The Awakening of No. 80.

Kansas City Typographical Union No. 80 is hard at work fighting the notorious Hudson-Kimberly outfit again. This firm has repeatedly refused to in any way employ union printers, and we are pushing a vigorous fight against them. To raise funds a one-per-cent. assessment has been levied on the earnings of our employed members, and agents from the Industrial Council of Kansas City and one of our own members are at work on the streets and among the merchants.

A great deal of the local job printing is done by this firm, besides out-of-town work to an alarming degree. Kansas City needs the undivided support of all agencies, local and international, and we hope the JOURNAL will lend its efforts as in the Rand-McNally trouble and the Akron affair.

Recently several machines were placed in the Hudson-Kimberly office, and a new danger threatens in that an auxiliary is started for the turning out of so-called machine operators. This, with the fact that much of the local jobbing work is going to this firm, is dangerous. While so far it is only a local fight, the interests of all printers in this section of the country are at stake, and a neutral position at present will soon be changed to a defensive one in the future. Hence the donning of our fighting clothes.

We must fight to a successful finish, or much harm will be done the printers of Kansas and Missouri, and of the west.

Mr. J. H. Neff, part owner and proprietor of the Drovers' Telegram, a local live stock paper, has refused to unionize

his composing room, and he being a candidate on the Republican ticket for congressional honors, it is with pleasure that we note the laboring men are determined to elect him-to stay at home.

Much agitation is going on locally among political organizations, and a demand for organized labor's product is being created.

District Organizer Negele was called. to Kansas City, September 12, and amicably settled the trouble between the Berkowitz Printing Company and the union. A system of docking workmen when they failed to ring a clock, after working a half day, was the cause of the trouble. The men now get all money when earned.

Mailers have organized a local, and are meeting with encouragement. The allied trades are giving them all support possible, and all hope to see a flourishing local here soon-one that will rival St. Louis. C. W. F.

Kansas City, Mo.

Solicitous Syracuse. Syracuse union desires to entertain the forty-fourth session of the International Typographical Union, and our representative to Colorado Springs will make an effort to convince the delegates that the Central City of the Empire State is the ideal place to hold the next convention. Of the cities now in the field for that distinction, we are favored geographically, if it is desired to hold the convention in a place where the largest representation would be present. From Boston on the east to Chicago on the west, and Montreal on the north to Washington on the

south, there are more than one-half of the unions of the United States and Canada. Syracuse being in about the center of this populous area would undoubtedly draw a representative from every union in the district, particularly the smaller ones, which can not afford to send delegates to western cities. Railroad transportation is cheap in this section and we are on four big trunk lines, the New York Central, West Shore, Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg and Delaware, Lackawanna and Western. Besides, the Southern Central, Northern Central, Lehigh Valley, and Ontario and Western railroads have terminals contingent to Syracuse.

Hotel accommodations in Syracuse are ample and thoroughly up to date, beside being reasonable. It is an ideal convention city in every respect.

In the matter of entertainment, Syracuse would endeavor to make the delegates' visit one long to be remembered. The renowned Thousand Islands are but a few hours' ride from here. Syracuse, N. Y.

W.

Brief History of Boston Mailers. Up to four years ago the "mailers" of Boston were without organization, and day in and day out they worked on, depending on the favoritism of a foreman or the sweet will of a publisher for a living rate of wages. But gradually the doctrine of a fair day's pay for a fair day's work began to make itself felt among them, until it finally resulted in the formation of Mailer's Union No. 1, on March 17, 1892.

After hard and earnest work on the part of its officers and members, the union has succeeded in securing recognition from the publishers of Boston, who have proved themselves to be a fair and liberal body of men.

With recognition has come what is very desirable and much appreciated, namely a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

The first officers of the union were:

President, Michael J. Fife; vice-president, Eugene F. Murphy; recording secretary, William G. Harber; financial secretary, James Bennet; treasurer, John D. Fenton; sergeant-at-arms, Thos. Connolly. To its first president, Michael J. Fife, the union owes much of its present great strength, for he labored earnestly day and night for its welfare, and only laid down the gavel when the promised land was in sight.

During the present year the officers of the union have been of a most excellent character, and much of the success of the organization is due to their sterling integrity and strict attention to business.

William G. Harber, president of the Mailers' union, was born in Liverpool, England, in 1869. Mr. Harber has held several offices in the union, and is now serving his second term as president. He represented the union at several conventions of the New England Typographical Union. He is a delegate to the central labor union, and is president of the allied printing trades council of Boston, a body which represents every branch of the art preservative.

William J. Ambrose, vice-president, became connected with the union at its inception. He has occupied the position of secretary, member of the executive, and investigating committees of the union. He is also a delegate to the central labor union and allied printing trades' council. He occupies the position of third vicepresident of the New England Typographical and Allied Crafts' Union.

