SCRANTON, PA.

Notwithstanding the fact that the friendliness of the International Correspondence Schools, of Scranton, Pa., has long been established, I wish to submit the following letter, issued by President Foster, of the above institution:

PATRONIZE UNION PRINTING OFFICES.

Circular Letter Regarding the Printing of All Matter in "Union Offices" and the Use of the Typographical Union Label.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

No. 2427.

All printed matter that superintendents are authorized to have done from time to time and all printed matter that they have done for themselves bearing the name of the International Correspondence Schools, or International Textbook Company, must be printed in "union offices" and must bear the typographical union label where possible.

This rule is imperative and no exception will be made from it. T. J. FOSTER, President. Scranton, Pa., December 31, 1904.

A few days ago I chanced to pick up a copy of the Criterion, a paper formerly published in the interests of the photo-engravers, until that organi zation severed all official connection therewith, but now espousing the cause of the stereotypers and electrotypers. The first paragraph to meet my view was in the letter from the official correspondent from Los Angeles. It reads thusly: "Our contemporary, the Los Angeles Times, still has a nonunion force, but all the men employed there are a nice lot of fellows and are on the best terms with the members of our local." I presume that "the members of our local" are union men. So the article, while not of much importance, proves the difference between rat and rodent.

The eight-hour day went into effect here on the first of the month. If we can base an opinion upon the expression on the faces of the men at the opening and close of the day, and their disposition during the working period, the new movement fills a long-felt want. The men are few, indeed, who will not perform the same amount of labor in the shorter workday that they did under the old regime of nine hours. There are those who hold that the eight-hour day is a step in modern progression and industrial development. If tradition informs us correctly, this is not the case. Are we not told that the ancient builders of a magnificent sanctuary deemed eight hours of the twenty-four sufficient for labor? Therefore, we are after all only reclaiming our own-inheriting a right that was lost to our ancient fathers in that age when the poverty of men was their chains. The advantages of the eight-hour day scarcely need the voice of a champion to enumerate its benefits to the intelligent man. The honest workman will be able to come to his task fresher in mind and body, and better able to withstand the strain of putting forth his best efforts. The more time he has from drudgery the more he can equip himself to be of genuine benefit to his employer. The employer reaps the benefit of the most frivolous amusement enjoyed by his employe. Of course, the dissipated will continue to dissipate, regardless of the length of the workday, but this condition would not be bettered by any extension of the hours of labor.

The opposition to the shorter workday arises chiefly from that set of narrow-minded employers who can not rationally approach any topic that assumes the complexion of a surrender by them of any of the absolute prerogatives of despotism. The sooner these employers learn that men who are well treated work better and faster than those who are not, the better it will be for all-the employer not the least of these. The opposition to this movement is as ill-advised and as futile as the efforts of the fabled old woman with her traditional broom against the incoming tide.

Tobasco sauce is no longer served at the House of Padden. "Jim" says the music rendered by the printers' orchestra is hot enough for anybody. Speaking of orchestras, I want to say that the above mentioned aggregation of artists will make Padden's one of the "points of interest" when the convention is held here. This unparalleled organization is under the able leadership of "Tony" Mahan, who is using a frankfurter as a baton until such time as one of the drumsticks is broken. The leader assumes that role by virtue of his position as private secretary and confidential (?) clerk of the proprietor of the house.

The Sunday Record has suspended publication. At our last meeting the union decided to take no action in the controversy between No. 2 and the executive council.

I wish to cast my vote in favor of the suggestion of Marie Corelli, i. e., to put a copy of the history of the Homestead strike in every Carnegie library. If not for what that gentleman did do, let's put it there for what he did not do. Either way.

Some one has said: "It is a wise guy that don't monkey with his own destiny." Now that Governor Adams, of Colorado, has decided to have no military display at his inauguration, let some one else say that "he knows a thing or two who knows when he has had enough of anything."

Brother Kreiter's confidence in Scranton's ability to capture a convention is certainly inspiring. JOHN M. COLLINS.

BUTTE, MONT.

