was the chief attraction, and a glance at the old combination of library and assembly room proved the absolute necessity of the improvements now going on, to say nothing of a much needed kitchen and other accommodations. Hence we may reasonably expect an early and decided increase in the donations for its completion. I wish it were possible to quote the encomiums passed upon the Home and its management by this large number of contributors, but space will not permit, and I fear your space has been too much encroached upon already. JAMES W. TWYMAN. Union Printers Home, Colorado Springs, Colo.

IS IT WORTH WHILE?

If a member, with letter-writing ability, can influence some large concern to quit patronizing a non-union office and give all its printing to an office employing our members exclusively-I ask is it worth while?

The following letter will partly answer the question:

LYNCHBURG, VA., October 1, 1909. DEAR SIR-Replying to yours of September 29, the writer is glad to state we have had all of our "Burly Cubs" shells and slides printed by the Munson Folding Box Company, of New Haven, Conn., but I was advised that they did not use the label.

I have your full list before me, and there are plenty in your list to select from. We assure you that we are very glad to co-operate with you in this matter with the printers' union. It somewhat encourages us to think that you take enough interest in it to see that all concerns use the printers' label, and we assure you that in the future all of our printing will be done with a union house and will bear the label.

I am enclosing copy of letter mailed to the Munson Folding Box Company, regarding putting the union label on the run that they are now making, and if the job is not too far advanced, it will appear on the same.

same, we are,

Thanking you for calling our attention to the Yours very truly, Booker Tobacco Company, Inc., G. M. BOOKER, President. [Copy] OCTOBER 1, 1909. The Munson Folding Box Company, New Haven, Conn.:

GENTLEMEN-We recently placed an order with you for one million "Burly Cubs" shells and slides, and I am advised you are at liberty to use the lithographers' label, and would like to ask, if the run has not progressed too far, that you will have same placed on the order just handed you. If you have printed a portion of them, let the label appear on the rest of the run.

We regret that we did not know that you belonged to the union of lithographers and printers, and we assure you that it will be our pleasure to throw a good deal of work your way in the future. Yours very truly,

BOOKER TOBACCO COMPANY, INC.

The Booker Tobacco Company, referred to, employs members of the tobacco workers' union only, and is one of the very few firms manufacturing little cigars, cigarettes, cut plug and pipe tobacco with the label on.

Four cents in postage, and two sensibly written letters brought about the above result-and still I ask: Is it worth while?

We do not want some of the employes of the nonunion offices in our ranks-nor do we need them;

but we need the product of these offices, so let's go and get it. Pick out one concern in your locality and write them-and await results. You will find out how strong you are if you use your strength. Annapolis, Md. L. S. WILLIAMS.

SHALL WE ENGAGE IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS?

This question is suggested by the proposition to increase the death benefit, which the members of the International Typographical Union will vote upon in February, 1910. Looking at the matter from a business point of view, it seems to me that it is very poor policy to impose this extra burden upon the membership at this time, when the cost of the necessaries of life is soaring to the skies. Of course, the men located in the larger cities, where wages are high, can meet the extra expense easily, but when they cast their ballots they should think of their brethren employed in the smaller towns where the scale is much lower. I will venture to say that nearly every member of the International Typographical Union in the Nutmeg state, at least, is carrying all the life insurance he can afford, and if this proposition carries, it means one of two things: he must either drop some of his insurance or else give up his union. In other words, the enactment of this proposition into law may mean the disruption of some of the weaker unions. If we must enter the insurance field let us make it optional with every member whether he will take it or not, and not compel our members to buy something they don't want. Let us make haste slowly in this matter, and not vote for something that may prove burdensome in years to come. The membership of No. 365 is practically solid against the resolution. ARTHUR C. GUILD. Derby, Conn.

LABOR DAY WEEK CONVENTIONS.

*

*

Let us centralize our efforts as to Labor day celebrations. To that end I would suggest that the only attempt at parade display or organization advertising be done at the annual conventions of the International Typographical Union, amending article iii, section 1, to read "* shall be held annually on the Wednesday preceding the first Monday in September. This would bring Labor day in the middle of convention week, and the city and nearby locals favored by the gathering of delegates and visitors would make appropri ate arrangements. Up and down this broad land printermen would know that somewhere our great organization was adding glory to labor's day. The feeble efforts of faraway locals could be spared, they being content to know that "little number so and so" was represented in the banner turnout of the country. The practice of shifting the scene of our conventions will become more popular, and in the course of twenty years the many things that are curs and only ours-would be known through. out the domain of the International Typographical Union.

