Слике страница
PDF
ePub

posing rooms. In the new scale the sanitary feature will be, and should be, properly looked after. One great menace to the health of the linotype operator is the open metal pots on the machines. In a composing room containing a large number of these unpiped machines, the noxious vapors from the metal is a serious menace to the health of every one in the room, and in time will undermine the most robust constitutions. The vapors from metal pots, all health authorities agree, weaken the lungs to such a degree as to make them an easy prey to tuberculosis. Other reforms sadly needed are the conditions of employment and pay of apprentices, who now in most offices barely receive enough money to buy clothes and pay car fare.

The St. Louis delegation will probably arrange for a special train to the San Francisco convention, if the support of sufficient neighboring unions can be secured. This train will be known as the "I. T. U. Special," will be well stocked with everything good to eat and drink, and finely appointed in every particular. There are many reasons why a special would be desirable, principally because it would make the trip cheaper, and the fraternal and social side of the trip would be properly looked after, thus transforming an otherwise monotonous, wearisome trip into a fraternal gathering. The special will stop at all points of interest en route and will be in charge of expe rienced railroad men. Literature will be forwarded all unions when plans for the trip are completed.

The funeral services of John La Chance, a member of Chicago Union, were held here February Mr. La Chance 15, under the auspices of No. 8. was a member of this union up to about six years ago, and was for years chairman of the investigating committee of No. 8. He left here and went to Chicago, became afflicted with tubercu losis, and about one and one-half years ago went to the Home. He became improved, and returned to Chicago, but his improvement was only temporary, and he was again sent to the Home. The disease had progressed too far, however, and Mr. La Chance desired to leave the Home, and return to Chicago to his family to die. He passed away on his arrival in Chicago in the La Salle street station. John La Chance was one of the oldtimers here, and was one of the founders of the Tammany Club. He was always a hard worker for No. 8, and President Hertenstein in his funeral oration paid a glowing tribute to his memory and recounted his services to the organization and his many good traits of character. Among the many beautiful floral pieces was one from the Tammany Club.

It will be remembered that some four years ago the Bell Telephone Company let the contract for the printing of its telephone directory to R. R. Donnelley & Co., a notoriously unfair Chicago house, notwithstanding the efforts made by us at the time to prevent it. Although the contract will not expire for another year, the new officials in charge of the St. Louis office have given assurances that when the present contract expires

the work will be brought back to St. Louis and will be done in a union office. The Donnelley firm, while it is doing the work cheaper than any St. Louis house would take the job for, is also turning out a very inferior class of work, and the new officials are very pronounced in saying so.

The election of two members to represent the union on the joint standing newspaper scale committee furnished the spice for the February meeting, resulting in the election of President Hertenstein and O. P. Eads, jr., of the Globe-Democrat.

The Monotype Club gave its second informal dance of the season at Louisiana Hall, 911 North Vandeventer avenue, February 24.

On February 12 the Printing Trades Club celebrated its first anniversary with an entertainment consisting of several choice vaudeville acts and athletic events, at the club headquarters, 620A Locust street. Two three-round bouts, a wrestling match, and the three Siberg brothers, acrobats, constituted the athletic part of the program, while the South Broadway quartet, Fred Otto, Ed George and others, furnished high-class entertainment. For most of the events the club management is indebted to Herman Kemp, manager of the South Broadway Athletic Club.

The following resolution was introduced by O. R. Lake, of the Times chapel, and will be voted on at the March meeting:

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to ascertain the feasibility of purchasing or leasing a plot of ground on which to erect an office building for this union, said building to contain one or more halls suitable for the holding of meetings of this or other labor bodies, headquarters and committee rooms, etc., and such other arrangements necessary the transaction and conduct of the business of this body.

to

There is a persistent rumor abroad in St. Louis to the effect that Hearst has acquired an interest in the Republic and will turn it into a typical Hearst paper.

C. C. Swinford has made application for readmittance to the Home. Mr. Swinford returned from the Home a month or so ago, seemingly able to work, but a recurrence of an aggravated case of stomach trouble sent him to the hospital.

The February meeting instructed the secretary to write chairmen of all job chapels to ascertain whether or not the accumulative overtime law is being strictly enforced, and report the result of his investigation to the March meeting.

