The admission committee reports the number of petitions approved, 98; disapproved, 19; withdrawn, 1; died while petition was pending, 2; total number of petitions considered, 120. Petitions disapproved on advice of Home physician, 15; ineligi ble, 4; total disapproved, 19.

The average number of inmates at the Home during the year was 144. Taking the total expenditures on which to form a basis, the cost of maintenance for the year was $504.15 for each resident. In this calculation is included the cost of building improvements and repairs, for which $6,744.77 was expended. Eliminating the Cummings memorial fund and the donations for the library addition, the normal receipts for the year were $82,184.42, or $9,585.48 in excess of the total expenditures.

OTHER FEATURES.

The reports of the organizers form an interesting part of the document. Those field agents who have been assigned work that was of sufficient importance for a detailed account cover their assignments in an interesting manner, indicating that the International Typographical Union is a most conservative body, and uses diplomacy in its efforts to adjust wage disputes and other contentions affecting the membership. As was stated by the secretary-treasurer, very little trouble of a serious nature has occurred anywhere in the jurisdiction, and this condition can be attributed in a large measure to the conciliatory methods used by our organizers, who are called on when grievances are being considered by our local bodies.

The reports of the delegates to the American Federation of Labor convention, held in Denver, Colo., last December, is most complete in every particular. The action of the convention on the injunction question is probably the most important subject covered. The report of the executive council of the federation indicated that considerable improvement in the organized labor situation in Los Angeles was made during the year, and the convention directed that the efforts to further improve the situation in that city be kept up.

In declaring that the course in printing now being operated by the International Typographical Union has been a great success, the commission on supplemental trade education no doubt voices a sentiment that will be received with enthusiasm by the entire membership. Although having been in operation only about fifteen months at the time the report was closed, 812 members of the International Union were enrolled as members. The commission announces that there will be an increase of $5 in the cost of the course, beginning with September 1, next, as the cost of outfit, tuition and postage exhausted the $20 fee. It was therefore decided to make the rate $25, payable $2 down and $1 per week until paid. During the fiscal year the commission has expended $3,060.60, making the total expenditure to date on account of the educational feature $3.848.46. The commission does not believe it necessary to discuss the wisdom of this expenditure. Apart altogether from the educational value, and restricting consideration to its quality as a means of securing profitable publicity, the commission is of the opinion that the outlay is amply justified.

I

The report of the copyright representative covers work done at Washington, D. C.,. the past year in the interests of legislation to protect the American printers against the encroachment of European or continental typographers. Last March saw the passage of a law, which became effective July 1 last, that comes nearer to being an ideal copyright law than has any statute which has heretofore been in force. Some time ago the secretary of the treasury upheld the contention that the law was being violated in relation to the importation of slightly damaged plates under the heading of "old type metal," and issued a circular giving his ruling on the question.

[This department is conducted by the International Commission on Supplemental Education. Inquiries regarding the International Typographical Union Course in Printing and the work of the commission should be addressed to "The International Typographical Union Commission, 120-130 Sherman street, Chicago, Ill."]

TRADE SCHOOLS.

A very noticeable fact in printerdom is the increasing activity in the movement for the establishing of trade schools for the education of craftsmen and to finally produce a finished product in skilled printers.

It is true that while American artisans in the workshops of printing in all its departments have been showing a steady and marked degree of improvement, there is still room for advance in the technical results in all the branches of this work. But there seems to be a lack of evidence that industrial schools for the education of workmen in the art of printing have been a success. Considerable money has been invested in the effort to carry on these schools profitably, and in so far as actual figures or even apparent results tend to show there has been, to say the most, only a partial reward for the investment and the labor.

Education is always a good thing, and experi ences of early lack of progress or profit in this work should not deter the movement. There might be those who would discover an evil cropping out were we to have a successful school of printing in all of the states where the industry would warrant such an establishment, and then again this fear might be imaginary, as was the dread consequence of the introduction of the composing machine.Progressive Printer.

We thank Editor Pawley-may his shadow never grow less-for these words on the need of education.

