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instrumental selections, etc., which went to make up the levee scene, had been performed, and Bill Bailey had been found, the whole wound up with a good old darky breakdown, by the company, and the curtain fell on the best show the Union Printers' Home ever had.

The monthly entertainments at the Home this winter have demonstrated several things, not the least important of which has been the results of the hospital treatment and experience on many of those who have taken an active part. Several of the performers, who came to the Home a few months since with very doubtful futures from the standpoint of health, have so far recovered their strength as to be able to take a reasonably active part without endangering their chances of a return, with partially, if not fully, restored health, to the strenuous and altruistic sphere of (what was once) "the leaden messengers of thought." The entertainments have also proved the willingness of these convalescents to add in every way possible to the pleasure of their less fortunate brethren, and likewise the thorough appreciation of their efforts by the latter.

A Home audience is always an appreciative one. Made up as it is of some from whose eyes the light of heaven has long since faded; of others, to whose ears even the tenderest strains of music will never again appeal; of many whose forms are racked with pain, palsied and bent with toil and years-it never fails to give the fullest play to its impressions by the most liberal applause.

The monotony of life at the Home during a long Colorado winter is materially broken by these monthly entertainments, and Superintendent and Matron Deacon's efforts to provide them have been much appreciated by the residents.

Members of No. 82 and their wives are always to be found among the Home audiences. Trustee McCaffery never misses. Several Colorado Springs residents, who look upon the Home as an ideal institution, often attend, and by so doing demonstrate their interest in whatever makes for the Home's success or prestige. Colorado Springs, Colo.

VANCOUVER, B. C.

MEMBER.

Just at present matters printorial are in very good shape here. The shop in which I procure the wherewithal to purchase cake, etc., has double the usual staff, and we are jumping. The other offices in town (job, I mean) are also slinging considerable lead. The newspapers are not by any means slack. Take it altogether, things are all right, and we hope for a prosperous winter in our line. However, there are lots of printers in town to take care of the work.

The objection advanced against THE JOURNAL by the one or two who do object to it here-that they don't want to know how so-and-so is getting on or where such-and-such is now, etc.-is one of my greatest delights. I consider THE JOURNAL the best "letter from home" that I receive. When I pick it up and see the names of men I have worked with, and find that they have gone to this

place and that place, and read how they are getting on, it brings back old times to me and I like to think of some of the old times. I am over thirteen years of age now, and am getting into the sere and yellow, and the ancient days can only come back by the aid of memory. I like to read all the correspondence, the stories are good, and I usually start at the front cover and wind up at the other outside, taking particular care to see who are the secretaries of the different sister unions, and very often striking the name of an old friend.

Vancouver is experiencing more of a building boom this year even than last-eastern capital, money from Australia, England, and the United States being put into the purchase of lots, some of the latter being turned over at a 100 per cent profit in two or three weeks. This does not look like bad times for the printers or anybody else for a while.

In the last issue, "A Scoop on Skates" took me back to my school days in Ontario. I have many a time held my overcoat open and had the wind blow me for miles on Kempenfeldt Bay; at such a rate, too, that I would feel as if I were flying.

Go ahead with your JOURNAL (I beg your pardon-our JOURNAL, my JOURNAL); it is the best H. W. KING.

ever.

PROVIDENCE, R. I.

Providence Typographical Union achieved undesirable notoriety by leading the list of delinquent unions in the February TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL. For the present it has been decided not to give out the facts relating to the incident, but it can safely be said that whoever is responsible will regret it.

At the January meeting of No. 33 the committee on book and job scale reported. Negotiations with the typothetæ had been carried to the point where it was necessary for the union to act. The committee was authorized to conclude the negotiations and sign the scale reported. It is but slightly different from the one in force in 1904. The typoth etæ wanted an agreement for three years, but that was out of the question unless an eight-hour day was included. The scale committee now has the of fices outside of the typothetæ to deal with.

