[This department is conducted by the International Commission on Supplemental Education. Inquiries regarding the International Typographical Union Course in Printing and the work of the commission should be addressed to "The International Typographical Union Commission, 120-130 Sherman street, Chicago, Ill."]

EFFECTS OF I. T. U. EDUCATIONAL POLICY.

This month we will scan the horizon and have a peep at the influence exercised by the International Typographical Union as illustrated by its educational policy.

If there were no other proof that we are on the right track, the actions of other labor organizations would be sufficient demonstration of the correctness of our position. Naturally, the I. T. U. Commission's venture is watched most keenly by the allied trades. The first to see the benefit of the course was the bookbinders' brotherhood, President Glockling and his fellow officers commending the policy at the next succeeding convention of the brotherhood, which was held about three months after the commission started its work. There are obstacles in the path of the bookbinders making much progress, but the more active of them show a lively interest in what the commission is doing, and long for the day when they will be able to do something definite.

The photo-engravers are, inspired by the commission's success, endeavoring to do something along the same line, and their executive officers are now charged with the duty of formulating a system of education that will tend to improve the quality of service given by the wage earners of that trade.

The International Printing Pressmen's Union is also in line, and at this writing has a committee which is discussing ways and means whereby an educational system can be developed.

Even the stereotypers and electrotypers believe they can better themselves by taking a course in metallurgy, and one prominent member has taken the study at the University of Chicago for the purpose, as he says, of being able to tell what is the matter with his metal when he looks at it without applying the crude tests generally used.

These trades, however, are not so fortunate as were the compositors. It is altogether likely they will have to dig for their information, and a course of observation and original research will be necessary before they reach a scientific basis of instruction. The I. T. U. Commission was fortunate in that it had at its disposal the years of experiment and effort by the Inland Printer, to put the art of setting type on a scientific and truly artistic foundation. The Inland Printer's experience in this field ranged all the way from the preparation of text books and the sending out of collections of approved work to be exhibited in printing centers to what is now the I. T. U. Course. Had this font of information and experience not

been at the commission's disposition, it would have probably been two or three years developing a satisfactory method of instruction.

A further illustration of the growth of the idea is given by the American Federation of Labor. At its last convention the delegates authorized the appointment of a committee to investigate and consider the subject of industrial education. The committee is a large one and is not confined to active members of trade unions, as it includes Professor Neill, chief of the bureau of labor, and other friendly but non-affiliated persons. The International Typographical Union is represented by Edward Hirsch, of Baltimore Union. This committee has had two meetings, one at New York some time ago and the other at Washington on October 22 and 23. The consensus of opinion expressed proves very clearly that the success of the International Typographical Union's educational propaganda has had a great deal to do with inducing the federation to take up the matter in such a business-like manner. Under the chairmanship of John Mitchell, it is altogether likely the committee will develop some policy which will become the platform of the trade unionists on industrial education. This can not fail to have a great effect on the public mind, and will go far toward circumventing the influence of the manufacturers' association, which very naturally wants industrial education for the purpose of making employes more profitable, and not as a means whereby students can become more valuable to themselves and more creditable, independent citizens. Though the federation may not be able to establish an educational system, it is peculiarly within its province to see that whatever system of education is established here and there throughout the country, it is one that will tend toward raising the standard of living and not be used for the purpose of degrading it. Properly put, it will frustrate the fond hope of the Parrys and Posts that they may be able to turn the rising stream in favor of industrial education into a channel dug by unsocial exploiters.