The label has been granted to the Progress Printing Company, 4259 Manchester avenue. The Hoffman Printing Company has returned label No. 68, the firm going out of business.

Mound City Camp No. 11359, Modern Woodmen, passed a resolution compelling their officers to place the union label on all of their printed matter.

On January 19, John S. Davis, a member of the George D. Barnard chapel, passed away. Mr. Davis' death was the result of an accident. He was interred on Saturday, January 28. Albert F. Beall, for many years a member of the Kellogg chapel, and on the old age pension list at the time of his death, was the third member of our union to pass

away during the past month. Mr. Beall died on January 30, at Centenary Hospital, the result of an operation. He was buried on Wednesday, February 1, the funeral services at the residence being conducted by the president.

Rumors in a political way are plenty, but facts are scarce. The contest for delegates to San Francisco will perhaps furnish the interest at the coming election. So far those announced are: William H. McKenzie, Frank A. Hill, Charles G. Daly, L. W. Repp and Jess Chapler. By next month there will be candidates galore, as it is the general opinion that about eighteen or twenty will get in the race. The only candidate so far announced for secretary-treasurer is the incumbent, George B. Woods. As for the presidency, Mr. Hertenstein has decided there is no vacancy in that office, so that settles it.

The annual dance took place on Tuesday, February 7, and was a most enjoyable affair, being at- . tended by about one hundred couples.

JAMES B. GRIFFITH.

ST. PAUL, MINN.

The climax of the forty-eight-hour week agitation came the early part of last month. The Minnesota Typographic Company (McGill-Warner) posted a notice to the effect that after a certain date a week's work would consist of forty-eight hours, allowing for a Saturday afternoon half-holiday. This being a direct violation of the scale signed last November, the executive board of No. 30 ruled that time and one-half must be charged for all time over eight hours worked in one day. The notice violating the scale was taken down.

The Brown-Treacy-Sperry Company, non-union since the strike in 1905, now have an organized chapel, a report from which was read at our last meeting. The entire shop in all departments is working a straight eight-hour day.

Bert G. Brady, for the past year doing organization work in Minneapolis, will assist the union here in the same line and will carry out a plan similar to the one in vogue in Minneapolis.

Working conditions here have picked up wonderfully in the past few months. Last fall, and even in the early winter, many men were working short weeks, but today not only is every card man in the city employed, but Minneapolis and other suburban cities have been called on for help. All the smaller union shops are busy and the large ones are rushed beyond reason. The Minnesota Typographic Company has over eighty men at work in the composing room, and the end is not in sight.

The St. Paul Typographical Union Bowling League has had its first month of life. With eight teams playing a schedule of games that will last until April 23, we are promised events that are sure to attract attention in the athletic world. The newspaper men have so far proved easy victors over the job office teams in most of the games. Interest in the sport is intense, and as a means of bringing the membership of the local in closer touch with each other the league is proving

a success. The nucleus of a strong baseball organization is with these bowlers and promises to develop in due time.

The newspaper scale committee is at work on a new scale and will soon report. C. S. BARNS.

SYRACUSE, N. Y.

Edward Cronin, 61 years old, died at the Hospital of the Good Shepherd February 14. He was a member of Albany Union and was a pensioner at the time of his death and was buried by Syracuse Union. Several weeks ago Mr. Cronin broke his leg, and a complication of diseases developed which proved fatal. The pallbearers were Jerry Connolly, George A. Jeffrey, James H. McCormick and George M. Hughes. Mr. Cronin learned his trade while in the employ of the Syracuse Herald. He worked in this city for fifteen years, after which he went to Albany. He left Albany for the Home in Colorado, but left there when the pension act went into effect. He returned to this city last summer. Syracuse Union has been unable to find any relatives.

John M. Palmer, who came to Syracuse about a year ago from Findlay, Ohio, died in St. Joseph's Hospital of hemorrhage of the lungs, caused by tuberculosis. His remains were shipped to his home in Findlay by Syracuse Union.

Thomas M. Gafney, editor of the Industrial Weekly, and Fred C. Scott, of the Post-Standard, are candidates for delegate to the San Francisco

convention.

