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TORONTO, CANADA.

Happy New Year and success to the eight-hour day.

December's event in labor circles was the opening of the labor temple. Throngs of union men and women besieged the temple to view and criticise labor's new home. The arrangements were perfect in every detail, and no less a personage than Professor Goldwin Smith attended and briefly addressed the assembly. No. 91's auxiliary had charge of part of the affair, and the women were highly commended for their helpful services. No finer ог more convenient situation could have been procured for the building. The basement contains bowling alleys, billiard room, baths and cigar stand. On the ground floor are the lodge

rooms,

business agents' offices, and committee rooms. The first floor is the assembly room, and with its polished hardwood floor it has no equal in Toronto; it will seat nearly 1,000 people. Across the hall are two elegant cloak rooms. The hall is surrounded by a gallery which will seat nearly 300. The top floor is given over to the gymnasium, where all kinds of physical exercise may be engaged in. Labor has now a home to be proud of, and every member of a union should have at least five shares of stock. Subscribe now, before it sells above par.

Is the membership going to allow the employers to take the initiative in the matter of technical education?

The allied printing trades council has issued a new set of numbered labels-the only thing to its credit for a number of years.

To my critics, the organizers, and minions of the capitalistic press, let me state that the time is not at my disposal to enter into a controversy in relation to my statements of their attitude at the congress. At the expiration of my present term of office I will take time to defend myself.

"Brother Bill" is again wielding the pen in defense of Christian socialism and the labor cause. It is rumored that the Owl will appear in print.

John Cairns, late of the Globe chapel, is now on his stock-raising ranch in Virginia. Before his departure the boys of the Globe made him the recipient of a suitable present and wished him success in his new venture. While not at all times agreeing with "Jack," the writer always found him a sincere union man, and No. 91 loses one of its stanchest advocates and ardent committeemen.

The great success of No. 91's entertainment would make one suggest that it be made an annual event, and the proceeds devoted to securing a plot in the cemetery-a much neglected innovation with

No. 91.

Our own John A. Kelly's performance at our concert clearly stamps him as being the leading ventriloquist of Canada.

One would think the labor press of Toronto was becoming the fag-end of a sporting and polit ical aggregation.

Candidates are announcing themselves, but the spring sessions of the Arcade chapel are yet to be heard from.

Brother Cooke's mention of a scheme whereby our old and honored members could be provided

for, is a most timely proposition for the membership to consider. Where would the present-day unionism be if a solid foundation had not been laid by the "oldtimers." The question is a pressing one, and should be dealt with as a business proposition. No. 91 has a miniature old age fund that pays the dues and allows the old members $1 a month. Clearly this does not go far enough.

Convention arrangements are going merrily on. From present aspects the souvenir will be something unique.

Printing circles are all agog. With an energetic woman's auxiliary, ex-delegates' association and the printers' bowling league, the typos are making the other trade organizations look in amazement.

It is expected that several "At Homes" will be run by large chapels this winter and the surplus handed over to the convention fund.

A tip to the membership: Look out for our Good Friday entertainment.

The opening matches of the printers' bowling league were rather exciting affairs. The rooters were much in evidence. So far the league comprises the six papers and one book and job office. There is no reason why every book and job office should not be represented by a team. The Newsites gathered in the Stars by a nice majority, and in turn the Stars trimmed the Telegram. The Atwell Flemings gathered the Telegrams into camp, but fell down to the fast News aggregation. In the morning paper series the World put the Mailites to sleep. The Mail in turn sent the Globites back to the woods.

December 10 noted the formation of an enthu siastic woman's auxiliary in connection with No. 91. The ladies present could give many a member of a union a few lessons on trade unionism, and from present appearances the auxiliary will be a great benefit to No. 91. Another meeting of the ladies will be held in the Labor Temple parlors on January 10, when every member is invited to be in attendance with his wife, daughter or sister. The following officers were elected by the ladies: President, Mrs. M. V. McDougall; vice-president, Mrs. Beatrice Hunter; recording-corresponding secretary, Miss Teresa Meehan; financial secretary, Mrs. L. A. Findlay; treasurer, Mrs. Ellen Kerr; sentinel, Mrs. Cooper; auditors, Miss May Powell, Mrs. T. C. Vodden; executive committee, Mrs. J. A. Kelly, Mrs. A. McLiver, Mrs. II. Stevenson.

