line that its past weak condition would be changed and New England could boast of a jurisdiction as good as the best. Robert S. Maloney has devoted some time to almost every city in his jurisdiction since the last New England convention, and all have been able to secure a more beneficial condition through his untiring efforts. New England Union, through its executive board, has established a free employment bureau for the members of the different affiliated unions. It will enable its members to keep in touch with any open situations throughout this jurisdiction, and by an index system any demand for help can be quickly attended to. Representative Maloney has been with us for about two weeks. He has infused new blood into The last monthly meeting showed up a us all. large attendance, notwithstanding it was one of the worst nights this winter. Two were admitted, and there were eight applications. Some class to that, I think, with a little over a week's work by Mr. Maloney. A new organizing committee has been appointed and will act in conjunction with the label committee. Its work is bound to show good results. By a resolution, the president has appointed a committee to look into advisability of inaugurating a weekly sick benefit. Any information from other cities will be duly appreciated. The state legislature is in session, and organized labor has several bills before the assembly. We have never received much from that source, and expect little at this session. Our central body sends a delegate to the state house, and as he is a good union man and a socialist, he will take along a large hammer. JAMES A. COATES. GUTHRIE, OKLA. Things are moving smoothly in Guthrie, the former capital of Oklahoma. Every office is busy, although the state printing is being done in the new capital of the state-Oklahoma City. No. 587 is going to send a delegate to San Francisco, and candidates are numerous. There are six in the field. Guthrie is boosting for Oklahoma City for the convention city in 1912, and no better choice could be made. Oklahoma City is the biggest and best little city of its size in the United States. It is up to date in everything; plenty of street cars; miles upon miles of paved streets; one half dozen of finest fireproof hotels in the world and two now in course of construction which will be completed in time for the International Typographical Union delegates to use. The city can be reached at any hour of day or night from the outside world in all directions, either by train or interurban service. Delegates desiring automobile accommodations will have no trouble in supplying their wants, as that city is well supplied with all styles and makes of autos, both for hire and sale. At the February meeting Guthrie appointed a booster committee for Oklahoma City for 1912, to stir up as much enthusiasm in printorial circles in the state as possible in an endeavor to have every local in the state represented at San Francisco. This committee has commenced its work, and expects to be busy until August 1. Now, Bob Whites and Ed L. Sutton, of Atlanta; Harry Mills, of Wheeling, W. Va.; C. J. Deaton, of Birmingham, Ala., we were with you at St. Joseph, so don't forget old friends, and come clean for us at San Francisco and boost for Oklahoma City-a city of character, a city with a future. T. WESTBROOK. TORONTO, CANADA. On the Tuesday night of the week "The Fourth Estate" company was at the Royal Alexandra a presentation was planned for the members of "Big Six" who were part of the company. Controller Hocken, an ex-member of No. 91, was deputed to do the honors. Members of the local union were out in force. A floral display in the form of a label was placed in the lobby of the theater, with a card attached, saying it was to be presented by the allied trades council. It is said that the management refused to let the presentation be made while the audience was present. At all events the curtain was rung down and the local typos mounted the stage to give the visitors a welcome. Frank Webber, of the Star chapel, has deserted the ranks of bachelordom. His fellow-employes presented him with a handsome morris chair. The News office has taken up quarters in what was formerly the Emergency Hospital. A saloon is being fitted up in its former home. Since the legislature opened, work has become quite brisk in the Methodist bookroom. The Saturday Night is being sued for damages for libel and also a charge of criminal libel has been instituted by the Doctor Slocum Medicine Company for articles published in a recent issue of that journal. A telephone has been installed in the secretary's office, and before this item is read the old furniture will be discarded and new furnishings provided. The telephone number is Main 2346. If a member of the Star chapel happens to take sick he does not need to worry very much. A benefit society comprising forty-nine members has been working satisfactorily for a few months. When a member takes sick, each employe in the society pays 25 cents a week, no benefit for first week, said benefits to last the same length of time as the union pays. If a member declines a payment he is debarred from any further connection with it for a period of ninety days. "Bill" Joyce is the secretary and he makes a good financier. The Saturday Night endeavored to place their employes on a five-day-a-week schedule. They claimed that their work was all done on the first five days of the week and on their new system the would not be getting the