leged paraphrase of my statement with the word eliminated. confess that even had I the ability as a writer that Mr. Albrook, with flattering irony, ascribes to me, I should not know just how to meet such an argument as this. I am sure that Mr. Albrook and Mr. Harris are thoroughly good citizens. It is well they are, for should they ever desire to work evil I tremble to think of the results their controversial ingenuity might produce. Suppose, for instance, they were militant atheists, bent on destroying all forms of religion. By the simple expedient of leaving out of the Ten Commandments the word "not" wherever it occurs they could, once their version was accepted as the true one, overthrow in a day the Hebrew church, with its 6,000 years of history, and cause the light of its Christian offshoot to go out like the flicker of a candle. Or suppose they were determined to overthrow the United States government. They would simply take the constitution and the revised statutes, erase all such words as were not pertinent to their purpose, persuade their fellow citizens that this was the real charter and these were the real laws of the union, and in a week our country would be one vast political chaos, in a month anarchy would reign from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and perhaps in a year Thy hand, great Albrook, let the curtain fall, I confess it. I am as fairly stumped by this confutation as by the argument of the gentlemen who see an analogy between lining up to sell labor and lining up to buy postage stamps. I can only ask the latter what they would think if the postmaster insisted on giving them a one-cent postage stamp when they asked for a two, but charged them 2 cents for it just the same. Won't they think this over? In the meantime I ask again, How are we to win strikes or defeat lockouts with the priority law in force? Mr. Mounce has begged the question? I. T. U.'S FRANKENSTEIN. After months of edifying discussion, in which that riproariously funny phrase, "This is the best argument that could be made-for the other side," has been worked to death; after the airing of ideas, of theories, the explosion of rhetorical bombs in the ranks of pro-priorityites and anti-priorityites, the one vital question remains: What will become of section 108, International laws, when the slumberers awake; when those who have helped upbuild this great labor organization shake off their lethargy and vigorously assail this monstrous law, conceived in iniquity, nurtured in an atmosphere inimical to healthy growth, and in its mischievous youth savagely assailing the foundation of the principles of true unionism-the right of every member in good standing to obtain steady employment, contingent upon his competency? Brooklyn, N. Y. EDWARD EVERETT HORTON, SR. THE prodigal generally does more injustice than the covetous.-Franklin. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REBUKED. An election for mayor has just been held in Los Angeles, in which the adherents of good government have been successful in administering a severe drubbing to the Times, the foe of organized labor in general and the typographical union in particular. The good government forces were materially aided by several energetic members of Los Angeles Typographical Union, who are ever on the alert to thwart the wishes of the Times, and this is but another defeat for the paper which has received many such lately, its political power being broken and its prestige fast disappearing. As if the defeat of the Times' candidate were not enough, and to add insult to injury, the first official act of the newly-elected mayor was to appoint Ben C. Robinson, a life-long union printer, to the position of fire commissioner, one of the most important offices in the city. Mr. Robinson is a young man of exceptionally clean character, has twice been elected president of No. 174 and represented that union at the Toronto convention in 1905. This is the first time a union man has ever been appointed to a position of this kind in Los Angeles, and the recognition thus accorded Mr. Robinson marks the turning point in the affairs of the typographical union in this city. The selection of Mr. Robinson is heartily ap proved by the press and public alike, with the exception of the Times, which, galled by the knowledge that it could attack neither Mr. Robinson's qualifications nor his character, delivered itself of the following: I. T. U. EXHIBIT GREAT ATTRACTION. Printers have just cause to feel proud of their exhibit at the International Tuberculosis Exposition, which was held in Philadelphia from February 15 until March 15, and was viewed by nearly 500,000 persons. The model tent from the Union Printers Home at Colorado Springs came in for its share of praise, both from the physicians and scientists connected with the exposition as well as from the visitors. When informed that this sanatorium was maintained by organized labor, great was the astonishment of some of the onlookers, who could not realize that workingmen had made such strides to a realization of the real brotherhood of man in the protection of their more unfortunate members. It is unnecessary to quote all the comments of the distinguished visitors, and there were many and all in the same vein, but it is pertinent to mention the opinion of one who had visited the Home and expressed herself in an enthusiastic manner as to its beauties and the great