church. Here is where one can see a real congregation of printers and newspaper men when it comes to numbers. The mass takes place at 2:30 A. M. and is conducted by Father Luke Evers. There is very much good feeling and profound affection exchanged between Father Evers and "his union printers," as he is pleased to call them.

The "printers' mass" has become a very common thing in many of the larger cities of the United States. In the Canadian jurisdiction it is unknown, because the Sunday observance law of the Dominion eliminates Sunday work. At 12 o'clock all toil ceases on the great Sunday morn ing papers of Montreal and Toronto. There being but two Sunday morning papers in Milwaukee, we have no "printers' mass" in this city. But you may find members of Milwaukee Typographical Union numbered among many of the choirs and churches of every known denomination.

I have stated that this religious inclination apparent among printers of today is due to the uplifting influence of the International Typographical Union. The printer of today is not the printer of twenty years ago. Since the International Union shortened the workday to eight hours a remarkable improvement due to this alone is apparent. More time can now be devoted to reading and religious and social affairs. Another phase of the shorter workday which I might here mention is shown in the statistics of the Chicago Typographical Union, with a membership of 3,500. Since the advent of the eight-hour day the birth rate has increased 22.9 per cent. This is considered important by sociologists.

Among other uplifting influences of the International Typographical Union are the Union Printers Home at Colorado Springs, in connection with which is one of the greatest tuberculosis sanatoriums in the world; the old age pension; funeral benefit for all deceased members; technical training school, located in Chicago, and last, but not least, and to afford the hundreds of thousands of sympathizers an opportunity to aid in the uplift, we have the printers' union label.

A Word of Appreciation. Secretary Andrews, of Tallahassee (Fla.) Union No. 660, has forwarded to THE JOURNAL a letter, dated at Bennettsville, S. C., which he recently received from the father of Fred E. Gibson, who met a tragic death at De Funiak Springs, Fla., last December. The letter, in part, says:

I acknowledge with profound appreciation and gratification the receipt of the check for $75 in payment of the burial benefit. Please accept my sincere thanks for your prompt attention to this matter. I will place a monument to my son's grave with this fund and state in the inscription that he was a member of the International Typographical

Union. I will also state that the monument was erected with funds from the union. If you have an ensign or badge of membership, please send me a cut, or electrotype impression, as I desire to have the badge engraved on the monument.

This testimonial to one of the benefits derived from an affiliation with the great International Typographical Union, coming as it does from a non-member of the organization, will surely be highly appreciated by the membership.

The Standard of Living.

In his excellent report to the New York State Charity Conference, Frederick Almy, secretary of the Charity Organization Society of Buffalo, declared that organized labor has done more than any other agency to raise the standard of living through higher wages and shorter hours. The secretary also said:

The expense of this has compelled better methods by the employer, and the better fed and better rested workmen have also done better work, so that there has been enough profit for all on the higher wage. Social workers have not allied themselves sufficiently with the trade unions for these ends. Better living and working conditions, through tenement and tuberculosis work, through better sanitation and safety appliances in factories, through child-labor laws, playgrounds and baths, also help to raise the standard of living; it calls for a general social reconstruction. The fight is on towards this end. Prudence requires it, for, as has been said, the disease of poverty is communicable in the human family. Charity requires it. And Christianity requires it, if the brotherhood of man is to be anything more than a joke.

THE first number of the Union Label Bulletin of the Greater New York Allied Printing Trades made its appearance last month. In giving a reason for its existence, the Bulletin declares that it is published primarily to call attention to the allied printing trades union label, and to create a demand for this emblem by the purchasers and users of printing. It is also the intention to discuss ways and means for the betterment of the trade. This is commendable, as the workman is as much interested in obtaining good prices for printing as are the various associations of employing printers. The new publication also contains a list of the label printing establishments of the metropolitan district.

Counteracting Influence of Our Union.

