a great and enthusiastic gathering is expected in the interests of labor.

Our delegate, Mrs. McDougall, gave us an interesting report of the proceedings of our 1909 convention at our last meeting. She was elated by her very pleasant experiences at St. Joseph, and had only one complaint to make-the great heat. Now that the north pole has been so thoroughly discovered (as Mark Twain would say), and as the International conventions of late have been verging near the equator, perhaps a change for the polar regions may soon be suggested.

The entertainment season has hardly yet opened, but our auxiliary is already considering ways and means for a successful and pleasant winter series of social meetings. MRS. THOMPSON.

THE OLD VILLAGE BELL.

How dear to my heart is the old village bell,
How sweetly its echoes float out o'er the dell,
How intently I hearkened its rapturous lay,
As it rang at the dawn of each bright summer day.
It was used as a signal of fire and distress,
It aroused us in morning for breakfast to dress,
It chimed off the hours while we were at school,
And at eve bade us leave the old fishing pool.
It was tolled by the bellman to honor the dead,
It was rung as a signal for prayers to be said,
It would peal out in sadness the funeral knell,
Or ring out in gladness the sweet marriage bell.

But, O what a pleasure, akin to divine,
To hear its glad tidings each Sunday at nine,
As it called us to bow at the foot of the cross,
In the little stone church all covered with moss.

Three decades had passed since I ceased to dwell
In this quaint little place with its silver-tongued
bell;
So, at last, I determined that I would return,
To hear its sweet message my sad heart did yearn.
The day came at last when my trip should begin,
When I'd leave the great town with its tumult
and din,

And was soon whirled away by a giant of steel Towards the docks that protect the leviathan's keel.

How rhythmic the clattering joints of the rail,
As the train hastened on over meadow and vale,
How my heart throbbed with joy to see the wave-
crests of foam,

As the ship plowed thro' billows to take me back home.

I arrived in the village midst an ocean of light, The moon's rich effulgence had banished the night, And in wending my way toward the heart of the town,

I found most of the landmarks dismantled, torn down.

The night was half spent when I reached the old inn,

Which long years before had once sheltered my kin,

I indited my name, by the clerk it was read,
And at once fell asleep as I pillowed my head.

Six hours of sweet slumber had been my good lot,
This world and its troubles had all been forgot,
When, with fear and emotion, I awoke with a
start-

The first tap of the bell had transfixed my heart.

As I lay there and listened its sweet, plaintive

song,

I wished that each cadence were one hour long. For the mem'ries of loved ones presented so fast, But the pleasures of this life, alas! do not last.

"How strangely commingled both pleasure and pain,"

As my yearning soul answered to each throbbing strain,

yore

My very heart's current seemed frozen and numb,
To find all loving voices, save this, stricken dumb.
Tho' the dear loving faces I once knew of
Are lost for a season on yonder bright shore,
They seemed to come back in a mystical spell
When I heard the sweet tones of the old village
bell.

It's only a fancy, but I hope at the last,
When life and its brief little pleasures are past,
To be laid within sound of the friend I loved
well-

The guide of my childhood-the old village bell.
-DR. W. A. BLACKWELL, in Chicago Tribune.

BUFFALO, N. Y.

Tom Hickey, who has been a member of the Times chapel for eighteen years and chairman for the last four years, has resigned both his job and chairmanship and left for the south in search of less rigorous winters than are customary at the foot of navigation. At a special chapel meeting a resolution was adopted expressing regret at his leaving. The resolution was accompanied by a purse containing substantial evidence of the sincerity of the sentiments expressed. Mr. Hickey represented No. 9 at the Washington convention. Andrew Bennett has been elected chairman of the Times chapel.

"Dates and Events in the History of Buffalo Typographical Union No. 9," by Hugh Wallace, statistician of No. 9, is about as interesting an article as has appeared in this locality in many days. The Black Rock Gazette of April 12, 1825, published a call for a printers' convention, to be held in either Geneva or Canandaigua, and asked that delegates be sent from every county west of Utica. Black Rock is now a suburb of Buffalo, and the Black Rock Gazette today is a true-blue union shop. In Mr. Wallace's article, he says: "It must be remembered that in those days the owner of a newspaper was both a printer and an editor; was a mechanic while earning his money and a professional man while spending it." feeling seems to still exist among printers, especially when the envelop is a heavy one.

