Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-11-24
PRINTERS WAGES.
Another Letter From ParkersburG Typo
interesting Facts

Interesting Facts.
PARK ERsBURG, ". VA, Nov. 10.
10 the Editor Of The Register:
SIR: Since the REGISTER appeared with
an article on the wages of printers In
Parkersburg, a great deal has been ssid
about the organization of a union. The
Sentinel said that with ''level heads and
good government, great benefit could be
derived from a union IN this city," and
your correspondent is informed that the
State Journal men speak favorable OF the
same, but have not said so in their col
umns. However, We look for great deal
of encouragement from the management
of all our printing establishments, as toe
gentlemen as a rule ara public-spirlted
men, and will give us better wages when
we ask for it in the proper manner.
There is not man in the city that en-
ployes printers who will not frankly ADMIT
the wages he pays 10 too smsll, and that
every emplOye earns twice the amount ne
receives for mis- labor. But it is natural for
the publishers TO want their work done for
as little money as possible, and as long as
printers will work for dollar, and dol
lar and quarter per day, NO higher wages
will be offered. When man asks for a job
of setting type in this place, the employer
tells him, "If you are good, straight type.
setter, l will give you 81 so per week, "
and if the sspirant does rot want to work
for that, the employer does not tell him
that he lis not able to psy more toan
that" but be says, 81 can get men for that
money, and if you don't want TO work, Gil
right" Now, who is TO blame? There is
no need of an answer, as one COR easily see
the cause of the rotten wages. Undermin-
ing, lying for job, working for nothing,
and all that sort Of thing will never tend to
make wages higher, but a Typographical
union will stop that kind Of business IN our
city, give good printers good wsees, ard
bar poor ones from the business entirely.
Some of the old-tims boys who used to
work for Drahcsh and others, during their
time, in PaTkersbnrg, which was several
years ago, tell me that they then received
from SIS to S24 per week, and thst maa
could make $24 easier then thsn he can
make $50 now. To the proprietOre, Of
course, there was not as much money n
the business then az there is now, and II
wages could be paid twenty years ego here,
why are the publishers to-day not able to
exchange a weeks living for sixty hours
word, instead of dishing cut the little pic
lance which only adds sgony to the misar
able existence OF the printer
1t is amusing to see the old, red-nosed
type-se.ter who "hss not had bite to cot
since Saturday, nor a drink for week, "
drop into one of our Offices and say be
wants to earn dollar, and when ne Is told
what he will be paid, walk out, go hungry,
stay dry, holding his pride desrer than
satisfying of his appetite, claiming be has
been raised better than that and will not
work for song.
Let the boys grasp the opportunity to
make times better for themselves now
while the chance affords. Delays are dan
gerous, and if they ara not careful all the
enthusiasm with which they are now poe
sessed will die away. and several genera
tions of printers may come ard 60 before
the question of organizing union Is again
sgitated. TYPO.