clark, Effie Clark, Cecilia Clements, Emma Cox, Delia Cremen, Amelia E. Cromelien, Lucy R. Cupper, Mary Cunningham, Maggie Curtis, M. T. Cush- ley, Elizabeth Dement, Etta Dew, Maggie Duffy, Libbie A. Flahavhan, Mollie Garthwait, Annie Gaughran, Marguerite Gormley, A. D. Goss, Mary Hayes, Annie Heatley, Charlotte Heatley, Johanna Hickey, Celinda Higby, Mary Hill, Nellie Hopper, Mollie Hunter, Mary A. Hurdle, Lola C. Hutton, A. Ingersoll, Virgie Johnson, Ada H. Johnston, Lizzie Johnston, M. V. Keenan, L. Krohr, Ann D. Langley, Fannie Lee, Rebecca Lisher, Bettie Long, Jennie Marcey, Ellen McCarty, Mettie McCauley, M. A. McCor- mick, Ella McGraw, Nellie McGraw, Maggie McKie, Liltie L. McKinzie, Bridget McNamara, Mary A. McNamara, Kate Miller, Mary Mills, Annje Mitchell, Cecelia A. Moore, Sallie Moore, Mary Nally, Maggie Nestor, Minnie Norfleet, C.. R. Ober, Mary O'Brien, Alice O'Neal, Laura V. Ourand, Ella Place, Jennie L. Pitts, A. E. Pope, A. W. Potter, E. M. Proctor, Mary E. Ragan, Emma Reese, M. Reilly, E. E. Ricksecker, Lucy P. Rizer, C. Schermerhorn, Addie Scriver, Susie V. Sinon, 8. E. Sisson, Mary L. Slagle, Anna M. Stentz, Maggie Sulli- van, Emma Swain, Margaret Sweeney, Hattie V. Tenley, Henrietta Tompkins, H. A. Travers, Mary Trunnel, H. A. Turner, Ida Van Arsdale, M. E. Warner, Susan C. Watson, M. V. Wheeler and Mary H. Wise. At that date, 1881, A. H. S. Davis was fore- man of printing, his assistants being J. M. A, Spottswood and R. W. Kerr. William H. Norton was in charge of the pleci:erg:rtment, M. T. Lincoln, the machine and nter shop; H, Groshon, the job section; John D. Eskew, speci« fication room; Thomas Penicks, assisted by George Fordham, folding room; E. W. Oyster and D. W. Beach, Congressional Record; J. H, Roberts, assisted by J. W. White and A. D. Stidham, bindery; Alex Elliott, jr., stereotyping and electrotyping, while the Interior branch was in charge of John T. Heck and the Trems- ury. branch, Capt. P. Louis Rodier. Later, through retirement or death, such sterling characters as John Berg, David J. Rob- erts, Capt. H. T. Brian, Adam Brandt, Henry W. Weber, “Sunny Jim” Bright, T. Frank Mop- gan and James E. West, the next grand master of Masons, being replaced by such able and capable men as John Green, Capt. Elwood S. Moorehead, Hermann B. Barnhart, Bert E. Bair, Martin R. Speeiman and the public printer’s assistant, Miss Mary A. Tate, and the chief clerk, Henry H. Wright, and others. Problem of Western Ranges, TB! picturesque cowboy who arose In indige ‘ nation when the sheep herder invaded the ranges of the West has seen conditions gradually change, until it may not be so long before he will be riding a tractor and plowing up the acres of what was once open range land. The tendency of late years has been toward smaller ranches, with more intensive stock raising and more attention to detail and the future. Many stockmen have attempted to res store their depleted ranges by artificial seeding, but the experts in the Department of Agricul« ture believe that a better solution of the feed« ing problem would be the diminishing of the size of the herds to a point where they could lb:n'fed on the ranges without exhausting the d. A tendency to overstock has been noted, after & poor year in which prices have been high, Thecreedydrivetomake.hugepllemgood years has been found usually to result in too great a supply of stock, with lowered prices to a point where heavy loss is entailed. Live Stock Facts Broadcast. Tm: radio is stepping out to help all who are equipped to receive the help in ‘foreign countries of the state of the live stock markets in this country. Facts and figures on the markets in Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City, as well as the wool market at Boston, are broadcast daily by short wave from Pittsburgh by KDKA. \