Los Angeles herald., 1890-09-11
THURSDAY. sEPTKMR Err IL. 1890.
AN aABoRTIvE ATTEMPT TO FOOL THE
PUBLIC


PUBLIC
Perhaps some of the most amusing
performances ever recorded in any phase
of journalism have been noted in the
columns of little sheet called the
-t'Union Printer" published in Los
Angeles by number of compositors
who voluntarily locked themselves out
of the HERALD anc other newspaper
offices III this city. The attempts
which these compcsitors have made to
pose as martyrs have been extremely
absurd. The publishers of this city
sought a conference with the typo
graphical union, ard made strong
presentment in Favor of a reduction in
the existing scale of wages. They based
this on the depressed times in this city,
which were never so low as when this
appeal was made. The newspapers had
no desire to oppyess their workmen. AS
a matter of fact the foreman of the
HERALD was resolving thirty-fve dollars
week. The assistant foreman was also
receiving large remuneration. The
could scarcely make movement in any
direction without stumbling over
somebody who was drawing a sal
ary for doing work which the
foreman ought to have done himself.
The composltors on the HERALD were
earning, according to their ability, from
$22 to $45 week. In some weeks the
wages ran up to fabulous figures when
it is considered that the men who re-
ceived them had not dollar of capital
invested in the business. All sorts OF
rules were adopted by which the pub
fishers pockets were reached. There
was price and quarter, price and
half and double priced matter. In addi-
ton, the fact ought to be borne in mind
that the men who received these high
wages were not all worknSen of ex-
ceptional skill. Tyros, who would not
receive $40 week in an Eastern office,
were taken into the Union here in order
that that organization should be supreme
in their mastery ,over the publishers.
: The organ of the compositors whofocked
themselves out of the daily journals of
Los Angeles, in recent issue, said that
the HERALD was an unfair journal.
, On the contrary, the Typographical
Union of this city of late
years has never had an impulse of
fair play. Their intention was to skin
the publishers and create an impover-
ished class that would be compelled to
embark their capital, credit and brains,
for the benefit of an association whose
members had steady employment at
high wages every day in the year. The
mechanic, who works when he can geta
Job, and who when he is busy only earns
from one-half to seventy-fve per cent. Of
the wages enjoyed by these printers who
voluntarily locked themselves out of
fat -"takes," to employ printers
phrase, will learn with amazement that
the compositors received such eexorbi-
tant pay, with absolutely uninterrupted
employment all the year through.
The organ referred to speaks OF the
sslocked out" printers of Los Angeles.
OF course this journal would disdain
to notice . the Billingsgate of this
sheet. Under any circumstances all
we would care to advert to
<would be some untrue statements
that would deceive well meaning man
who was not acquainted with the cir
,cumstances. The facss were that the
publishers made perfectly legitimate
demand for reduction OF the scale from
fifty to forty cents on morning and from
forty-five to tkirty-five cents on evening
journs.ls. Whist they really aimed at
was a reduction of five cents on each,
and the higher figure was named in or
der for the Typographical Union to split
the difference. Instead of giving res
pectful consideration to this request,
the compositors Issued a peremptory de-
mand on the publishers that they
should sign contract within twenty
four hours--by twelve O'Clock the next
day-to pay the existing wages for
year to come, no matter what vicissi-
tudes might osertake this region. No
such demand was ever before made on
the publishers of any journal of the
United States. 1t was refused, and the
whole force of compositors, at an hour
most agreeable to themselves, and
which they truly supposed would be
most embarrassing to the publishers,
proceeded to lock themselves out.
This Office is today supplied with as
good force as it ever had. 1t pays the
highest wages paid to the craft. 1t
thinks they ought to be lower, but it
will struggle to pay the usual scale, and
if it should find that it cannot do SO
any longer it will make frank appeal
to its employees. We think we see
signs of a business revival that will
enable us to adhere to this high scale.
But we have at least the knowledge that