But the influence of the International Typographical Union's effort does not end with the labor organizations. With the exception of the Home, perhaps not a single feature of our union policy has received such widespread attention from the daily press. There are before this writer more than twenty clippings from newspapers all over the country which have come to hand within a week or ten days. Most of these are news items, giving the aims and objects of the course, ranging from a couple of stickfuls to three-fourths of a column in length. There has been editorial mention also, and we reproduce in this issue several editorials clipped from the columns of well-known journals. They are worthy of perusal by every reader of THE JOURNAL, if only for the purpose of ascertaining how the commission's work appears to outsiders-men whose business it is to review public and quasi-public efforts and express opin

ions on them. These are trained critics accustomed by their vocation to looking at the heart of things, yet the tenor of their remarks on this subject breathes sincerity and displays an admiration for the work of the union which can not help but redound to its advantage. One practical effort like this or the old age pension or the Home appeals strongly to the public mind and does much to offset the slanders of the enemy. These comments prove also that the course has merit. If it had not, it would be impossible after the lapse of two years to extort such wholesouled commendation from editorial writers, who are usually nothing if not cynical.

A TRADE UNION SCHOOL.

Circulation of a booklet containing artistic specimens of typography, the work of students in the technical school of the International Typographical Union, calls attention to a commendable, and as yet too little appreciated, feature of the union's work. The school, conducted on the correspondence plan, has been established for the instruction both of apprentices and journeymen. It is designed not only to teach them thorough mastery of the mechanics of their trade, but to drill them in its artistic possibilities as well. Many journeymen have enrolled themselves and are doing better work in consequence.

The value of such a school is obvious. With the printer's trade highly specialized as it is today, the apprentice in the average office has no opportunity in his ordinary routine to master more than a single branch of it. His promotion to the grade of a journeyman depends upon the length of service rather than upon proficiency. In consequence, there is a tendency toward routine and to slipshod work, which must constantly be guarded against. Not only does the union, by providing this technical course, increase the usefulness of its members and widen their individual opportunities of employment, but it insures, in a way, its own future. One of the telling arguments for trade unionism is the assumption that the union workman is more skilful, more intelligent and more responsible than his unorganized competitor. By compelling its members to live up to their agreements, the union substitutes collective for individual responsibility, and if it now, through its technical school, thoroughly instructs its members and apprentices in their work, thereby increasing their efficiency and desirability, it will go very far toward accomplishing the higher aims of unionism. The technical school idea of the typographical union might be adopted with advantage by other organizations of the skilled trades.-New Orleans (La.) Times-Democrat.

TEACHING TYPOGRAPHY.

Anything which contributes to superior workmanship is laudable and worthy of high commendation. Praise, therefore, should be given to the International Typographical Union, which has instituted a course of instruction in printing, teaching the principles underlying good typography. This is done in a way which brings into service the most effi

cient methods. The system employed approximates that of the correspondence school. That it accomplishes results is indisputable; they are shown in most convincing manner. Perhaps the best idea of the plan may be gathered from a quotation from a statement by the commission of the union which has the matter in hand. * * * The International Union "produces the goods" to show that great things are being accomplished. A booklet issued by the commission has specimens of the work done, some after a surprisingly short training. The samples shown represent elegant and artistic typography, with a great deal that is highly decorative in tastefully blended colors and attractive designs. Such work is distinctly valuable and deserves hearty encouragement.-Troy (N. Y.) Times.

WORK MADE BEAUTIFUL.

One of the hopeful signs of the times is the interest which is being taken by many labor organizations in technical education. Once indifferent or hostile, the organized labor movement is rapidly changing front on this question; and it now seems not a wild prediction that the organized trades will soon be using some of the funds once spent in strife to establish and sustain trade schools in which workers, young and old, may qualify for greater efficiency and earning power.

Two years ago the International Typographical Union took a notable step in this direction when it appointed a commission to formulate some system for the technical education of its members and apprentices. There was need of this in the printing trade, for the introduction of typesetting machines had greatly changed the "art preservative" and made more difficult than formerly the development of artistic typographic skill.

The commission reported in favor of a correspondence course, in which today more than 1,000 printers are enrolled. The course is designed to develop creative skill in type effects, the expres sion in artistic ways of the personality of the student-something aside from the average routine of work. The commission has recently issued its first booklet illustrative of the work of its pupils; and the showing of "before and after" results is most impressive.

