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hours each time, according to whether the work is there or not, and in this manner the day's work would vary from $1.20 to $3.20 a day. The ma chine composition is all piece work, 12 cents for 1,000 ems being paid on all sizes of type. Our scale calls for 14 cents for minion and all sizes larger, and this is where the favoritism came in, as some men would be constantly busy on agate and nonpareil, while others not SO fortunate would stand around or have to get their night's work on the larger sizes. This unjust discrimination was always a source of dissatisfaction in the office and was a prime factor in the call of the men from the Inquirer. Every peaceable means possible was used by the officers of the union in an effort to obtain a conference with Manager James Elverson, jr., but all to no avail. The officers of the state federation of labor and the central labor union were treated in a like manner, and eventually the union was forced to take the stand it did in order to preserve its integrity and its honor.

The aid given by the woman's auxiliary has been of such a character as to call forth unstinted praise from our membership. The circulars sent out to the wives of members of No. 2 were not signed in the numbers anticipated, but they carried on their crusade against Inquirer advertisers just the same, and the results obtained demonstrate the utility of the auxiliary to aid in obtaining better conditions for husbands, fathers, brothers and sisters.

The suggestion of James Monroe Kreiter "that, as it costs the International Union $51 per week for its representative in Philadelphia, it would be wise to save that amount in order to have that much more to pay the expenses of the contest against the Inquirer," was read with amazement and alarm by members of this union. This seems like the poorest kind of an apology for economy, to take out of command a general who had mapped out a campaign and laid his plans and was defeating the enemy at every turn. The results gained under the able direction of C. E. Hawkes brought out the fact that it would be the utmost folly to change leadership at this stage of the fight.

Philadelphia Typographical Union No. 2 extends to all sister unions under the jurisdiction of the International a Happy New Year.

After one of the dullest summer seasons known in the book and job business for years, work is now more plentiful, although, of course, this is to be expected at the holiday season. Our members have been able to fill all demands, and no doubt will continue to do so.

Thomas J. McCaffrey, an associate editor of the Trade Union News, has resumed his duties after an enforced absence of several weeks on account of illness.

A committee of the central labor union, appointed to raise a fund for the erection of a suitable memorial at the tomb of George Chance, expresident of No. 2, has sent out circulars to about 300 trade unions in this city and to 650 unions of the International Typographical Union. George Chance spent the best years of his life in behalf of trade unionists in general, and particularly the printers, who have reaped much benefit from

his years of untiring work in their cause, and they should respond bountifully to this appeal for a memorial to one who labored early and late to make the path of the workingman easier to tread.

Alfred D. Calvert, president of Typographical Union No. 2, has been selected as a member of the committee of seven appointed to endeavor to elect better councilmen to rule this municipality. He was recommended by John C. Winston, the chairman of the committee, who is the proprietor of a large printing establishment in this city, and who was desirous that organized labor should be represented on the committee. Mr. Calvert's selection speaks well for the esteem in which our union is held, and is also a just tribute to our president for his tireless efforts in behalf of organized labor in this city. Besides being business agent of No. 2, he is a vice-president of the state federation of labor.

Through the parsimony of the state federation of labor, Ernst Kreft, who was elected to represent that body at the San Francisco convention of the American Federation, was unable to attend. This fact is considered as a loss to the members of the state federation, as an able debater of his ability would redound to the welfare of trade unionists in this section.

Here is a chance to help your neighbor, economize on your dues and fill your cellar with coal:

Coal Wagon Drivers' Union No. 812 has started a novel organization campaign, in which not only other unions, but some employers as well, are cooperating. The union has succeeded in persuading several large coal yards to employ only union drivers, at the same time agreeing that the business value of employing union men should be put to a test. The organization now asks the members of all other unions to order their coal from the

yards employing union drivers. This, of course, might have been demanded as a privilege by the drivers who, in turn, are asked to patronize other union products, but the drivers offer special inducements. Every member of a union ordering a ton of coal from the union yards will receive a certificate worth 25 cents, which he can give to the secretary of his union in payment for his membership dues. The secretaries of all unions, and they only, can have the coal certificates cashed at the union yards. The benefit the coal drivers' union expects from the arrangement is, of course, a demand for union coal drivers, and through that the employment of union drivers in all yards. The benefit promised to other unions besides the 25 cents bonus is a better attendance at their meetings, inasmuch as the members must attend meetings to pay their dues with their certificates.

