means something, as every union of a score of members can bear eloquent witness. It certainly seems as though the International laws should provide a certain sum to be used each year to lend a hand to the little unions in booming the union label. It is to these small bands the big locals turn for aid to help bring a refractory concern to time when trouble arises, and what a great source of assistance-a citadel on the frontier-these interior unions are. You must show the metropolitan firms that the union label means trade-and the country does the business. Let us have a word from other correspondents regarding this matter. WILLIAM H. RIAL.

WASHINGTON, PA.

We wish to congratulate President Lynch, President Eugene Merz and Secretary Lafferty, of No. 7. for the great victory won January 8, 1909, in Pittsburg, putting the Smoky City once more where it belongs in the "square" column.

James L. Lydic and Harry Chesley, members of No. 456, are two of Washington's general centennial committee. Washington borough, in 1910, will be 100 years old.

There being such a demand for union labels in this city, our secretary has been instructed to procure more for the distribution among the shops.

While attending college Senator Knox, who will be Taft's secretary of state, and who is from this vicinity, got ahead of his classes and entered a printing office for a year. Senator Knox says: "I worked on the Brownsville Clipper, and I learned to set type, write the views of the town as well as rural editorials and to pull the old Washington hand press. I did everything from keeping books to sweeping the floor and washing the rollers. That was a great and useful experience." WILLIAM C. BLACK.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.

Although the verdict in the case of Frank Manning for the murder of Tom Weitzel was not entirely satisfactory to the members of Typographical Union No. 283, there was some satisfaction in knowing that from the evidence the state produced there was no doubt in the minds of the jury that the murderer should be punished. The verdict of the jury was manslaughter in the second degree, punishable by from two to five years in the penitentiary, or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both fine and imprisonment. There is no doubt in the minds of friends who knew Weitzel that it was one of the most brutal murders in the history of this city.

Oklahoma, the youngest state in the union, has at present close to twenty local typographical unions. Oklahoma City No. 283, with a membership of about 100, has made great progress in getting the union label recognized all over the state. At the first session of the state legislature some effective label legislation was agitated. At present all county work in every county in the state bears the union label. At the second session of the legislature, which is now in session, a bill requiring the

state printer to have served at least eight years at the business has an excellent chance of passage. The bill also makes the office elective after 1910.

The Peerless Press, a new printing house, was incorporated for $25,000 in this state a few days ago. The incorporators are Oklahoma City men.

Work in both the newspaper and job branches in Oklahoma City is very brisk. For the past month there have not been enough extra men to supply the demand.

Ollie S. Wilson, No. 283's popular secretarytreasurer, has his eyes on the race for delegate to the Tulsa convention of the state federation of labor. Wilson is well known throughout the state in labor circles, having been a delegate to both the Ardmore and McAlester conventions. J. Luther Langston, for the past two years secretary-treasurer of the federation, will, in all probability, be a candidate for re-election at the coming election of federation officers.

We thought the question of priority was settled, but from the tone of different letters in the last JOURNAL it is still a very live issue. Oklahoma City will send a delegate to the St. Joseph convention pledged to let well enough alone.

Minneapolis looks good to Oklahoma for the 1910 convention of the International Typographical Union. HOWARD M. Casler.

Atlanta-1910.

ATLANTA, GA.

The boosting bunch is on the job, and from now on there will be something doing toward securing the 1910 convention of the International Typographical Union for Atlanta. At the January meeting of No. 48 a committee to look after the securing of the convention, to be known as the "boosting committee," was appointed, and it will from now on keep things moving. We have been working for the 1910 convention for several years -and we won't be happy unless we get it.