The social value of such instruction is as great as its economic value; indeed, we suspect that it is greater. The worker required by his self-support to toil day after day at machine labor needs the freshening of a side interest into which he can pour his creative talent. This course provides such an interest. What the painter does with a brush to translate into forms of beauty the poetry in his soul, the printer is taught to do with artistic type designs. By a reflex influence, his outlook upon life is sweetened and the friction of the daily grind is unconsciously lubricated.

We welcome cordially this significant contribution to the welfare of a useful craft.-Rochester (N. Y.) Times.

Do NOT yield to misfortunes, but meet them with fortitude.-Virgil.

OUR HOME.

Much has been printed and read concerning the Union Printers Home in Colorado Springs, and yet there is material in abundance to furnish food for thought and reflection upon the part of our membership, and especially those who have not seen it and rely solely upon what they have heard others say and their imagination. In truth, it is an institution which must be seen and studied at close

quarters to be appreciated. Hence I purpose in this communication to view it from the vantage ground of one who has enjoyed its bounty, its comforts, and, yes, its pleasures, during the past nineteen months, and who knows whereof he speaks. Further than that, I am in a positionthat of one of the guides to conduct the visitors through the Home-to hear what the general public think of the institution and the organization which built and maintains it. So hearty is their praise and favorable comment that it makes one swell with pride to reflect that he is a contributor and stockholder in a corporation which says to the aged and infirm members of our organization: "Come, you have struggled long enough and have earned a rest; retire to the Home we have prepared for you, and spend the remainder of your days in case and comfort." And, again, to those of younger years, who have been overtaken by afflictions or the "white plague," the same invitation is extended, without money and without price.

However, let the visitors speak for themselves, and to do so I will quote from the register such remarks as these:

"A

"Good by, and God bless our Home." great institution." "Lovely beyond expression." "Very beautiful." "Most beautiful place I ever saw." "Can not adequately express my appreciation." "Well pleased." "Better pleased." "Beautiful and grand." "It's a dandy." "Admirable in every respect."

Believing that it will interest the readers of THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL to learn how extensive our acquaintance has become during the tourist seasons of the past two years (1908-1909), the fol lowing table is derived from the visitors' register: 1908.

H. V. Morris, J. L. Shober, George E. Bryan, Hugh F. Ryan, H. V. Morris, John M. Dugan. No. 6, New York City.

Fred Phillips, Jerome F. Healy, John A. Hawkins, Richard H. Mitchell, Thomas R. Minnick, Patrick J. Tracy, James P. Archibald, Arthur H. Pratt, Walter Hoffman, H. H. Lea, Huria Rudwick, Thomas Reilly, Frank Atchison, John Bushell, James Tole (president of "Big Six"), Si Hall, C. W. Bartlett (traveling card).

Willis C. Thomas, L. F. Reynolds, H. L. Norwood, Rasmus Peterson, C. F. Weston, Clay Crissman, J. C. Lewis, H. E. Barker, Thomas J. Welsh, J. E. Terrill, F. J. Crowfield, James F. Donney, A. L. Tice, Charles Spake, Otto A. Sontag, J. J. Harrigan, Peter Hermann, J. D. Riley, M. L. Smith, Henry L. Anderman, Jerry Becnar, R. L. C. Brown, Charles Winter, John C. Witherspoon, T. J. Sullivan, Andrew D. Newbold, Pet Cornelius, Jason R. Lewis.

No. 18, Detroit, Mich.

A. C. Eby, John McDonald, George W. Barclay. No. 21, San Francisco, Cal.

Philip Johnson, Robert Sleeth, Oscar D. Leavit, Guy F. Street, W. J. Higgins, M. S. Rockwell, Con C. Sharpe, George Thresher, Miss Goldie F. Collins.

No. 23, Milwaukee, Wis.

F. W. Nolan, Frank Hoberg.

No. 28, Galveston, Texas.

C. C. Mayfield, Emile Peterson.

No. 30, St. Paul, Minn.

Ferdinand Navotry, John Klaus, Ross S. Reynolds, F. A. Rendler, O. F. W. Bruss.

No. 40, St. Joseph, Mo.