In speaking of the care of our old members it is only right and proper that local unions should do what they can to help their standard bearers of many years' service. It seems that the farthest the locals can go is to remit their dues and pay their International assessments for them, but there should be some plan devised whereby they would receive some monetary assistance. Take, for example, a charter member of a union who for fifty years or more has borne the burden of taxation and helped in every manner possible to uphold the principles of unionism, and then has to spend his declining years in a home for incurables. This is sad, indeed. Some would say: Why not go to the Union Printers' Home? This is not always practicable; and, besides, there may be a companion

from whom he would not wish to be separated. There should be something more tangible than remittance of dues. Pensions are paid by unions in other countries. JOHN MEADE.

CHICAGO, ILL.

We hear much of what might be accomplished if the labor vote could be corralled and plumped for some candidate in municipal, state or national elections. In some communities where labor is in preponderance success has been attained and the result heralded as an example of what labor could do if a unit and faithful to its candidates. But the managers of labor parties seem unable to coax the rank and file into line, and when the result is announced it is discovered that where there were thousands of labor votes-estimated-there appear to be only hundreds-counted. The socialistic vote in the last presidential election was a surprise to many; but it is not a reliable estimate of its strength, having been recruited from the malcontents of both parties, principally democratic. It is problematical whether the labor vote can ever be depended on as a unit. It is split up too much by factional quarrels. No leaders have yet appeared who are capable of commanding confidence-that abiding faith in the honesty of purpose, integrity and wholesomeness of character so necessary to secure a majority constituency. Another failing of the average political labor movement is the narrowness of its policy. Its platform invariably excludes everything that is not of labor. All other interests are decried, condemned and sentenced to be hanged. That policy antagonizes every one except the blind, unswerving labor enthusiast who sees no interest other than his own. It estranges the thoughtful worker, who by strict economy has secured a narrow strip of God's footstool he calls his home. Many talk socialism and labor government as they understand it, but hesitate to place their hard-earned savings under such control. That is a strong statement, but it is an uncontrovertible fact. I have asked a number of such if they would vote the socialistic labor ticket if they thought it would succeed, and in a majority of cases they answered "No." Asked why, and the answer almost invariably showed they lacked faith in the unselfish character of its leadership and the narrow scope of its policies. A political party to achieve success must have principles that will attract all elements. A labor party is handicapped as long as its platform offers relief only to the mechanic or laborer. As long as its policy is the avowed intention of tearing down the existing order of things, and substituting relief to only a specified portion of the body politic, it can never hope for support outside that interested portion. Without assuming a partisan standpoint by drawing invidious comparisons, one may take as an example the dominant party of the country. It gets close to all classes, all interests. On industrial questions it maintains that what benefits labor also benefits capital, and vice versa. It insists that labor can not profit at the expense of capital's welfare, neither can capital expect favorable conditions to the detriment of labor. It has never

