should it prove otherwise, the members of "Big Six," and union printers everywhere, should enter a protest so loud that it will have the effect of preserving to the generations to come this memorial to one of the country's most illustrious citizens.

The Scale Report.

All local unions have been furnished with blanks for their use in filing a detailed statement of population, scales of prices, hours of labor, etc., as is provided in section II, of our general laws. It is hoped local secretaries will give this report their prompt attention. Secretary-Treasurer Hays desires, if possible, to codify the statistics furnished and print the same in pamphlet form about the first of the new year.

Taft on Labor Unions.

The speech of President Taft, delivered at Chicago last month, is inspiring in his promise of action on his part in his intention to carry out the labor and other pledges of the republican platform. He paid a generous tribute to the trade union movement, although we suppose it was necessary for him to throw a few crumbs of comfort to those who are thoroughly imbued with the "open shop bug." But, taken as a whole, we believe it will be admitted that the unionists received the best of it, the following being his sentiments on the subject:

I know there is an element among employers of labor and investors of capital which is utterly opposed to the organization of labor. I cannot sympathize with this element in the slightest degree. I think it is a wise course for laborers to unite to defend their interests. It is a wise course for them to provide a fund by which, should occasion arise and strikes or lockouts follow, those who lose their places may be supported pending an adjustment of the difficulties.

I think the employer who declines to deal with organized labor, and to recognize it as a proper element in the settlement of wage controversies, is behind the times.

There is not the slightest doubt that if labor had remained unorganized wages would be very much lower. It is true that in the end they probably would be fixed by the law of supply and demand. but generally before this law manifests itself there is a period in which labor, if organized and acting together, can compel the employer promptly to recognize the change of conditions and advance wages to meet a rising market and an increase in

profits; and, on the other hand, can delay the too quick impulse of the employer facing a less prosperous future to economize by reducing wages.

There is a higher standard of living among American laborers than in any country in the world, and while there have doubtless been a good many other reasons for this, certainly the effect of the organization of labor has been to maintain a steady and high rate of wages, making such a standard of living possible.

The effect of organized labor upon such abuses as the employment of child labor, as the exposure of laborers to undue risk in dangerous employments, to the continuance of unjust rules of law exempting employers from liability for accidents to laborers, has been direct, immediate and useful, and such reforms in these matters as have taken place would probably be long delayed but for the energetic agitation of the questions by the representatives of organized labor.

The president believes the time is ripe for the reorganization of the federal courts. In this opinion he will be heartily supported by the labor organizations, for it is their members that have largely been the victims of outrageous injunctions, futile appeals, cruel injustice of delay and excessive cost.

The O'Brien Outing.

In the New York correspondence in this month's JOURNAL is a story of the annual outing of the C. J. O'Brien Employes' CoOperative Association. Mr. O'Brien was one of the organizers and is an active member of the New York Branch of the Printers' League of America, and the eminent fairness he displays in dealing with his employes is worthy of emulation by others. He is also a member of Typographical Union No. 6, and has been for twenty years. One of the many gracious deeds which causes Mr. O'Brien to be held in such high esteem by his employes and fellow members of No. 6, was the case of a member of his chapel, who had reached the end of his resources through a long period of sickness. A subscription from th chapel was augmented by a gift of $25 from Mr. O'Brien, who afterward made up each week what was lacking to make a total of a week's wages until the employe was able to return to his duties. An annual vacation with pay and a gift at Christmas time to each one of his employes can also be enumerated among his beneficences.

A Correction.

IN THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, September issue, an error occurred in noting the changes in the general laws of the International Union, made at the St. Joseph convention. Delegate Carroll, of Frovidence, submitted an amendment (Proposition No. 143), which was adopted, substituting the words "three-fourths" for "two-thirds" in the thirtieth line of section 123, general laws. This is under the heading of "Charges and Trials," and applies to the majority necessary to expel or suspend. The mistake was made in marking the change in the twenty-second line of the section, with reference to the vote necessary to convict. As the law stands as amended, taking effect January 1, 1910, it will require a three-fourths vote to expel or suspend from membership, after conviction. by a two-thirds vote.

Postal Deficits.