The gavel presented to George B. Sullivan, retiring president of the central trades and labor union, is a very neat one. The inscription is on a silver plate. The velvet trimmings, however, are green and orange, suggestive of the Clan-na-Gael.

George H. Huston was elected chairman of the Journal chapel at the last meeting of that body. He succeeds William J. Meegan, who retires after serving since the office became union. The same day Mr. Huston was elected first vice-president of the East Providence Business Men's Association. H. was not so lucky when selecting a date for his nual fishing trip to Worden's pond in the South ounty, picking out January 25, when the worst blizzard of the winter visited this section.

John F. Lonsdale, employed at the American Press Association, New York city, and No. 640 in "Big Six," writes that he is alive, and was working in the office of the Providence Evening Press at the time of the fire, December 31, 1868. He

says: "Thirty of us were penned up, with 150 tons of baled hay on fire immediately beneath us. The chain on which we escaped was half-way to the ground. Old man Foster (William, jr.) was afraid he could not hold on until he reached the ground, SO we started him first and lowered the chain. When he was about half-way down Joseph Farnham was started and went down with a rush, climbing over Foster and reaching the ground first. I was the last person to come down, and the chain fell in less than three minutes after."

A People's Forum has been established in the labor temple in this city for the discussion of public questions. The meetings are held Sundays at 4:30 P. M. William Palmer, ex-president of No. 33, is presiding officer. W. C.

UNION LABEL TEXT BOOKS.

As the label on text books committee has said before in THE JOURNAL, much of our work now being done is preliminary, such as gathering data, etc. Also, many of the contracts for school books are given out for a number of years-five generally-and others are given out during the summer months. For these reasons results do not show as quickly as they otherwise would. But in spite of this the work of placing the label on the text books of the country is progressing all the time. I am in receipt of letters from nearly 100 cities, telling of the appointment of label committees, many saying that the prospects are more than good for placing label text books in their schools. We fully expect that the coming year will see many changes in the school books of the country, many of those now in use being supplanted by those bearing the label.

I have been surprised at many of the answers I have received saying that the members of the school boards in many cities believe that the books they are now using and which are published by some of the large non-union houses are printed in strictly union houses, but do not bear the label because there never has been a demand for it. Many members of our own union believe this, also. It is very evident that the book publishers give out that their books are published in union offices by union men, when, in fact, such is not the case.

I know of several cases in the past where, to get contracts, agents of school book publishers have stated that their books were published by union men, and have requested the school board to verify this by telegraphing to this or that secretary or president of the local union of one of the allied crafts. The answer has often been, "Strictly union." This was so as far as their department was concerned, but as for our end of the business the composition was done in a non-union office in all that term implies. In this manner many contracts have been given out which otherwise would not have gone where they did. So the impression got out that the large book concerns had their printing done in union houses, but did not use the label because there was no demand for it. Don't let us deceive ourselves; the book publishers do not want to use the label, nor will they till they see it is for their advantage, and that is

just what we are going to demonstrate to them. It is true that the pressrooms and binderies of most of the large houses are "strictly union," but it is also a fact that most of their composition is done in open or non-union offices. Therefore it is doubly to our interest to interest ourselves in this work.

It must be evident to every one who has given thought to the great question now confronting us (and what printer has not)—namely, the eighthour day-that the placing of the label on text books will help this movement greatly. With the placing of the label on text books it will mean that the composition, which is now in many cases done in open offices, will have to be done in strictly union offices, and these offices, in order to retain the label, will have to grant to their employes the eight-hour day, which they otherwise would not do. This is simply one of the many benefits we would enjoy were the label in universal use on text books.

That we can do much to accomplish our object the coming year there is no doubt, if all will help, with the interest manifested by the committees we have already heard from. This summer many new contracts will be given out. Shall these contracts be given to houses which do not employ members of our union, many discriminating against them, or shall they go to houses employing union men and women under fair conditions? The answer rests with us to a large degree. Work on the part of the membership will answer it correctly. Indifference, and we lose, as of old.