The fourteenth annual celebration of the birth of Ben Franklin occurred in Atlanta on January 18, and it proved an unqualified success. The entertainment was divided into two parts, the first being devoted to the addresses and other exercises appropriate to the occasion, and the second part was given over to a musical and vaudeville program. The addresses of the evening were delivered by Asa G. Candler, president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (of which, by the way, No. 48 is a member), and who made Coca-Cola famous; Rev. Henry A. Atkinson, chaplain of No. 48 and a prominent Congregational minister; Joseph J. Hobby and President Daniel W. Green. The musical and vaudeville part of the entertainment was well received, and was under the direction of and participated in by William S. Wardlaw and Ben Atchison. One of the features of the program was the musical contributions of Miss Madeline Saloshin, daughter of Louis Saloshin, who executed solos in truly masterly style, and who also furnished the accompaniments required during the progress of the entertainment. Miss Saloshin proved herself an artistic musician.

At the January meeting the installation of of

ficers occurred, a list of which was previously published. Joe Hobby left the president's chair with an excellent record.

At the last meeting of No. 48 a telegram of encouragement and endorsement was ordered sent to Messrs. Gompers, Morrison and Mitchell.

Another of No. 48's members has landed a good "sit." This time it is Joe Hobby, who has just been appointed deputy clerk of the superior court under Arnold Broyles. With Mr. Hobby as deputy clerk, W. Lee Haygood one of the sheriff's staff, Wade P. Harding an assistant in the city tax collector's office, Eugene Williams also in the tax collector's office, Press Huddleston a member of the aldermanic board, B. Lee Smith a member of the city council, and a few others holding good public positions, No. 48 seems to be holding on pretty tight.

Bob Gann is to publish a labor paper at Anniston, Ala., to be known as the Co-Unionist.

Friends of Jerome Jones tendered him a banquet during the Christmas holidays in honor of his election as delegate from the American Federation of Labor to the Canadian Trades and Labor Congress. Mr. Jones also addressed the working people of Rome, Ga., on January 14.

Lest you forget, We say it again"Atlanta, Ga., 1910."

W. G. GREDig.

LOUISVILLE, KY.

On January 2 the Louisville Evening Post printed a "prosperity" edition of seventy-two pages. The ads were set up in attractive designs, and reflected great credit to the printers employed. This office, since moving into its new building, is well equipped to do first-class work, and is well lighted and roomy.

The first issue of the Kentucky Farmer, a publi cation recently purchased by L. B. Shropshire, and which heretofore has been published in Lexington, Ky., as the Kentucky Farmer and Breeder, ventured into the limelight January 7, 1909, and made a graceful bow to the people of Kentucky. In the first edition issued here everything of interest to those who have devoted any attention to agriculture is elaborately set forth, and it is safe to say that if those who have the publication in charge will manage to keep up with the first issue the paper will win favor and other requisites necessary to maintain a publication. This paper contains sixteen pages, size of page 104x141⁄2 inches, four columns to a page, and is printed by the Standard Printing Company, and bears the allied printing trades label.

On January 6 the Louisville Evening Times printed an "industrial" edition of thirty-six pages. The front page was printed in colors, and the ad pages were well set. The ad department is under the supervision of W. D. Binford, a former president of No. 10. This office is well equipped to do first-class work, but is a little "shy" on room.

No. 10 sent out 5,000 postcards, beginning on New Year's day, in three colors, with wishes for "A Happy and Greater Louisville New Year" to professional and business men. The card is artistic,

and bears some interesting facts about what the International Typographical Union does for its members. A picture of the Union Printers Home and grounds is printed on the back. Size of card, 54x94 inches. At the bottom of the card on the front is printed "A Greater Louisville depends upon the prosperity of its working people." All the local daily papers made prominent mention of the postcard.

Some of the printers who left our union and cast their lot with the non-union offices are in a bad way right now, as a number have been laid off indefinitely, and others are told they must secure positions elsewhere. A bunch of work that these offices controlled has found its way to union offices here and in other cities, and the slump is strictly non-union, as the union offices are doing as well and better than ever. To see these men walking the streets reminds one of the time when the tramp printer was with us, and who, in the change from straight matter to machines, had passed into history; but those men looked well in comparison to the non-union book and job printers, who came here to help break a long-drawn-out strike, and in trying this they find themselves broke, and look the part of pitiful beggars. The union book and job printers have not suffered in comparison to the way the non-union men are suffering now.

