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Ar Baltimore a few weeks ago the rights of the press were clearly defined when a jury refused to be a party to curbing the legitimate, though necessarily severe, handling of political manipulation by a newspaper whose sole object was the protection of the rights of American citizens. politicians had attempted to muzzle the Baltimore American, which had been carrying on a campaign against crooked balloting. The paper was sued for libel, but the jury was confronted with questionable ballots, ballot boxes, etc., to such an extent that it had no alternative but to vindicate the American of charges of trying to hurt any one by its publications, and at the same time commend it for the way it sought to protect the public.

THE February number of American Industries waxes delirious in contemplating the "blow that organized labor received" when a jury in the United States Circuit Court returned a verdict of guilty against members of the New Orleans Dock and Cotton Council, charged with conspiring to interfere with foreign commerce. However, a close scanning of its pages failed to disclose any comment on the action of the United States Supreme Court in declaring the Buck's stove boycott case a dead issue, this declaration being a "blow" to the American Anti-Boycott Association. The reason for the silence of the Kirby-Post organ is obvious.

THE Housekeeper Magazine, published in Minneapolis, and since the strike for the eight-hour day some five years ago operating its plant under non-union conditions, has been sold to Robert J. Collier and Conde Nast, and the March number will be issued from the Collier plant in New York, which employs none but union printers.

THE number of students now taking the I. T. U. Course in Printing has reached and passed the two-thousand mark. The scope of this institution is world wide, students being enrolled from almost every corner of the globe.

ANY one desiring a file of THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL for the years 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1910, with the exception of January, 1906, and May, 1908, can secure the same by addressing F. B. Rotrock, 333 Furman street, Brooklyn, N. Y. The owner says the copies of the magazine are in excellent condition and will be disposed of at a reasonable price.

It was announced last month that the Curtis Publishing Company, of Philadelphia, had secured control of the Country Gentleman, published at Albany, N. Y., since it was established by Luther Tucker in 1831. The Country Gentleman is the oldest agricultural weekly paper in the country, and it is said the Curtis company had been trying to buy the periodical for the past two years. Within the next few months, it is said, the weekly will be printed at the Curtis plant.

THE manager of the Marott department store of Indianapolis, under date of February 1, in a letter to Secretary-Treasurer Hays, says, in part:

I found out to-day that the paper pattern company which we are agents for is a part of the Butterick system, which is not only a non-union shop, but a violent and bitter opponent of unions. I have this day notified them that we will discontinue this pattern, and have made a contract with a strictly union paper pattern company, which is known as the Pictorial Review. I merely mention this fact to let your people understand that this was not done wholly as an advertisement, but was done in good faith.

Of course, it is nothing novel for a sojourner at the Union Printers Home to speak in the highest terms of the institution, nevertheless, we are sure that members of the International Typographical Union never tire of hearing its praises sounded. On making preparations for return to his home, after a residence of several months at the sanatorium, William Taylor, of Boston Union No. 13, says:

My case is surely a testimony of the worth of the Home. My being able to return to active life will be a surprise to many, especially to those who were acquainted with my physical condition when I came here.

THE book and job scale of Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Union No. 192 is now $18 per week, and will remain at that figure for the ensuing two years.

THE scale of Waterbury Union No. 329 has been increased $1 per week. The advance includes both the book and job and newspaper side of the trade.

THE publishers of Lynn, Mass., have accepted the scale proposed by Typographical Union No. 120, which is practically the same as the previous scale, with the exception of a provision that will mean an ultimate increase of $1.50 per week. The apprentices were granted an advance of $1 per week over the old figures. The contracts run for two years.

IN a letter dated February 16, Secretary Glenn W. Scott, of Mason City (Iowa) No. 406, says: "We were successful on February 1 in securing the signature of the Le Mars Printing Company to the wage contract and they are now running an eight-hour shop. Now every shop in the city is on the fair list and things running nicely with pros pects good for a very harmonious and peaceful future."

THE Scale of Corpus Christi (Texas) Union No. 528 has been increased, the agreements running for three years, with an advance every six months the first two years. The day hand scale begins at $18 per week, the final figures being $20. The night hand scale begins at $20 per week, the final fig ures being $22. The wages of operators working nights are gradually advanced from $25 to $27 per week, and those working days from $22.50 per week to $24.50. The piece scale for book offices is graded from 12 cents to 20 cents per thousand, according to size of type. Foremen receive $23 for day work and $25 for night work.

CONTRACTS Covering a period of two years have been signed with the three English dailies of Evansville, Ind., the night scale being advanced from $21 to $24 per week and the day scale from $18 to $22.50 per week, with an advance of 11⁄2 cents per thousand in the piece scale. Albert E. Hill, of Nashville, Tenn., assisted No. 35's scale committee in negotiating the agreement, and of his services Chairman Byington says: "The scale secured is the best this city has ever had, and that such is the case is largely due to the untiring efforts of Mr. Hill, to whom this union is deeply indebted for efficient work, not only in the present instance, but in the memorable eight-hour fight."