He

Robert T. Allen, the recording secretary, was born in Boston in 1869. was educated in the Eliot school, at the north end.

James McGinnis, financial secretary, was born in Boston and educated in the public schools.

Edmund Phelan, the treasurer, was born in Waterford, Ireland. He came to America in 1881 and located in Boston. He is a firm believer in all that pertains to trades-unionism, and is also

devotedly attached to the temperance

cause.

The union is affiliated with the International Typographical Union, and through that with the American Federation of Labor. It is also connected with the New England Typographical Union, allied printing trades' council and central labor union. W.

Boston, Mass.

Waiting Time in Book and Job Rooms. At the last meeting of the book and job branch, the question of charging for waiting time in book offices was discussed, many testifying to the necessity for it, cases being cited to the meeting of offices where men, after loafing nearly a whole day, were taken off the slate for a take of one or two sticks, while others were given 3,000 or 4,000. It was pointed out and argued that it was the only way to practically defeat favoritism, because a charge for waiting time would insure to every one alike work during composition hours. It was maintained that the fact that it was practical and carried out on morning papers was sufficient proof that it could be also carried out in book offices. The fact of men being kept loafing without remuneration, in case work might come in, had resulted in demoralization to a very large extent, belittling those who had been the victims. It was resolved to recommend to the next union meeting:

That a charge of ten cents per hour be made for waiting time by piece hands in book offices.

It was also resolved to recommend to the coming convention that the following be submitted to all unions, those unions voting for it to adopt:

That piece hands be paid for standing time during hours set for composition.

New York.

JAMES H. MARTIN.

Events in Evansville.

No. 35 has elected the following officers to serve the ensuing six months: President, Ed P. Barry; vice-president, Wm. Jaus; secretary-treasurer, Charles

R. Hiatt; sergeant-at-arms, Virgil Clay

ton.

Since the strike has been settled, there is plenty of work here. Every job office in the city is working extra forces, and work in newspaper offices has been remarkably good. Machine operators have been at a premium for the past month.

The cigarmakers' union, in conjunction with the central labor union, is making a hard fight on the scab cigar factories. There are three big shops in the city that employ girls from the age of eight to fifteen years, and receive just what the proprietors see fit to pay, often not more than seventy cents per week. The firms under the ban are: H. Fendrich, manufacturer of Courier-Journal cigars; Weyand & Moore, "Goldblume;" Charles Hedderich, "Apple Blossom." Friends of honest labor do not smoke these cigars.

A ten-cent assessment has been voted to the central labor union to aid in fighting the non-union concerns in town. Unionism is making a bold stand, and is sure to win. URIM. Evansville, Ind.

Denver Will Entertain.

The following named gentlemen have been named as an entertainment committee from Denver typographical union to divert the delegates who will attend the coming International Typographical Union convention at Colorado Springs during their visit in this city: George E. Esterling, chairman; John W. Bramwood, J. D. Vaughan, Frank Hynes, T. C. Eagan, D. O. Mullin, W. C. Ashwill, J. M. O'Connor, F. C. Birdsall, C. L. Merritt.

The day and evening of entertainment for the visiting guests will be Sunday, October 18th, or Monday the 19th, the exact date depending entirely upon when the convention adjourns at Colorado Springs.

Such of the delegates and their friends who stop at Denver on that date will be given an extensive trip about the city,

and the proceedings are to close with a "smoker" in the evening.

John D. Vaughan and John Heartz, and John W. Bramwood and J. J. O'Neill left the 22d of this month for Chicago, where they will advocate bimetallism. These gentlemen are doing this missionary work under the auspices of the Denver Trades and Labor Assembly.

Rumors have been floating about the effete East to the effect that Eugene Taylor, the linotype swift of Denver, was dead. On the contrary, this genial operator can be seen any day assembling matrices in the composing room of the Denver Times, and to a casual observer will seem to be very much alive. Shed no tears for Gene! H. C. FERRIS.

Denver, Colo.

St. Louis Varieties.

The composing rooms of the printing house of Woodward & Tiernan have been unionized. This establishment has been operated, since the strike of 1887, first as a non-union and afterwards as a "mixed" office. Monday evening, September 14, several men were "laid off" permanently, and by Tuesday noon the news of the change was generally known among the printers throughout the city, who are warmly commending the efforts of the men composing the executive and recruiting committees, through whose efforts the result was finally accomplished.

Hugh T. Edwards, aged 42, died on Friday, September 4, of consumption, at the home of a married sister, this city. He was single and a brother of W. O. and Edward Edwards. He possessed a bright mind and has at various times contributed to the local papers.