At the Rhode Island Anti-Tuberculosis Exhibit, held in Providence early in April, Charles Carroll, secretary of Typographical Union No. 33, delivered an address in which he covered, in a concise manner, the great work which the International Typographical Union and subordinate bodies are doing in an attempt to counteract the inroads of tuberculosis upon their ranks. The speaker also called attention to other diseases which confront the printer, aggravated by unsanitary and ill-ventilated composing rooms. Mr. Carroll said, in part:

Fifty years ago American printers worked by the same primitive light beloved of the Russian immigrant. In time the sperm oil lamp displaced the candle, petroleum displaced sperm oil and gas drove petroleum from the market. Yet each advance in this progressive improvement of light meant fresh danger for the printer, a larger consumption of the life-giving oxygen in the atmosphere of the workshop, a larger dissemination of carbonic acid gas, product of combustion, producing an atmosphere reeking with fumes of deadly poisons, further polluted by the breathing of the printers. Printerdom hailed with joy the advent of the incandescent electric lamp, the finest light to work by that the world has known, producing a brighter, steadier light than any other lamp and consuming none of the wholesome, lifegiving properties of the fresh air which might creep into the printing office. When steam heat supplanted the great wood or coal stove or the hot-air furnace, when electric motors, applied directly to machinery, supplanted dust-raising belts and shafting, the golden age of the art of printing seemed at hand, viewed from the standpoint of health and hygiene.

But with progress comes improved time-saving machinery, and close upon the advent of the incandescent lamp came the typesetting machine, with its pot of boiling lead and antimony, heated by gas. The gas under the metal pot once more consumes the oxygen in the air, but now in larger quantities, because the Bunsen burner has displaced the familiar fishtail, and, besides, the metal pot sends forth its fumes of lead and antimony, filling the atmosphere with new poisons, weakening the system, breaking down the organic construction of the body designed to resist disease, leaving the printer more susceptible than ever before to germ diseases.

Small wonder that the death rate among printers from tuberculosis places the trade among the three having the highest percentage of mortality, and the death rate from nephritis, acute and chronic, including kidney diseases in all their various forms, is appalling. Add to these diseases the unreported, unrecorded army of printers who suffer from gastritis and other forms of indiges

tion and you may gain some idea of the problem with which the typographical union, in its desire to improve the conditions of its membership, is confronted.

An analysis of dust collected from the walls of printing houses shows 45 percentum of lead in its various oxides. Even the cleanest and brightest and most wholesome printing house in the world is unhealthy. The average life of a cat set loose in a printing office, and regularly fed, will not exceed three weeks. After one week the cat begins to show symptoms of emaciation; in ten days it begins to lose its fur; some time between the end of the second week and the end of the third week kitty disappears, and three weeks after its advent the smell of kitty's decaying carcass leads to the discovery that one more animal has gone to the happy hunting grounds. The number of apprentice boys who are obliged to quit the business with the trade half learned is large; the number of grown men obliged to seek other occupations is larger; the number of deaths from tuberculosis, nephritis and gastritis is amazing. Lead dust and oxides of lead carried in the air, shaken from type cases and tables in use, lifted from the floor while walking, falling into open receptacles for drinking water and into drinking water cups, taken into the mouth with drinking water, from the fingers while eating lunch, breathed into the lungs, absorbed through the pores of the skin, afflict most printers with plumbic poisoning and gradually weaken the heart, clog up the pulmonary system, demoralize the stomach and kidneys and leave the printers in a weakened condition, less able than other workers to withstand the attacks and ravages of disease germs.

The speaker then harked back to the days of the nomadic printer, declaring the "traveler" to be one of the causes that induced the International Union to enter the field of benevolence. In the old days the printer afflicted with a lung disease made his way to another clime, temperature and elevation. Sometimes the change of atmosphere produced an improvement if the change was taken soon enough. Many times the move was made too late, and the printer died away from home and relatives, but not away from friends. His fellow craftsmen cared for him, brightened his days with attention and buried him. Some twenty years ago the International Union took up this problem, and the result is the Union Printers Home and the burial benefit. Mr. Carroll then gave a description of the method of treatment of consumptives at the Home, the solarium or sunhouse and the twenty tents of improved models. It was also pointed out by the speaker that

the Boston convention authorized the International executive council to assist the local union at Phoenix, Ariz., in caring for the sick members who go there in search of health. Mr. Carroll then concluded as follows:

An organization, however, which contented itself with burying its dead and caring for its sick and disabled and aged members, however large its charity, would not accomplish a great deal in a crusade against disease. For half a century the International Typographical Union has agitated two reforms which promised betterment-two reforms sought by every trade union-good wages and short hours. The first tends to improve the condition of the worker, to raise his standard of living, to give him better clothing, better food, a good house to live in, an opportunity to build a home and rear a family, to educate his children and make them good citizens. The union has sought higher wages for the members in order that they might have the means of securing for themselves better conditions. Half the battle for the stamping out of tuberculosis is won when cleanliness is attained. Cleanliness, isolation of infected persons, personal hygiene-these are the fundamental principles.

*

Eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, eight hours for recreation-eight hours in which to build up new tissue to resist disease; eight hours to breathe forth from the lungs the accumulation of disease germs and fill them up with pure, fresh, health-giving air; eight hours to spend with the family, educating the children or giving them fresh-air outings; eight hours-the greatest blessing of the century. With the universal eighthour day for all trades attained, one milestone on the road toward eradication of the great white plague will have been passed. We must limit the time during which we will expose our brothers' and our sisters and our children to the foul and fetid air of the shop and factory. And it is pleasant to find the most earnest workers in the League for the Suppression of Tuberculosis lined up with the union leaders in an effort to secure the blessing of the shorter workday. *

The union itself forbids spitting on floors, and its sanitary committee recently advised members to use great care in their personal habits. An agitation against the common drinking cup has started and has borne some fruit. Members have been advised to consult physicians when they suspect symptoms of tuberculosis, because consumption in the first stage can be cured, and because it is the duty of the brother afflicted with the disease to protect his fellow-workers.

The public generally can help the labor unions in their campaign for better conditions. Unionism now stands for something besides higher wages and shorter hours. It stands for sanitation and cleanliness, elimination of the sweatshop and the kitchen factory. The cigarmakers and garment workers have fought the sweatshop for years. The union printer is fighting the unclean shop

and the bedroom shop. The public can aid all these movements by insisting upon patronizing employers who are fair. The union label is a sign of fairness, just as the consumers' league label is an indication of cleanliness. If you find it disadvantageous to use the label, ascertain whether or not the goods you buy are produced under clean and sanitary conditions.

Labor unions generally may not be able to build a home for their members or to provide a course of treatment, but all can co-operate in the great work of prevention. This is the line of progress now being followed by the International Typographical Union. We can all enlist in the work of personal hygiene; we can all endeavor to make our working places more sanitary; we can all improve the conditions in our own homes; we can all consult a physician and accept his advice for treatment; we can all spread the warfare on tuberculosis. When the worker of the country is stimulated by exhibits such as this to take up the war on tuberculosis, its elimination, already certain, can be accelerated.

What Good the Label Will Do.

One of our members who was successful in securing a claim in the public land allotment in South Dakota last fall was shortly afterward the recipient of a circular from an association composed of Chicago people who were likewise successful in the land drawing. As the circular did not bear the label, and showed other evidence of having been printed in a non-union office, a sticker was attached and it was returned to the president of the Chicago organization. It was sent back again with the query, “What good will this label do any one on a South Dakota farm?" The answer to the query was so complete and covered the case in such a comprehensive manner that it is herewith reproduced:

RED OAK, IOWA, January 30, 1909. Mr. C. A. S. Howlett, Chicago, Ill.:

DEAR SIR-Please pardon my seeming discourtesy in failing to answer your question, which is enclosed as a reminder. It is a very easy one to answer, and as I now have a little time at my disposal, I will try to make the matter clear to you.

In the first place, let me say that the question, "What good will a typographical union label do any one on a South Dakota farm?" is not just exactly apt, pertinent or appropriate, under the cir cumstances, because the circular from which I missed the said label was not printed on a South Dakota farm, but, I believe, in the city of Chicago; and I was not thinking primarily of our good, but of the good of the toiling masses, particularly printers, in the city of Chicago-your home. Think not that I returned the circular in a spirit of

pique, or spite, or churlishness; I merely wished to call somebody's attention to the fact that they had overlooked an opportunity to do a kind act-an act that would aid somewhat in the betterment of humanity, without cost to themselves.