In the meantime a word as to book agents and their "strictly union" printing offices: Investigate yourselves, and don't take any one else's word for it. And if you have not already appointed a committee, do so at once, especially if the time for giving out contracts is near at hand or your hands are not tied by any five-year conN. E. MCPHAIL, Chairman.

tracts.

Boston, Mass.

JERSEY CITY, N. J.

Fred N. Cornell has been elected chairman of the Jersey City Printing Company chapel, William Cox having resigned from the office to accept a position in the local postoffice.

Lincoln's birthday was observed by quite a num ber of the members of No. 94, several of the offices suspending business in honor of the martyred pres ident.

Michael Culloo, of the Printing Company chapel, is a candidate for delegate to the New Jersey State Federation of Labor.

At the last regular meeting of No. 94 the job scale was raised from $18 to $21, and the newspaper scale from $21 to $24 per week, to go into ef fect March 1. The outcome looks very bright at this time of writing, and by the time we receive our March JOURNAL we trust the increase will be in vogue. Of course there is some kicking, but not enough to do any serious harm.

No. 94 made a mistake at its last meeting. Why didn't we do like our Toronto brothers?-stick to the executive council? JERSEYITE.

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Seated in my home, the fire in a large baseburner radiating its comforting heat from a redcoaled heap within; a cigar tightly held between my teeth; my eyes closed, and my mind running rampant. Reflective is my mood and I recall the good old days. Then, by the aid of that wonderful keeper of past events-the mind-I follow each trend of thought until I dwell in the present. In my mental flight I have come in contact with those things which at one time or another made history-each backcapping session, chapel meeting and strike is again recounted. I recall those blissful days when situations generally were landed by chance or merit, and when the cardman, as a rule, was susceptible to fellowship. Then was it that friendships existed in our trade; then was it that the rebellious but independent spirit of the tourist enforced laws that the "homer" was frequently fearful to speak about; and in those good old days there was no uncertainty as to where your fellow shopmate stood on important questions, the agita tion of which caused the foreman to frown and his throne to totter. All this, and more, is of the past. Now, what of the present and future. Do we, as unionists, grasp the opportunities afforded for the advancement of our social inclinations? I answer, "No." At times we could be accused of being deaf, dumb and blind, for all the recognition we show one another on the street, not to mention the frigid atmosphere one has to cut his way through in some composing rooms before he is bid the time of day. And such being the case, I sometimes wonder how we can claim fellowship as a quality of our tradesmen in this day, when almost every other fellow you meet is getting away on payday with the "goods" on his person to return no more until the call of "Time" on Monday. We see but a very small percentage linger at the "poor man's club" to exchange views on current topics. The fellowship of former days is passing, or has passed. Fellowship seems more than the giving up of a "bit" here and there; more than the wiping out of an obligation contracted when the other fellow had the "sit." We need most at present a fraternalism which will bring us together in such manner that each will have the opportunity of learning the other's need, and thus retard, at least, the insatiable individuality which is today so omnipresent. Let us have social sessions, banquets and club meetings more frequently; more of understanding and less of misunderstanding.

The allied printing trades council, after boosting the products of union labor through the medium of advertising without the expectant results, conceived the idea that the tradesmen affiliated with that body needed something stronger than "absent treatment," and decided to get them corralled where a laying-on-the-hands treatment could be passed out in doses sufficiently large to awaken the most indifferent of them from their comatose condition. In accordance with the above decision the committee on "ways and means" recommended that a system of entertainment, similar to that which is conducted by the allied crafts elsewhere with reported beneficial results, be enticed through

the smoky confines hereabouts. The recommenda tion was favorably acted upon, and as a result a series of smokers was instituted, the second of which was given on January 29. Under the direction of John B. Hogan, of No. 53 (more widely known as the "Mad Mullah"), that ever-ready entertainer with something of a "rep" as a director of theatricals, a program of vocal and instrumental music, with good speakers and recitations, was of fered. The smoker was a success in all respects, and has passed into history as another successful undertaking in the furtherance of unionism. May the energy which prompts such social entertainments be of long life. The results of such affairs can not be estimated with any degree of accuracy, but here's hoping that it will prove more fruitful than the most optimistic of us are prone to "bank on."