An ex-delegates' association has been formed, and John Armstrong, former president of the International Typographical Union, was elected chairman, with Harry Parr, a member of the committee that drafted the resolution which founded the Union Printers' Home, as secretary.

What has become of the municipal labor party? The Inland Printer's article on the Home was well received here-in fact, an eye-opener to

many.

If any secretary desires a simple and complete method of collecting dues on the percentage basis he can secure same by dropping a line to T. C. Vodden, box 543.

The general convention committee has things well in hand, and is receiving the enthusiastic support of the membership at large. Hugh Stevenson,

chairman; John Armstrong, vice-chairman; E. J. Horn, treasurer; T. C. Vodden, financial secretary, and John Chinn, secretary, box 543, to whom all communications should be addressed.

W. H. Miln is the only authorized party to solicit foreign ads for No. 91's souvenir.

Let General Individuality get in harness and the eight hours will be an accomplished fact. On to Toronto-and we expect you.

TWO STARS.

THE GOLD STANDARD.

of

The great financiers or money gamblers Europe have, through manipulation and fraud, forced upon this country, and all the other semicivilized nations of the earth, the so-called gold standard. Their sole object in selecting this rare and precious metal as the standard for universal moneys was, first, their ownership or control of it; second, through this ownership or control, their power to keep it "scarce."

To the great majority of our voters, educated and uneducated alike, the word "scarce," in this sense, has no harmful or evil meaning. This has been amply proven by the large republican vote of this year, in which tried and trusted representatives of these men were placed in full control.

The advocates of gold money claim it is the only sound money; that it is the only money of redemption; that all other moneys must be redeemed in gold; that it is a dollar all over the world, and its value always the same. Now these are very queer assertions and claims for honorable men to make. It looks as though they believed the people to be a pack of fools. For instance, "That all other moneys must be redeemed in gold." Now, why should there be more than one kind of money in a country? What is the object, except for speculative purposes, of having two or more kinds of money? Whom do they speculate upon but the people? Why does our government, which is supposed to represent all the people, allow it? Why does our government coin different kinds of money, and make that money by law of different values, if it is not for the very purpose of enriching these money gambling financiers at the expense of the honest people?

Again, what can gold redeem? As money it is fiat-a creation of the law; and outside of speculative purposes, to be of any use to its owner, has itself to be redeemed by the purchase of some desirable thing. And so it is with all other kinds of money. When you make a purchase your money is redeemed; it has answered the purpose of its creation, and you have no further interest in it.

"That it is a dollar all over the world." This is an untruthful assertion, for money is not cosmopolitan. The gold contained in a gold dollar is bullion all over the world-that, and nothing more.

"That its value is always the same." Gold, as money, is scarce, and its value (as intended) keeps fluctuating, as indicated by the rise and fall of interest. This makes a variable, unreliable and dishonest dollar. And as 99 per cent of all litigation in our courts is based upon this scarce and dishonest dollar, and as this unjust and dishonest dol

lar is made co by the law of the land, and as our courts of law are sworn to uphold the law, and as the fabric of our government, both social and political, rests upon this dishonest and unjust dollar, you can see very plainly why the decisions of our judges are based upon lawful precedents and not justice. This places the most of our court decisions in this paradoxical position: That, although wrong in equity, yet lawfully right.

Money is the legal measurer of all other values, and the base of all contracts. Consequently, a rise in the rates of interest changes the base of every contract in the nation after these contracts have been made. For, as money becomes more and more scarce, interest goes up; and as interest goes up, the prices of land, the wages of labor and the prices of all other commodities go down, so that the debtor has to raise and dispose of two and three times as much to pay the interest on his contract than he did when interest was lower.

There is not an individual or an industry in the country but what is unjustly dealt with through high interest on scarce money.