sought suffrage from one at the expense of the other, because it does not believe such a condition can be profitable to the nation at large. So, instead of creating and fostering hysterical doctrines, it has sought conciliatory measures as a means of benefiting both. It believes in and preaches community of interest, and not antagonism of interest. While its policies, methods and achievements have been the subject of sharp criticism, still, for all that, its successes on election day must be the measure of its popularity among the voters-not the criticisms of its opponents. Reference to the blind adherence of a partisan to the yellow dog on one ticket is just as applicable to any other ticket. They all have more or less yellow dogs on them. While I seek no political discussion, the fact that the policies mentioned, and many others, have been endorsed time and again shows that the party which presents plausible, logical, comprehensive measures to the voters is the party that commands the political situation. A strictly pure, narrowgauge labor party will never succeed, because it appeals to none outside its own class, and its maniacal denunciation of capital as a whole, regardless of its legitimacy or illegitimacy, keeps the cautious, thinking, circumspect man aloof. The prohibition party is in the same rut-one-ideaed. A one-ideaed party is inadequate to relieve our ills. It is like trying to play operatic airs on a fiddle whose sole claim to musical merit consists of one string.

The first lecture of the second series to apprentices was given November 28 by E. L. Wilson, on "Things an Apprentice Should Know." Mr. Wilson made a very interesting subject of the work necessary in making up pages, running matter around cuts and locking up for the foundry. The attendance was fair, but should be larger. Chairmen and others could help make these lectures a popular feature by urging attendance on the part of the boys. It is their duty to the young men and the trade. Prizes will be awarded for samples of work by one, two and three year apprentices. The next lecture will be early in January, by Harry Chirpe, and the subject "Lost Time in the Printing Office."

An effort is about to be made to change our system of keeping accounts. The laborious, primitive method now used has been outgrown for years, and the experience in keeping tab on the bookbinders' assessment forcibly demonstrated that something must be done before beginning the collection of the eight-hour assessment, or matters will become involved in such a hopeless tangle they never can be straightened out. The bookbinder assessment lasted eight weeks. The eight-hour assessment will extend for probably fifty-two weeks, and the ap palling perspective view of the state of affairs by comparison at that time has added apparent necessity for a change. In the early seventies, when a cub, I can remember being sent to the Journal office on Dearborn street, where Jim Thurston worked when he was financial secretary, and exchanging $1.25 for each little slip of colored paper that showed dues paid for the quarter. After that it was hike to the Inter Ocean office, on Lake street, where Bill McEvoy worked, on the same er

rand. Then came the McQuaig affair, after which Sam Rastall was made financial secretary, an office established and a new system installed for keeping accounts that has seen no change for twenty-four years. The union does about four times as much business now as it did then, and the poky old method of keeping books by counting the stamps is, as has been said, like dumping all the money that comes along into a box and at the end of the year counting the pile and declaring that to be the cash balance. A good bookkeeper's systematic method, under the direction of the secretaries, will facilitate information as to any member's standing, which is now so difficult to obtain. The fault is not with the secretaries, but the system.

The death of William Kennedy removes one of those stalwart examples of sensible, intelligent unionism that wields an indefinable influence on all who come in touch. "Bill" was not stalwart in the sense that he sought publicity' at all times as an advocate of radical measures, but that dyed-inthe-wool, inborn stanchness that made him a tower of strength among his comrades. His unionism was that brand that accomplished things without setting the whole fabric on edge by making a pound of opposition to trade unions to every ounce of benefit gained. Of an apparently gruff exterior, those who knew him best can most appreciate the kindness of heart, the honesty of purpose, the indefatigable persistence with which the tasks set before him were performed. I saw him the Sunday previous to his death, and a feeling of pleasure, mingled with a keen pang of regret that I had not the opportunity of greeting him with the usual hearty, impetuous spirit customary, was certainly, in the light of developments, a premonition that I would never see him alive again. His length of service on the Inter Ocean was an index of his faithfulness to duty. The unwritten history of the Inter Ocean strike and his part in it was an example of his unswerving loyalty to his organization and of the faith his co-workers placed in his integrity. In politics he was clean, decided and incorruptible, and those traits carried irresistible weight to an immeasurable degree, not only with his intimates, but with those who knew him but slightly.