The Husted Company, after a quiet season of six weeks, is again running the greater part of its machines. When business is good this company employs thirty operators-ten machines, three shifts. Prospects are for a busy season this spring.

Sunny Jim O'Donnell, chairman of the sick committee, reports the condition of health of No. 53's membership as the best it has been for some time. On February 1 there were but five members drawing benefits on account of sickness.

A desire to get closer to nature has proven irresistible to Billy Cockett, and by this time he is comfortably housed on 165 acres just outside of Lapeer, Mich. It is his intention to apportion his time to the raising of horses, cattle and fowl, but more especially porkers.

We are reluctant to record the death of Major William Gleason, who died January 19, in his fifty-eighth year, of heart disease. Many of the old boys who visited this city during the seventies will recall Major Gleason, who at that time held cases on the Plain Dealer. He served this union in many ways, but more particularly in the capacity of recording and financial secretary. Along in the eighties he entered the insurance business and never returned to the case. As a Grand Army man he was prominent, besides having been conspicuously connected with many fraternal orders.

Jimmy James and Joe Weiner have taken up a side issue, and the fellow who isn't up on the different kinds of soap, with their respective merits and demerits, has very little chance of butting in on the talk about town. It has developed that while in St. Louis last summer, primarily as delegate and visitor, they launched a company for the manufacture of toilet soap. They brought home samples of the article, and those who have used it claim it has merit. They are always eager to discuss plans for the future, and claim the stock marketable.

With expectant pleasure we note the hospitality extended the membership at large by our fellow craftsmen of Detroit to visit them in their newly organized club's quarters. To those of us who have agitated a like movement here and watched the progress of our enterprising neighbors, it seems probable that the feeling of mutual associa tion of which their club is the upshot will in the

near future grant us an institution of the same kind. We wish the club and its members every success, and may it live as an incentive for the birth of a general movement along that line.

The Cleveland World, probably the best-known sheet in this city to the tourists of today, having passed through the various trying periods experienced by all newspapers of limited capitalization and uncertain circulation, has emerged from the struggle for existence with a plump "body" and smiling "countenance," and seems to have better than a fighting chance in the competitive field. The company now at the helm is capitalized at $300,000, has unlimited resources, and is making many improvements. On Monday, January 23, the foremanship passed into the hands of J. P. Ackerly, succeeding Frank Reed, who resigned the position. Ackerly deposited a Kalamazoo card.

We have it from an authoritative source that the Vail Linotype Company, which has its office in the Caxton building, will, on or about April 1, move its plant of six machines to Coshocton, a progressive Ohio city of about 12,000 population. The company expects to lose little or no time while the change of base is under way, and a new twostory building (41x100), which is now nearing completion, will be turned over to the company some time in March. The company is a stock one, and does but little local work, depending in a great measure on the publishers of statute work, encyclopedia and reference books of whatever nature for patronage. In connection with the composing room, it is understood that a stereotyping and electrotyping plant will be operated, and that in all departments the Cleveland scale, or better, will be held out as an inducement to attract the best of skilled union workmen. The change was prompted by a flattering bonus offered by Coshocton people in the way of purchasing stock. The Vail concern has the reputation of being likely people to work for, and it is the consensus of opinion of those who have worked for the company at one time or another that they would never fear venturing a trip to Coshocton on anything given out by the company relative to work. Best wishes of No. 53, of whose membership two of the stockholders, Messrs. Thompson and Vail, have been since coming to Cleveland.