Frank C. Hall, of Utica, is now machinist-operator on the Catholic Sun.

Thomas M. Gafney is making a strong bid for labor commissioner of the state of New York. Mr. Gafney is well-fitted for the position and has every hope of landing the place.

NORMAN G. SPRAGUE.

MAILERS' TRADE DISTRICT UNION. Information has reached me from San Francisco to the effect that No. 18's proposed scale has gone to arbitration. Ferdinand Barbrack is one of the committee which has been selected to prepare No. 18's case, and from the manner in which he is handling it a strong argument will be advanced by the union.

Chicago Union is not meeting with as much success as it deserves in its scale proposition, as the publishers' association has not given the mailers much encouragement. From reports it looks as though they will have to arbitrate with those publishers they have arbitration contracts with.

St. Louis Union has appointed a committee to draw up a new scale, and is at present asking other mailers' unions for copies of their scales. In this way they hope to secure enough data to help them better their working conditions, and help them increase their earning capacity.

Representatives have been placed in Pittsburg, Providence and Minneapolis to see if conditions could not be improved in those cities. Mr. Laf

ferty will take charge in Pittsburg, Maloney will look after Providence, and Brady will take care of the Minneapolis situation.

Milwaukee Union is still battling with the publishers of that city. Secretary-Treasurer La Fleur, of Typographical Union No. 23, has promised to assist them, and his able support will be greatly ap preciated.

Some progress has been made by the committee appointed by Cleveland Union for the purpose of improving conditions in job shops. Roy Anson is chairman of the committee, and deserves much credit, as the field is a hard one to handle.

The officers of the Indianapolis Union have been busy as usual, and have signed up with four job shops. It would not be a bad idea for the larger organizations to take note of No. 10's continued progress.

I was in Philadelphia for a few days on missionary work, which I trust will bear some results. At this time about 50 per cent of the membership of this union is still holding on, and under the most trying circumstances, too, which is a very creditable showing.

Newark Union held its annual reception on February 27, and quite a few of No. 6's members attended. They say Newark is surely a live place.

No. 6 held its reception on February 6, and it was acknowledged the best ever. The attendance was estimated at about 3,000, and the organization was honored by representatives from Boston, Philadelphia and Newark. Our old friend "Paddy" Hoey came all the way from Boston to see that things went right.

I trust that every mailers' union will place at least one candidate in the field for delegate to the coming convention, and I hope you, Mr. Reader, will be the fortunate one to go to San Francisco. CHARLES N. SMITH.

The Secretary's Letter.

[ocr errors]

Herewith will be found result of vote taken on amendments submitted to referendum, after same was acted upon favorably at Minneapolis. I wish to call attention to the large number of unions which sent no result of vote cast on any of the propositions. I also wish to call attention to the following delinquent unions, some of which have been beneficiaries of the larger unions through the use of the traveling card. The following are the unions which come under this head: Cleveland, Ohio; Newark, N. J.; Pittsburg, Pa.; Buffalo, N. " Y.; St. Paul, Minn.

The following is the financial statement for January:

[blocks in formation]

Jan. 21. Toronto-For December..
Jan. 21. Washington-For December..
Jan. 21. Milwaukee-For December.
Jan. 21. Albany-For July 1 to December

31, 1910....

Jan. 27. Los Angeles-For July, 1910...
Jan. 27. Kansas City-For January.
Jan. 27. Los Angeles-For August, 1910...
Jan. 27. Los Angeles-For September, 1910
Jan. 27. Los Angeles-For October, 1910..
Jan. 27. Los Angeles-For November, 1910
Jan. 27. Los Angeles-For December, 1910
Jan. 27. Los Angeles-For January, 1911..
Jan. 27. Providence-For November and

December, 1910... Jan. 27. Salt Lake City-For August, 1910, to January, 1911...

Jan. 31. Philadelphia-For February, 1911. Jan. 31. Minneapolis-For January, 1911..

[blocks in formation]

$3.50

40

2 00

4 40

I 60

3 30

I 70

I 90

I 90

1 90 I 90

2 00

60

5 30

2 30

4 40

$534 46

$2.00

2 00

60

$4 60

.$534 46 4 60 .$529 86

JAMES P. MCNICHOLS.