An epidemic of swearofftsky was prevalent among Butte printers with the incoming of 1905; but by the next issue of THE JOURNAL all the patients will doubtless be at least convalescent.

The proofreader's chair at the Inter Mountain, made vacant by the death of "Colonel" Harrison, is at present ably filled by J. J. Monahan.

Dan Cupid (guess his name's Dan) has broken his bow. He sent an arrow through the stony heart of W. N. Striplin, formerly of Kansas, but later of any old place, and united it with that of the lovable Miss Ida M. Boisvert, of Pembroke, Ont., Rev. Father Callahan, of Sacred Heart church, performing the marriage ceremony on the evening of December 27. S. W. Teagarden, an oldtime printer, but now a life insurance agent, and his family were the only guests. "Strip" did service for Uncle Sam in the Philippines.

The death of Samuel S. Harrison, which occurred at the Home on December 24, caused genuine sorrow in Butte, not only among his co-work

ers, but among those of all classes with whom he came in contact. "Colonel" Harrison was born in Kentucky, and learned his trade in Louisville, where he worked his way up with Henry Watterson, with whom he maintained correspondence up to the time of his death. In the late seventies the "Colonel" occupied the chief chair on the proof desk of the Cincinnati Enquirer, later reading proof on the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and Kansas City Star. He came to Montana several years ago, reading proof first on the Miner and later on the Inter Mountain. The latter, commenting editori ally upon the death of its valued employe, says: "He had, while his health held, no superiors and few equals. With an education above the average, largely self taught, he kept well up in current events, and taking a lively interest not only in routine newspaper reports but in the arts, the stage and kindred topics, he might be said to have been a veritable walking book of reference."

A KANSAS POTPOURRI.

HATH.

Our friend and coagitator, Will H. Clark, was to have written an article for this number of THE JOURNAL, but what time he has not been engaged, with the balance of us, in catering to the idiosyncrasies of the proofreader he has spent in completing his new book, entitled, "How Kansas Grasshoppers Immie-ate, Segregate, Cogitate, Devastate, and Emigrate A Parody on Good Luck." Brother Clark's articles are always good reading matter, and it is hoped he will "take his pen in hand to let us know" next month.

T. B. Brown, of the Cummings memorial library committee, seems to be well pleased with the outlook in his district, and has no doubt that every union will respond to the call.

Murphy and Pinkerton, our label committee, are hustlers, and are pushing the label right to the front. Their latest move is a handsome blotter, on which is printed a list of all the union offices in the city, a calendar for the current month, and the label. To conspicuously display the label is certainly the best way to advertise it. Then why not photograph it upon the moon by means of the heliograph, so that the man in the moon can point the finger of scorn at his luny brethren down here who ignore so valuable an auxiliary to trade relations between buyer and seller. We know that the man in the moon is a union man, for the Lord is on our side, and he is one of the Lord's high functionaries.

A new year has dawned, and as we have inventoried our high resolves and good intentions of a year ago, it is safe to say that a chaotic, fragmentary clutter of good, bad and indifferent thoughts, words and deeds have been found justly credited to each one of us. Now,

I am perfectly willing to acknowledge the corn,
That I've done many things the good should scorn;
But I'll never let up, as sure as you are born,
Till the pessimistic cloak is tattered and torn,
And falls from shoulders where worn so long
As a mantle to hide grave deeds of wrong.

The doubtful men; the fellows who "would like to see you win, but don't think you can do it;"

who think "this is the wrong time to inaugurate such a movement;" who think "it is asking too much at one time," are a very small portion of our membership; but still there are a few, and it is that few whose attention I wish to claim for the nonce. My dear brothers, don't you know if every man Jack of us will say within himself, "We are going to have an eight-hour day," that on the first day of next January, "When twilight spreads her sable mantle and pins it with a star," the eighthour day will be an accomplished fact, with no friction, or loss of time by either printer or publisher? Of course we all know that the rough places of this bold old planet have been worn away by erosion, but you certainly would not ask us to wait a like or indefinite period to accomplish that which may be done within one short year by the joint action of willing hearts and willing hands. Don't you know that while preaching your pessimistic creed you expose yourselves to such an extent that, to tell you the naked truth, you remind one most forcibly of a sentence in an old copy of Morse's geography, which says: "The town of Albany has 400 dwelling houses and 1,400 inhabitants all standing with their gable-ends to the street."