Charles W. Fear, writing in the Kansas City Labor Herald, has this to say:

I notice a large number of printers "shoving" their cards during this week. It is cruel to say so, but it might be a good idea to start a few more linotype operator schools. Mr. Bramwood and the others who believe the schools are a good thing and refuse to condemn and fight them ought to be divorced from their salary a few months so that they could find out what is going on in the printing world.

The supposition seems to be that Charles has a great space between his eyes and a "tall" forehead, enabling him to give information far weightier than might be vouchsafed by Mr. Bramwood and others.

I also notice that Charles simply says "I notice a large number, etc.," failing to state what assistance he proffered the unfortunate "shover." Then he goes on to say in a serio-comic way, "but it

might be a good idea to start a few more linotype schools, etc.," intimating that there are too many schools of learning in the field already. Should Charles belong to the class which has not had the opportunity of learning the machine, he is a wonder; but on the contrary, should he prove to be an operator, as we are inclined to believe he is, he is only one of many who have been traveling in a rut so long that it has become so deep that it is nigh impossible for them to get out, and who are walled in by jealousy, prodded on by selfishness, and kept in darkness through wilfulness.

Let us have more schools, and if operating is easier on mankind, let us have more operatorsbut let us control the man as well as the machine. And when the time comes, if we will, we can make a five, or even four, day law, each getting a share of the work. No, Charles, it's not the schools that ought to be fought and condemned, but the fight and condemnation should be on those who are gaining the benefit of a labor-saving device and are willing to hog it. "BOBBY" McD.

NOTE. Mr. Fear is doubtless not aware, or has probably forgotten, that the Cincinnati convention of the International Typographical Union endorsed the Inland Printer School.-ED. JOURNAL.

Keep well supplied with eight-hour ammunition; do not run out of it.

Brother Coombes will not be able to escape me in Toronto, as I will have an extra box of those "dispeptic" tablets and several boxes of eight-hour pills-well, Kreiter's punch will make a good chaser all right.

Delegate James, of Toronto, with whom I visited, in company with Delegate Meeghan, of Providence, the week after the convention, knows that I had the best feeling of friendship for the Toronto delegation.

Louis Rasch, of the Plain Dealer, also wants to. The eight-hour day is coming. Will we get it? As far as Cleveland is concerned, I say yes. As far as the rest of the country is concerned, I say yes-that is, if they want it, and demand it, and go after it in a businesslike way. As I said before, which I will say now: "Perfect organization, a large treasury, and an untiring label boom." When we boost our label we strengthen our organization. A large membership does not signify a strong or ganization. A small organization with a large treasury, and good economic thinkers and label boosters, prompt at meetings and active in union affairs, is the one that will have no trouble in getting the eight-hour day next January. Though the large employer is always bringing up the fact that the one-man shop is his stumbling block, he also must not forget that he is the cause of this one-man shop, and to blame for the jobman wanting the eight-hour day. The owner of the oneman shop would not be such a factor if the eighthour day had been in force during his existence as an every-day print, and if he had received living wages and humane treatment. But the job and book men have found a "Moses" at last in the eight-hour workday. Strengthen and boom this "Moses," and you will spend your remaining days.

with only eight hours of daily toil. Mr. Jobman, this fight is your fight, and its success depends upon your active interest in the matter. You have two known weapons you can use without any expense-the union label and the booster of the label, the woman's auxiliary; your attendance at union meetings more than once in a year, and keeping your card paid up. JOSEPH WEINER.

DENVER, COLO.

Will Ashley, operator on the Times, well known as a former Sioux City boy and having toured the country quite extensively, met with a terrible bereavement last month. His sister, Louise Wianand, had separated from her husband owing to his mistreatment, and was staying at the home of Mr. Ashley. Her husband had made several attempts toward a reconciliation, coming from their former home at Sioux City for the purpose. One evening he went to Mr. Ashley's home, called his wife out, ostensibly to bid her farewell, his efforts previously in the day to get her to again live with him having failed. The family was at supper, and Mrs. Wianand got up from the table and took her little son to go outside and see the husband. Wianand began firing as she reached the sidewalk and mortally wounded her. Ashley rushed from the house at the first shot, but too late to save his sister. Mrs. Wianand lingered several days in great agony before she passed away. Mr. Ashley has the sympathy of his many friends in his hour of trouble.