full forty-eight hours a week. A complaint was made and a firm stand was taken not to allow any infringement of the scale of wages. The eight-hour day principle men must not be altered to suit the convenience of cer tain classes of work; if so, other employers would want to arrange the hours of work to suit their convenience. The eight-hour bill introduced by Mr. Verville in the house of commons passed its third reading, providing for an eight-hour day for laborers on public works building contracts. The Labor Temple company held its annual meeting on February 11 and a gratifying report was presented to the shareholders. The value of the company's property and its bank balance are placed at $47,724.90, and its liabilities to the public are $10,729.84. The net surplus for the year is $1.685.87. James Simpson and A. E. Thompson were elected directors. MILTON E. POOLE. LONG BEACH, CAL. No. 650 is coming to the front with as good a bunch of boosters as can be found anywhere. We have just added to our list F. Henry Chase, recently traveling salesman for the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, now foreman of the Press. The Press changed hands the first of the year, the Prisk brothers, owners of the Pasadena Star and Grass Valley Union, being the purchasers. They have added another linotype to the battery and are installing a new sixteen-page perfecting press, and intend to make the Press one of the best equipped newspaper plants in the state. The Pasadena Star and Grass Valley Union, as newspaper plants, bring credit to these gentlemen and attest their ability as newspaper men. We have some hopes of unionizing the Daily Telegram. C. G. BARKOW. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. The New England Typographical Union's employment bureau, which has lately been inaugurated, bids fair to fill a long-felt want. The idea is this: Affiliated unions send every month, through their secretaries, a report of their membership and vacant situations to Charles Carroll, who keeps the reports on file. Any union printer is entitled to the use of the bureau, free of charge, the local secretary supplying him with a registration card which is sent on to Mr. Carroll, who at once puts the unemployed member in touch with vacant situations in any part of New England. Any unemployed member of No. 216 who will get in touch with his secretary may perhaps hear of something that will suit him in a very short time. The members of the committee which is arranging for the annual convention of the New England Typographical Union are wide awake and alive to their responsibilities and are not letting the grass grow under their feet in their efforts to make this affair a success. It is a little too early yet to say much about their arrangements, but it is safe to say that there will be a real good time for each and all. Bowling events in printerdom locally have been coming thick and fast lately, and the latest to try conclusions were Messrs. Phillips and Magowan, of the Union office. The match, a ten-string one, was hotly contested throughout and was won by the former in the last box by a scant six pins. The return match, of course, was immediately arranged and won by Magowan. Several interesting matters came up for discussion at the last meeting of No. 216, and the ballot box went round the room at a lively clip. The two principal events were the questions of remitting the dues of the auditors and the permanent imposition of an assessment for non-attendance at the monthly meeting. The proposition of remitting the dues of the auditors was defeated, and a compromise proposition to remit their dues for the months in which they do their work was put through. This is a step in the right direction, and mayhap, under happier circumstances, they will get more concessions in that direction; it is certainly worth it. A goodly crowd turned out to vote on the question of the permanent assessment for non-attendance at meetings. The ballot was a keen one, and the advocates of the plan managed to gain their point by a scant vote. So the electorate will have the "pleasure" of paying a fine in future if they fail to show up at the monthly meetings. One of our good friends at the Union office, R. P. McPhee, has a penchant for humorous poetry, and the following effusion from his fertile pen is, with the editor's permission, reproduced: THE PROOFREADER The proofreader he is an ornery cuss, And once in a while he lands on us With highbrow scorn and tells us that Our jest about Bryan coming to bat For president more frequently Than there are leaves on a chestnut tree, Congratulations to our Holyoke sister on the signing up of their new scale. Union enthusiasm seems strong in the Paper City. No. 216 has passed the 150 mark in its membership column and there are more to come-in fact, have come, as the applications of several are under consideration by the investigation committee. "Let 'em all come." By winning two points from the Union editorial bowling team the Republican operators, three weeks before the end of the season, won for themselves the proud title of champions of the newspaper league. The title is well bestowed, as the operators have rolled consistently and well. A. F. HARDWICK. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. Frank C. Curran, printer-hotel proprietor, died January 29. Mr. Curran was well known among the printers of this city, and also Philadelphia, having been a delegate to the Colorado Springs convention in 1896 from that city. He was, before his illness, an active member, but his illness lasting for over two years, he was compelled to retire. No. 377 contemplates celebrating its eleventh anniversary in May by giving theater benefits in conjunction with a handsome souvenir program. Dr. Maurice Williams, a member of No. 377, has returned to this city, where he has opened offices in the Champion building. A committee was appointed at our last meeting to seek new quarters, owing to the fact that our attendance has become so large of late there isn't room to accommodate all the members. Three applications for membership were received at this meeting from the Pleasantville Press. The Press is also desirous of having the label. The next town we must go for is Ocean City, N. J. A new No. 5 linotype has been installed in the Atlantic City Press, with A. M. Satterlee, formerly of Newburyport, Mass., pounding the ivories. Charles R. Lester was unanimously elected secretary-treasurer of the allied printing trades council at its last meeting, with Max Martin, pressman, as president. Look out for "big doings." Business is fairly good, with everybody working and a demand now and then for outside help. James Barrett, who was holding a machine on the Citizen, is now in Roanoke, Va. In the election held here last fall he was a candidate on the republican ticket for county auditor. Sam Bean has gone to Spartanburg, S. C. He is one of the charter members of No. 263. Mr. Poland, of Morgantown, W. Va., is on the ad job at the Citizen. William Frank, who has been the ad artist at the Gazette-News for several years, has gone to Washington. "Bill" has been a moving spirit in union. circles here for quite a long while and we regret to lose him. Jesse Dinkins, formerly of Asheville, but now located in Huntington, W. Va., was called here re cently to the bedside of his sister, who passed away shortly after her brother arrived. The Asheville Citizen has moved into its new home. This is the morning paper here and is making good progress. They have installed a perfecting press and a modern stereotyping outfit. The building was designed and constructed especially for the Citizen and would be a credit to a town much larger than Asheville. The friends of Ed May will learn with regret that he passed away February 14. He had been with his brother at Hickory, N. C., a small town near here. The writer would like to hear from his old friend, Walthall, who was in Denver when last heard from. GEORGE W. Cooper. OTTAWA, CANADA. Canada could furnish material for a lively chapter on the vicissitudes of capitals. Strategically posted at Niagara, tossed backward and forward between Toronto, Kingston and Quebec, Canada's legislators found refuge in a modest town, perched meekly on high bluffs, with intervening valleysthe town of By, which became the city of Ottawa, and by the selection of the late Queen Victoria, was made the seat of government and the capital of Canada. This was in 1857. The Ottawa of early days and that of today could hardly be recognized as the same. Merging from a verdant forest to an up-to-date, clean, beautiful city, with paved streets, and lawns bordering the majority of residences, we now have a city which we are proud to offer as a meeting place for the 1912 convention. We have our parliament buildings, recognized as being one of the most picturesque groups of buildings in the world; Rideau Hall, the residence of the governor-general (who in 1912 will be the Duke of Connaught, brother of the late King Edward); the National Museum and Art Gallery, the Royal Mint, the Archives, Printing Bureau, and Central Experimental Farm. These are a few of the government institutions, and there are numer ous other provincial and civic buildings which are of interest. The city has now almost ninety thousand population, and it is growing very rapidly. We have the largest lumber, paper and pulp mills in the world, and have several other large industries which will, we believe, be appreciated by visitors and delegates. The Commission driveway, extending from the experimental farm on the west to the rifle range on the east, is a splendid drive, bordered the entire length by wide lawns, flower beds and resting places, making, in all, a park fifteen miles in length. Work is fairly good, and everybody is busy. The bureau has, as usual, a night force during the parliamentary session. No. 102 has 235 members, 230 having their current working cards. President Lynch was in Ottawa for a day or two the last of January, and talked over local condi tions with the executive. Ottawa's advantages as a convention city were impressed upon him. John E. McLoughlin, International representative, was in the city at the same time. While I have not heard of any definite announcement, I understand there will be three or four aspirants for the honor of representing Ottawa at San Francisco in August. Two deaths have occurred since the New Year; Robert Kane, a number of years a member of the Free Press job chapel, who succumbed to tuberculosis, and Charles Doe, who came here from London, Ont., three years ago, and was employed in the bureau. We will endeavor in future issues to "show" why the 1912 meeting should be held in Ottawa, "the beautiful capital of the north," and we believe a majority of the members will agree with us. The municipal electric commission announces a reduction in the cost of lighting equal to 19 per cent in the near future, and also in power rates. This will give Ottawa, we