This

The I. T. U. Course in Supplemental Education seems to have taken a stronger hold on the local membership, now that the long winter nights are setting in, and Chairman Hynes, of the committee, expects to see at least twenty-five enrolled on the local list in the next month. At its last meeting No. 42 decided to encourage its members in taking up the course by rebating $5 to the student who completes the course and shows diligence in the study. Thus the $25 course, if completed, will only cost the Minneapolis printer or apprentice $15, since the International Typographical Union also rebates $5. The value of this course can not be overestimated, and there is no one in the printing line that will not be able to realize a hundredfold return for every dollar spent and for every

hour devoted to the study. While there is a great deal of study and work connected with each lesson, the student will be surprised at the progress he can make, and will be inspired to complete the course. It is surprising how quickly constant application to any study will develop the mind of the average printer. Let him sit down and earnestly apply himself to some task which calls for thought, good judgment and skilful handling, and he is sure to succeed. There is nothing a printer can turn his hand to that will do so much good for the cause as to take up this course; advise others to do the same, and thereby actually raise the union standard of competency out of reach of the men outside the organization.

The label committee is again to the fore with the announcement that prizes will be given to the members of the news and job branch who turn in the largest number of pieces of printed matter not bearing the label. An effort will be made in this contest to create more interest among the jobmen, and with that end in view Chairman Cahill has given notice that a meeting of the job printers will be held in the near future to talk the matter over, and, with the jobmen "on the job." there will undoubtedly be some tall hustling. The label committee is one of the most important, if not the most important, committee in the union, and should be given unstinted support by the full membership.

The call to the wild is again attracting the attention of members of No. 42, and during the month the following have left for Aberdeen to file in the land lottery which will be pulled off in South Dakota next spring: J. A. McEwen, F. J. Sweiger, L. C. Getzendonner, N. C. O'Connor, C. K. Spears, A. E. Anderson, Frank Hammer, Bert Fisher, H. B. Benson, L. M. Kellar, L. C. Elwell, C. T. Shane, W. R. Blackburn. The drawing will be for 160-acre claims.

J. W. Hanrahan, of the convention committee, reports active interest on the part of the members, with a full attendance at every meeting. It is reported that the union will be asked to enlarge the committee in the future, making it easier to select subcommittees to handle the large amount of work to be done in the next few months. The committee has in hand now the souvenir book, which it aims to make the best ever presented to International Typographical Union delegates. Nate Newman, a member of "Big Six," who has had wide experience in this line of work, has been selected as eastern representative.

President Henderson returned October 2 from a trip to Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., accompanied by his wife and son. They returned by way of Salt Lake City, Denver and Colorado Springs, where they visited the Home, and have nothing but words of praise for the institution and its management.

In the Butte correspondence of the October JOURNAL I noticed the name of Bryant James men

tioned as a Washington property holder and rental landlord. And the old scout deserves it. The writer has more than once been a victim of his "bitter root" system as applied to the fascinating game of whist, when the "out-of-work" members used to assemble in the Northwestern building 'long about 1894-5. But time has healed the wounds, and I would be pleased to hear from him.

Walter R. Kensinger, who up to the time of drawing his card was president of Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Union No. 192, has accepted a position as night foreman at the Publishers' Typesetting Company, in this city.

J. T. Norrie, who has been working on the Morning Tribune for some time, is now a fullfledged proprietor, having bought a country paper.

Ballentine & Chester are preparing to move their printing plant from Third street south to the new Pence building, Seventh and Hennepin. It is the intention to enlarge the plant and install one of the most sanitary and up-to-date printing offices in the northwest.

C. N. Brown, one of the oldtimers in the Journal adroom, who has been suffering from an attack of locomotor ataxia, is no better. His condition became so critical during the past month that he was removed to the Norwegian Lutheran Deaconess Hospital, where little hope is held out for his recovery.

Leo Ewall recently resigned his position on the Evening Herald, Duluth, to accept a position on the Journal in this city as head machinist. The relief association has issued a new relief book, with stamps, to take the place of the old card. FRANK N. GOULD.