BOTH the book and job and newspaper scales of Missoula, Mont., have been satisfactorily adjusted, the employers agreeing to pay an increased wage for the ensuing two years, the principal points of which are as follows: A raise of 50 cents per day for all employes on daily papers, making the scale $5.25 and $5.75 for day and night work, respectively, for eight hours' work. Book and job printers were raised to $5 from $4.75 for eight hours. Machinist-operators are to receive 50 cents per day additional for each machine cared for. All foremen are to receive 50 cents per day above the journeyman scale. All head admen are to receive 25 cents per day above the journeyman scale. The officers of No. 277 were ably assisted in the nego tiations by Edward Killfeather, of Butte Union No. 126, who was assigned to the task by President Lynch.

FRANKLIN (PA.) UNION No. 437 has increased its scale as follows: Machine operators, night, $22 per week for the first year, the remaining two years of the contract, $22.50 per week. Day work on machines, increased from $19 per week to $20 the first year, when the wage will be $20.50 for the next two years. Hand compositors on morn

ing newspapers will receive $19 per week the first year, when the wage will be $19.50. The day hand scale for both newspaper and book and job offices is advanced from $16.50 per week to $17.50 the first year, when the rate will be $18 per week for the remaining two years. Hand compositors on morning papers will receive $19 per week for one year, after which the wage will be $19.50.

ROBERT S. MALONEY reports that a new scale of wages was put into effect at New Britain, Conn., February 1, last, the increase provided for amounting to approximately $1.50 per member per week. The new agreement calls for $18 per week for job printers, foremen and admen working on daily newspapers, and $20 for all machine operators. President Weedon, of New Britain Union, chairman of the scale committee, is entitled to much credit for his activity in the affairs of the organization.

WRITING under date of February 1, Bert G. Brady reports that an agreement has been reached with the publishers of Winnipeg, Man., calling for an increase over the old scale of $2 per week, making the new newspaper wage $24 for day work and $27 for night work. The agreement extends over a period of one year, dating from February 6. The piece scale is to remain as under the old agreement, one paper working under that system.

THE News and the Times, published at Medicine Hat, Alberta, have renewed their contracts with Typographical Union No. 451, and Secretary Forbes writes: "We can speak in the highest terms of praise of the courtesy of the publishers in connection with the signing of the agreement, and great praise is also due the members of the scale committee, Messrs. Collier, McLaughlin and Campbell, for the efficient manner in which they carried on the work of that committee." The new

scale calls for a minimum of $19 per week (a raise of $3) for the year 1911, $20 for 1912 and $21 for 1913. Foremen and machine operators will receive a minimum of $22 per week for 1911, $23 for 1912 and $24 for 1913 (a raise of $3 for foremen).

WRITING under date of February 4, President Hill, of Nashville Union No. 20, says: "The newspaper scale as proposed-$4 for day work and $4.50 for night work, eight hours, price and onehalf for overtime-has been accepted by the publishers; that is, the fifth man on the local arbitration board rendered his opinion to-day in favor. We also secured an increase in the piece scale." Last June the National Board of Arbitration gave No. 20 an increase of 25 cents per day, with considerable back pay.

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THE newspaper scale of Providence Union No. 33 has been advanced to $23 per week for evening papers, and to $25 per week for morning papers, which means an advance of $2 per week for day workers and $1 per week for those employed at night. Robert S. Maloney assisted in the negotiations with the publishers, and President O'Connor, of No. 33, was chairman of the scale committee and is being complimented for the able manner in which he cared for the interests of his organization.

A NEW Scale has been put in force by Oshkosh (Wis.) Union No. 111, taking effect January 10, last, which increases the operators $1 per week and the book and job and ad men $2 per week. The wage is now $19 per week for night operators, $17 for night handmen, $18 for operators on day work, $15 for day hand compositors and those employed in the book and job branch.

WITH the assistance of John E. McLoughlin, International representative, Middletown (N. Y.) Union No. 463 has secured a sliding increase in its scale of 50 cents per year for three consecutive years, dating from the first of last December. The final wage will be $16.50 per week for hand compositors and $18.50 for machine operators.

SECRETARY SPILMAN, of Edwardsville (Ill.) Union No. 354, reports that his organization has made a general advance in its scale of wages, which advance has been accepted by all the employers. Hand compositors are increased from $13.50 to $14.50 per week, foremen from $14.50 to $16.50, and machine operators from $15.50 to $16.