Considerable activity was manifested lately among the printers regarding the election of delegates to the head camp of the Woodmen of the World, to be held in Los Angeles in April. A number of our members are after the honors, namely: P. J. McIntyre, ex-delegate to Chicago, now in business for himself, and ex-Delegate to Syracuse Dunn, foreman of the News and Times. The matter will be definitely settled by the various camps March 8, and it is said the chances of the two mentioned are excellent.

J. W. O'Brien, one of our members, is the chief proprietor of the Goldfield News, of Goldfield, Nev., the scene of the great gold excitement. From a glance at the looks of the ads in its columns, he don't need a gold mine, though it is understood he has several.

John Williamson, an oldtime member here and former Cheyenneite, is now engaging in miningpromotion business with a well-known firm, and bids fair to wax wealthy.

Eugene Lamont, well known to oldtimers here and throughout Texas and other places, is now superintendent of a big mining company in Pitkin county, at $2,500 per year.

No. 49 is busily engaged in adopting a new constitution, or, properly speaking, revising the old one. Quite a number of changes of more or less importance are being made, and it will be in strict accord with the International when completed.

The fight to see who will be governor of Colorado still goes on, and it is expected that the

matter will be settled by March 2. Governor Adams is in, and his side-the democrats-has succeeded in showing that the experts, upon whose testimony of many fraudulent ballots the supreme court threw out the Denver democratic legislative delegation, was about as correct as a blackface pica "W" in an agate lower case "i" channel. Thousands of legal voters, alleged fraudulent, have appeared before the legislative committee hearing the contest and identified their ballot, though the experts had declared that all were written by one or two persons. Outside counties have been examined by the committee, and gross frauds were proven on the part of republicans, to the satisfaction of all fair-minded people. Just what it all will amount to can only be told when the committee makes its report and the legislature acts thereon. That body, thanks to the sliding process, is now overwhelmingly republican, and so far the members have stayed faithfully by the desires of the corporations, which control the whole business and put them there. They want Peabody seated, and the question is whether they will fall down on this the only proposition left. The fight will be bitter, and may resolve itself down to one of the longest purse before it is finished. Meanwhile the dear people-that is, the people who do the voting-sit still and look wise. Legislation has been blocked and everything is up in the air. The eight-hour law will undoubtedly get it where it would wear a necktie if it had one. By the time THE JOURNAL comes out the matter will be settled one way or the other.

Owing to the turmoil, contest and the fact that a republican senate would not confirm an appointment if made, no successor to the present printing commissioner, whose term expired February 1, has yet been made. Consequently all the printer boys, from Denver and elsewhere, who are after the place are still eagerly looking toward the plum tree that Governor Adams will shake, if he has the chance.

H. E. Garman desires to return his thanks to those correspondents who expressed their sympa. thy at his falling outside the money at the recent election. He has the satisfaction of knowing that it took a higher power than the voters to put him out-namely, the supreme court-and the worst of it is, one of those putting in the gaff boasts of the fact that he was once a printer, and claims to be an honorary member of Colorado Springs Union. His name is John Campbell.

Some more talk is heard about candidates for the local offices. It is said John Keating, ex-Washington, thinks he will take a try at the presidency. As a sort of a preliminary canter he was chairman of the committee of the whole at the last meeting, and looked and acted as if the chair fitted him, and ruled with an even but strenuous hand. It is said that President Collett has had plenty, even though the office now pays a salary of $50 per year, and you get real money for it. Birdsall will do business at his old stand as secretary-treasurer, no one having the audacity to match up with him. It is also said that John Sterling has an idea that he would fill the chair

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