work being done there, when Olga Nethersole, the famous actress, said that the printers were accomplishing the greatest work of any labor organization in the country, and were on the right path to remove the stigma of what to her was the most disagreeable word in our language--charity-as we cared for our indigent and sick members, and every one felt entitled to what he received in view of the fact that he had paid for it in advance. Three meetings were set aside for organized labor and were well attended. Speeches were made by some prominent labor leaders, among whom were John Mitchell, first vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, who made an appeal for the remedying of conditions in the mines, mills, factories and workshops, as well as the better housing of workingmen, and referred to the platform of the American Federation of Labor, in which it is insisted that every home shall be supplied with a bathtub. He also laid great stress upon the fact that workingmen sometimes hasten their doom from tuberculosis by the indulgence in strong drink. An address also was made by Frank Morrison, secretary of the American Federation of Labor, and he pointed out the room for improvement in the sanitary surroundings, and brought out the fact of the work being done by the American Federation of Labor in the campaign of education being waged among the workers to the dangers of this dread disease, and that one out of every three deaths in the ranks of the wage-earners was from tuberculosis. An appeal for the sanitary workshop was made by the writer, who dealt principally with the relation of the printers and tuberculosis. It was shown that there have been more than 200 printers treated at our sanatorium since its inception, and that eighty have been sent back to the trade either cured or improved. This is a more than favorable percentage when it is realized that the majority of those admitted to the Colorado sanatorium are in the advanced stages of this disease. According to the statement of our resident physician, Dr. Christopher, eight-tenths of all the patients admitted to the Home are tuberculous; and is it any wonder, when one stops to consider the insanitary composing rooms in which our members are compelled to work and the utter disregard of the piping of the machines to carry off the dangerous fumes from the metal pots? It is, indeed, a ray of hope to learn that the commissioner of labor in New York has put the ban on the fumes from linotype machines and has classed them as dangerous, and no doubt henceforth the law relat ing to dangerous gases will apply to them. It must be patent to every one who has investigated this matter even slightly that the fumes from the metal pots are causing the havoc in our organization, as a glance at the list of deaths each month is incriminating evidence, and at such an early age, too-25 to 30 years-and it is safe to hazard that nine-tenths of them are operators. Of course there are many improvements in the twentieth-century composing rooms, and there are in this city models of excellence, not only book and job plants, but also those fitted up with every convenience for facilitating the publishing of newspapers and for the comfort of the employes. There are also the relics of bygone days still with us, such as those you climb two pairs of narrow stairs and along a dark, treacherous hallway into a dimly lighted room, at one end of which are two windows so begrimed with dust and fumes that the sun can barely penetrate on a July day, and five or six linotypes ranged on one side of the room poisoning the air with their deadly fumes, and on the other side a half dozen cases so firmly rooted into the floor by tobacco spit and quids that it is necessary to use a pickax if the occasion ever comes to move them. In the middle of the room is the copy cutter, who is unable to use a spittoon, as some clumsy printer is sure to upset it, and whose sacred precincts are denoted by a line of tobacco spit ejected impartially almost around the entire desk. A little further down the room is the drinking water outfit, consisting of a dilapidated beer keg with a rusty cup dangling at the side, which frequently is found trailing on the volcanic-like floor. And, to add to the horror of it all, the stereotype foundry is at the far end of the room, helping to vitiate the already overbur dened atmosphere with its fumes. Then, as a climax, is the washroom-excuse the name-a two by four sink with a solitary spigot. When one finds a piece of soap a shout of "Eureka" fills the air, and on the back of the door hangs the toweldid I say towel?