Sound Reasoning on the Situation.

I have been noting from time to time in your most excellent journal the tone of many of your correspondents, and am sorry to see now and then creeping out from between the lines a pessimistic spirit which has only the tendency to discourage and dishearten a large portion of the vast army of our craft who have been or expect to be affected by the machines. It may be denied, argued against, hoped against, fought against by prominent men, but the fact still remains that a revolution just fairly begun will sweep over our trade, and make changes not dreamed of a quarter of a century ago. To close one's eyes has never eliminated an object before the face. And, likewise, to be blind to the apparent results of present indications will not "feed our sheep." It is only a matter of time when the machine-be it linotype or be it monotype -will do the work of the "straight" compositor.

The fact that the employer is not now greatly benefited by the revolution does not alter the case materially for the fut

ure.

Our wish should not be father to the prophecy in this matter, since our duty to each other demands that necessary precautions be taken and provisions made in regard to the future well-being of those who now labor in our profession.

Have we not men among us broadminded enough to seek the solution of a problem of such moment to us all? From the rank and file of our trade (or better, art) have come many distinguished men -scientists, editors, scholars, statesmen! Some of them have been as "individual'

It

as a star, meeting great emergencies. would deal a blow most uncharitable to say that there are not among us now men who can go before us in our time of need. A profession furnishing men who have been leaders in our nation, adding, foundation, substantial and abiding, to our national institutions, is imbecile in regard to its own affairs! Say it not!

Our immediate need is that some practical means be employed in behalf of the most numerous grade of the "old school" -the class that deciphers the chirography of reporters, doctors and preachers. To bewail the transgressions of employers and proprietors will not arrest the wave which is now advancing, and, indeed, is breaking at our feet.

Looking at the situation fairly, it must be admitted that this new process of bringing the face of types into existence almost simultaneously with thought will greatly extend the trade (if not the "art"). While it would not be a fair supposition to say that the business would be so enlarged as to furnish employment on the machines to all who are thrown out by this new method, yet the machines must be operated, and that by persons skilled in this line of work if good results are to be attained. Employers know this and they are not averse to employing their old printers to operate their machines, knowing, as they do, that their work is more satisfactory for reasons which are too obvious to be misunderstood. From the uncharitable sentiment existing in some quarters, and finding expression in some of the more extreme labor papers we would arrive at the con

clusion (did we not know better by actual observation) that the majority of proprietors, in all industries, are bound by a law arising from circumstances, to hate the class upon whom they rely for the performance of duty, and begrudge to them their weekly earnings.

As a general proposition, perhaps, it would not be unfair to say that, as a rule, employers are as humane as the class they employ, and, in a number of cases, less exacting in their demands. Those of them who aim at complete success will place a premium upon the diligence, skill and honesty of their workmen, and will pay good money to good

The intention of the proprietor to cut wages arises, in not a few instances, from the slip-shod conduct of some of the employed. Then the condemnation falls alike upon the just and the unjust.

Let printers capture this "iron wonder" which has supplanted their timehonored method of employ. Yes, at any cost, learn to operate the machines, even for a pittance; yes, for nothing, rather than relegate your profession to those "outside the camp!"

Why do not our local unions provide machines for the purpose of learning union men exclusively? The suggestion seems worthy of consideration by our thinkers and doers. W. W. Richmond, Va.

The Contest at Detroit. The fight against the John F. Eby & Co.'s establishment, as related in the last issue of the JOURNAL, is still on, and from every indication it promises to be a long drawn out contest, but that the union will triumph in the end no one has the slight est doubt. At present the concern is employing every effort to keep its place filled with work, accepting orders in a great many instances at less than it costs to fill them. The management evidently expects by this method to tire the union out and then to reap whatever benefit there may be in running an under-paid and over-worked force of employes. How

ever, the result remains to be seen. At present the union shows no sign of weakening, having at its last meeting ordered a two per cent. assessment levied on the earnings of all members to carry on the warfare. Whether the stockholders of the Eby corporation will care to continue to lose money in a senseless fight against the reasonable demands of organized labor is another question. To be sure, the Napoleon at the head of this concern boasts that he has one m-i-1-1-i-o-n dollars to sink in this fight if need be (and he is sinking it at a pretty lively rate if all accounts are correct), but on the other hand the union has the support and good will of almost the entire business community, and is hourly receiving assurances, by letter and otherwise, that no more work will be given the unfair firm until a settlement is made. The strike has received the indorsement of the two central labor bodies and nearly every local union, and assistance is proffered us on every side.

Since my last letter, No. 18 called upon the pressmen and feeders to assist in the struggle and both unions responded in loyal style, although by bribes and promises the office succeeded in inducing two pressmen and two feeders to forget their obligations as unionists. The reward of these gentry will come later. Detroit, Mich.

EDWARD BECK.