Early August is the most uncomfortable season

We are used to hearing the expression, "He is a good union man," a phrase common even outside the domain of trade unionism, and I hear it so often misapplied that I am prompted to give my own views as to what I think it means. We, of trade unions, are all agreed that the terms "rat" and "scab" are quite synonymous from our moral viewpoint; most of us also are quite familiar with Mr. Gompers' and Mr. Mitchell's characterizations of this type of the human family. Of the other fellow-the scab, the rat-who steps in and takes our job when we go on strike, sometimes from grim necessity, sometimes an old hand at the game and there are many of the latter-very little can be added to what has already been said or written.

There is no difference in the product which they put upon the market. Neither is the re-and this is a point I wish to emphasize-much difference between them and the people who use this product. I am not confining myself to the printing industry; this will apply in the hat, shoe, glove, clothing, and any and all industries where workers are banded together for the elimination of the sweatshop and the rise of the working class.

I work in a union printing establishment. So do some others of these "good union men." But how many of them patronize the United Cigar Stores, smoke Duke's mixture and Bull Durham, and a few other brands of tobacco (?) one would be surprised to know.

Now show me the difference between the union man who deliberately buys a product which he knows is made under sweatshop or unfair conditions, and the man who makes the product. By buying the goods, the one makes it possible for the other to live, doesn't he? It is pretty hard these days to dodge and say that union goods can not be purchased; sometimes they can not, as in the case of straw hats. It is also true that only one firm in the world makes Uneeda biscuit; must we buy Uneeda biscuit? How many unionists are there whose wives do not purchase these goods?

The printer man-what is the first thing he does when handed a piece of printing? Looks for the label, of course. And if he does not find it there is something wrong with the job, from his point of view. But this same "good union man," when he buys his tobacco of the United Cigar Stores, has apparently shifted his viewpoint. Now try to reconcile his view with that of the union tobacco worker, and where are you? Just previous to the last union election, I was approached by a candi

date for delegate soliciting votes, who very incautiously exhibited a package of unfair tobacco. I immediately introduced him and his tobacco around the shop. This reached the ears of some of the other candidates, who made good political capital out of it, and the man failed of office, with a splendid margin. Verily, we need education of a kind.

My idea of the "good union man" is the one who, through a realization of the class struggle, or a study of economic conditions, or better still, a devotion to the principles of trade unionism, faithfully carries out the bargain he makes with the union upon his initiation into it. Find a member of this union who is living up to his obligation, and you will find one who has no scab goods in his home or on his person. GEORGE H. Filler. Chicago, Ill.

THE I. T. U. COURSE IN DETROIT.

Last spring, when William B. Prescott addressed Typographical Union No. 18 on the subject of "Trade Education," he struck a responsive chord, which resulted in the appointment of a committee which is stirring up this important subject. We have all, no doubt, recognized for years the decadence of our apprenticeship system (?), but heretofore we lacked a definite proposition to offer the apprentice or journeyman who desired to increase his efficiency in the line of business in which he must earn his living. It is strange that we have let all these years pass without an attempt at technical education, emanating from the union which, in my opinion, should have grappled with this question years ago. This is a living issue. In promoting this work we are doing something practical for the young man which he is bound to appreciate as he grows older, and is capable of realizing the efforts his fellows have made to make him a skilled worker in the broadest sense of the word. On all sides we see the professions meeting for experimentation along their various lines, and priding themselves in their efforts to increase the standard of their line of work. Now, why should we not encourage our men to a better understanding of the principles that underlie their daily labor?

A more intelligent understanding of one's line of work is sure to make life more congenial, broader and happier than the haphazard manner of acquiring the business today, with its resultant drudgery.

With this end in view, on October 5, our committee on technical education inaugurated a movement in Detroit, which was a decided innovation for a labor union. We had three addresses on the subject of "Higher Craftsmanship Amongst Printers." And, by the way, we have in the Detroit Museum of Art a splendid institution which strives to be a practical help to our citizens, under the enterprising leadership of A. H. Griffith, a man who has made a place for himself in our educational circles, and whose talks on Sunday afternoons draw standing-room-only crowds.