In answer to the query, "When is a deficit not a deficit?" it might be said that it is when the receipts do not equal the expenditures in the postoffice department. The socalled "deficit" of $20,000,000 for the past year will be partly reduced by the increase in the rate for registered mail, and it is rumored that the postmaster-general has a plan in mind further to reduce the shortage by making a cut in the pay and in the number of employes in the postal service. And all this in face of the rank abuse of the franking privilege, and absurd contracts with the railroads and other private interests for handling the mails. The mail service of the country involves an enormous expenditure, but it can not be successfully maintained that there are too many employes, and that those who really do the work of the department receive more pay for their services than they deserve. As was recently asserted in a Hearst editorial:

May the economy in the postoffice be the right kind of economy. There should be no cutting down in the wages of the postoffice employes; on the contrary, those wages should be increased. The sort of economy that would take money away from one citizen by paying unjustly small wages could confer no benefit on the other oitizens. There should be no reduction in service, and we believe

that Mr. Hitchcock contemplates no such reduction. It ought not to be necessary to increase charges on registered letters or otherwise.

Mr. Hitchcock will find his field of activity wide enough in the realms of postoffice graft. Let him expose and do away with the favoritism that Congress, led by Speaker Cannon, has been showing to railroads and other corporations. Stop the shameful abuse of the franking privilege by members of Congress and other government employes-of whom some send their linen back and forth through the maiis to be cleaned. Stop, above all, the railroad thievery, that steals millions a year from the people through the postoffice. Stop the system by which the government, instead of owning its own postal cars, strongly built, rents those postal cars from the railroads, puts its employes into matchbox vehicles-so dangerous that the insurance companies will not insure the employes' lives. Stop the dishonesty which impels railroads to charge the gov ernment for a light car on a fast train, carrying mail, more than twice as much as they charge an express company for another and heavier car on the same train.

There can be no difference of opinion in the matter of effecting reforms in administering the department in order to make it self-supporting. However, the reforms should not be made at the expense of the employes, but should be laid to prodigalities in other directions.

Carson City's Roll of Honor.

In felicitating Washoe Typographical Union No. 65 on being selected to head the Labor day procession in Carson City, Nev., the News of that city gives an interesting account of that organization since it was first chartered in 1863. Some of the famous men who have been identified with its history and associated with itş membership are Mark Twain, who lived in Carson City in his youth; Joseph Goodman, Charles Goodwin, the De Youngs, Dennis McCarthy, Dan De Quille, accounted the best mining writer in the state; Edward Townsend, of "Chimmie Fadden" fame; Arthur McEwen, one of the best newspaper men that ever come out of the west, and Sam Davis. As the News asserts, "the best writers and the best printers were working in the same environment in the early days, and the success of the one class contributed to the welfare of the other. All were attracted by the allurements of the Comstock lode, and the result was that the papers of those days had the choice of the best

thought and mechanical ability." But the "old guard" has scattered. The only active charter member of No. 65 now living is William Sutherland, now in business in Reno.

Educating Apprentices.

Apprentices employed under the jurisdiction of Houston (Texas) Typographical Union have the opportunity of improving their evening hours by a course of study at the local Young Men's Christian Association. The union has voted $175 from its treasury for the education of boys who are forced to begin earning their livelihood before their schooling is finished, and the youths' department of the association has been opened for their benefit. The necessary memberships have been paid for, and a governing board of six members-three from the union and three employers-will see that the apprentices take the fullest advantage of the night school. Houston Union claims to be the only labor organization in the city to appropriate money out of its treasury to advance the cause of education, and this is a living illustration that the typographical union is always abreast of the times when it comes to providing for the future welfare of its members.

Farmers' Unions.

A newspaper dispatch under a New Orleans date, a few weeks ago, asserted that the latest note of warning that has been dropped in the political ranks of that section of the country is: "Beware of the organized farmers!" It is now recognized by all that the work of organizing the farmers of the southwest, especially the cotton growers, has made such strides in the last few months that the farmers' union will be forced to the front politically in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. It is declared that, even if the union does not carry the primaries or elections and secure the offices, it will be able to compel the politicians and officials to adopt its views on agricultural and economic questions, and to put into effect a broad system of state aid to the farmers. The farmers' union works along the most practical lines. No

line is drawn separating the farm owner, operator or laborer, but all are received in the farmers' union on one broad platform of mutual aims and interests. Recognizing that the good of all is the good of the individual, the farmers' union in democratic fashion labors for the greatest good for the greatest number.