Now, my dear brothers, we all love you, and Kansas printers are the most generous people on earth; so, if the environment of your present habitat is not congenial, come to sunny, prohibition Kansas and engage in the retail drug business, in which, it is said, the net profits exceed the gross receipts; and we are even now seriously considering the feasibility of crossing the Kansas hog with the centipede, so that each hog will have a thousand hams. We will not "welcome you with bloody hands to hospitable graves," a la Corwin, but will contribute liberally to swell your "net profits" that you may enjoy a surfeit of improved Kansas hams. Come to Kansas, brothers, and you will soon realize the truthfulness of that homely old saying, "There is nothing in the world like folks." RALPH W. LOWE.

Topeka, Kan.

ERIE, PA.

"Uno," of No. 233, at Niagara Falls, asks where Erie, Pa., is. Well, brother, we are still up in the same little neck of the old Keystone State, on Lake Erie, and Erie is just the same thriving manufacturing center. Old No. 77 is progressing finely, and though we have not been heard from since. our genial Brother Gould went to Boston, many changes and improvements have taken place in the old town.

The Erie People, at one time the official organ of the Erie central labor union, but for some two or three years back controlled by the socialist faction, has suspended publication.

At the last meeting of No. 77 much discussion was had over the six-day law, some of the subs claiming that repeated violations have been made. There have been many subs in Erie all summer, and as work was very slack, the catches were few in some cases. As we have only two seven-day offices in town, there have not been many violations when it was possible to get a sub. Many of the

boys who are subbing desire to choose their own time, and would show up only just when they wanted to work, and then they did not catch they immediately had a kick coming.

The Central Labor Union Journal, an organ launched by the central labor union of Erie during October, is now on a paying basis. It has changed its form, being now a four-page, 9x12 sheet, and is brim full of labor news and has a fine line of ads. Charles J. P. Rea, of the board of managers, has assumed the business management and will print the paper in his job office. It is issued once a week and has a circulation of 4,000. Much good is being accomplished through the medium of this labor paper, as it is keeping the various crafts in closer touch with each other than ever before. As we have several members of D. M. Parry's army in Erie, we must all pull together, and pull hard. We started this week paying dues at the time and a half rate, and it will make a great difference in the receipts of the union. We have a membership of over seventy, and as we pay on the percentage plan it will enable No. 77 to have a very neat sum in readiness for January 1 next. Little trouble is expected in Erie, as we succeeded in raising our scale more than $2 last May, and at that time fair warning was given of contemplated action, which was met in a very friendly manner. We are very well organized here, having the label in every shop except two, and have all card inen in one of them.

The Erie Sunday Morning Post has changed management, the Erie Printing Company having acquired control of it from Nason & Hulbord, the former owners The new management expects to enlarge it, and in several ways improve the character of the paper. Nason & Hulbord have put a good clean Sunday paper on the streets, but lack of finances have been a serious drawback to their enterprise. Mr. Hulbord will continue to act as business manager. LARK.

SYRACUSE, N. Y.

No. 55, at a special meeting held January 8, voted, upon advice of counsel, to reinstate Charles Corregan pending the appeal of his case.

We now have $3,300 in our resistance fund. Fifteen per cent of our dues goes into this fund continually, and with the 1 per cent additional for the coming year will give us a very good amount to back our fight for the enforcement of the eighthour law on January 1, 1906, although we don't anticipate any trouble.

Thomas Gafney is preparing to issue a labor paper in this city, and has secured the endorsement of the central body.

Harvey Lyman, telegraph editor of the PostStandard, has passed to the Great Beyond.