-well, the more particular employes make a journey to the proof press and make a piece of paper do duty for drying purposes. It is sincerely hoped that the days of composing rooms of this stripe are doomed, and they should be if the International Typographical Union is to make any headway in stamping out tuberculosis from its ranks. JOHN MEADE, Philadelphia, Pa. THE CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP PROVISION. The writer believes there is no question but the International Union acted wisely in taking up the pension question, but as to the rules laid down for its conduct there is room for serious consideration. In the first place, why the International should declare that a twenty years' continuous membership should be necessary to a participation therein is one of the wonders of the twentieth century. As well might the United States government enact a statute that a three years' continuous service in the "late unpleasantness" only should entitle a participant therein to a pension. What a howl would have gone up all over the land should such a provision have been enacted. Yet it would seem no more ridiculous than the provision before mentioned. Now, what was the idea in establishing the pension system? If years of service was the idea uppermost in the minds of the august body constituting the International convention, one would think that twenty-five years' continuous membership would entitle a member to a still greater weekly allowance, and so on ad infinitum. Seriously, I don't think the membership in general contemplated any such action. On the contrary, I believe that the ruling motive was to enable aged members to retire from competition with those more able to bear the brunt of battle, thereby making the International Union a body of members more competent to deal with corporate greed. But in the twenty years' continuous membership enactment it seems to me they overlooked one or more serious considerations. What is to become of the member who has arrived at the age of 60 years, the necessary age provided to be eligi ble to a pension, who, through any of the ills to which flesh is heir, is incapacitated to "hold up his end of the row?" If he has been a continuous member for, say, ten, twelve or fifteen years, has he to continue his active membership, paying dues, up to twenty years before he is eligible to a pension? Or must he drop out of the ranks, sacrific ing even the burial benefits to which an active member is entitled? Doubtless there are hundreds of members in the International Union today of twenty to twenty-five years' standing, though not continuous, totally incapacitated for work. What is to become of them? After continuing their membership through the struggle we have happily emerged from to gain the eight-hour day, are they now to be thrown upon their own resources or those of their relatives or friends, or maybe the county hospital, for the few remaining months which they may live? God forbid. If such is to continue to be the action of the great International Union, the sooner we members who will not have seen twenty years' continuous active membership at the age of 60 find it out the better. Personally, I think that any member in good standing who becomes, through any cause, incapacitated for further work, regardless of the length of his membership, should be entitled to a pension until such disability ceases. It may be said that the International Union might be imposed upon by unworthy members. Not so. The certificate of a reputable physician, backed by the unanimous vote of the local union, ought to satisfy any reasonable body. If there were any lingering doubts, the state or local organizer might be instructed to investigate the matter. One of the members of No. 576 was an applicant for a pension, and, though becoming a member in 1883 and so remaining until 1894, when he removed from the jurisdiction of any union, was de nied a pension on the grounds that his membership was not continuous, though he was one of the charter members of No. 576 and has continued an active member since its organization in 1902. He has been advised by the secretary of the International Union that he was eligible to enter the Home, but that is out of the question, as physicians have told him that he could not live in that altitude. It would seem that any member eligible to the Home should be entitled to a pension if he so prefers, for, besides the expense of getting to the Home, the cost to the International Union of a member therein must far exceed $4 per week. Besides, the applicant's wishes should be entitled to some consideration where he has relatives and prefers to remain with them to going among entire strangers. Let us hear from others on this subject. LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL. Look for the label-purchase with care Only such goods as you know to be fairBe it daily cigar, suit of clothes, shoes or hat, Spend no union-made cash to help fatten some rat; Toilers' actions speak louder than words, it is said, Even though they are printed in ink that is red; Rouse up, union men, on the label insistSince injunctions but swell the "don't patronize" list. N. B. Not only are violators subject to fine, but their names are here published by the aid of each line. W. A. BLACKWELL. Chicago, Ill. DO WE WANT INSURANCE? In the March JOURNAL, T. F. Pilcher puts some arguments in favor of union insurance under the caption, "Healthy Facts on Insurance," in answer to an article by Mr. Corrigan. His arguments are, to me, far from convincing. As to "Healthy Fact No. 1," I am of the same opinion as Mr. Corrigan, when he says, "My first objection is that it would be very dangerous, in that it abridges the liberties of members in not permitting them control over their personal affairs." As I understand the proposal, every member of the union would be forced to take union insurance, regardless of his physical condition or his mental attitude toward the same. Most men 25 to 30 years of age already have all the insurance they feel able to carry, and are, by insuring while young, receiving the benefit of a low rate. A man of 45 years, who took out insurance at the age of 25, pays one-half or onethird of what he would pay