MEETING OF THE NATIONAL ARBITRATION BOARD.

The National Arbitration Board met in the office of Commissioner Kellogg, of the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, in the Tribune building in Chicago, February 2 and 3, 1911.

There were present, representing the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, H. N. Kellogg, of Chicago; Herman Ridder, of New York, and George C. Hitt, of Indianapolis.

President Lynch, Second Vice-President Miller and Secretary-Treasurer Hays represented the International Typographical Union.

The principal business to come before the board

was the Chicago scale case, which had been considered by the board at sessions in Indianapolis, St. Louis and New York without decision.

A greater part of the time of the board for two days and one night was taken up in consideration of this case and the following decision was finally rendered:

Section 4 of the scale of prices in effect January 4, 1909, to be the same, with the added provision that machine operators on any shift starting between 12 midnight and 6 A. M. may be called upon to work under the bonus provision.

Section 6 shall be changed to read as follows: All hourly salaries (except machine operators) shall be at the rate of not less than 62 cents per hour for day work and not less than 67 cents per hour for night work.

Section 7. The rates which weekly_employes shall be paid shall be changed to read: Proofreaders, day work $28, night work $30; copycutters, day work $28, night work $30; copyholders, day work $21, night work $23; makeup, day work $28, night work $30; assistant machine tenders, day work $28, night work $30.

All other conditions to remain the same as provided in said scale of prices in effect January 4, 1909.

This decision to take effect as of date of Monday, February 6, 1911, and to continue for one year, with the provision that the Illinois Publishing and Printing Company and the Evening American Publishing Company have the option of accepting this scale at any time within thirty days, scale to take effect in their offices from the date of such acceptance.

On request of Cincinnati Union No. 3, a decision which was previously rendered by the board on the reproduction of advertising was modified.

On request of the Pittsburg publishers, a case relating to the employment of unskilled labor in the composing rooms of that city was re-opened. Considerable discussion took place on the previous decision, but the arbitration board decided that it would not change or modify its previous action and it was, therefore, reaffirmed.

The section of the scale of prices of New York Typographical Union No. 6, over which a difference of opinion had arisen between the New York publishers and the officers of New York Union, was before the board for interpretation, but the board failed to agree and the section was referred back to the parties in interest.

The board then adjourned.

J. W. HAYS, Secretary.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO I. T. U. LAW. It is the purpose of the writer to submit certain changes in laws that have been the subject of more or less controversy, and I take this method of giving notice of proposed amendments to allow ample time for full, fair, free and frank discussion.

I would respectfully suggest to members who may be disposed to discuss the merits or demerits thereof that they make their arguments as brief as possible, eliminating extraneous matter, as two at least of the intended changes have already been covered quite exhaustively, if not exhaustingly, in THE JOURNAL.

I shall offer no argument at this time, but hope to have the opportunity later of presenting what I

believe to be valid reasons in support of the proposed changes. I will confine myself simply to stating the amendments propose to present to the laws committee when appointed.

First Proposition-To strike out section 121, general laws, which reads:

Section 121. The competent sub oldest in continuous service is entitled to the first vacancy.

[Note This is the section of what is known as the "priority law" which has caused great controversy, and has been extensively argued pro and con since its adoption.]

Delegates to the Boston convention will recall that the New York delegation introduced an amendment making this section a matter of local option, and the committee on laws reported in favor of the local option proposition. As a delegate to that convention, I took a stand against the change suggested, arguing to the best of my limited ability that local option was simply a step to abrogate the law covering the giving out of situations. The convention took the same view and non-concurred in the report of the committee on laws by a good majority. I believed then the law was a good one. I desire to say very frankly I have changed my mind. As I have stated above, I will try later to say why I have done so. I simply note above incident to save unnecessary waste of space on the part of members who may desire to indulge in references to my seeming inconsistency.

Second Proposition-That what is known as the "overtime law" be amended as follows:

Amend section 106, "six-day law," in the general laws, by adding after the word "hours" in the ninth line, "within such six days," and striking out in eleventh line sentence beginning "Provided" and ending with "accumulative."

As amended the section would read as follows:

SIX-DAY LAW.

Section 106. Not more than forty-eight hours shall constitute a week's work. No member of a subordinate union shall work more than six days in a week, nor more than the number of hours constituting a day's work in any jurisdiction multiplied by six, where a substitute can be obtained. Should any member work through inability to secure a substitute, a greater number of day than six days in any one week, or whenever his overtime aggregates a day in hours "within such six days," he shall give to the first available substi tute such accumulated day or days. All violations or evasions of this law shall be punished, etc.

[Note The purpose of this change is, I think, clear. I would make overtime accumulate only within the legal six-day limit, and not to extend beyond such period of time. If a member, sub or regular, accumulated six hours overtime within the legal week of forty-two, forty-four or forty-eight hours, he must give a day out as soon as prac ticable. Less than six hours overtime avoids such necessity.]