San Francisco Mailers.

As anticipated, the local publishers will again resort to arbitration in the matter of our new scale. Efforts along the lines of conciliation in accordance with the true spirit of the arbitration contract have met with failure, as we presumed they would. Attempts at conciliation, as far as past experiences are concerned, have always seemed more or less of a farce: the publishers' association never having accepted this part of the code as meaning anything but words, words, words.

In all our conferences, we have always met them more than half way and showed a disposition, beyond doubt, to be reasonable, and I defy them to name a single instance where they were willing to deviate a hair's breadth from their original stand.

Many of the items embraced in their counterproposition to us are clearly unconstitutional from the standpoint of International law alone, to say nothing of our own local laws, and when apprised of the matter they do not dispute the fact, but have the temerity to expect us to make concessions in conflict therewith. However, their expectations have not been realized and arbitration is again the order of the day.

We have established headquarters in a downtown office building and have appointed Ferdinand Barbrack to act as counsel for the union, and from his safe, sane and conservative brain we expect results and know that our interests are being carefully guarded.

We hope to have the matter settled in its finality ere the August convention, that we may disport ourselves care free and to the full when that semifestive occasion arrives.

Determination to greet you in a manner befitting and characteristic of San Francisco keeps us

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

busy betimes perfecting plans that we hope will meet with your approval when completed, leaving nothing to be desired.

One of the principal difficulties we find we have to contend with is the lack of time at your disposal, taking into consideration the fact that the mailer delegates have two conventions to attend besides any committee work that may be allotted to them.

A main feature we have discussed and almost safely promise will be an elaborate banquet given to the mailer delegates and which the entire membership of No. 18 will attend. We believe this will be the means of every one becoming thoroughly acquainted through the interchange of thoughts and ideas, besides promoting a healthy spirit of good fellowship. JOHN GARVEY.

Toronto Mailers.

Things are pretty good in, Toronto, with enough work to go around and not one complaining.

The new agreement seems to be working well and to the benefit of No. 5. Some of the offices, though, don't favor the overtime rate any too well, not being used to paying it before.

President Gallagher was nominated for delegate to the San Francisco convention and John Mann alternate.

We hope to see something done toward organizing the mailers in the west.

No. 5 is going to try to make Toronto a 100-percent union town in our line of business.

G. A. WEBBER.

LINOTYPE AND OTHER MACHINE OPERA

TORS.

That linotype and other machine operators do the most taxing work in the composing room to-day is not denied by any man who is an all-round man, and who is experienced in all branches of present day work in the composing room. In previous articles I have commented on the value of the services of proofreaders and machinists, as well as job printers; and last, but not least, are the machine operators and the floormen. Linotype operators do most arduous work. Since the introduc

tion of machines in composing rooms, the machine men have been looked upon as the most essential factors in the production of printing, and even today, when a printer applies for work in the composing room, in the majority of cases, he is asked: "Are you a machine operator?" The writer is a linotype operator and has been for seven years. He therefore knows what the work of a machine operator is. In New York city, machine operators are considered the most valuable men in the composing room, and beyond a question of doubt they are, for their work is very strenuous. But leaving aside all factions in the printing trade, New York Union considers that floormen and admen are equally as important as machine operators. A good adman must be an artist nowadays, and he is entitled to the best pay that can be given him, and the machine operators are likewise entitled to higher pay. It requires much energy and constancy to be a good machine operator; it is a heavy tax on the physical machines, and the writer believes that linotype operators, as well as admen, proofreaders, machinists and floormen, should all have a seven-hour day, and $6 per day, remembering that

Whether we work by the piece or work by the day, Decreasing the hours increases the pay.

[blocks in formation]

Ag'st

For

Ag'st

BOSTON, MASS.

Faneuil Hall was well filled at the January meeting of No. 13 to hear the report of the committee entrusted with the revision of the constitution. In the routine business Organizer Wood presented a long report of the work done by the label committee. He made a plea for finances to continue the work and recommended the establishment of a clipping bureau to facilitate the following up of regularly recurring meetings and other occasions requiring printing, so that pressure could be brought to bear before the work was done and not after. Label committees in chapels were also recommended. Both recommendations were adopted. A report from the trustees was adopted, which showed total resources of some $18,000, $10,000 of which was in the funeral and relief fund.