for it if starting now. Should the membership of the union vote for compulsory insurance, he would be forced to start in on a new policy at a rate based on his present age, and the older he is at that time the higher rate he must pay. It may not be possible for him to keep up both policies, therefore he must drop the old and keep up the higher priced insurance. Mr. Pilcher says: "The fact that from 25 to 50 per cent of the membership cannot get insurance in old-line companies is one of the best reasons why the union should furnish them protec tion." This, to my mind, is one of the best reasons why the union should not furnish them protection; at least, not in this manner. fully in favor of giving all our members all the protection possible, and think we are doing a great deal in that direction now, with the old age pensions and funeral benefits. But we must adopt a more feasible plan than compulsory in surance. I am If old-line insurance companies, that have been doing business for half a century and have got it down to a science, will not accept this percentage of our membership, even at their good rates, how can an organization with no experience in the insurance business expect to pay the claims that will be made upon it, probably in a very few years? Under this plan of insurance for all members a physical examination, of course, would not be made; and, if I understand it, a man might have tuberculosis and be past cure, yet we would have to insure him. He might make one or half a dozen payments; but his insurance must be paid, and the other members must foot the bill. Another thing: We do not have the field to draw from that the old-line companies have. Only printers can be admitted, and it is a wellknown fact that tuberculosis and kindred diseases are rampant among the members of our trade. How many insurance companies, old-line or fraternal, will accept an application from a man so afflicted? You will notice in their application blanks that they are very particular to inquire as to any trace of lung disease, not only in the applicant, but in his ancestors and his near relatives. In my opinion, if this proposal is ever tried, it will result disastrously. The assessments will grow larger and larger as the old members begin to die, until they are too much of a burden to carry. It seems to me that we are getting far away from the original purpose of our organization and introducing too many side issues. There are organizations in existence that can furnish safer insurance much cheaper than we can ever hope to, and practically all the membership could have gotten insurance from them when they were younger in years and better in health. Those who had the forethought to do so should not be forced to carry the burdens of the improvident ones. I differ from Mr. Pilcher when he says that this law would be for the benefit of the great majority of the membership, for the reasons above stated, and I think that if the members will do a little thinking along this line the majority will agree with me-that we do not want insurance in the International Typographical Union. Butler, Pa. RAYMOND TURNER. PRINTERS' SICK BENEFIT ASSOCIATIONS. From month to month the correspondence that appears in the columns of THE JOURNAL reveals the fact that there are, scattered here and there throughout our International jurisdiction, especially in the larger centers of population, associations of printers for mutual protection from sickness or other disabilities. They appear to be mostly chapel or shop associations, and some of them are of long standing, and have acquired considerable financial strength. But for occasional reference, as above noted, in THE JOURNAL, these associations are, and would remain, almost unknown outside of their immediate vicinity, and such experience as they have acquired in the transaction of their works, and which might be of material aid and of guidance to others that might be formed, or for improvement in those already existing, is lost. To the end that this condition may be changed, I would suggest a sort of exchange medium that would put each association of such nature in touch with others of a similar line of work, so that all might profit by any experience of the other if so desired. To practically exemplify the value of this proposition, I will ask the secretaries of all such organizations or associations of this kind to send me their name, address and copies of their constitution and by-laws, also of their last annual report (if they issue such in printed form), and I will have printed at my own expense a list of all such and send each a copy of the same so that they may have the same opportunity for exchange, if they so desire, that I will have. If this plan then seems good, we can mutually agree thereafter, when issuing reports, or other matter that might be of general interest, to mail a copy to each member in the exchange. I am the secretary-treasurer of the Albany Printers' Benefit Association, which is now entering upon its eleventh year of existence. It has paid more than $3,000 in weekly sick benefits and over $300 in death benefits in that time. It was first organized as a chapel affair, and so existed for the first six years, but in the fall of 1905 was opened up to the general membership of No. 4, and now numbers over 200 members. We pay sick benefits of $8 per week for seven weeks in any one year, and a burial benefit of $35. Our dues are 10 cents per week, and it costs to join $1. Our annual reports give important data relative to the line of work for which it is organized, and can but be of value to any others who might seek to start something similar, or to those who are already engaged in this work. Let us have some form of exchange. If this strikes you favorably, brother secretary of any and all such institutions of union printers, please comply with the above request at your earliest convenience. CHARLES H. WHITTEMORE. 