Third Proposition-That annual conventions of the International Typographical Union be abol ished after 1912, and that they be held thereafter quinquennially once every five years-the convention city to be chosen by referendum vote.

[Note-This same change was introduced by the writer at the Boston convention, and was reported

upon adversely, the report being adopted.

Since then there has been some discussion in favor, President Lynch, if I am not mistaken, including a suggestion along this line in his annual report two years ago.]

Fourth Proposition-That the old age pension assessment be doubled, also the old age pension to members entitled thereto under the law, providing that $8 instead of $4 weekly be paid. This would change article ix, revenue and funds, section I of the constitution, making the fourth line read I per cent where it now calls for one-half of 1 per cent on earnings. It also amends section 6 of the by-laws, under caption "Old Age Pension Fund,' to read "sum of $8 per week," etc., in next to last line of said section.

[Note The last two propositions are constitutional amendments (annual conventions and pension law), and would, if acted upon favorably, go to referendum vote. The first two ("priority" and "overtime") are general laws, and may be adopted or rejected by convention, or in its pleasure, if acted upon favorably, may be sent to referendum vote. ]

As I have suggested, I shall offer no argument at this time, simply asking the membership to discuss the proposed changes on their merits, and that they be considered in the spirit of the greatest good of our International Union and its membership. THOMAS M. NOLAN.

Boston, Mass.

JUST BECAUSE.

Agreeing with C. S. Gookin, of Bristol, Tenn.: None were surprised that the increased salary proposition was defeated-not because our officers are not entitled to more pay, but JUST BECAUSE.

Did you ever consider that our officers are about the poorest paid of all international officers? Do those of you who voted against increased salaries think the men in your employ should be shown the same consideration that you ask them to secure for you? Or was it because it was Lynch or Hays, and if YOUR choice were holding the offices you would have favored the increase?

I don't believe it was either, but like the mortuary benefit and other good propositions which have been killed in the past, these two propositions presented to us by our last convention were killed through lack of study and careful consideration.

Our International officers are the paid heads of our organization, selected on account of their knowledge of conditions and the interest they take in the affairs of our union. They have more time to give to thought and study of what is best, and are in a position to present matters to the membership, which should be studied carefully and acted upon wisely, for the best interests of the membership at large-not because these propositions originate in the minds of this or that man, or because they are supported by this or that supposed faction (the time for factional consideration has passed), but because of their real worth or value to the individual members who compose this great organization of union printers.

We go to the expense of sending delegates to our International convention, and endeavor (or should)

to select such delegates as we consider best to represent the membership of not only our respective locals, but the entire membership of the International, and expect them to present for discussion and "dissection" such propositions as will be of benefit to all, thus arriving at a conclusion which can be presented to the referendum vote.

After generally a full week's deliberation in convention by men chosen to represent us, we are presented with subjects thought best for our International body, and instead of discussing these propositions in our meetings-bringing the strong or weak points to our attention-they are permitted to lie dormant till the day of referendum vote and hastily considered (or not considered at all), and voted for or against as the fancy strikes us, or because this one or that one approves or disapproves of them.

Let us take a different view of referendum propositions and attach more importance to them; start at once in our local meetings the consideration of propositions which would be of benefit, reintroducing all good ones which have been presented and defeated, and the discussion of new ones which would be to our interests, and I believe, after careful consideration, we will be able to pass such laws as would be to the best interests of the entire membership of our International body.

Let us change our system of referendum voting. Instead of the usual cigar box in chapels, open a polling place the same as at our other elections, or arrange for voting at our regular meetings (only six-months members being entitled to vote), and those who are interested in the welfare of our organization will be able to exert an effort toward the adoption of good measures, and those who are inclined to vote no, JUST BECAUSE, will have a "special opportunity" to consider the propositions placed before them. FRANK A. HILL.

St. Louis, Mo.

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES EXPLOSION.

After a searching inquiry extending over a period of four months, with the evident intention of placing the responsibility for the Times explosion at the door of organized labor, and that the disaster was caused by dynamite placed in the Times building for the purpose of wrecking the plant, no further light was thrown on the cause than the theories given out during the early days of October.

The opinion that the explosion was caused by gas due to faulty connections is growing in this city, despite the fact that almost every issue of the paper harps on "dynamite." Let us analyze the gas theory, so well founded and so firmly advanced.

Here was an old building in which were some twenty-eight linotype machines on the second floor and a stereotyping plant in the basement. It is a well-known fact that many of the employes had been made ill at different times by the gas fumes in the building, and on the night of the fire several complained bitterly of the noxious smell. A