James A. Caldwell, who has been working on the Evening Post for over fifteen years, has withdrawn his card and moved to Fort Worth, Texas.

W. H. Stanley, proofreader on the Evening Times and president of No. 10, was run down by a Brook street car, January 12, while on his way to work, and lies at his home in a very serious condition. Owing to his age, 65 years, it is doubtful that he will recover, as six of his ribs are broken, and one penetrated the tissues of the right lung. He also suffers internal injuries.

At the election of officers of the Louisville Federation of Labor John Young was re-elected presiIdent for the fifth time. All the old officers were reelected with the exception of recording secretary. James H. Watson, of No. 10, was elected for this office without opposition. The president, in naming his committees, placed J. O. Ames, of No. 10, chairman of the label committee; W. R. Hickman, of No. 10, chairman of the printing committee, and S. V. Hinkle, of No. 10, on the legislation committee. Max Traut was elected a delegate by No. 10 to fill out the unexpired term of H. A. Meckbach, who had left the city. Four unions have withdrawn their delegates from the federation, and arrangements are in progress to have these delegates return, as recommended by the executive council of the American Federation of Labor.

F. C. Nunemacher, in crossing the street, January 11, slipped and fell, striking the back of his head on the granite blocks, knocking him senseless. He is now out of danger, I am pleased to say. It is remarkable about the hardness of some nonunion proprietors' heads.

No. 10 has three members on the sick list at present. Louis Heitz, foreman of the CourierJournal, is confined to his bed with liver trouble, and is improving. John H. Clark, of the Dearing

jobrooms, is convalescing from typhoid fever, and Theo. Egner, of the Courier-Journal chapel, is ill with a nervous affliction.

The label committee reports that the retail merchants' association has a committee investigating the operations and methods of doing business of the Larkin Soap Company, of Buffalo, N. Y. The secretary of the association states that should a way be found to hold the concern under our license laws, which seems plain to all an assured fact, prosecution of every case will follow. The retail merchants are thoroughly up to date here, and are alive to their interests. They do not propose to pay taxes for the support of our city and let a foreign corporation sneak in and compete with them, evading all license taxes by the employment of child labor.

Those who read the New York letter in the January JOURNAL are amused at the efforts of the Butterick company to exclude No. 6's literature from the mail. Such efforts are only serving as a spur to the label committee to renew activities in "Big Six's" behalf. A large quantity of literature has been used in Louisville, and more will be sent for shortly. W. R. HICKMAN.

ORANGE, N. J.

Typographical Union No. 424 has a very expansive jurisdiction, covering some nine or ten cities and towns, to wit: The four Oranges, Montclair, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Verona and Glen Ridge. Although the territory covered is very large, we are too close to the metropolis to support many newspapers. It is pleasing to state, however, that among the twelve papers published in the jurisdiction, only one sails under non-union colors, and it would be a matter of great discredit to the abilities of union printers to have it otherwise. The papers, with one exception, are all weeklies. The daily is a new venture, having made its first appearance in September. "The Daily Chronicle," as it is called, absorbed the East Orange Gazette, the Orange Journal, the Orange Chronicle, and a South Orange publication. When first published there were the usual pessimistic comments about its chances to live, but without foundation, for it continues to appear every afternoon, and will, no doubt, be a

success.

After Christmas we decided that a little increase would be very acceptable. Accordingly, we framed up a modest little scale, and presented it to our friends, the employers. Of course, it wasn't enthusiastically received (as expected), but the justness of our requests was recognized by the fairminded ones, and we are in a very hopeful frame of mind. Perhaps we may not be successful in getting all that we asked for, and it may be more fitting to quote our new scale next month. We can't help but feel that the unpleasant memory of our eight-hour strike in 1906 casts its shadow before the employers even now, and no doubt this will act as a persuader in our present negotiations.