Government has made money the standard (money, remember, not gold), but has failed to fix a low and uniform interest, because it has failed to fix the amount per capita that should circulate, which should not be less than $100 of paper money, every dollar of which should be receivable for all debts, public and private. That course would bring about a just distribution of our wealth, right the wrongs that have been committed, drive the shylocks out of the market, and bring about a high state of civilization. J. C. PATTERSON.

San Francisco, Cal.

SCRANTON, PA.

The William friends of many S. Waudby throughout the anthracite coal fields are greatly disappointed over the failure of President Roosevelt to appoint him to succeed Carrol D. Wright. Considering the fact that Mr. Waudby has prac tically proven his fitness for the position, and that the trade unionists throughout the land have endorsed him, it seems but fair that the laboring men of the nation should ask for and receive an explanation.

Let Parry and his Parry (s) ites Parryise. All we have to do is to demand the label. This is a never-failing remedy for Parryism, whether in an incipient or long-standing stage. If we do this, Parry will have to say of organized labor as the man did of the gold piece which he accidentally dropped in the ocean: "Oh, let it go."

Oliver F. Leeds, for some time past foreman of the Tribune, is now business manager of that paper. In the pre-Mergenthaler days Mr. Leeds was more or less of an itinerant, but has been connected with the above paper several years.

The central labor union of Scranton and vicinity is now directing its efforts toward the formation of an allied trades council in this city. At our last meeting a committee was appointed to confer with the central labor union committee upon the subject. There are conditions in the printing trade in this city that present peculiar

features in the formation of an allied trades council. The large plant of the International Correspondence Schools alone makes it possible for the existence of the organizations of the pressmen and bookbinders. This being a non-competitive concern (doing only its own work), the typographical union does not care to hastily adopt any measure that will use this establishment to whip the smaller ones into line according to the provisions of an allied trades council. These smaller offices are now, and always have been, friendly to No. 112, and we feel that it is a duty we owe them to carefully consider any action that might prove detrimental to them. The typographical union has never yet taken advantage of this large non-competitive establishment to further its own interests to the disadvantage of the smaller offices, and the prevailing opinion among the membership is that we shall not depart from this rule in the interest of another organization. However, it is quite possible that matters pertaining to the allied council may be adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned. If this can be done the printers will welcome the proposition.

If my friend Bloomer is running short of the stories of printers of the oldtime let him appeal to our mutual friend, "Ji" Ross. Let him ask for an account of the time "Ji" was tendered the use of the only lead in Canada. Ross has the stories all right, but they are not consistent with his claim. to twenty-two years of age. Therefore, it requires more or less diplomacy to get an interview. JOHN M. COLLINS.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.

Before this letter returns in printed form to the Pacific coast, the eight-hour workday will be in force and effect in the book and job offices of the city. Two shops have conceded the goal ahead of the specified time. While rumor is busy with its ever-ready tongue, it is believed the agreement between No. 21 and the typothetæ will be lived up to in its entirety. The date selected for the inauguration of the natural workday was January 1, 1905. The fifteen-minute change every six months has been almost imperceptible in the general effect on the volume of printing produced. Despite this fact, and the repeated warnings of the depressed condition of trade, many new cards have been deposited with our secretary-treasurer. The inability to find employment has led to more or less dissatisfaction on the part of some, but we have described the actual status of affairs time and again. We can do no more.

Death has been busy in our ranks. On November 18 two well-known San Francisco printers passed away-Robert Sherlock and Charles H. Squire. The former died near San Jose and the latter in the city of Fresno. On December 3 we lost A. M. de la Rosa, as genial a printer as ever set type, a native of California, forty-three years of age. On the same date, at the same age, another Californian was gathered to his fathers. William A. Deane died of uræmic poisoning, after suffering from stomach and kidney trouble for some time. He served the city for two successive terms as county clerk, was prominent in fraternal