J. J. Sheridan, Mrs. H. Hayward, Albert O. Cassel, W. N. Curtiss, J. J. Hurley, E. J. Moser, W. J. Reilly.

No. 49, Denver, Colo.

Carlos B. Tomlin, J. B. Thomas, M. J. Kestner, Martin Lacher, E. V. Rees, Henry H. Ellis, E. M. Dobson, E. J. Fitzgerald, H. P. Steinberg, W. F. Foster, S. H. Devin, T. H. Jansen. L. D. Lowery, Abbott Plunkett, Roy T. Baker, Miss Ida Pearson, Frank J. Pulver, Harvey E. Garman,

Thomas H. Adams, Perry Barnes, George Allen, Glenn W. Palmer, E. C. Davis, Miss Nellie C. Smith, J. W. Foley, William Tanner, Otto F. Thum, W. L. Morissey, W. H. Montgomery, Miss G. W. Palmer, J. Howard, H. F. Deitzman, R. E. Dumon, J. C. Seiler, R. E. McLean, Al Stone, Roy Shattuck, Dan Curim, William Foley, D. W. Parkison, John W. Aspegrew, Alonzo Wiley, C. W. Christy, Charles J. Graham, F. M. Chilson, F. M. Johnson, Thomas J. Elwell, Harry Calkins, C. R. Breidenstein, Mrs. Leona W. Miller, W. F. Foster, George Davison.

G. L. Zimmerman, No. 189, Lexington, Ky.; W. C. Derzer, No. 35, Evansville, Ind.; E. E. Martin, No. 202, Seattle, Wash.; J. B. White, No. 119, Jefferson City, Mo.; Harry Cowan, No. 226, Vancouver, B. C.; E. L. Sutton, No. 48, Atlanta, Ga.; Ernest Holtz, No. 22, Dubuque, Iowa; E. Reed, No. 4, Albany, N. Y.; A. J. Olbrook, No. 218, Sioux Falls, S. D.; James K. O'Connor, No. 62, Utica, N. Y.; John Whicher, No. 46, Sacramento, Cal.; Frank Mullen, No. 92, Little Rock, Ark.; W. E. Deeds, No. 35, Evansville, Ind.;