One of the most comforting reflections respecting the eight-hour movement is the fact that the International is going to have large available funds beforehand in case of trouble, instead of getting into trouble first and then scurrying all over creation for financial support, only to find that a large part of the support is "moral" and not "financial." There will be no trouble in some places-that goes without saying-and the immense sum raised will have a most salutary effect in our favor in other places. Then there are some who will put up a small contention that will soon end, and the longwinded fighters will be up against the bank account. I make a prediction that the percentage of cities or employers who want to fight will be much smaller than expected. The International will be a solid, united body. The employers will be split into the four classes named, with the brunt of battle on the last mentioned. The disposition cropping out to offer increased scales in lieu of shorter

hours shows a conciliatory spirit, even if they do have to be convinced that it is hours and not wages that is the "paramount issue." To the unbiased eye it looks as though the typothetæ made a mistake in basing its assessment on the payroll instead of gross business. A payroll may be large and the profit small when one does business on a cut-throat basis. The payroll is a fixed institution whether there is any business or not, profitable or unprofitable, and it will make some of the employers wince and scratch gravel like a chicken after bugs to pay it. There are signs of secession in the air already. There is one thing I believe should be done by the union, and that is gather in all the printers, whether they are good union men or bad. Forget your animosities. If one is a good printer but a poor union man, it is far better to have him inside as your tool than outside to give the employer hope and strength. They are better in than out, even if you think you can not rely on them. Then there is the country boy who is anxious to see city life. He should be given an International card, with the understanding that he is with us in the movement, even if he has no local affiliations. The more printers unionized the less the supply for the employers to draw on. Opposition to an amnesty policy is suicidal in its tendency. Some of the best union men in Chicago are numbered among those enrolled during the amnesty act, known as the "Chicago policy," in 1879. The more we have in the unions the easier will it be to win. The organizing of the unfair element is 'the most important work of the coming year.

I am told the organization committee, under the guidance of Jake Betten, has been turning its attention to the collection of old dues and assessments; that the effort has been a paying one, most of the delinquents responding; that one of them turned in $40 back dues in one lump, and others lesser amounts; that nearly $400 is the amount so far collected. Keep it up.

If rumors around town count for anything, there are a number of lightning rods pointing skyward for next spring's election. President Wright will seek re-election without a doubt. His activity in promoting the eight-hour movement, and a possible willingness to assume his share of credit for the success or blame for its defeat, is an incentive to that end. There are a number of avowed candidates for delegate, among whom are Emmet Whalen, Dave Ridenour, R. C. Plambeck, Ben Harris, E. D. Berry and Joseph C. Larson. The apparent necessity of canvassing every office from one end of the city to the other, in order to lift one's self into office, is a task of frightful proportions compared with the old days when a candidate could start from Clark and Madison streets and reach nearly every place in town in a ten minutes' walk. The man who succeeds nowadays certainly earns the honors. They all say so.

Thomas H. Griffin is a well-known printer and patentee of the Griffin nonpareil stick. He sent a guess to the Cincinnati Enquirer on the total vote of Ohio. He took a "hunch" from the office number on his business card, 1026-28, but instead of making it read 1026-"to"-(2)-28 he dropped in a cypher in place of the 2. If he had put in the 2

he would have been within one vote of the total, which was 1,026,229, thus getting dangerously near the $25,000 prize. As it is he gets $10.

The talk is timely and the necessity apparent that No. 16 should extend its jurisdiction over Cook county. There are a number of offices in towns like Evanston, Oak Park and others that draw on us for extra help at $6 or $7 per week below the scale. The union should be in a position to make an attempt to control them if it seems desirable.

There have been rumors of a consolidation of the Inter Ocean and Chronicle of late, but let us hope there is nothing in it. The Examiner has passed into the control of Andrew M. Lawrence, for incorporation purposes it is said, and will continue to be issued from the old place in conjunction with the American. These rumors feel mighty uncomfortable. G. J. K.