Would it be profitable to establish a printing plant at headquarters? (Government ownership, if you please.) This is a question I have given no little thought, and have reached the conclusion that it would be a great success. During the past twelve months it has cost the International in the neighborhood of $32,000 for printing, etc., of which the Hollenbeck Press received $23,177 for

printing, binding and mailing THE JOURNAL, exclusive of postage. Take these figures for an average for three years and you have expended $96,000; figure 20 per cent (plenty low) profit on this amount, and you have over $19,000. Thus it will be seen the saving in profits on our printing, etc., in three years would equip an excellent plant of our own at headquarters. The subordinate unions no doubt would (or a law could be passed making it obligatory) have all printing done there, and a uniform style could be adopted for all unions, which in my opinion would be decidedly novel. This work could be done at a fair profit. Outside work could also be secured if necessary. These are the writer's individual ideas in the matter, and I would like to have it discussed through THE JOUR NAL by other members who have the welfare of the International Typographical Union at heart. THIN SPACE.

THE GREAT STRIKE OF '64.

In the winter of 1863-64 there occurred a printers' strike in Atlanta, Ga., which has no parallel in the history of such affairs. Besides the home papers, there were several others here which had "refugeed"-all together employing some sixty men. Confederate money had almost struck bottom, and printers could not much more than make board money at the scale in force. So they made a request for a raise. This, of course, was refused, and all hands struck. Johnston's army was then in winter quarters around Dalton; and the proprietors of the papers sent a couple of agents up there to see if they could not get a carload of strike breakers from among the soldiers. The agents interviewed General Johnston, to the effect that next day's general orders announced that any printers who wished to go to Atlanta to work would be given furloughs. The typos in the dif ferent commands got together in a chapel meeting, elected Colonel McJunkin (of a South Carolina regiment) chairman, and appointed a committee to consider the proposition of the newspaper men. The committee submitted a resolution to the effect that, being themselves just then engaged in a pretty big strike, the printer-soldiers of Johnston's army didn't care to lay down the musket to take up the stick to interfere in such a small affair as the Atlanta trouble. The resolution passed unanimously, and the chapel adjourned. Although rather set back by this rebuff, the paper men thought to work differently to accomplish their end. So they went about interviewing the soldiers individually, and at the end of a hard day's work had succeeded in securing six men, who agreed to go with them. These they carried to Atlanta, only to find that they had on their hands one tinner, two carpenters, a bricklayer, a blacksmith and a stonemason-not one of whom knew the difference between a hair space and a doublet, but who had not scrupled to do a little lying for the sake of a furlough. That fat in the fire, the proprietors next had recourse to a step that had almost been their own undoing. Under the conscription laws of the Confederate states, all persons engaged in the production of newspapers were exempted from military service. The bosses went to the enroll

ing officer and stated that the printers, having quit work and refusing to return, were no longer exempt. The official took the same view, and or dered a corralling of the recalcitrants. Some escaped, but a number were run in and were in a fair way to be sent to the front, when it occurred to one of them to inquire of the enrolling officer why he did not apply the same rule to the proprietors; they were not producing any papers, and consequently were in the same boat as the printers, so far as exemption was concerned. The officer lent a willing ear to this "Daniel," and was preparing to gather in the bosses, editors, reporters, etc., when the "I Ams," getting wind of what was afoot, scurried around in hot haste to secure the release of the strikers, whose every demand was agreed to, and the publication of the papers resumed. And so ended the great '64 strike.

There are several men here now who were in the striking contingent, and several others who attended the chapel meeting which refused to "lay down the musket to take up the stick." One of the latter furnished me with the foregoing facts. I think George W. Martin, at present an inmate of the Home, is the man who put the conscript officers onto the proprietors, and so forced an "amicable" settlement. E. G. Atlanta, Ga.

TACOMA, WASH.

Some disputes have arisen here over the operation of presses in one-man shops, and printers have felt that the rules of the allied printing trades council, which deny a proprietor a label who employs no help but a boy feeder, are harsh; but proprietors who do all their own work have the label, also those all parts of whose shops are unionized, and in this the rules of the council are in accordance with International laws and agreements. The best way to understand such questions is to read up, but many of us do not read up enough-and therein lies most of our troubles.