Now to answer your question: If we move to South Dakota we will want to raise chickens, wheat, corn, flax, pork and beef, and we will have all these things to sell, besides butter, eggs and other things. Now, we will want to sell these things in Chicago, as well as other places, and we do not want to send them to markets which are patronized by impoverished people. There are no patrons of farmers worth considering except laboring men and their families. If these laboring men are poor, our opportunities for selling them are limited. If they are impoverished, they must confine their purchases to salt pork and bread and absolute necessities; and then even the little they spend will be spent grudgingly, and the prices we get for our produce must necessarily be low. On the other hand, if they are prosperous, they will spend with a lavish hand, and make our beef and poultry, our grain and garden truck fly. The money in the pockets of the city workingmen finds its way to the pockets of the farmer.

Now, Mr. Howlett, the union label means plenty. It reduces the laborer's weary hours of toil and makes him want things. He doesn't want many things when he works ten, twelve and fourteen hours a day. All he wants then is a place to lay his tired bones and large quantities of beer and whisky to make him forget his misery. Not only does the label reduce his hours, but it gives him more wages. More wages, more food and more clothes; and to get more food and more clothes he must patronize the farmer.

Of course, there are many short-sighted people who would declare my argument far-fetched, but they are people who can not reason from vaporous clouds to a moist earth, and from moist, warm earth to a well-laden table; but from an intelligent gentleman like yourself, Mr. Howlett, I do not expect such a decision. Therefore, now that you must certainly understand the matter, I hope hereafter you will use your influence for the union label and yourself and myself.

Thanking you for the inquiry and trusting the answer is perfectly satisfactory, I am yours respectfully, FRED W. RAPER.

THE governor of Alabama refused to appoint a representative to the child labor conference called by Governor Sanders, which recently met in New Orleans. It was this same individual who assisted, with the aid of state troops, in breaking up the miners' union in Alabama. Governor Comer says that Alabama's child labor laws are all right. Sure they are-for Comer. This labor baiter is the owner of the Avondale cotton mill, where little children are

employed both day and night, and specific instances have been cited of youths of 12 and 13 years of age wearing their lives out in the Comer cotton factory.

THE Colorado Badge Company has finished a fine door plate for the Union Printers Home, which bears the label of the International Jewelry Workers' Union. This is said to be the only door plate in the state bearing a union label.

PRESIDENT GLOCKLING, of the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders, has announced that a label has been registered in the various states by his organization. This label is for use in blank books, or books not containing any printing, and to which the allied printing trades label does not apply, such as ordinary day books, journals, blotters, exercise books, cash books, memorandum books, etc. On the cheaper kind of books the label will be gummed on the inside of the front back or cover, and on the better class of books it will be stamped on the back or side, as desired.

IN the advertising pages of this issue will be found an announcement of the Cartwright Automatic Press Company, World building, New York, which is placing on the market an automatic, rotary, flat-bed platen job press. It is claimed this new machine will revolutionize the handling of job presswork. It will feed from sheets practically anything that can be fed by hand into an ordinary job press, and, according to size of press, will deliver from 4,000 to 10,000 impressions per hour. It produces a class of work that, it is declared, can not be surpassed on any platen press on the market today. A job can be made ready and started as quickly as on any platen press, thus making it economical for very short as well as long runs. The first three presses are now in operation in New York and Springfield, Ohio, and the first large batch of presses is now being rushed through the machine shops, from which deliveries will begin in less than sixty days.

AN agreement has been reached with the newspaper publishers of Ottawa, Canada, which expires January 1, 1914, whereby Typographical Union No. 102 secures increases over the previous scale, as follows: An immediate advance of $1 per week, until January 1, 1910; 50 cents per week increase for 1910, 50 cents for 1911, and another 50 cents per week for 1912 and 1913.