SYRACUSE, N. Y.

Matters of general importance came up for consideration at the October meeting of No. 55, one of which we shall speak of in a later issue of THE JOURNAL. Fifty dollars additional was donated to the library fund of the Home, a very worthy institution. T. M. Gafney, editor of the Industrial Weekly, made his report as delegate to the state workingmen's federation convention at Troy, September 21. Mr. Gafney was chairman of the finance committee, and said he must have made good, for he "got the hand." Harmony prevailed in such big chunks that President Wilkinson adjourned the October meeting at 4 o'clock.

P. J. Coogan, on the Anaconda (Mont.) Standard for the past six years, is now in charge of the mechanical department of the Herald in this city. Coincident with this is the fact that the three dailies here-the Herald, Post-Standard and Journal

are now in charge of Mr. Coogan, Mr. Gosnell and Mr. Moynihan, in the order named, and who were also associated together ten years ago on the Standard, before its consolidation with the Post. Mr. Coogan has many friends here who will welcome his return.

William Harding and Eugene R. Canfield, machinist and linotype operator, respectively, and formerly of the Herald, have started a linotype composition company in Utica, N. Y. They are ex

perts in their line, and they have a host of friends who wish them all manner of success in their new work. As a result, several situations have recently been given out on the Herald.

The Journal, in keeping with the progress it has made recently, has just installed a new Hoe press.

To machine operators: Don't come to Syracuse unless you are looking for work. At the present time there seems to be plenty to do.

The Post-Standard put on a day shift to set the registration lists for the November election.

Chairman Fred H. Brown, of the executive committee, is actively engaged in an effort to again make Syracuse a 100 per cent union city. M. A. WHITMORE.

NEW YORK, N. Y.

I began in the July number of THE JOURNAL a list of the date and place of meetings of international unions for the current month, and continued to the October number, which concluded all of which I had knowledge. Two are yet to be held, and it is hoped that the local unions will cover them. While the returns from those already held are not as complete as might be wished, still those we have heard from have repaid the trouble. Frank R. Tobias, of Indianapolis Typographical Union, secured the passage of resolutions by the international convention of the Shirtwaist and Laundry Workers' Union, at Indianapolis on September 28, denouncing the attitude of the Butterick company in its non-union policy. The conven tion also resolved to send circulars containing the resolutions to all local unions.

The Pen and Pocket Knife Blade Grinders and Finishers' National Union of America met in this city on September 16. Organizer Stein presented the main question to them, and they responded with resolutions condemning the anti-union course of the Butterick company.

The Financial World, a prominent Wall street organ, in a recent issue published the following:

The Butterick Company, publisher of various periodicals and magazines devoted to fashions, has notified the Stock Exchange of a proposed increase in capital stock from $12,000,000 to $15.000,000. This is one of the concerns which Charles W. Morse was interested in to the extent of several millions before the panic through his securities holding company, which held a chain of big concerns which dragged him down in the panic. The stock has been very inactive, and some wonderment has been aroused over just what the ob ject of the new issue was at this time, when the company is just emerging from a long and expensive fight with the labor unions which inaugurated warfare on the company several years ago. The increase will act as a further depressing influence on the shares which have acted poorly even during the most bullish days.

While the World might not accept it as authoritative, any number of printers could advance a very plausible reason for the phenomenon.

John R. O'Donnell, former president of "Big Six," died on October 5, at his home, of nephritis. He had been ailing for about a year. His heart became affected, and the end came suddenly. Mr.

He

O'Donnell was born in Buffalo in 1854. learned the printing trade in the office of the Wheeling Register. After working in various cities, he came to New York in 1874, starting work on the Herald. He was elected president of No. 6 in 1883, when the union was only beginning to recover from what was said to have been the darkest period in its history. It is safe to say that the union made greater strides during his incumbency than during any other year since it was organized. He was re-elected in 1884, but he resigned to accept a situation in the editorial department of the New York Herald, where he remained until his death. It was at this time that the fight against the New York Tribune involved the national committee of the republican party, and it is positively asserted by the men on the job that the union was responsible for the defeat of James G. Blaine for the presidency. This must have been the conviction of the management of the Tribune, for when a similar situation arose later, when a certain gentleman much nearer the counting room than Augusta, Me., needed votes, the Tribune, like Uncle Remus' coon, came down. Of course, Mr. O'Donnell was not alone responsible for the great strides of the union at that time-he had the counsel and co-operation of some of the ablest men in Big Six -but he was fortunate in being the directing head, and the prestige of the union today bears testimony that he was one of those who did things. And no man need wish for a prouder epitaph.