Schools aiming to teach printing have failed mostly because they deserved to fail. To take a boy, put him in a school and undertake to teach him composition or presswork-not till he is proficient, but as long as his money lasts-is an imposi tion on the youth. The fundamental fault with such institutions is that they are more concerned in flooding the labor market than in making proficient workmen. We read about the tyranny of unions not allowing boys to learn trades; then there is an appeal to some millionaire to take up the great work of giving the "American boy a chance.' The money comes, then the American boy is besought to enter the school. Somehow the boys don't tumble over each other to learn a trade, which is pretty good proof that the unions are not keeping them out of the shops. It is something elseperhaps many other things. The balance of the good Mr. Millionaire's money is spent in advertising and drumming up pupils, but still the result is far from satisfactory. Then the original impecunious friend of the American boy looks around for some labor-hating employers to wet-nurse his school. He co-operates with men noted for exploiting boys and girls, and the school is reorganized and launched under the auspices of an antilabor organization, to the accompaniment of highsounding phrases.

Its representatives find the instructors men who believe in the dignity of labor, who think they should dictate the amount of wages they should receive, and for this reason, and no other, they are discharged. The typothetæ did this at the Winona Institute, and its committee voluntarily and brazenly admitted that the new instructors were not "ideal men to impart knowledge and instruction." When men like Donnelley, of Chicago, and Blanchard, of New York, make such an admission one is justified in concluding the instruction department was poor, indeed. The typothetæ committee seemed to be in control of the school. Its action showed conclusively that, so far as possible, it is using the school to flood the labor market and not to make good printers.

If there is a man who has a right to resent the mistreatment of society it is the incapable workThe victim of precarious employment, he is open to the worst of temptations under conditions which make his surrender almost a certainty.

man.

Why should schools that produce such resultsconsciously or unconsciously-flourish? But, with

all the injustice and wrong that has been done the workers under the guise of education, they are not opposed to it when properly conducted.

The I. T. U. Course, for instance, does not seek to make printers-it aims to help those who have chosen their lifework by the laws of natural selection. It will succeed-for the same reason that thousands of other trade educational ventures have succeeded-because it endeavors to supply something the workers need. The failures are the result of trying to force on them something they do not want.

COMMENT OF A DAILY PAPER.

At Newark, N. J., attention has been directed to the compositor's art by reason of the exhibitions held at the library. The education of the public in that way is reflected in the press, so it is not surprising to find this exceptionally intelligent review of the I. T. U. Course in the Evening News of that city:

In

Comparisons are made occasionally between the educational systems of Germany and America, to the disparagement of the latter, especially as criticism may pertain to vocational schools. some cities trade education is becoming a part of the regular school system. About four years ago Massachusetts investigated the subject of trade education and found that the apprenticeship system had practically disappeared. The reason, in part, for this is that in many trades the demands of production are so incessant that little time is taken in the course of work to teach apprentices, and furthermore those who are expected to have some care of apprentices do not all possess teaching ability, a special quality in itself, though they may be good workmen.

As a part of this general awakening to the need of trade education, it may be interesting to observe that the International Typographical Union has, as usual, taken a lead in the matter among like organizations. It launched a year ago a system of technical education for compositors in those "prin

ciples underlying good typography which can not be taught in printing offices." The needs of these men-about fifty thousand, some in cities, others in country towns-are diverse. Consequently the correspondence system is adopted and "instruction is imparted along the lines of the best and most modern educational methods." The course is open to those who are employed at the printing trade, and is regarded as a beginning of "what is to become a prominent feature of union work." There is some discussion in regard to making the course a qualification for the admission of apprentices to membership, but in this matter changes are not being made hastily.

The course of study is sold at a sum less than outfit, tuition and general expenses. In order to encourage students, rebates or prizes are given to those who show ordinary diligence and intelligence in finishing the lessons. The course is in charge of a commission on supplemental trade education. It has been examined by employing printers of Great Britain, where schools of typography have been known for many years, and the methods have been declared to be of a character that means a "revolution in trade education." The course as outlined will entail a change from the old empir ical method to a scientific method of teaching. "The student first masters the underlying princi ples and then solves the trade problems submitted to him in the light of that knowledge." Ruskin's aphorism, "Unity and simplicity are the sources of beauty," has been adopted as the key to instruction. Those who visited the recent exhibition by Newark display and job printers at the public library (where the International Typographical Union carried off three of the four highest prizes), saw some fine illustrations of Ruskin's aphorism.