Of course, we have a label committee, and every once in a while it gets real busy. The members started the new year with the determination to visit

the governing bodies of towns and cities in our jurisdiction, and make them feel the importance of having the little joker on all municipal printing. Then, too, a large number of those attractive looking calendars, with the Home picture on, was secured, and the committee is placing them around in a very judicious manner. The scheme is a fine one, and contributes a big boost to the label.

The committee on supplemental education hasn't been very successful thus far in enrolling students in the International Typographical Union Course. Still, every one went broke around the holidays, and the "Taft prosperity wave" hasn't adjusted itself as yet, so the committee has bright hopes for the future, when we get "flush."

Not long ago I took the opportunity of viewing the tuberculosis exhibition at the Museum of Natural History, New York. Aside from the instructiveness afforded, it was extremely gratifying to note a model of a tent such as occupied by tuberculosis patients at the Home. It proved a good advertisement for union labor, establishing the fact that organized wage earners are accomplishing something more besides a reduction in hours and an increase in wages.

St. Joe aspirants are beginning to loom up. Our worthy president, "Billy" Hamler, has declared himself as a candidate for the honor, and has the endorsement of the Daily Chronicle chapel.

Some time ago one of the apprentices was given a heading to set which should have read "Democrats Pass the Lie." Evidently the young man had never attended a democratic meeting, for he made the head read "Democrats Pass the Pie." Don't forget to boom the label. And save your pennies for St. Joe.

FREDERICK G. JOHNSON.

JAMESTOWN, N. Y.

No. 205 recently purchased two beautiful color prints of the Union Printers Home to be used at the coming tuberculosis exhibit to be held in this city. No. 205 intends to have an exhibit of what the printers' union has done to combat disease. Some one of us will probably read a paper before the commission which may enlighten many who are credulous in regard to our aims and purposes. It will no doubt create favorable sentiment in be

half of No. 205. At our last meeting our secretary, James S. McCollum, and the writer were appointed a committee of two to make arrangements for this exhibit. This committee has taken quite extensive interest and will use its greatest endeavors to make this venture in our city a glorious

success.

The Jamestown Central Labor Council has taken up the matter pertaining to hiring a business agent to devote his time and talent to labor's interest here. The matter has been referred back to all affiliated locals for discussion and to instruct their delegates.

Every unprejudiced man, friends of organized labor, and true union men, were grieved at the action taken by Justice Wright in condemning the three great labor leaders. Judge Parker's opinion

and defense of their cause is well worth perusal. Some of the labor journals have suspended publication for fear of utterances that might send the editors to jail. So much for "the land of the free and home of the brave." It is a well-known fact, the subjects of the crowned heads of Europe have more liberties of free speech and opinions than we have in this country. When will man's inhumanity to man cease?

We read with pleasure the glowing tribute paid by the American Federation of Labor delegates at our Home in Colorado Springs. Every union printer's chest should swell with pride in realizing he is a member of an organization which possesses such a grand institution. Long live the Home!

It was decided, at our last meeting, to have the secretary solicit and collect a fund to be presented as a Christmas donation to the Union Printers Home. Better late than never, but it's better never late.

Some may imagine labor organizations are wrong and inconsistent. The medical men of Chautauqua county have a "trust" that's hard to equal. They threatened to prosecute Bonesetter Reese, of Ohio, if he ever comes to Jamestown and does any work again. Did any one hear of a labor union getting an injunction against another union man coming to town looking for work? Dr. Reese is a marvel of the age and has been a blessing to many, and the uncalled-for action of the medical union or society has met with unpopular feeling. Recently one alleged doctor was fined $500 for not having a union card (or license), yet some people can not conceive how it is possible for workmen to organize without becoming criminals.

ECHEL GEORGE LINDSTROM.

OAKLAND, CAL.