believe, the cheapest electric current in the world. Remember, Ottawa, Canada, 1912. HUGH H. BORTHWICK. MILWAUKEE, WIS. The sanitary committee of Typographical Union No. 23, consisting of S. C. Livingston, John E. Kagi and Joseph La Fleur, has taken up the work of promoting the cause of cleanliness and fresh air in composing rooms with a determination that is sure to result in improvement. The committee made a thorough investigation of the subject and familiarized itself with local conditions, then came to the conclusion that, from motives of selfpreservation and public safety as well, it was the duty of the typographical union to place a bill before the state legislature, now in session, looking to the adoption of a law which will regulate the sanitary condition of composing rooms of printing offices. Such a bill has been drawn up by the committee and properly presented, and, from the present outlook, its chances for passing are excellent. It has the endorsement of many men throughout the state who are prominent in the work of furthering legislation for better sanitary conditions, including Commissioner of Labor J. D. Beck and Dr. C. C. Harper, secretary of the state board of health. The provisions of the bill will apply to composing rooms in every city of the state having a population of 15,000 and over, and all Wisconsin typographical unions will be asked to give assistance in its passage. If every union printer in the state will write to his representatives in Madison at once, requesting him to give the measure enthusiastic support, I am sure it will go through with flying colors. The committee started its work in a systematic manner by reading up on the general subject of sanitation, perusing the laws of this and other states relating to the question, and by ascertaining the policy and methods of the International Typographical Union in furthering the cause of sanitation in the vocational environments of our trade. All local authorities in this line of action were interviewed, and it soon became apparent that there was more to be done than the mere visiting of composing rooms and the leaving of orders. However, the committee called the attention of the local health commissioner and factory inspector to a few specific cases which fairly screamed for immediate attention. But the laws in the premises are scanty and weak, and it was admitted that a large percentage of the good work accomplished along this line by the local officials is done on a bluff. It was also discovered that there is little or no protection by law for the printer from the many peculiar dangers incident to his calling. Bulletin No. 108 of the government census bu reau gives the death rate among printers from consumption as being 51.5, while the average for other workers is but 36.8. This certainly should stimulate every printer to work hard in the interest of better conditions. In the statute books of Wisconsin we find special laws to regulate the sanitary conditions in workshops of other trades, cigarmakers, barbers, and so on. The printers are away behind the times, and should now wake up. A former member of Typographical Union No. 23, an old union man and first-class printer, who has been absent for some time, but who still retains his membership in the local Picas, has this to say in a recent letter: an You should feel pretty well satisfied that you are in good little old Milwaukee. Applied for a job in Philadelphia. Was the 'steenth applicant in an hour. It was a printing office in a large tobacco plant-fine place; was offered $15 a week of fiftyfive hours; I butted the pike for home. That is a specimen of Philadelphia, and they say things are now much better than formerly. Boston has Philadelphia shunted on a sidetrack in the woods, and Milwaukee in comparison to either is aeroplane to a lump of lead in the Dead Sea. Or ganized labor has a hard proposition to solve here, and what I say is not intended as a knock, but to show those in an organized town that they have much to be thankful for, and should maintain their organization by eliminating petty bickerings and personal strife. The union officers here are affable, courteous gentlemen, and doing a good work under adverse, disheartening conditions. That they make any headway is a feather in each and every one of their caps. Let's hope ere they're through they'll have feathers enough in their respective caps to furnish feather beds for themselves, for they'll deserve and need a good long rest. As the nomination of candidates for offices of the union will be made at the April meeting, things political are warming up a bit. The San Francisco convention, of course, has the center of the stage, and several candidates for delegateships are prominently to the fore. The writer will endeavor to present a complete list of these later. There are still a few people in Milwaukee who do not know that the Buck's stoves and ranges are now union products. In spite of the high cost of living, our members continue to enter upon the sea of matrimony, the latest to embark being Alfred Buckman, of the Sentinel chapel, JOSEPH LA FLEUR, HOUSTON, TEXAS. In a recent number of THE JOURNAL I saw an account of a two-handed chapel meeting held in some small town in Oregon, which brought to my mind one of the most unique chapel meetings ever held-probably the only one of its kind. In August, 1904, accompanied by my better seven-eighths, I left St. Louis one day at noon over the Big Four, en route for the Washington