Everybody knows how it rains in Tacoma in the winter months, and every one supposed we kept a good roof over our heads, but first thing after 1905 arrived a deluge poured down into the secretary's office from the floor above. Inquiry developed that a photographer overhead, in washing his "forms," let a sink overflow, and when the union quilldriver roared at the flood, the picture fiend yawped back: "Shut up, you clam digger! That's only an Oregon mist. Wait till it rains before you kick!"

The Washington State Federation of Labor is in session at Everett. Tacoma No. 170 is represented by Eugene Goodrich, who writes that it is hard to keep the socialist delegates from getting away from the question. Most other union men do not discuss economic questions enough.

One of the offices, which pays off its help on Monday, was asked by the chapel to pay off on Saturday before Christmas, so they could buy Christmas presents. The business manager refused unless all regulars would promise to work both Friday and Saturday, two heavy days. This the regulars, knowing the law, declined to do, and the payroll was held up until its regular day, Monday. But a couple of the regulars managed to get their

money or a part of it-on Saturday, and one of them put on a sub Saturday. This made somebody hot. So a notice was posted in the composing room by the foreman that hereafter all communication with "the front" by the employes is barred -and the gang wonder if they might make so bold as to insert a want ad in the paper in the usual way without danger of discharge; also how far the foreman's authority extends outside the office and outside of working hours. The "communications with the front" that are aimed at ought to be stopped-and probably will be.

It is regrettable that the members of the womIan's auxiliary in Tacoma have not received that aid and co-operation from the printers sufficient to keep their organization growing. The union paid the auxiliary's hall rent, but more than this was needed. Members of No. 170, except a paltry half dozen, would not attend the socials arranged by the auxiliary, and without a crowd there could be no enthusiasm or success. Personally, I did all I could until I was obliged, by poor health, and for other good reasons, to desist; but I have learned what a wiser head might have known before. The earnest workers of the auxiliary did all in their power to build up a good organization here, but too many husbands oppose their wives' joining, and too many others-husbands and wives both-are afraid it might cost a little, or that they might have to always patronize union stores and pay higher prices for everything bought. This was a bugaboo, of course. Perhaps the time will come when Tacoma printers will enthusiastically favor an auxiliary, but the past year has proven that they are very lukewarm about it now. I'm sorryso are others. SECRETARY.

KNOXVILLE, TENN.

It came as a sort of Christmas gift.

On November 10, 1904, No. 111 presented a new scale to the employing printers of Knoxville. This new scale called for a 10 per cent increase over the old scale. After two or three very pleasant conferences with the book and job people, an agreement was reached and the scale duly signed. But the newspapers were not so easy. The Journal and Tribune has an arbitration contract with us, and the manager of the paper appeared very anxious to "see how it worked." He saw. After several conferences with him, we agreed to let the matter go to arbitration. D. L. Million was selected by No. III as its arbitrator, A. F. Sanford acted for the Journal and Tribune, and these two agreed upon Rev. W. T. Rodgers as the third member and chairman of the arbitration board. The board was in session several days, during which the newspaper offices were visited and conditions looked into generally. Much evidence was taken and a comparison was made with other towns, all of which finally resulted in a decision favorable to the union. In commenting upon the settlement one of the newspapers said: "It was a closing incident in a series which have consumed over a month, and during which arbitration, conciliation and mutual regard have bravely triumphed over the ugly differences which sometimes place employers and employed at dagger's points. The happy

settlement of this matter, it is believed, will do much to check a growing prejudice against labor unions on the part of employers in this vicinity." In his decision the chairman held that the new scale was effective from November 10, and consequently the boys got quite a "pick-up" in back pay just at Christmas. This was in addition to the large number of turkeys and cigars the Journal and Tribune and the Sentinel people showered upon their employes as a token of the good feeling which prevails.

The death of J. C. Heabler, which occurred on December 27, cast a gloom over the entire membership of No. 111. But among the members of the Journal and Tribune chapel, where Mr. Heabler had for seven years held the foremanship, and where he was best known and understood, was his death most deeply felt. W. W. Smith succeeded Mr. Heabler as foreman of the Journal and Trib

une.