Other members of the union who died during last month are: Waldo L. Smith, September 4; James Egginton, September 9; Charles Y. Squier, September 17; Otto Delle, September 24.

The following resolution, presented by No. 6's delegates to the allied printing trades council, was adopted by the union on September 19:

Resolved, That no member of this union, operating a printing office shall print his card number, or announce that he is a member of the union, on any imprint of work done by him, as this is contrary to section 98, general laws of the International Typographical Union, which says:

"Section 98. No member of a subordinate union shall be allowed to use the name of the union for any purpose without the sanction of the union.

*

The allied printing trades council some years ago formed the habit of exacting pledges from candidates for office that they would use the label on all their printing. They never had any trouble in getting the pledges, and the reason is obvious. But last year a number of bogus labels were found on campaign printing. This year the council has sent a list of label offices to all candidates and committees, calling attention to the identification number, and promising prosecutions of all frauds under the state label law.

There may be "no politics in the union," but a number of members of "Big Six" figure in the municipal campaign. I know of the following, and there may be others: Charles E. Gehring is chairman of the committee of the Hearst party; Richard Dawson is a candidate for alderman in Brooklyn, on the democratic ticket; Charles J. Dumas, former president of No. 6, for alderman, on the

republican ticket; A. J. Portenar, delegate to St. Joseph, for alderman, on the Hearst ticket; E. A. Davis, for alderman in the Bronx, on the Hearst ticket; Fred E. Martin, for president of Brooklyn borough, on the socialist ticket; Alfred J. Boulton, former president of the stereotypers' union, for sheriff of Kings county, on the Hearst ticket; Edward Cassidy, vice-president of No. 6, for mayor on the socialist ticket.

Chairman Rooney, of the World, has appealed to the executive council against a decision sustaining the right of regulars in different departments to trade "sits" and exchange priority standings in the process. He is afraid that the effect of this precedent may establish the passing of priority by inheritance from father to son as a sort of patrimony, even to the fourth generation. A special committee on the construction of the priority law, consisting of chairmen, is now holding sessions trying to blaze a way out of the wilderness. Success to them!

Harry Riley, after having served for five years as chairman of the B. H. Tyrrel chapel, and declining to be again re-elected, received, on September 27, a set of resolutions commending his services and stating that he was instrumental in bringing the office into the union and into the list of label shops. That's a good record.

"Con" Desmond, a well-known member of No. 6, and an employe of the Herald office, is another of the white plague victims. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, and at this writing little hope is entertained for his recovery.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook, who claims to have reached the north pole, paid a visit to the Herald composing room one night recently, and the reception accorded him by the 250 printers working there amounted to an ovation. He said that the reception given him in the composing room surpassed both that at Copenhagen and by his fellow townsmen in Brooklyn. It is hard to tell whether the enthusiasm of the boys was a tribute to his success in achieving priority, or whether the low temperatures he described as existing at the top of the earth were in so great contrast to the torrid and fetid atmosphere that prevails in the Herald composing room that it appealed to their imag inations so strongly as to raise their spirits to the blowing off point.

"Dick" Burge, of the Herald, has returned from a three months' vacation, the major portion of which he spent fishing for bass in Wolf lake, Barren lake, Mich., and Lake Wabasha, near Madison, Wis. He stopped off to visit friends in Pittsburg en route to New York. He reports a most excellent time, and his appearance bears out the assertion.

President Tole returned from his vacation looking as fresh as a daisy in May. He got as far west as Colorado Springs. He denies that he was selecting a room.

"The Fourth Estate," a play by Miss Harriet Ford and Joseph Medill Patterson, grandson of the founder of the Chicago Tribune, is now running in this city, and later will tour the country. A composing room scene is set on the stage, with lino