Up Among the Dakotas. At the regular monthly meeting held January 12, 1896, at which Organizer Dennett was present, the Plaindealer office of this city was declared closed to union men. The members of No. 311 put on their fighting clothes and went after the Plaindealer company without gloves, and already the effects of their work is plainly seen, as the manager, E. C. Carruth, is beginning to weaken. the beginning of the trouble he plainly told the organizer that it was useless for him to talk on the matter, but now he is willing to receive a committee from No. 311 and discuss things generally.

At

To start with, he went to the Twin

Cities to employ men to take the place of the union men and he was not altogether unsuccessful either. He secured the services of Jas. A. Raine of Minneapolis, and A. J. Code, St. Paul, two gentlemen (?) who appeared by their actions to be so willing to rat that all they wanted was half a show. They came up here under the guise of "stockholders," thinking by so doing they would cover up their crookedness and appear to the outside world to be men of honor and good standing in the union. However, their little scheme was nipped in the bud, and when informed that they would either have to come out or surrender their membership they chose the latter, consequently today they are both in possession of long "tails." There was not the slightest excuse for these men doing what they did, as Mr. Raine, who comes from Minneapolis, was informed by the secretary of No. 42 of the existing trouble here, and everything that could be done to dissuade him from coming was done. As regards Mr. Code, he worked in the office with the district organizer at St. Paul, and he also was fully informed of the circumstances, but it seems that they were simply anxious to rat and they did it.

However, Mr. Carruth seems to be very much dissatisfied with his present corps of girls, kids and rats, and expressed himself so before a committee from No. 311, but when he was told what he would have to do in order to run a union office he said he would have to consult his Royal Highness McKenzie of Crookston, who is the principal stockholder in the Plaindealer, and who also owns and manages a kindergarten-known as the Daily Timesin that city.

Mr. Carruth, personally, appears to want a union office, but after discussing things with Mr. McKenzie, he appears to lose all his virtue. No. 311 is at present conferring with him, and I hope by the time another JOURNAL is issued to be able to inform you that the Plaindealer is a union office.

The Herald-which has always been a strictly union office throughout-with the exception of the machine tender, who is contemplating the organization of a union of his own-is doing a rushing business in the advertising line, and Mr. Jaskoski, the efficient little foreman, is kept very busy figuring how to get all the "stuff" into the forms.

The News, which was recently unionized, is also doing its share of the work, and the most friendly feeling now exists between the members of the union and the manager, Mr. W. R. Bierly.

A. W. Swanson, ad man on the Herald, is on a 52-week stretch. Wouldn't be surprised if there was a woman in the "case."

The job offices of the city are all very busy at present and indications are that they will be for some time to come. Grand Forks, N. D.

WM. H. FORD.

A Retrospect of the Old-Timer. Some one has taken the trouble to suggest that the International buy a few machines and go into the business of furnishing operators. This suggestion is being seconded as fast as its supporters can get into print. Is the plan feasible? At the most the International could hardly be expected to purchase more than half a dozen, at a cost of $18,000, not to count the cost of freight, preparation of a room for their operation, hiring instructor, machinist, lights, gas, etc. At present there are in operation more than 3,000 linotypes, and they have displaced probably 10,000 hand compositors. Each of these 10,000 insist that they would have made first-class operators had they been given a chance, and should the International start a kindergarten they would, of course, insist on being given first out on the machines. Making the time of apprenticeship three months, we find that we are turning out operators at the rate of twenty-four a year, or by working two shifts forty-eight per annum. Supposing that two-thirds (a low estimate) make a

"frost" of the machine, and we have left sixteen operators as the result of an expenditure of more than $20,000 and a year's time. At this ratio the last man of the 10,000 to take his seat before the keyboard would have been in line more than two hundred years. These figures, at first glance, seem ridiculous, but they don't tell half the tale.

How times have changed. Do you remember, Ben Bolt, how we used to "hit the road?" You were an old-timer, 'twas my first trip. But I worshiped your gods in those days, and I remember you calling to my notice the different employes of the composing room. You were scant in your praise till you got around to Slug 'Steen. Then you waxed eloquent. I can recall your language. "Who is Slug 'Steen?" (to my inquiry) "Say, you've heard of J. Jam? No? Well, say, that fellow wouldn't work a full week to save his own life. Had to work twelve days once on account of the fair, and it nearly broke his heart. He's people, all right."

By the way, Ben Bolt, where is J. Jam now? You don't know? Well, I do; and I know what he's doing. By a strange coincidence he and you, Ben Bolt, are both on your uppers now, and both cursing the Mergenthaler. Had you and Slug 'Steen and some thousands of others put the money into banks that you put into booze, there would be no universal printorial howl from the Mergenthalered host.

You complain, Ben Bolt, that you have been unfeelingly advised to get out of the business, but I fail to grasp the cruelty of the suggestion, as you were never "in" the business to any extent.

