Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-06
STRIKE OF THE PRINTERS.

As foreshadowed by US yesterday, the
printers on the Los Angeles daily papers
have gone on strike. AS already stated
the primary cause of this action is a
request repeatedly made, both yer bally
and in writing by the publishers, for a
reasonable reduction in the existing
high rates of composition, which have
been in force since the days of the
boom. So far from acceding to this
request, or even proposing COM
promise, the Typographical Union noti-
fed the proprietors that no reduction
would be agreed to. and further de-
manded that an agreement should
be signed by the newspaper proprie-
tors, aoithin tacenty four hours,
that the scale of prices now in force
should remain in operation for one gear!
The following is copy of the Unions
Hltimatum:
GENTLEMEN : At the meeting of the
Los Angeles Typographical Union No.
ia, held Sunday, August Sd, 1890. your
request for reduction in the price of
composition on morning and evening
papers was fully and fairly considered,
and 1T was almost unanimously decided
that no reduction of the scale could be
agredd to; and further, that an agree
ment should be signed by the proprie-
tors and the Union. that the scale of
prices now in force should remain in
operation for one year from April 5th,
1890; and further, that said agreement
should be signed within twenty-four
hours from IL m. August 4th, 1890.
Respectfully yours,
THE COMMITTEE.
BY order of the Union:
j. K. HANIILL, Sec'y.
PROPOSED AGREEMENT.
We the undersigned, proprietors of
THE TIMES. Herald, Tribune and Ex-
press, daily newspapers printed and
published in Los Angeles, Cal, and the
Ex. Com. representing the Los. A. T.
L. No. ia. hereby agree that the scale
OF prices hereunto attached shall be
and remain in force, without change or
alteration. for one year from date here
of. Dated August 5, 1890.
[The scale attached is that now in
force, viz: SO cents per thousand ems
on morning and As cents per thousand
ems on evening newspapers.
Under these circumstances it was
of course impossible for the proprietors
to make any further overtures. Here
was a bludgeon showed unceremoni-
ously under the noses of the propretors
an unreasonable demand, to which
they could not possibly accede without
forfeiting all self respect. The issue
thus turned, not directly on the rate
of compensation, which might have
been subject for debate but upon
this peremptory demand the extension
for year of rate of compensation
which the proprietors had expressed
their inability to continue.
The printers have thus forced the
matter to sudden crisis. Going out
after five o'clock yesterday after
noon. they placed the morning papers
in very embarrassing position, and
we must ask the indulgence of our
readers for few days. as we have had
to gather assistance wherever we
could find it. BY the end of the week
we hope to be fully on our feet again.
The desperate resort of strike
was not invoked by the proprietors,
nor was the crisis precipitated by them,
but by the hasty. ill-advised and inde-
fensible action of the men, who alone
are responsible for the present state of
affairs, so annoying to the proprietors
and 80 injurious to the best interests
of the union printers themselves. We
are satisfied that they are in the wrong,
and do not believe that their course
will be sustained by their own organi-
zation in it's larger jurisdiction.
AS for THE TNEs,it means to stand
fast and do right to the best of its
ability. We do uot mean to fail.