The

The Times is dead! Long live the Times! Some four or five months ago one E. C. Williams started to publish a daily paper known as the Alameda Times. Williams was a union "buster" and a union hater. The epithets he applied to the typographical union and its members, singularly and collectively, would not look well in print. His business methods were like unto those of most anti-union, anti-everything, anti-everybody. union is still doing business, but Williams is reported to be "broke." When the Times suspended publication the members of the force had considerable money coming to them; their checks for the previous week's pay had begun to come back to them marked "no funds," and the chapel called in the chairman of the executive committee, who succeeded in frustrating Williams' little scheme to annul the entire labor claim against the Times. The chairman of the executive committee called in the union's attorney, and the claims were collected, placed in one name, and an attachment was placed on the plant. As a result, we finally forced Williams to a settlement. Mr. Macdowell, for several years publisher of the Argus, has purchased what remained of the Times and, combining the Times and the Daily Star, he is now publishing the Alameda Times-Star. Mr. Macdowell's

relations with the union have always been friendly, and we have every reason to believe the TimesStar, under its present management, will be strictly union throughout. Long live the Times-Star!

Mr. Macdowell canceled his lease of the Argus, and Mr. Daniels, owner of the paper, is now publishing the same.

Another daily paper has sprung up in this jurisdiction, the Daily Topic, formerly a weekly publication, under the management of Philip R. Keene. The force consists of a foreman, one operator, an apprentice and a sub.

At the November meeting No. 36 authorized the establishment of a label bureau. The bureau is now in fairly good working order and is accomplishing results. The Waltz-Danner Printing Company, the Methodist Book Concern's progeny, has been the principal point of attack, and we have already succeeded in getting considerable work away from them. The concern has now moved to San Francisco, but they still hope to hold much work from this side of the bay. The label bureau will keep everlastingly after this company until we finally force them into the union or out of business. We have plans for other work in course of preparation, but of that later.

For the first time in more than a year the Grim Reaper has visited our jurisdiction and called one of our members to the last long rest. Mrs. F. A. Albright, a member of the Enquirer chapel, died January 5. The funeral was attended by a number of the members of No. 36, three of the pallbearers being fellow printers. Mrs. Albright was a sister of Gerald Abell, also a member of the Enquirer chapel.

It seems that our old friend, Gen. Gray Hair Oats, is to have competition in producing undesirable linotype operators. The news has just flashed over the wires that the state reform school at Whittier has contracted for a battery of Mergs., to be installed for the purpose of teaching the inmates of that institution to operate the machine. Strange a man would be instrumental in establishing an opposition to his own business, now, isn't it?

The other day a printer, who is ordinarily levelheaded and progressive, handed me this bunch of "argument" ferninst the priority law: "What I don't know about the priority law, from my limited knowledge of what it is not: This is an age of fitness. The best is expected. If a man can't print successfully, let him herd sheep; but don't expect the employer to give him a sinecure for life. We use the same argument against the employer when he can't make good in paying the scale. The argument should go double." I made reply somewhat thuswise: "What I do think of the priority law from what I do know of human nature: It successfully stops up the 'pipeline;' it is the only system yet found to prevent wrecks all along the underground railway to a situation; it is the one law on our books guaranteeing free speech and equal rights to all, and special privileges to none; it prevents foremen padding the payroll. But space is limited and time flies; eternity itself would not be long enough in which to enumerate all points in favor of this eminently just law." HOMER BUCKNER.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.

A notable gathering of men prominent in the printing industry was had in the assembly room of the Chamber of Commerce of this city on the last day but one of the old year (1908). As stated in my letter in the January JOURNAL, an intelligent effort is being made to form a joint conference board in this city between the three elements in the trade the supply and paper houses, the employers, and the skilled workmen. The movement is entirely voluntary, it being thought best not to attempt to bind either party to the conferences to any definite action, but to discuss and determine as far as possible all matters vital to the industry with the purpose of establishing a better condition all around.

The trade in this locality has not only been confronted with a keen competition, but a spirit of mistaken enterprise has induced many persons, since the earthquake, to embark in the business, bringing to an already demoralized field an element of inexperience that has produced an irrational and irregular competition, that has brought the business into such a condition that tere appears to be no accepted valuation of printing. This condition, most demoralizing to buyers of printing, has given opportunity for prospective customers playing one printer against another by false statements, by unfair practices of various kinds, until what little confidence an employing printer had in a competitor has vanished.