Early last month the annual convention of the Farmers' Educational and Co-Operative Union was held at Birmingham, Ala., and such of the delegates and visitors as had arrived in the city took part in the Labor day parade. The opening exercises on the following day were participated in by the presidents of the Alabama State Federation of Labor and the Birmingham Trades Council. Delegate Wilson, of Mississippi, characterized the gathering as a lovefeast, and made an earnest and eloquent appeal for a closer union between the farmers' union and organized labor generally. T. C. Parsons, of Washington, D. C., was in attendance as a fraternal delegate from the International Typographical Union, and he, with other representatives of the trade unions, delivered addresses. These speakers were accorded a hearty welcome, and their sentiments were generously applauded. In writing of the action of the convention, Mr. Parsons says:

In appreciation of the work which organized labor is engaged in, and as an evidence of the desire to co-operate with us, several resolutions of a friendly character were adopted by the farmers, among which was the following relative to printed

matter:

Resolved, That no printed matter that does not bear the union label of the printing crafts shall be allowed distribution at this or any succeeding meeting of the National Farmers' Union; provided, this shall not apply to printing done in small towns where no union exists.

During the early part of the convention large seed catalogs and pamphlets of various kinds were liberally distributed, as they no doubt will be at future conventions. None of the printed matter bore the label, and the effect of the resolution will very likely have a tendency to reverse this order of things hereafter.

Later in the same month the Farmers' Educational and Co-Operative Union of Tennessee met in annual convention at

Jackson. Albert E. Hill, of Nashville, represented the International Typographical Union, and was instrumental in having the following resolution introduced, which was adopted unanimously:

Whereas, The Farmers' Educational and CoOperative Union of Tennessee not only stands for the elevation of the members of the association, but for the wageworkers generally; and

Whereas, At the last convention of the Tennessee Federation of Labor our union had fraternal delegates, and at this convention we have with us representatives of the state federation of labor and international organizations; and

Whereas, The International Typographical Union has at all times supported our unions; therefore, be it

Resolved, That all printed matter issued by our officers shall bear the union label, and that the officers be instructed to send copies of this resolution to the subordinate unions in the state, and request the officers and members of said unions to use the union label.

"The Country Is Safe."

When trade unions are commended by persons in no way affiliated with the general labor movement, and sentiments are uttered in favor of the union label by one who participated in eighty-two battles of the civil war, and is the proud possessor of a medal of honor voted him for gallantry displayed in that conflict, THE JOURNAL takes pleasure in making the facts known. Gen. E. W. Whittaker was to speak at the reunion of the Harris Light Cavalry at Peekskill, N. Y., last month, but found it impossible to be in attendance, so his speech was read to the assembled veterans. His address included the following:

I notice with pleasure the union printers' label on the printed matter of your committee. Having great faith in the patriotism and conservatism of organized labor, the real wealth producers of the nation, my belief is that "the country is safe," an expression we so often used in the dark days of the great civil war.

The venerable General Whittaker is the father of the wife of George G. Seibold, secretary of Columbia (Washington, D. C.) Union No. 101.

SOME of the smaller unions in the jurisdiction are becoming intensely interested in seeing that the required amount of money is raised to complete the library addition to the Home. Among the number is North

Yakima (Wash.) Union No. 614, which has ordered an assessment of 25 cents per month for two months, the proceeds to go to the fund for enlarging the Colorado Springs institution.

Foresters Reaffirm Label Action.

At the convention of the Supreme Court, Foresters of America, held in Toledo, Ohio, late in August, a resolution re-affirming its friendship for the allied printing trades label was adopted unanimously. The resolution was presented by William Young, jr., president of Philadelphia Typographical Union No. 2, and was also signed by Messrs. Harty and Maher, of Buffalo and Syracuse Unions, respectively. The resolution follows:

Whereas, At a regular stated session of the Supreme Court, Foresters of America, some fourteen years ago, it was duly enacted that the label of the allied printing trades council shall appear upon all printed matter issued or in use by the Supreme Court; and,

Whereas, The said label is an indication (wherever it is used) of the success of its supporters in their efforts for the amelioration of the conditions of the toiler-the shorter workday, sanitary workshop and a living scale; and,

Whereas, The spirit of the above law is in entire accord with the principles of our order-the protection of its members, the helping of the widows and orphans, etc., and as the requirements of the label demand these; therefore, be it

Resolved, That this Supreme Court convention reaffirm the use of the allied printing trades council label on all its printed matter.

Jesus, the Church and the Working

man.