Robert J. O'Crowley, aged 23, died suddenly on Labor Day while taking part in the parade. The heat, excitement and length of the route were more than he could withstand, he being a victim of heart disease. He leaves a brother, D. J. O'Crowley of Springfield, Ill., three sisters, Mrs. Mary Fegan, Mrs. Jennie Bell and Mrs. S. J. Holden, all printers.

He was a member of the Emerald Zou

aves.

A son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ed C. Clark. As it is the first he may be pardoned for a slight change observable in his manner recently.

There has been organized in this city a strictly non-partisan workingman's Bryan club. Its second meeting was held on the evening of the 15th, and a membership of 500 members was reported, a gain of 380 for that evening. The purpose of the club is to prevent the coercion of workingmen and assist in the election of Bryan to the presidency. Committees were appointed to organize branch clubs. in all the wards, to prevent intimidation of workingmen at the polls, secure the naturalization and registration of voters, and otherwise see that the rights of the workingmen at the polls are not infringed upon. The club has started out to keep free of any entanglement with campaign committees and professional politicians. None but workingmen are admitted to membership. Several offices in the club are held by printers. Frank A. Hill, foreman of the Post-Dispatch, is president. The other printers represented are: F. E. Marlow, recording secretary; E. F. Greyson, corresponding secretary; Richard Keenoy, second vice-president; J. C. Atkinson, fifth vice-president; Charles Beatty, sixth vice-president. Several printers were also appointed on committees. Mr. A. G. Cook delivered a short address, which was received with uproarious applause. He is one of our members, who came here from New York some time ago. W. W. BAKER.

St. Louis, Mo.

THE workingman does not share much in the profits of his productions. It is in the losses where he cuts off his coupons. He is always in the "pull" when the load is going "up hill," but when the chariot starts down he is cut loose"lays off," as it were-and he goes down with the remnants of the ruin to the bottom of hopelessness.

Schuman Replies to His Critics. After reading the report of the last visiting committee concerning the Home, I am led to believe that it was intended principally for a campaign document against the former superintendent, as that party is still blamed for almost everything that goes wrong at the Home, even though located seventy-five miles distant.

There is an effort made to show that the present management has reduced expenses $4.50 per inmate per month. This means reckless extravagance upon the part of the ex-superintendent. In making a comparison, the parties who compiled the figures selected the four highest months of the previous year ("deducting certain items," etc.), and compared them with the four lowest. months of this year. This is a strange proceeding.

Why not make a comparison in an honest, business-like manner, with no intent to deceive or create prejudice? The parties interested surely can not believe that expenses have been permanently reduced $4.50 per month. If they do, good judgment does not prevail.

Common courtesy should have prompted them to compare the summer of 1896 with the summer of 1895, when conditions were supposed to be almost equal. Instead of doing this, they selected the four highest months of my year, and then apologized for the selection.

As we have a transcript of the books for the last year of our management, we are enabled to present an accurate comparison and to explain the difference in the ratio. Mr. Clark's figures are taken from the report:

1895.

May..

June.

July

August

No. Inmates.

61 6212

57

58

Av. Cost. $24.79

Average inmates for four months, 5912.

Average cost per inmate, $24.64.

22.50 26.40 24.89

Av. Cost.

$23.30 23.87 23.15

21.31

What caused this reduction? A largesized cut in the accommodations and an increased number of inmates.

If the Home has sixty inmates, onehalf of the maintenance account can be called "fixed expenses;" consequently with an increase of seven inmates, these fixed expenses would be distributed over a larger number, causing a natural reduction in the ratio without any effort upon the part of the superintendent. For instance, if the salary list averages $600 for fifty-nine and one-half inmates during summer, the ratio would be $10.08 for salaries alone; for sixty-seven inmates the ratio would be $8.95, a natural reduction of $1.13 per inmate. Other items in this fixed expense would raise this natural decrease to $1.30 per month. This plainly shows that Mr. Clark can be credited with an actual reduction in the ratio of forty-four cents per month per inmate, or a total of about $30 per month to represent the cut in the accommodations. Where is the $4.50 reduction after a legitimate comparison is made?

Again, when Mr. Clark presents his yearly report to the convention comparison will naturally be made with my report of previous year. In the ten months' report tendered the board my average was $6.30 per week for sixty and onehalf inmates, or $27 per month. For the sake of argument, grant us the natural decrease of $1.30 caused by the increase of seven inmates, and our ratio would have been $25.70 per month for sixtyseven inmates. This will show what the superintendent has to do in order to substantiate his statements. To reduce the expenses through personal efforts $4.50 per month, he must carry each inmate a year for $21.20 per month. According to his own figures, he has fallen behind this average $375 during the summer