The dull season following the holidays is here, and it is quite a relief from the rush and hustle of the past several weeks without any subs. Nevertheless, everybody is putting in regular time, with none looking for work.

One correspondent says: "We are thankful for THE JOURNAL." Well, we've got the habit, too. THE JOURNAL 2nd the "ghost" are two things we've just got to see.

Seems to me I heard some one say "Eight hours." Keep it up, boys. All we've got to do is to go after it.

The man behind the hammer gets himself talked about in these columns too often. Just let the knocker alone, and it's only a matter of time until he knocks himself out. Glad to say we have none in our bailiwick.

NEW CASTLE, PA.

JUHE.

Eight hours! This is an eight-hour town-job and newspaper-and procured without a struggle. There is talk of revising our local constitution and by-laws and there is no doubt that they need it.

Some dire things are predicted for the International Typographical Union at the beginning of another year.

The Herald is to have a new building, and with it a new perfecting press. The building is to be located on Sycamore street.

Announcements for delegate are in order. Inasmuch as the honor has gone to the three newspaper offices in successive years, the compliment is undoubtedly due to one of the job offices.

During business sessions all remarks should be addressed through the chair. This is a fault in many of the smaller unions.

John Leathers now occupies the old home of the Tribune, recently defunct, with his job office.

At a recent meeting Secretary-Treasurer McCluskey entertained the members with a thorough and elaborate voluntary report of statistics during his continuous terms of office, April 30, 1901, to October 31, 1904. The report shows that during that period the receipts were $869.24; expenditures, $868.22. Of this amount $332.90 per capita tax

was paid, and for funeral benefits, $130. Fiftyeight traveling cards were deposited and sixty-four issued.

It is within the memory of most of us when we worked ten wearisome hours each day (and there are not a few country offices where such hours are in vogue to this day). One of the pleas in gaining the present nine-hour day in union jurisdictions was that as much could be accomplished in nine hours as in ten-and it was, or is. Can the same argument be brought to bear in the coming struggle (for a struggle is looked forward to by the members generally)? Doubtful, especially under the present unsystematic, inconvenient and slovenly condition of possibly a majority of the printshops of the country today. It behooves every foreman in particular, and journeyman as well, to reorganize his office conditions and clean up and rearrange his equipments, to accomplish the best results in a shorter workday. Don't jeopardize your own pay envelope, and perchance your own job, by antagonizing the office's best interest and accomplishment -and incidentally your own. Most of our employ. ers have sharp competition to meet with. Let every worker put his shoulder to the wheel in the inter est of the present movement, and at the same time help make the office in which you are employed self-supporting and your job more secure, not nec. essarily for the production of wealth for your employer, but that they may be able to meet their pay days without embarrassment or curtailment of em ployment. MILLS.

PIERRE, S. D.

The capital of South Dakota has entered upon another legislative session, and the quietness of the printshops is again turned into activity. We have at present fourteen members in good stand. ing, and at our regular meeting on January 4 the applications of four more were read. While we have but two union offices in this place, the others are not antagonistic to us and are paying the scale to what union help they employ. We are glad to report that all the capable printers in the city are either card men or have made application to join us. A few more will likely be needed before the session is over, and we hope good union men will be the ones to secure the work. One great drawback to our advancement has been the fact that a majority of the members do not seem to appreciate the benefit that keeping the organization together might be to us in the future, even though we are unable to get all the offices to sign our scale.

Most of the state reports have been printed by outside offices, so there has not been much of a demand for printers here this fall.

Our first death occurred on December 3 last, and although he was a stranger to most of us, nearly every member of No. 562 attended his funeral and contributed toward placing a wreath of flowers on his casket. They also faced a Dakota breeze to lay him to rest in a state where he has spent a good many years wandering. A very touching letter was received by the secretary-treasurer from an only brother in Maine, thanking this union for its kindness to the deceased in his hour of trouble. X. X. X.