The result of a long discussion of the constitution committee's report was the adoption of all their recommendations, which action was later ratified by the referendum. One of the new features of the amendments is the fixing of the status of apprentices and their priority, which will commence with the granting of a card, and the adoption of a clause giving them the protection recommended by the last International convention. The changing of the office of assistant secretary to an elective position was a feature around which most of the debate centered. By the adoption of the committee's plan No. 13 has definitely separated the duties of this office. The secretary continues to perform all the customary duties of that position, is also the organizer of the union, and when the new plan takes effect next June will have charge of all label work. The assistant secretary will look after the membership record, candidates for membership, working cards, International per capita business, and anything else the union feels inclined to add thereto. This change was the only one which had a real opposition to contend with. The committee figures a saving of several hundred dollars a year in office expenses by the rearrangement of the work. By another amendment the right is given to vote for all International delegates on either news or job side. Formerly two only on each side could be voted for.

The executive committee was reorganized by providing that the two highest from each branch at the coming May election should serve three years, next two highest two years, and two others one year; thereafter, two from each branch to be elected annually for three years. This will give a majority of experienced members continuously, and is a commendable plan for all such standing committees. The method of voting was simplified by the substitution of the cross marking for erasure of names. Central labor union delegates are to be appointed instead of elected, and the board of trustees is to have general supervision of all salaried officers, with power to report neglect of duty to the union.

The salary of the president is increased to $300 annually; secretary, $27 per week; assistant secretary, $23; treasurer remains $100 per annum, and sergeant-at-arms, $4 for each meeting. The publi

cation of the monthly bulletin was authorized, and label work is to be financed by an appropriation of 4 cents per capita per month from the general fund.

In connection with the establishment of an increased death and sick benefit, the committee presented two plans. Plan one provided increased death benefits as follows: One year's membership, $25; one year and less than four, $100; four years and less than seven, $200; seven years and less than ten, $300; ten years and less than thirteen, $400; thirteen years and over, $500. Under this plan the sick benefit was continued as a purely relief measure. Plan two continued the present death benefit of from $100 to $300, and offered sick benefit of $4 for thirteen weeks in one year. Whatever guidance might have been derived from a free discussion of these two plans was prevented by the necessity of vacating the hall for another meeting, so they went to the referendum on their merits, where plan one was carried. Various reasons for the failure of the sick benefit feature are given, one ingenious one being that its friends, having secured the increased death benefit, will now proceed to tack the sick benefit on to it.

An echo of past scale negotiations was heard in a provision that not less than two members of No. 13 should be present at all such conferences. The priority law, like Banquo's ghost, will not down, and Thomas M. Nolan took advantage of the apprentice clause to announce his candidacy as delegate to San Francisco and his intention to move for the repeal of that law.

One of the first things which the reorganized board controlling the label should turn its attention to is the question of the possibility of a label which can suitably be used in a small size on artistic work. The other day, when an order for cards was given, the printer asked if the label was to be used on them. "I would like to help the union printers," said the customer, "but that label I will just spoil the looks of my card and be nothing but a blot of ink." No doubt this is somewhat exaggerated, but in many cases there is some ground for the complaint. It is unfortunate that so much advertising has been spent on the label if we have to change it, but the longer it is put off the worse it will be. Could not the aid of the experts of the education commission be invoked to design something in the shape of a monogram that would look well on all classes of printing?

A firm in this city bought a small stock of unionlabel shirts last October. Their name is printed in the Union Label Bulletin as one which carries such goods. There are two of our daily papers within 100 yards of their store with well over 100 union printers employed, and yet this firm has sold only seven shirts in this time.

Think it over. Do The label on shirts

unto others as ye would, etc.
is new; all the more reason for asking for it.

William Templeman, of the Boston American, extends his sympathy to William Templeman of Toronto, formerly of Minneapolis, for the loss of his whiskers, as mentioned in the January JOURHe would like to know if there is any closer

NAL.

« ПретходнаНастави »