CUMMINGS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE. The Cummings memorial committee is now in full swing with its work of raising the remainder of the funds to erect the addition to the Home. All the members have received their literature and have sent it to the unions in their various districts. Already, too, the agitation has borne fruit. Chicago donated $1,500, more than its quota; Des Moines, Iowa, has increased its amount, and a number of other unions have informed the committee that they have acted favorably on the proposition. It is believed that the January meetings of the various unions will practically make the proposition unanimous. A number of unions report that they will increase the amounts required. This will all be greatly appreciated.

The splendid write-ups appearing in the last JOURNAL have had the effect of getting the proposition before the entire membership in a way that could not be secured by circulars, and it was read by thousands. Now, if the secretaries will only read the appeal of the committee to the unions the task will be accomplished.

For the better handling of the affair the entire jurisdiction has been divided among the eleven committeemen, each member being responsible for the unions in his district, and sending out literaThe division is as folture, writing letters, etc. lows, in states and territories:

Michael Colbert, Chicago-Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Marsden G. Scott, New York city-All of Greater New York and New Jersey.

Alfred D. Calvert, Philadelphia-Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Joe M. Johnson, Washington-District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North and South Carolina.

Arthur G. Davis, Boston-Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Fred H. Brown, Syracuse-New York, outside of the city, and Ohio.

David Hastings, Hamilton, Ont.-Canada and Michigan.

P. L. Brent, Memphis-Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

T. B. Brown, Topeka-Kansas, Indian Territory, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota.

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No. 175 elected officers at the last meeting. They will be installed at the January meeting.

F. M. Murray, of the Star-Journal, was made supremely happy about Thanksgiving time by the arrival of a daughter at his home, and about a week later J. D. Gavitt, of the Star-Journal, announced the advent of a baby of the same persua sion. Both young ladies and their mothers are reported as getting along nicely-and, of course, the fathers are "high steppers" these days.

Don Davison, one of the Chieftain ranchers, and J. F. Michaels, the Star-Journal rancher, were observed in close conversation one evening recently, discussing the ranch situation and the prospect for the coming year-but why they should leave Jack Champion out of the question is more than some of us could understand. Our ranch boys seem to be doing quite well in that line, and "Mike" reports an enormous yield of alfalfa the past year.

THE "TOPER" MACHINE.

DUPHAY.

Some tourists, old friends, who had not met for years,

Once more passed the warm hand around,
And gave an account of their roving careers,
And how old Dame Fortune had frowned.

Then, after a few rounds of mellow old horns
Were pledged to each weather-worn pard,
They gradually turned toward spinning out yarns
Of more than three feet to a yard.

Quoth one, after hearing a number of tales
About the machine and its ills:
"You know, in some places the notion prevails
That brains oft inhabit those 'mills.'

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"For weeks this old junk pile 'ud run like a hare, With never a stop or a stick,

An' then-well, she'd get on what looked like a 'tear,'

An' seemed to be sayin', 'I'm sick.'

"An' when in that state she'd oft try hard to prove That squirtin's a bloomin' fine art.

The 'miller' 'ud wear on his left hand a glove
Whenever her fountains 'ud start.

"Some day that old 'mill' 'll get daffy, I'm sure,
An' go through a great squirtin' stunt,
Then if all the bolts an' pins are not secure
The plunger'll come out in front."
Cincinnati, Ohio.

C. STELTEN POHL.

WASHINGTON, D. C.

E. M. Hack, foreman of the Washington Times, was one of the successful contestants for prizes offered by a local gent's furnishing dealer. Το win you had to solve a charade and write a poem. Mr. Hack was warmly congratulated by his friends. upon his success.

The statesmen are again in Washington in goodly numbers. The population has correspondingly increased by the coming of the fellow who is after a government job. He ought to have it. If trade unionists hope to have this congress or the succeeding one pass any bills for their benefit they will be grievously disappointed. Mark the prediction.

The difference between a temporary and a permanent appointment in the government printing office is thirty days' leave with pay. That's just $120 and no work at all. Hardly a fair deal.