Preliminary to the step of organizing the joint conference board it was found necessary to establish in San Francisco an association of employing printers, the purposes of which should be so comprehensive as to include every consideration affecting the interests of the trade. With the assistance of A. H. McQuilkin, editor of the Inland Printer, who is spending the winter in this city, an earnest effort in this direction has been made, and the meeting above referred to was largely the result of his efforts. At this writing a second joint meeting has been arranged for, and another step forward will probably be taken. The first meeting was not only highly satisfactory to all parties, but was at the same time unique in its personnel. Aside from a large representation of employing printers, there were present representatives of all the paper dealers; George L. Alexander, representing the American Typefounders Company; H. N. Kellogg, special representative of the American Newspaper Publishers' Association; Robert Glockling, president of the International Bookbinders' Union; George L. Berry, president of the International Printing Pressmen's Union, together with the officers of several local unions.

Interesting addresses were made and a spirit of harmony prevailed that augurs well for the future. I. O. Upham, president of the San Francisco Franklin Association, called the meeting to order and after a short address turned the gavel over to Charles A. Murdock. After a short talk, the chair called on A. H. McQuilkin, editor of the Inland Printer, who said, in part:

We are here as representatives in our several capacities of that great art-"the art preservative

of arts"-an art through means of which untold millions yearly roll into the coffers of enterprise.

* * *

It is true that while our art has been extolled by orators and poets-and that these tributes have been grateful to us in a dim sort of way-the substantial rewards of commercialism have not come to the printer to the extent of his deserving. A more or less satisfactory association exists among the supply houses and the paper trade houses. The unions are well and conservatively organized. But the employing printers are organized nominally only, on specific and limited linesa weak and unsatisfactory form of organization, in which permanency is ignored. Indeed, one of the strongest of organizations of this character in the east already shows signs of disintegration-though it could be preserved by broadening its activities to include the platform of joint conference between the interests, the development of which idea we are met to consider at this time. By joint conference the supply houses, the paper houses, employers, and the trade unions have everything to gain and nothing to lose. And perhaps the first things we have to gain is the confidence of each other. So long as we pull apart we will make no progress, but in carefully considered united action we are certain to arrive at our objective point-an adequate compensation for the investment of our capital, our experience, and the labor of our brains and hands.

H. N. Kellogg, commissioner of the American Newspaper Publishers' Association; George L. Berry, president of the International Printing Pressmen's and Assistants' Union, and Robert Glockling, president of the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders, spoke in the order named.

George A. Tracy, president of San Francisco Typographical Union, said that he was proud to say that he stood in such a meeting as the presi dent of an organization established in 1855. They were rightly termed (skilled labor) the aristocrats of the trades. Older than any of the organizations, the more opposition they received the stronger they became were getting stronger yearly; they were here to stay and do business. It depended on the other organizations or on the individuals in the trade on what terms organized labor should do business with them. It had been rightly said by

one of the previous speakers that there were three elements in the trade-the supply and paper houses, the employers, and the skilled workersall looking to the public for the reward of their labor and investments. Co-operating on plane of common interest, he said, the printing trades could be saved from unnecessary competition and wasteful practices.

some

The tide of travel on the Pacific coast circuit the past year indicates that the spirit of unrest is still prevalent in the craft to a large extent. The records in the office of the secretary of No. 21 show 491 arrivals and 438 departures by traveling cards during 1908. H. C. Crotty, Kansas City; William Mayer, Chicago, and Harry McRoy, Denver, have arrived recently.

J. F. Chambers, manager of the local branch of the Lanston Monotype Company, has established a school for learners on the monotype, and no fee is charged. Members desiring to take advantage of this opportunity should communicate with Mr. Chambers, or call at the school, 149 New Montgomery street.

B. A. Stone, formerly a member of No. 21, but for the last seven years a resident of Nome,