circles, an erstwhile member of No. 21, and at the time of death on our exempt roll. On December 7 Adam M. Parry died peacefully in his sleep in the Veterans' Home at Yountville, Cal. He lacked but a few months of having lived the allotted span. For fifty-two years Mr. Parry was associated with the printing business in this vicinity. Nearly forty years ago he joined old Eureka Typographical Union No. 21, and was as faithful to the pres ent organization as he was to Eureka. To write his obituary would be equivalent to telling the history of the newspapers of central California. In 1859 he founded the Napa Journal, in 1867 started the Northern Independent in Eureka, and in 1876 proceeded to Marysville, where he gave to the people the Daily Herald. Mr. Parry enlisted in 1861, was mustered out in 1865, and was employed on all the San Francisco dailies at some time or other. He was a sterling unionist, generous to a fault, his integrity was unquestioned, and he is sincerely mourned by the members of No. 21.

My last letter was written while the American Federation of Labor convention was in session. Now that the deliberations have become history, it would not be inappropriate to state that the delegates made a favorable impression on the business community. Every act was scrutinized, the elaborate newspaper reports read, and the presence of the strong men in the labor circles of this country in the city of San Francisco has redounded to the credit of the cause, and also illustrated the trite saying that there is nothing incompatible in the terms "trade unionist" and "good citizen."

The delegates attended an unusually large meeting of the union on the last Sunday in the month, and made appropriate addresses.

We printers tried to welcome our fellow craftsmen of the convention. It might appear egotistical to say we succeeded, but we have the words of the entertained to that effect. The excursion to Mount Tamalpais on November 20 was a "cap A and figure 1" outing. Our visitors were charmed with the view. The Golden Gate, the metropolis, the broad expanse of the Pacific, and the suburban towns nestling among the foothills, made up a pic ture from the summit long to be remembered. The flowers and lawn-like grass discernible on all hands appealed forcibly to our friends of the snow country. After justice had been done to lunch, W. J. White, in a few well-chosen remarks, opened the Inflow of oratory, and officiated as toastmaster. ternational President James M. Lynch spoke of the organization of which he is the head, and of the coming eight-hour day. Secretary Frank Morrison traced the growth of the Federation in power, membership and financially. James A. Lavery proved his right to the introduction of "one of the best after-dinner speakers in the International Typographical Union." Frank K. Foster eloquently referred to the hospitality shown the delegates, the pleasures of the day and the inspiration of the enchanting scene from the summit. Max S. Hayes and Victor L. Berger told of their apprecia tion of the outing, and discussed trade unionism and its relation to the body politic. Will J. French welcomed the guests, Leo Michelson spoke on the Union Printers' Mutual Aid Society, and George

A. Tracy closed the speech-making with an able dissertation on the importance of living more for others than ourselves.

On the evening of November 23 the delegates and their ladies were entertained at a banquet given by Woman's Auxiliary No. 18. It was a delightful affair, and the ladies are to be congratu lated on the outcome. An excellent repast was served, and after Mrs. Emma G. Foley, president of No. 18, welcomed the guests, the toastmaster reversed the usual order of procedure and called on the ladies. They were fully equal to the occasion. Then the American Federation of Labor delegates addressed the diners, and proved their worth as orators.

The California State Federation of Labor convention meets in Sacramento on January 2, 1905, the same day and place as the call reads for the convention of the citizens' alliances of California.

OUR PATRIARCH.

Frank Wandress is a nice old man
As you could wish to see;
His age is more than ninety-six,
But he says he's fifty-three.

He is a gay old rooster, too,

With all his wintry years;
And he mixes up in sporting life
Of both the hemispheres.

He worked with Gutenberg and Faust,
Five hundred years ago;
And he made the match with Lucifer,
Now firing down below.

He trained the young King David when
Goliath petered out,

And helped rebuild the temple that
Huge Samson pulled about.

Old Noah asked him in the ark,
But Noah had no beer,

So Frank has since been swimming, and
Just now he's with us here.

WILL J. FRENCH.

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

No. 53 adopted its new constitution and by-laws at the December meeting.

Brother Coombes, of Terre Haute, in Toronto next August will change his words to "I have a feeling in my stomach for you-Toronto."