On the evening preceding Labor day, the Rev. A. C. Dixon, pastor of the Moody church, Chicago, delivered a sermon, taking for his subject the heading used above. A large part of the membership of this church is made up of people in the ordinary walks of life, and it is for this reason that THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL takes pleasure in giving the essential points of the address, which follow:

Jesus Christ did for workingmen what He did for all men. He died for their sins, making it possible for them to settle the sin question and get right with God. He bore away their guilt and made it possible for them to become sons of God. His blood cleanses them from all sin and through

the new birth, which He taught, they become partakers of the divine nature. Through Christ the workingman has with all believers love, joy, peace and all the fruits of the spirit.

But in addition to what our Lord Jesus Christ had done for all men He specially honored the workingman by becoming Himself a carpenter and thus glorifying manual labor. Master mind of the ages that He was, He united in His own person the highest intellectuality and spirituality with handicraft. He taught the world that it is not beneath the dignity of the profoundest thinkers to work with their hands and make their living by honest toil. Paul the Apostle, who stands next to Christ in his intellectual and spiritual grandeur, was a tentmaker, and gloried in it. The man who works well with his hands has equal honor with the man who works well with his pen. Brains are needed for both.

Christ also liberated the workingman, giving him a place of freedom and equality among men by emphasizing the value of the individual. The individual was a part of a great political, social and economic machine. Tyrants oppressed the people because the individual felt that he had no rights which a ruler was bound to respect. The question of Jesus, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" was the emancipation proclamation of the individual, the echo of which we find in the American declaration of independence. God has given to man certain inalienable rights, among which are "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Jesus rescued the individual from the mass and made him an entity capable of dealing with God face to face, and with his fellows on an equal footing. Even the mild priestcraft of the Mosaic system is broken by making every individual believer a priest, and the kings of earth have no more exalted position than the children of God, who are a kingdom of priests. Man is under obligations to society which he must fulfill, but he is no longer a mere part of a machine, dominated by the will of another. He is free to enjoy his inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, while he does not infringe upon the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of others.

Christ has vastly improved the condition of the workingman. In countries which the gospel has not penetrated wages are a pittance, and the man who works with his hands is on a par with beasts of burden, receiving scarcely enough to support life. Comfort and luxury are unknown. Christ gave to the world the golden rule, which is today. the slogan of organized labor. "Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" is the foundation of true fraternity and philanthropy. The liberty to organize and help each other is due to the altruistic spirit which Christ taught and Christianity has spread over the world. The workingman of today has his home neatly furnished, often with piano or organ, carpets on the floor and pictures on the walls, with his children in school, because of what Christ gave to the world. Prosperity for the workingman goes with Christianity.

The true church of Jesus Christ has been the

channel through which He has blessed the world. There are, of course, so-called churches which are a reproach to Christianity. They are exclusive, clannish and uppish. They seek only the rich and congenial. But such caricatures of churches are not numerous. Most churches of all denominations are eager to receive working people into their membership, and many of them lament the fact that so few working people are in their congre gations. The Moody Church was founded by a shoe clerk in close association and deep sympathy with the working classes. Its motto, written in gilt letters over the door, is "Welcome to this house of God are strangers and the poor," while the rich are just as welcome. There are no class distinctions in this church. On our official boards are the blacksmith, the electrician, the merchant, the manufacturer, the printer, the lawyer, the journalist, the night watchman, the dentist, and the business manager, esteemed and loved not for what they do, but for what they are. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

Tribute From a Friend.

Last month we recorded in these columns the untimely death of Henry McMahon, of Boston Typographical Union. While it was realized at the time that any eulogy of ours would be but a feeble effort in comparison to what the deceased so richly deserved, it remained for the editor of the New Haven Union, a leading daily in the section in which Mr. McMahon acted as International organizer for several years, to extol his virtues and show the high esteem in which he was held by "one of the other side." The editorial follows:

Probably there are few persons outside typographical circles in this city who ever heard of J. Henry McMahon. He was born in Woburn, Mass., about forty-four years ago. He gained a good common school education, working at odd jobs when yet a lad to help out the folks at home. He learned the printer's trade when young and followed it in various cities all his life. He started at the bottom of the typo ladder, and by hard and efficient work rose to the top, until at the time of his death, a few days since, he was the superintendent of one of the largest newspaper composing rooms in Boston.

Naturally, Mr. McMahon was an ardent union man. He became in time president of Boston Typographical Union, and was also for some time the New England organizer of the American Federation of Labor. McMahon was typical of that great mass of our citizenship that is, after all, the very life of the union. He was an efficient workman, conscientious citizen and a fine family man. Best of all, he was of the new and better school of so-called labor agitators.

McMahon never went about stirring up trouble