BRITISH PAPER SAYS COURSE SUCCESS.

The originators of the I. T. U. Course in Printing have firm grounds now for treating it as an assured success. It has passed into a recognized necessity. Already many printers who have taken the course have had their improved skill recognized by the employer in a material increase of wages. The demand for efficiency is becoming more acute in all the trades as time goes on, and especially is this true in the printing industry. Eight hundred compositors are now taking the I. T. U. Course of instruction.-Caxton Printer.

INCREASE IN COST OF COURSE.

After August 31 the price of the I. T. U. Course in Printing will be increased from $20 to $25. The reason for this is that a year's experience proved that the smaller sum was not sufficient to cover cost of outfit, tuition and postage. The whole matter was set forth at length in THE JOURNAL for May. The increase in price brings with it an easement in payments. Those who pay spot cash can get it for $23, while those who elect to take it on the instalment plan will be required to pay $2 down and $1 a week till paid. The outfit and postage incidental to the lessons cost the instruction department $5, which reduces the price of the instruction given in each lesson to slightly more than 50 cents.

COURSE A BENEFIT TO ADMEN.

A magazine devoted to advertising in a recent article dealt with the growing improvement in the composition of advertisements. It gave several reproductions of what it called "near 100 per cent

ads," every one of which bore the earmarks of the designer's skill, which means that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the copy went into the composing room marked to the last line. This reduced the compositor to a position of a follow-copy man, depriving those with initiative of the privi lege of exercising it, causing decay of the faculty, and preventing its development among the young. This causes a deterioration of skill, and skill has been the trump card wherever the typographical union has sat in the game of wagemaking. The union's control of skill had as much to do with reducing the hours as all other factors. Had our members not possessed that quality, much of the splendid sacrifice and management would have been in vain. The invasion of the designer in the display field is banishing skill from the composing room and setting it up in the designer's office. There is no more reason why the compositor should surrender to this menace than he should have surrendered to the machine. He made and still makes a more satisfactory machine operator than the non-printer. He can also become a su perior typographical designer as compared with the non-printer. There is but one point of difference in the situation-but a comparatively few could learn the machine, and some operators had a fierce struggle to gain the coveted knowledge and experience; on the other hand, thanks to the I. T. U. Course, every person can learn the principles of design with comparative ease and at small cost. With all their boasted and real progressiveness, newspaper admen are slow to realize that a change is impending. Advertisers are discovering that ads with the right "touch to them" pay better than the ordinary kind. "There's money in it," and so that sort of ad is bound to flourish. The magazine referred to above says, and it is "gospel truff," as the old darky was fond of saying: "It is a real pleasure to note the greater frequency of such advertisements as these in the magazines and trade papers, and in the newspapers as well. It is not principally that they are more handsome and agreeable to look upon, but that because they are more handsome and agreeable to look upon they are more powerful as business builders. Beauty in advertisements has a real cash value that may be reckoned, and can easily be secured."

This critic lays particular stress on the balance, proportion, and shape harmony of an ad. When he says a properly set ad can be easily secured he has in mind securing the services of a designer, who would be captain of the ad-producing industry. The compositor who is willing to learn, and who wants to keep at the head of the procession can do Armed with the knowledge that is in the I. T. U. Course, and strengthened by thoughts and ideas it would inspire, compositors can bid the commercial artist defiance, and at the same time elevate themselves and their craft to a higher plane.

So.

WANT of motives makes life weary and dreary. -Ex.

THE noblest work often lies nearest.-Ex.

LABOR AND BUSINESS A COMBINATION.