The many Cleveland friends of "Bill" Kennedy were surprised to learn of his sudden death. Work in the job branch here is not what it ought to be. Operators and admen on newspapers are doing well.

The members of the Kellogg Sunday Night Club are beginning to look wise and mysterious nowadays.

F. W. Seffing, of the Press, says he wants to be one of the lucky ones next summer.

Jobmen are joining at the rate of five a month here at the present writing, with hardly any desirable ones out of the organization; five initiated and six new applicants at the last meeting.

Something unusual here to have a holder of a newspaper writers' card. He is working on the World.

With an untiring label agitation, perfect organization and a $10,000 treasury, you can bank on hearing of No. 53 giving a good account of itself

on January 1, 1906. Now, everybody wake up from your long sleep and pull together for success. You job printers, do you hear this?

Charles C. Shannon, proofreader, who died December 5, at his home in this city, had a record that but few could equal. He worked twenty years on the old Cincinnati Commercial, and twenty-three years in one office here; went on the News and Herald in 1882, and was with that paper when it was consolidated with the Plain Dealer, on which paper he was employed up to the time of his death. JOSEPH WEINER.

MONTREAL, CANADA.

It would hardly be right to allow the current number of THE JOURNAL to pass without mentioning politics-provincial politics. I wish to refer to the subject for two reasons: First, because political discussions are not allowed at the meetings of No. 145; second, because our union was very much concerned in the said elections. There were two labor candidates in the field, Messrs. Verville and Latreille. The first named would have made an ideal labor representative, being a man of experience and ability, and what is generally considered an important factor, the possessor of a marked "personality." Mr. Latreille, a much younger man, will undoubtedly be heard of again. He has, from my point of view, the most impor tant qualification necessary to represent the people-honesty. Both candidates were defeatedbadly defeated. A few voters considered that the lack of funds was the cause. We all know that "les élections ne se font pas avec des prières," which means that elections are not made with prayers. At the same time money is not the only thing to be considered (with apologies to my Ottawa confrère). There was general surprise expressed at the result, and there might well be. Now that the whole affair is over, let us be frank about it, and profit by the humiliating lesson administered to us. A candidate presents himself before the people (the labor voter), that's one thing; the people have the power to elect, that's another thing. If a candidate is the choice of the people he is bound to be elected-notwithstanding the opinion of the committee rooms. But if he is imposed-well, the people dispose, and right they are. The whole truth about the matter is that organized labor of this city had not been consulted; not one out of five knew what the above gentlemen represented. The candidates were "sprung" upon the labor electorate, but the spring busted before the goal was reached. Nominations were also offered V. Tardif, president of No. 145, and Rodier, an ex-president of the same union. The first refused on account of his youth, the latter for lack of it. It is well to note here that the last labor candidate elected in Montreal-for the federal house-was also a member of No. 145. Mr. Lépine sat at Ottawa for eight consecutive years.

There appeared in La Presse, of this city, a few weeks ago, the following ad: "Wanted-French linotype operators, must be clean and swift, to go to Washington, D. C., in the month of May next, for the period of two or three weeks, to set up the reports of a French congress to be held in that

city. Must be union men." If some of our boys can go to the American capital for a couple of weeks, so much the better; but what's the matter with the French operators of New Orleans, or the Franco-American towns of New England? Is there not a United States law prohibiting contracts with outside labor?

In winter Montreal is a great place for oysters -not lobsters, mind you. Every other night there is an oyster spread somewhere.

Last week the members of the chapel of Le Journal held their annual feast. They made it a big affair. Seventy-five invitations were issued, and all accepted. Deputies, aldermen and editors chummed in with the boys. Before departing the traditional "verre d'absinthe" was served. "La soirée a été un grand succès." Le Canada also had its spread a few days ago. It was made a family affair, only members of the chapel being present. Shop talk was conspicuous by its absence, and a fine was imposed upon water drinkers. It appears that no fine was collected.

My compliments to N. E. Parker, the witty author of "Mr. Dooley on Baltimore."