The art museum gave us the use of its splendid auditorium, and, in addition, our committee se

cured the services of a string trio for piano, 'cello and violin, and the International Typographical Union exhibit, which is now on exhibition, and has caused a lot of favorable comment. William B. Prescott was our principal speaker, and he gave a history of the I. T. U. Course, which you can rest assured was highly appreciated. An analysis of the audience showed that we succeeded in bringing out the leading people in the business, including a number of large proprietors, both union and nonunion; head admen, superintendents, foremen and the highest paid men in the business, and on all sides we heard nothing but approval of the course. So it will be seen that our first efforts to awaken our membership to the importance of this movement will undoubtedly result in inducing a large number of printers to take up the course this winter. As an example of what one of our prominent admen think of the course, I might cite the case of A. H. Siewert, for years head adman of the Free Press, and now superintendent of the composing room. Mr. Siewert is so much in sympathy with the work that he is personally urging his young men to take up the course, and a number have assured me that they intend to take up the work now that the baseball fever has abated.

Our committee sent out about 1,100 invitations for this meeting, called personally on a number of the non-union proprietors, besides getting what publicity we could from the dailies. This committee consists of six members, one of whom-a new man in the fold-has proven himself a powerful factor in our work in boosting the course. In fact, it is seldom that a committee of such good workers can be gotten together.

One of our latest stunts will probably be the formation of a permanent club for the study of technical subjects. A petition to this effect is now being circulated.

Here is a grand opportunity for missionary work, and I hope to see the I. T. U. Commission heartily supported in this line. Now, this will mean the spending of money and hard work. Unions having paid officials should insist on their familiarizing themselves with this important work. It is too much work for volunteers to carry on a campaign of this kind. FRANK A. BECKER. Detroit, Mich.

THE HIGHER IDEALS OF LABOR. (Extracts from an address by the Rev. Charles Stelzle at the annual convention of the Glass Bottle Blowers of America, recently held in Milwaukee.)

You have been spending several days in the discussion of the details of your organization, and, like the rest of us, you have become so engrossed in these details that you may have forgotten the larger aspects of this labor movement of which you are so important a part. Sometimes the artist becomes tired and his eye becomes jaded so that he can not distinguish the value of his colors. When he reaches such a condition, he lays down his brush and picks up a precious stone whose color never fades, and looks long and steadily at it until his sense of color comes back. He is then ready to take up his work again. That is what you and

A long time ago, it was said, "The voice of the people is the voice of God," and many a newspaper has adopted this motto. The newspaper has not always voiced the sentiments of the people, but the people have always expressed the will of God. If any man would know what God is thinking about, let him keep close to the people. Mr. Gladstone once said: "I painfully reflect that in almost every great political controversy of the last fifty years, the leisured classes, the educated classes, the wealthy classes, the titled classes, have been in the wrong." The common people, the toilers, the men of uncommon sense-to these we owe a debt of gratitude.

Twenty-five years ago, a famous French statesman said that the social problem is a fad upon which serious-minded statesmen should waste no time. Today, no thinking man will deny that the social problem is the most important which confronts us. There are thousands of men who are being deluded by the vain hope that if they can abolish the labor union, they will have solved the labor question. These men forget that the labor union is not the labor question. If every labor union in existence were to be wiped out today, the labor question would still be present.

Some day war shall cease, but if we wait until that edict comes from a so-called peace conference at The Hague, I rather think that our patience will be exhausted. Some day war shall cease, but it will be when the organized workingmen of the world shall declare that they will no longer go out to shoot down their fellow workers in order to satisfy the greed, the selfishness, the ambitions of their rulers, no matter who they might be. In other words, organized labor will call a great universal peace strike, for who suffers more than does the workingman, his wife and his children, during a time of international strife?

WOMAN'S INTERNATIONAL AUXILIARY.

President-Mrs. Charles Hertenstein, 3813 St.
Louis avenue, St. Louis, Mo.
Secretary-Mrs. Frank W. Long, 4926 Ash street,
Norwood, Cincinnati, Ohio..

THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER.

In the last issue of THE JOURNAL a paragraph is reprinted from the Great Falls (Mont.) Labor News, which states that, although the Larkin Soap Company is notoriously unfair to union labor, many dollars find their way to the coffers of this company from Great Falls, which is supposed to be one of the strongest union cities in the country. The need of educating the women in Great Falls to their interests is apparent, if this is true. The typographical union in that city has been written to, asking its co-operation to form an auxiliary there, and if this is formed we will be assured that none of the money of the union printers from that city will go into the coffers of the Larkin company. I presume that this condition is true of a great many cities, yet we find many members of the International Typographical Union indifferent to the woman's auxiliary proposition. They can not or will not see that we are organized solely for their interests, but we intend to make them see it.

Advices indicate that the benefits of an auxiliary have become apparent to the printing pressmen, and the women members of the families of the members of that organization, and locals are being formed. This auxiliary will be a great help to us in our work, for it intends to join in the crusade against all printing that does not bear the union label.

In the Woman's National Daily, published by E. G. Lewis, of University City, may be found a fair illustration of what organized women can do. Under the direction of Mr. Lewis, a woman's league has been formed, with members in every city in the country, for the purpose of educating and elevating women to their interests. The combined membership of the league is over 200,000, and chapter houses are being built in various parts of the country. The revenue comes from the work of the members of the league themselves. Through an arrangement entered into with the publishers of various magazines, the members of the league solicit subscriptions, and one-half of the subscription price goes to the league treasury. During the month of August, 26,000 subscriptions were sent to the publisher of one magazine. is unnecessary to point out that every union printer's female relative should be in the league, which costs her only a little effort and which makes her influence for good tremendous.

It

Mrs. A. H. Bentrup, vice-president of New York Auxiliary, paid me a visit during the last month while in the city, and speaks in glowing

terms of the future of the New York local. If Mrs. Bentrup is a sample of the members of No. 20, there is no doubt but what the unfair publishers in the east are hearing from them.

Get a new member for your auxiliary and enlist her in the cause. Remember, every little helps. Boost our friends and be careful to remember our enemies the ones who do not believe in patroniz ing organized labor, which stands for a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. St. Louis, Mo.

MRS. CHARLES HERTENSTEIN.

READING, PA.

Notwithstanding that we have received little encouragement from Typographical Union No. 86, our meetings have been a source of pleasure to the few who have taken an active interest in the auxiliary. We are getting along fine and the future looks brighter than ever before. Mrs. B. W. Wedereit voices the sentiment, I believe, of every auxiliary member when she states in her last letter to THE JOURNAL: "I still maintain that a union man should insist that his wife join the auxiliary." That has always been my argument, but have never been able to really find out "why they do not." I do not think many printers try to educate their wives to the fact that they (the wives) owe a duty to the union that provides the wherewithal which procures for them the necessities of life. How many wives can realize the benefits accruing from a closer affiliation with the wives of other union printers unless the husbands explain it to them? Our committees may call and explain as well as it is possible for them to do, but it remains for the husband to fully convince. I think it is the duty of every printer to educate his wife to the fact that organization for mutual protection is the mainspring upon which hinges the destiny of the future wage worker. What an amount of work in label agitation could be accomplished by the woman's auxiliary if every man would insist on his wife or daughter joining it. Typographical Union No. 86 is busy making arrangements for the celebration of its silver jubilee in 1910. MRS. II. F. DEGOUR.

ST. LOUIS, MO.

Two interesting meetings were held by No. 29 during the past month, and a very good attendance was recorded.

Mrs. John P. Hannegan and Mrs. James B. Griffith, two of our members, have been very sick recently.

The semi-annual dance and euchre given by No. 29 will be held Tuesday evening, November 16, at Hibernian Hall. Many handsome and valuable prizes will be given for the most skilful of the euchre players, and afterward the devotees of the dance will have full sway. A good crowd is

hoped for, and as past affairs of this kind have invariably been socially as well as financially successful, we are justified in believing this one will also be a success.

Miss A. Drake, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Drake, and a member of No. 29, was married recently to W. J. Berhrend, of St. Louis.

Mrs. J. F. Aude and Mrs. J. M. Schmitz are the new members secured during the month.