In the May JOURNAL the writer, under the caption "High Finance and Larkin Soap," dealt with a combination of organized labor and the business interests against the Larkin Soap Company, and the rival exhibition put on by local merchants, assisted by representatives of the trades assembly. The plan of a counter exhibition of home goods displayed alongside Larkin premiums and products, with the prices of each marked in plain figures (the home price in every instance being lower) proved so effective here that it was adopted in Keokuk and Muscatine, Iowa, and Galesburg and Quincy, Ill. At each of these places a Burlington demonstrator, Lawrence P. Blank, had charge of the exhibit, assisted by the home merchants. counter exhibit was so effective, in fact, that it seems to have got on the nerves of the Larkin promoters. They attempted to sneak into Quincy, and failed to use the usual four-sheet posters to herald their coming. But when they found organized labor and the local merchants had "slipped one over" on them, and had the counter exhibit ready when they arrived, and especially when they beheld the countenance of Lawrence Blank, their surprise and disgust may be imagined.

The

Mr. Blank was one of the few live ones in the clerks' union when there was a clerks' union here. He knows the Larkin game so well that the Larkin people fear and dread him. At Quincy they asked for an estimate on the amount of business he was causing them to lose, and his reply was: "That will be up to you when you make your report to the house." As a result of his work, and of agitation and the publicity given the Larkin scheme, their exhibitions, instead of increasing their business, have made this unfair concern an object of general ridicule.

The current issue of the General Merchants' Review, of Chicago, contains an elaborate account of the home trade work in Burlington, and the "Burlington plan," as it is generally known, receives the highest commendation.

A taste of unity served as a tonic to some of our too quiescent business men, and the combination against Larkin worked so well that our business organizations gladly accepted a proposal from the trades assembly for a permanent alliance to promote home trade. It was a member of the typographical union who devised the plan, as follows:

The home trade committee of the trades assembly submits for consideration the following plan to promote home trade in Burlington:

We propose that a joint committee of five from the exchange and five from the assembly be appointed, to be known as the home trade commission, and that this commission undertake a systematic campaign for home industry.

It is ap

parent that something more than agitation and advertising is necessary to achieve success, for the mail order evil is deep-rooted; therefore, systematic work in detail is absolutely necessary.

Dealers may know of individual cases where

parties are patronizing mail order houses, but dislike to make any public complaint. Under the plan submitted, the dealer can inform any member of the commission he may choose, and his name need not be known to any one else. The commission can then take up the case, and see that the party is approached in the manner best calculated to secure results. The assembly can and will, through its membership, learn of many cases where parties are trading away from home, and the commission can then, without undue publicity, endeavor to induce them to join the ranks of the home traders.

Members of the assembly have, at different times, complained of dealers who, they believe, are discriminating against home products. The assembly will, in the future, endeavor to see that such complaints are made to the commission, and the dealer can then be notified, confidentially, of such complaint.

In handling each case confidentially, as it were, there will be no need of creating resentment or antagonism, and once a mail order patron is induced to see the error of his way, he must become an enthusiastic home trader.

The commission should elect a chairman and secretary to handle correspondence, and cases handled should be known only to the commission.

The Home Trade Commission as now organized consists of five from the commercial exchangea wholesale grocer, a soap manufacturer, a commission man, a clothing merchant and the manager of a department store; five from the trades assembly-two printers, a cigarmaker, a machinist and a teamster-and one representative each from the retail grocers' association and the retail druggists.

Circular letters have been issued, some addressed to our business men, too many of whom seem to be apathetic on the subject, and others to well-known mail order patrons. A three-column, four-page publication, called "The Home Trader," has been issued, containing articles exposing the tricks of the mail order trade, particularly the Larkin humbuggery. All printed matter bears the label, of course, as does all printed matter issued by the commercial exchange and the retail grocers' association. It is believed a similar condition exists in very few cities in the United States.

The readiness of organized labor to take up the fight against the mail order houses has been a revelation to the business interests here and else where. Organized labor is coming to be viewed in a new light in many quarters, and is making new and valuable friends.

The business and the labor organizations are coming to appreciate the fact that they have too many interests in common to remain in their former attitude of utter indifference to each other as organizations.

There is no doubt that in the past few months labor has gained vastly in prestige in Burlington, which only serves to prove a point the writer has often urged-that where organized labor is best known and understood it is most appreciated; where least understood it is most criticised and condemned.

The writer has received many inquiries from members of the International Typographical Union

in different parts of the country in response to the article in the May JOURNAL. A number of these were exhibited to members of the commercial exchange as evidencing the interest of organized labor in such matters, and a number of high encomiums on organized labor in general and the typographical union in particular were heard. "It is certainly remarkable," said an official of the exchange, "how organized labor is everywhere first to take up this matter."