I thank the editor and the boys of THE JOUR NAL for bearing the trouble I give them with my French sentences, and trust that the new year will give them a better correspondent. V. S. O. P.

SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

Senator "Dick" McNamee, of St. Paul, dropped into Sioux City during the past month and visited old friends here, chief among whom is William Napoleon Emerson. "Dick" and Emerson worked on the Chicago Inter Ocean twenty-five years ago, and had not seen each other in over twenty years. Their meeting was a cordial one, and they discussed the boys of the days gone by and referred to such convivial and happy resorts as "The Dizzy" and "The House of David." "Senator Dick's" stay was of two days' duration, during which time he was made acquainted with all the newspaper boys and incidentally took a good peep at the town on the "Missiou," which is destined to cut a wide swath in the commercial world in the near future. One of the subjects of the reminis cent conversation between these two old friends was William Kennedy, whose recent death was unknown to them at the time. Both spoke in high praise of Mr. Kennedy.

"Dick" Hicks, after a happy and industrious summer as a compositor on the Salix Siftings, bought a ticket for St. Louis. He took with him a trunk, an article of impedimenta he heretofore has had little use for. "Dick" is of a type of printer that is fast passing, but no one of that illustrious type now living will be longer remembered when he is gone than he. And yet, while Dick may be said to be en passant, the time is many, many years distant when he will not be able to fill a niche of usefulness in the trade of printer, if youthfulness and virility be the determining fac

tors.

E. E. Paddock, of the Journal here, successfully passed the civil service examination for linotype machinist and has received an appointment. The

meagerness of the pay and the prospect of leaving so good a town caused him to change his mind. C. C. Woodward, of the Tribune, also successfully passed the examination.

H. C. Colley, treasurer of No. 180, has gone to Texas, where he will remain until spring. Mr. Colley was delegate to the Washington convention of the International Typographical Union.

E. Burkholder, who for twelve years was employed in the government printing office at Washington, has been a resident of Sioux City for nearly a year, and is employed in the Journal job department.

Sioux City's opera house is now managed by an oldtime printer, one who has traveled all over the United States, Thomas F. Boyd. He will prob ably be well remembered by the older generation of printers. Mr. Boyd is a brother of ex-Governor Boyd, of Nebraska.

Daughter (looking at pictures in Inland Printer) "Papa, where is the Union Printers' Home?" Papa-"At Colorado Springs, daughter." Daughter-"And may all printers go to that Home?" Papa-"No; only old, sick and indigent printers." Daughter (still looking)-"Gee, papa, don't you wish you could hurry up and get old?" Smart girl that.

By the courtesy of William H. Sammons, business manager of the Journal, the Union Printers' Home will hereafter receive a copy of the Sioux City Journal, one of the best newspapers in the west. I especially commend to the brothers of the Home the editorial page, feeling sure that it will win a place in the hearts of many readers.

If there is anything good in connection with membership in the correspondents' organization, I want to join, if I am possessed of the necessary qualifications. My first letter to THE JOURNAL was in 1888 or 1889, and I have been an intermittent correspondent since. By the way, just twenty years ago this month (December) myself and Dan Nostrand, now of Omaha, held up our right hands to the presiding officer of Sioux City Typographical Union No. 180, and "so help us God" we have been such ever since.

Friends of George B. McCaslin in the Twin Cities, in Lincoln, and wherever he is known, will be pained to learn that a subtle form of creeping paralysis and locomotor ataxia has stolen upon his activity so stealthily yet effectively that he may soon be compelled to renounce the work of printer in any capacity and seek light outdoor work, in the hope that he may regain his former physical equilibrium. This is the fourth or fifth case that has come under my observation, and I never see one without thought as to who will be the next victim of the dread malady. I hazard the opinion that twenty-five years hence, when statistics may have been collected as to the occupation of machine operator, the result will show that our occupation is a particularly unhealthy one, and that the average period of usefulness in that capacity will be much less than fifteen years in length of duration.

William Staley, who for ten years has sat in his little den between the composing room and telegraph room of the Journal here, and taken the Associated Press reports, seven nights per week,

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