convention. At Indianapolis, where the two branches of the road join, we ran into a large delegation from the northwest. About dark the discovery was made that a number of us had been unable to secure sleeper berths, and the conductor informed us that he could promise nothing; that we would have to take our chances when we got to Cincinnati. Then we proceeded to organize a chapel. Hornstein, of Chicago, was elected chairman, and Michael Colbert, also of the Lake City, was chosen as secretary. It was found that eighteen union printers, several of whom were accompanied by their wives, wanted sleeper berths, and resolutions, with a strenuous kick attached, were passed. Did we get the sleeper? We did. Our hustling chapel officers immediately got busy, and when we reached Garry Herrmannville we were informed that there were plenty of berths at our disposal. Now, perhaps some cheerful idiot will inquire what on earth or elsewhere did a bunch of printers want with sleeper berths, anyhow? For the answer to this riddle he is referred to Lochemes, of Chicago. Furthermore, Hornstein was a peach of a chairman. He assumed charge of the whole aggregation until Washington was reached, and, as the last syllable of his name would indicate, made it a point to see that nobody suffered from drouth. In the February JOURNAL the correspondent from Jackson, Miss., in speaking of the death of Jack Jordan, stated that "when he got out of the state (Texas) he swore he would never go back there, and kept his word until a year or two ago." Somebody has evidently been "stringing" the Jackson correspondent. I joined the union at Waco, Texas, over twenty-three years ago, and I have a vivid recollection of Jack Jordan being present at that meeting. He was then a man approximately 50 years of age. Since then I had seen him regularly at intervals of not more than a year or two until I heard of his death in Helena, Ark. Few knew him better than I, and some time I will tell that horse-stealing story as I have often heard him relate it. But so far. as staying away from Texas is concerned, I don't believe he was ever out of it over two years at a time in his life. The delegate bee is buzzing freely here now, and already five candidates have announced their desire to represent No. 87 at San Francisco. They are President C. F. Dealy, Victor B. Andrew, Charles G. Lee, Ed Hill and W. E. Peed. Two regular delegates will be sent, and, besides, a big auxiliary delegation will make the trip to boost for Houston. Now a tip to the eastern delegates and pro spective delegates: Do you want to take the nicest trip you ever took in your life? If so, I will tell you how to do it. First, select Houston as the convention city for 1912. That is the prime requisite. Then, when you get ready to start for the convention, go to New York, board a Mallory Line steamer for Galveston, and then ride fifty miles to Houston through some of the prettiest country on earth. Or, another way: Take a Morgan liner to New Or leans and go the remainder of the way by rail. Or, if you prefer it, come all the way by rail and go home by the water route. The water route is the main thing, and, take my word for it, should any of you ever make the trip that way you will never regret it. It is just long enough, both in distance and duration of time, for the traveler to get a good physical rest, and yet not sufficiently so to be tiresome. As to the delegates from the central and western portions of the country, they can have their choice of several different routes, because "all roads lead to Houston," and all carry Pullmans, so we hope it will not be necessary to hold any chapel meetings. So please remember that Texas, the home of twenty-six typographical unions, the largest state in area and fifth in population, wants the 1912 convention, and Houston, the largest union in Texas, asks for the privilege of entertaining it. We have every facility in the world here for making visitors have a good time, and they never have occasion to quarrel with Houston's hospitality. We are willing to concede that our rivals may be all that is claimed for them, but we fail to see where either of them has any "edge" on Houston -certainly not when the fairness and justice of its claims are considered. We will take care of you, show you one of the pleasantest times you ever experienced, give you a glimpse of the best and prettiest country the sun ever shone upon, furnish one of the finest public buildings in the country in which to hold the convention, and guarantee that there will be "something doing" all the time. What more could be asked? Houston 1912-Baltimore 1914-London 2000. EARL V. ATEN. M'KEESPORT, PA. The first visit of the death angel in the ranks of No. 225 has removed from our midst the "father" of McKeesport Typographical Union, President Charles F. Herms, whose death occurred February 9. Mr. Herms had been the victim of a series of misfortunes for several years past and was taken to the Mercy Hospital at Pittsburg, where a surgical operation revealed a cancer that had rooted itself deep into his system. He had been president of No. 225 for six years. He was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, September 13, 1860, and when 8 years old came to the United States with his parents, going to Jefferson county, Kentucky. He learned his trade in that state and was for some time employed on Louisville papers. Mr. Herms was one of the founders of the local union, and during his eleven years' residence in |