T. H. Edwards, No. 354, Staunton, Ill.; George B. Warren, No. 198, Fort Worth, Texas; S. H. Elbert, No. 206, Sedalia, Mo.; C. W. Howe, No. 221, San Diego, Cal.; George M. Officer, No. 592, Fort Collins; Oscar T. Flebbe, traveling card; C. C. Houston, traveling card: Ira T. Branson, No. 206, Sedalia, Mo.; George W. Morgan, No. 58, Portland, Ore.; Mr. Westbrook, No. 587, Guthrie, Okla.; W. M. Brann, No. 202, Seattle, Wash.; H. A. Kletzker, No. 36, Oakland, Cal.; E. J. Raymond, No. 291, Aurora, Ill.; J. R. Thompson, No. 227, Cripple Creek, Colo.; L. W. Smith, No. 20, Nashville, Tenn.; Miss Ida M. Farrell, No. 497, Alliance, Ohio; James P. Oglatree, No. 104, Birming ham, Ala.; J. E. Cheely, No. 254, Riverside, Cal.; John E. Barnes, No. 56, Stockton, Cal.; Samuel F. Strangford, No. 216, Springfield, Mass.; George S. Scales, No. 122, Kalamazoo, Mich.; W. E. Fritz, No. 76, Terre Haute, Ind.; Frank A. Carter, No. 133, London, Ont.; J. P. Fogan, No. 13, Boston, Mass.; Jerome Jones, No. 48, Atlanta; John Logan, No. 9, Buffalo, N. Y.; T. V. Copeland, No. 170, Tacoma, Wash.; W. B. Robertson, No. 17, New Orleans, La.; John E. Flowers, No. 72, Lansing, Mich.; C. P. Diegle, No. 237, Sandusky, Ohio; W. S. Bisson, traveling card; P. M. Peterson, No. 179, Leadville, Colo.; E. D. Campbell, No. 567, Loveland, Colo.; Charles M. Lough. lin, No. 405, Santa Fe, N. M.; J. F. Strass, No. 218, Sioux Falls, S. D.; James S. Gordon, No. 453, Norwich, N. Y.; Carl S. Evans, No. 42, Minneapolis, Minn.; Matt J. Meckel, Monroe, Mich.; Carl B. Hesford, No. 425, Canon City, Colo.; C. B. Armstrong, No. 172, San Antonio, Texas; R. J. Fontaine, traveling card; Alex B. McCulloch, No. 90, Richmond, Va.; F. W. Rucker, No. 246, Winona; Albert J. Kullman, Cleveland, Ohio, traveling card; William R. Daley, No. 349, Waterloo, Iowa; Elmer E. Evers, No. 286, Marion, Ind.; W. H. Watson, No. 574, Hct Springs, Ark.; Frank Hoffman, No. 42, Minneapolis, Minn.; James H. Timmons, No. 633, Lawton, Okla.; William H. Hoag, No. 497. Alliance, Ohio; Lewis F. Wilcox, No. 221, San Diego, Cal.; Joseph C. Dale, No. 9, Buffalo, N. Y.; James W. Brown, No. 144, Fresno, Cal.; H. H. Harris, No. 574, Hot Springs, Ark; H. J. Gaither, No. 525, Amarillo, Texas; L. J. Griffin, No. 578, Coffeyville, Kan.; J. W. Perkins, No. 332, Muncie, Ind.; A. H. Shaefer, No. 20, Nashville, Tenn.; H. Verhaur, No. 39, Grand Rapids, Mich.; J. O. Denham, No. 126, Butte, Mont.; J. B. McIlvain, traveling card; Joe A. Mulhall, No. 36, Oakland, Cal.; Miss Mae C. Darr, No. 45, Leavenworth, Kan.; D. L. Jackson, No. 32, Norfolk, Va.; W. W. Cuthbert, No. 46, Sacramento, Cal.; J. Martin Peyer, No. 89, Chattanooga, Tenn.; W. W. Wilcox, No. 29, Peoria, Ill.; William Nudoff, No. 57, Dayton, Ohio; Charles M. Shyrock, No. 199, Zanesville, Ohio; H. L. Straight, No. 271, Boise, Idaho; Will L. Smythe, No. 206, Sedalia, Mo.; George Lingelbach, No. 349, Waterloo, Iowa; F. J. Kerwin, No. 194, Joliet, Ill.; O. N. Miller, No. 170, Tacoma, Wash.; J. F. Packwod, No. 578, Coffeyville, Kan.; J. H. Reichel, No. 124, Bloomington, Ill.; Charles E. Shaffer, No. 14, Harrisburg, Pa.; Edward J. Walsh, No. 15, Rochester, N. Y.; J. E. Carson, No. 104, Birming. ham, Ala.; J. Frank Davis, No. 520, Mattoon, Ill.; C. A. Benedict, No. 63. Toledo, Ohio; G. A. Bergstrom, No. 136, Duluth; D. B. Kirkman, No. 5, Columbus, Ohio; W. K. Frechrel, No. 104, Birmingham, Ala.; Stanley T. Ray, No. 292, Grand Junction, Colo.; R. II. Wessel, No. 209, Freder ick, Okla.; C. F. Greer, No. 486, Guthrie, Okla.; G. W. Miles, No. 425, Canon City, Colo.; E. J. Hurd, No. 592, Fort Collins; W. F. Grunow, No. 58, Portland, Ore.; E. Goeth, No. 188, Waco, Texas; C. B. Garham, No. 511, Batavia, N. Y.; Paul Gebhard, No. 47, New Haven, Conn.; August Lehmann, No. 253, Holyoke, Mass.

Now, this list numbers 378 names of members of the International Typographical Union, who have visited the Home during the past sixteen months, and it was a pleasure to hear their praise of everything they saw. The new library addition