209 Jay street, Albany, N. Y. SHOW 'EM AND PROVE IT. The November JOURNAL states that: Organized labor contributed its share to the suc cess of founders' week in Philadelphia. On the night of October 7, an elaborate pageant was arranged, in which appeared numerous floats. That of Typographical Union No. 2 received much applause from the onlookers, being a stereopticon float, flashing pictures dealing with the history of the printing art from the time of Gutenberg until the present day, and also showing views of the Union Printers Home. The following also appeared in the January issue of THE JOURNAL: The Los Angeles branch of the Society for the Prevention and Cure of Tuberculosis held a mass meeting on the evening of December 4, and a large audience, composed mainly of business and professional men, was in attendance. Organizer McLernon writes: "I obtained permission of the society to exhibit views of the Union Printers Home, its grounds, tent colony, dairy herd, and the model tent recently on exhibition at Washington. Exclamations of admiration for our views from the audience were enough to warm the heart of any union printer and cause him to swell up with just pride." That the printers' union is among the first to adopt pictures as a means of forwarding its work is still a second cause to "swell up with just pride." In both of the foregoing instances the value of pictures has been proved. What possible idea to advertise the benefits of organized labor would be better than a free picture show? An organizer could be sent about his district giving exhibitions. Arrangements could be made with locals to secure halls and work up the advance advertising. Has it occurred to the membership that an effective story of organized labor can be put on films showing the pictures of comfort attendant on old age in organized printers' ranks versus the non-unionist in his declining years appealing for charity at a wayfarers' lodge in "the bleak December"? The picture story of organized labor can be entertainingly shown on the screen-its humor, pathos, grandeur, sacrifice, all making a story that, intelligently directed, can be made a most powerful reason for its existence. Why not feature the Union Printers Home in pictures until it becomes as fainiliar as that of the capitol at Washington? We have ourselves to congratulate that we have such an asset as that Home. Possibly if it had been better known when the "late unpleasantness" occurred, we would not have been mistaken for "pirates" instead of printers. The wonderful strides made in the past two years in motion pictures presages that considerable of our reading in the future may be done more agreeably by its use. Pictures probably had a mathematical beginning. Long, profound calculations are dry, even to other mathematicians. The chief thing in a calculation is the result. To date there has been nothing so quickly grasped by both unlettered and learned as pictures distinctly shown. The yellow press, with its "dotted line shows route taken by escaping murderer," "arrow shows where Johnson soaked Burns," "cross shows where man was standing when struck by auto," all use it as the most clear and concise paragraphing given to a public. To apply pictures to the education of the indif ferent reader is a marked advance. From the very fact that the word "free" would form part of the inducement, the lecture, music and pictures would be gladly availed of. Suppose, as some may say, the audience would be composed of children; it would still be helpful, as the future grownups are made from such audiences. Let each picture an swer the great question: "Why should I be interested in organizer labor?" Money spent in such reckoned as wasted. Such a galaxy of pictures as can be gathered relating to the printers' trade! Surely time given to such a proposition is not lost. a presentation can not be Hammer the argument into the heads of each in the audience; give them a close range view of what we call the "label;" let them know it means sanitary conditions; prove it. Show them it certifies a recognized schedule of wages; prove it. Picture a better American manhood, womanhood and home, with red-checked children growing into full-bodied men and women, and, by the gods, show 'em that! and prove it! C. J. ZENTMEYER. Philadelphia, Pa. RELIGION AND UNIONISM. Religion is a topic that is hard to discuss, yet those of us who are members of organized labor are almost forced to do so, owing to the treatment accorded our membership in its struggle for the eight-hour day. Practically all literature from the presses of religious institutions contain some reference to the "uplift of man," "relieving the burdens of mankind," and "for the glory of God and the salvation of man," etc., etc. Experience has taught us that the words quoted are used nowadays more for decorative purposes, or fillers, than to be taken seriously by those who read them, except those |