But the alliance as perfected here is so new a proposition that the business interests in various cities have been slow to take it up. Organized labor has been ready and willing, even eager; but organized business in some instances has been somewhat coy and backward, as though their conservative members feared to rush into perils they knew not of. In such cases Secretary Egan, of the commercial exchange, has paved the way by means of a letter to the business organizations concerned. Mr. Egan, while not a printer, is an old newspaper man, and is broad enough and shrewd enough to know the value of organized labor as an ally in any movement for the uplift of a community.

"LARKIN QUALITY."

The catalog fiends who patronize mail order houses read a great deal about "Larkin Quality." Every test yet made shows "Larkin Quality" to be distinctly inferior to standard brands of goods. The researches of the Home Trade Commission have brought to light the following interesting information about "Larkin Quality:"

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Bureau of Animal Industry, Local Office, CHICAGO, ILL., March 31, 1906. Chief of Bureau, Washington, D. C.:

SIR-Referring to your letter of the 29th inst., also telegram of same date, concerning rendering works at Globe, Ind., you are advised that I have visited the plant and find that it is known as the National Rendering Company, with office in Exchange building, Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Ill. Edward Meyer is the manager.

The building is a two-story frame structure with no cellar, and is much the same as all rendering establishments. Evidently considerable care is exercised by the management to keep the place as clean as possible. The plant is equipped with boilers, an engine, thirteen tanks twelve feet by six feet, presses, vats in which oils, tallow and grease are drawn off; also roller for drying tank

⚫ age.

No commercial fertilizer is made at this plant, but the dried tankage is sold to other factories.

The various products of this plant are white grease, B. white grease, brown grease, tallow and horse oil. These various products are made from cattle, sheep and hogs that die in the Union Stock Yards, also those that die in cars enroute to market.

In warm weather these carcasses are delivered to the plant in the afternoon of the day on which they arrive, and in cold weather the morning after. A great many dead horses and dogs from the city are also sent to this plant. During the year 1905 the following dead animals were handled:

grease, tallow, etc. The tierces are all old ones and evidently not well cleaned. No shop tallow or fat are received here.

The Larkin Soap Company, Buffalo, N. Y., takes 75 per cent of the output during the summer. Pfau & Sons, Jeffersonville, Ind., and the Globe Soap Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, also purchase soap material here. A good many sales are also made through brokers.

There is nothing about the place to indicate that it is other than it is supposed to be. Very respectfully,

S. E. BENNETT, Inspector in Charge. P. S.-Tanks are cooked at a pressure of forty pounds.

All the dead horses, mules, dogs and cats which are gathered in Chicago are shipped to this rendering plant, and these and all animals that die from accident or disease at the stockyards are there rendered into soap material. Three-fourths of this enormous and odorous mess goes to make "Larkin Quality." Is it any wonder the Larkin Company shuns publicity? GEORGE W. WHITEHEAD. Burlington, Iowa.

CERTIFICATES OF INITIATION.

I have headed this article as above, but in the subject-matter will be found a conjunctive proposi tion, entitled "Cards of Record." I will first take up the matter of "Certificates of Initiation." This is a subject which has occupied my attention for many years, and I have often wondered why such a large and grand organization as the International Typographical Union did not furnish a certificate, in suitable form, showing that the individual in possession of the same had affiliated himself with our organization-certainly the most beneficial and truly the most progressive body of skilled laborers on earth. Relative to the certificate of initiation proposition, I believe it would receive the approbation of the general membership. It would be something which any member (and especially after long good standing) could look upon with pride. I venture to say there are very few of us, indeed, who have any document of record which would show our initial affiliation with the International Typographical Union. There may, possibly, be a few who have retained their "first working card," but I dare say the number is very limited. Those who are fortunate enough to possess their "first working cards" surely have, in my opinion, a priceless gem-something which should be given the place of honor in any home. This proposition, I think, is worthy of cohsideration by the next convention. It has many admirable features which could be brought before the membership, the foremost being its merit as a card of honor. In conclusion on this matter, I believe this feature will speak for itself.