How many of us have secured the new member which we promised (or should have promised) to bring into the auxiliary? Surely we know at least one who is eligible to membership-and each one added brings us nearer to the 2,000 mark. That the auxiliary right now is in a stronger position than ever before was demonstrated at the St. Joseph convention. Our International officers are working with might and main to organize new auxiliaries, and it behooves those who are already members to see to it that new ones are added to the roll. So let us each resolve to get one new member-and then go out and get one.

MRS. R. J. LOWTHER.

LOUISVILLE, KY.

Doubtless it will be of interest to sister auxiliaries to learn that No. 12 seems to have taken on new interest. At our last meeting a larger attendance was present than for a long time. Instead of imposing the work of correspondence on the secretary, as formerly, it was decided that each member write her letter, say, running alphabetically; and inasmuch as my husband's name begins with the top of the alphabet, it devolves upon me to start the ball rolling. The alphabet will also decide the member to be hostess at the monthly coffee social. The gatherings are always a source of great pleas ure to our membership and friends. Already we are talking of the meeting at Minneapolis next year. And it is hoped by not a few that it will be their good fortune to be visitors at the convention. MRS. JAMES O. AMES.

CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Our members having returned from their vacations, the meetings are well attended, with everybody fresh and enthusiastic for work. Our regular business and social meeting on September 29, at the residence of Mrs. C. W. Chandler, was a very successful and delightful affair.

Woman's Auxiliary No. 4 celebrated its eighth anniversary at the home of the International secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Frank W. Long, October 19, with a euchre in the afternoon and a reception to the members of Cincinnati Typographical Union and their families in the evening.

Mrs. William Cain, whose eye was seriously injured, necessitating an operation, is reported convalescent.

Mrs. Elijah Bohon, president of Louisville Auxiliary, spent a day with Mrs. Frank W. Long on her way home from the east.

Our secretary-treasurer is high in her praise of

a trip to Niagara Falls and across Lake Ontario to Toronto, where she was met at the landing by Mrs. Norman Williams, secretary of Toronto Auxiliary, and Mrs. John Kelly. Enjoying the sights of their beautiful city in the society of the very pleasant ladies during the day, she was escorted in the evening to the home of Mrs. Duncan McDougall, just returned from St. Joseph as delegate. Here all were pleasantly entertained with reminis cences of the convention and music by the daughters of the house. Enjoying the hospitalities of Mrs. Williams that night, our secretary left next day delighted with her visit, which was one long to be remembered. MRS. R. L. KIMBERLY.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

We are now just two years old and have a membership numbering twenty-seven, having added five new names in the past two months. Our meetings continue to be well attended and all seem much interested in the work. Arrangements have been made to give a hop in the near future.

Mrs. George Ring entertained at cards, September 22, for charity purposes, the proceeds to go to sick and needy printers. Mrs. Gus Schoenert entertained, September 30, to assist in this cause, and quite a neat sum was realized from these entertainments.

The election of officers was held October 7, and the following were elected to serve us during the ensuing year: Mrs. R. Ronayne, president; Mrs. H. M. Tedford, vice-president; Mrs. Roy Loman, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. B. Carnal, chaplain. Mrs. Ronayne, our newly elected president, is a member of the typographical union, and an enthusiastic worker, and with such a person in the chair it is needless to say Auxiliary No. 61 will be label hustling all the time.

Mrs. M. C. Vance, our retiring president, was presented with a handsome alligator handbag by members of No. 61, as a token of appreciation of her services during the past year.

Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster entertained the auxiliary members and families October 6. Quite a number were in attendance, and the evening was pleasantly spent at cards. Mrs. Joe Carnal, Mrs. R. Loman and Mrs. Eckels favored us with a few choice selections on the piano. Luncheon was served at 10:30, and all left praising the host and hostess for the splendid entertainment given us. Mr. Lancaster is the newly elected president of Typographical Union No. 172.

MRS. C. B. HARRIS.

TORONTO, CANADA.

Our president, Mrs. McDougall, Mrs. Kerr and Mrs. N. Williams have been appointed a committee to act in conjunction with the entertainment committee of the labor association of the city, in entertaining the delegates to the American FederaThe tion of Labor convention and their wives. sessions begin the second week in November, when