For the deserving man who has been "machined," I am truly sorry, and will contribute from my weekly stipend toward the amelioration of his condition. I only insist in return that none of this money be spent for intoxicants.

Helena, Mont. A MACHINE OPERATOR.

Craft Affairs in West Superior. During the two years that have elapsed since the first of March, 1894, Superior

Union has gone through the breakers of adversity and misfortune, but still has escaped the rock-bound shores of ruin, and although by no means at present sailing on gentle sunset seas of peace, has perhaps passed from the storm center to where a little light may be discerned on the horizon of the future.

The strike of two years ago, which was forced by the managements of the Evening Telegram and Morning Leader is still with us in effect, although both these offices are open to union men. Six months after the strike was declared the Telegram signed the scale of this union, but the management of the paper gave evidence of its bad faith almost as soon as the scale was signed, and on the first of March, 1895, positively refused to sign the scale for another year, and on putting in machines in June, replaced a number of their old men with girls imported from the country towns. The union was not in position to declare a second strike, and things have drifted along in that condition since, a covert fight being made on the paper which continues to use the inferior cheap material imported. The paper is losing money in consequence. Several union men find employment there, however.

The Morning Leader has been a rat paper ever since the strike, and has at no time expressed an intention of mending its ways. Frank Flower, formerly labor statistician of this state, is its editor, and it is owned by some third-rate politicians, who have managed to be on the losing side in the political arena since their fight on organized labor commenced. The paper is issued on machines run by small boys, and is one of the worst looking publications produced, even from a rat office. Another peculiarity of the Leader is that it does not pay its help, and owes them from one to three months' wages. The paper is probably on its last legs, and when it enters the land of shadows there will be numerous dry eyes in this town. Mr. Dennett, organizer of this district,

spent some days in this city recently, and did excellent work straightening out kinks in the affairs of the union, and also succeeding in unionizing the Citizen. Since his visit much more interest is manifested by our members.

Most all our members are at work, and things are not so bad as might be expected, but this is a good town to keep away from. UNION.

West Superior, Wis.

The

A Wisconsin View of Rainbow Chasing. The over-zealous worker in the labor movement probably has no idea that he is abridging the usefulness of his main chance (trades-unionism) in encouraging thereto a socialistic supercrescence. study of socialism may have charms to amuse the mind as many another impracticable fancy has, but to foist it upon the trades-union movement is both fatuous and perilous, especially in this country. Socialism is an alien commodity to the tastes and habits of the American people. It will never "dove-tail" here. While just the opposite can be said of tradesunionism (pure and simple). This is evidenced by the popularity and recognition bestowed upon the latter in all quarters.

In speaking of socialism, be it remembered that it is referred to here in the full acceptation of the word. There is no such thing as "moderate socialism." Those who profess to be "moderate socialists' are the rag-tag of the mob, seeking to make an apology for what they really are not-socialists. The conservative people of the United States, it is true, in their wisdom, are gradually adopting laws whereby certain utilities of a public character are being put under national and municipal control, but without, however, any regard for the wild communistic ideas of the socialists. The wise action of the country in this respect has nothing in common with the hideous dreams of Robert Owen, Plato, Thomas More, Father Rap, St. Simon, Fourier, etc.

One thing we will concede to the socialistic trades-unionist, if the term is

good, which I doubt, and that is, he appears to be sincere. But it is the story over again of the old man whose immortal soul was saved through his infallible ignorance. His ideas are feasible, says the socialist, and consequently will emancipate the toiler. Nobody ever accused a stove of being much of a walker, still it has legs. It must always be borne in mind that the practicability or usefulness of a measure depends solely upon a consistent application to its environments. This rule knocks the socialistic theories into a cocked hat as they apply to the United States.

It is not my wish to be obnoxious to anyone, always respecting sincere purpose and energetic action, but it does seem sad, very sad indeed, to witness a patriarchal individual chasing a rainbow with the firm conviction that it can be corraled. It is for the benefit of this ill-directed but well-meaning class, whose brains are only "phalanxed," that I am prompted to put forth my ideas upon this timely subject.

The United states is a country composed of intelligent, enterprising, ambitious (to a very marked degree) Christian people. Its customs and habits embrace all the above characteristics not by compulsion but by instinct-by nature. Its republican form of government, by and for the people, is the climax attained by this highly civilized Christian race.

The sincere citizens of our land do not look upon the commercial world as the only one. They have a domestic world also a home life. The latter is governed entirely by the laws of Christianity, and what man will say that the home life in America is not perfect? The education of the young is properly attended to and the laws of morality are strictly subserved. Christianity renders each man's home his castle and his wife exclusively his own. Think you that this condition of affairs, in this country, can be changed? Will it not require some very marvelous feats (and hands) to revolutionize this portion of our present system of government? To