AN increase in wages for the members of Akron (Ohio) Union No. 182 was negotiated last month, the new agreement to run until May 1, 1913. The minimum scale for day work on newspapers was advanced from $16.80 to $19 per week for all journeymen employed, with the exception of foremen. No. 182 has also raised the scale for book and job work from $15 to $16.50 per week.

The new

WITH the assistance of Organizer Kinskey, Hamilton (Ont.) Union No. 129 has secured an increase for both the newspaper and job branch. book and job scale is as follows: For the year 1909, $15 per week; 1910 and 1911, $15.50; 1912, $16. The old scale was $14 per week. For the newspaper branch the scale is as follows: Admen, floormen, proofreaders and operators, for the year 1909, $16 per week; 1910, $16.50; 1911, $17. The old schedule provided for $14.25 per week for operators and $14.50 for other journeymen. There is a bonus system as applied to operators, as follows: For all brevier type set in excess of 194,000 in a week of forty-eight hours, 9 cents per thousand; in excess of 197,000 minion, 8 cents per thousand, and in excess of 217,000 nonpareil, 7 cents per thousand.

WRITING under date of April 22, Organizer Brady reports that a successful outcome of the negotiations with the Democrat Publishing Company, of Little Rock, Ark., has finally been reached, the management signing for a period of five years, dating from July 20, 1909, giving the Democrat Company ninety days' time to bring about the change in conditions in its composing room. A union superintendent and foreman have already taken charge of the plant. W. S. Mitchell, of the printing company, expressed his intention to run a strictly union composing room for all time in the future. The Pugh Printing Company, of the same city, which has been operated on a non-union basis for several years past, also signed. Organizer Brady says: "This puts Little Rock on a strictly union basis as regards all competitive shops. I believe the unionizing of the Democrat will have a wonderfully beneficial effect in our favor in the south."

AT the meeting of the National Board of Arbitration, held at headquarters early in April, the wage scales for four different unions were considered and adjusted. The newspaper scale for San Francisco, which had been under consideration at previous sessions of the board, was finally settled by awarding $2 more per week for all employes of the composing rooms in the newspaper branch of Typographical Union No. 21. This makes the wage $32 per week for night work and $29 for day work, for all journeymen except proofreaders. The latter will draw $35 and $29 per week for night and day work, respectively, the hours being seven and one-half per day or night. The San Francisco mailers were also given an increase of $1 per week. The increased wage in both instances is to date from December 1, 1908, thus giving the members about four months' back pay at the advanced scale. The board agreed to an advance of $1.50 per week in the night scale of Fresno (Cal.) Union No. 144. This makes the wage $5.25 per day for foremen and $4.50 for assistant foremen, eight hours to prevail; operators and floor and ad men, $4.50 for seven and one-half hours. The time scale of Shreveport (La.) Union No. 155 was also increased 5 cents an hour, to 55 cents. The piece scale on machines was reduced 1 cent a thousand, the new rate to be 10 cents a thousand for nonpareil, and 1 cent more per thousand ems for each additional point in size of type.

A NEW Scale has been negotiated by Grand Rapids Union No. 39 for the newspaper branch, which provides for a general increase of $1 per week for all machine operators, hand and floor men, and $3 per week for proofreaders. All overtime is price and one-half. The new scale will be $22 per week for night work and $20 for day work. The greatest advantage to the organization was the placing of every man on an equal footing as to wages and the raising of the price for overtime, handmen having previously received practically one price for time worked over eight hours.

A NEW Scale has been negotiated by Typograph. ical Union No. 184 with the employers of Cheyenne, Wyo., to continue in effect for three years from March 15, 1909. Under the agreement the pay of foremen for night work is increased from $27 to $28 per week, operators from $24 to $26; admen, $24, no increase. Foremen employed in the daytime also receive an increase of $1 per week, the wages to be $25; operators and ad and floor men receive an increase of $2 per week, the wages to be $23.

BEGINNING with April 5 last, the book and job scale of Typographical Union No. 94, which includes in its jurisdiction the cities of Bayonne and Jersey City, N. J., will be $20 per week until September 6 next, when the wages will be $21 per