A thief not only robbed M. DeW. Siewers of his turkey, but took $37 in cash, with which, no doubt, to purchase other good things for a Thanksgiving dinner. Mr. Siewers had the profound sympathies of his craftspeople in the government printing office.

Business on the newspapers was reasonably good during December. It was due.

There are plenty of printers who have no fear to see the ghost walk, yet they would whistle while going by a graveyard at night.

Columbia Union refused to make its representation in International Typographical conventions equal as to trade technique. If the newspaper printers get one this year they will be lucky. The government printing office contingent insists upon three delegates, because of numerical strength. But no International law applies in the big printery. A case of might makes right.

It has been stated in the Evening Star, and this newspaper is always recognized as an administration paper, that an effort will be made to enact a law making it unlawful for rural mail carriers to be members of an association-a trade union. This would be class legislation, it will be argued. Then it will be amended to include all employes in the government service, in which shape it is hinted it will be signed by the president. In a word, the open shop proposition is wid-ening.

Richard A. McLean has rounded out a quarter of a century as foreman of the Evening Star composing room. The anniversary was celebrated December 1, the occasion being in the line of a smoker. It was a very joyous event, and there were present the owners and editors as well as the humble apprentice boy. The employes of the composing room to a man were in attendance, and they did honor to their foreman. W. J. Gallagher, who has been in the Star employ as long as has been Mr. McLean, was the spokesman, and on behalf of the composing room force presented the veteran foreman with a diamond stud. Then came the representative of the Star Company, who gifted to Mr. Mac, as he was familiarly called, a "bag full of gold." It contained twenty-five ten-dollar pieces-one for each year of service. It is not my purpose to sing praises of Mr. McLean's worth to

his employers nor of his general fine treatment of the men, but it is pleasing to substantiate the universal good feeling in which he is held by those who have worked under him. Mr. McLean succeeded his father in the foremanship, and this and many other incidents clearly establish the fact that the Star office is happily a "family of interests." The business manager, J. Whit Herron, who likewise had served his employers a similar length of time, was also given $250 in gold, and the business office force presented him with an elaborate chair. Both gentlemen have the best wishes of all who know them.

It is extremely gratifying to note that the International Typographical Union headquarters have been removed from the De Soto building. The Newton Claypool building can not be recalled by the writer just now, but it is firmly hoped that in comfort and convenience it is far more pleasing than the one vacated, for of all the barn-like structures in Indianapolis the De Soto had all the accompanying sorts. But the singular part of the transfer is, where did the courage come from which suggested the change? It was a happy thought, nevertheless.

The open-shop question is becoming much more prominent since the election than before. The old election story about kissing is being illustrated very forcibly. Will the force be checked?

The recent convention of Parryites was highly successful, from their viewpoint especially. The open shop was the paramount subject, and the newspaper reports of the proceedings gave evidence that the opponents of trade unions are keeping the hammer swinging with vigor. Of course it has not been heard that any trade union has gone' out of business recently, but the organized wage earners will find it highly essential that they adhere more closely to their affiliations, lest there may be some dismemberments. It is quite plain that the Parry association, is planning to meet the eight-hour workday inauguration by the International Typographical Union, and the wisdom of the craftspeople is in a stronger unification. Be resolute; be courageous.

Trade unionism is the bulwark of defense of the wage earner.

President Shaffer, of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, wanted to succeed Carroll D. Wright as commissioner of labor. W. S. Waudby wanted the same office. The latter had been much endorsed by the printers generally, and twice by the International Typographical Union convention. The office pays $5,000 per annum, and it is not much wonder that there was such strenuosity shown to secure it. Since his election has been so one-sided, probably the president concludes that organized labor was not a factor in the outcome, and has appointed a college professor. Hard luck.

The fellow who binned his coal during the heated season is warm now. Sure.

A hint comes from Toronto that the printers' punch will be a favorite beverage during convention week. Have another.

It is a wise man who will weather-strip the doors and windows to keep the cold out. He is

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