Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-08

meet the sanction OF both God and man, we
therefore, with these ends in view and by this
incontrovertibe truth strongly impressed with
the hope that our endeavors will in like man
ner merit the commentator Of all good men
and draw down upon all our undertakings the
benign influence of our Creator, do unite and
form ourselves one body for the mutual
benefit Of each, binding ourselves one to the
other"
The foregoing is the opening paragraph OF
the declaration and constitution of that
ancient and honorable organization-C Columbia
typographical society-and the words quoted
were penned during the month of December,
lSl4 That organization was the sturdy root
from which sprang Columbia typographical
union, No. 10l. one of the most prosperous and
powerful of all the many vigorous combina-
tons of labor in this country.
ORIGIN OF THE WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
The city Wa hington was a comparatively
Insignificant hamlet when there gathered to-
gether, on the evening of Saturday, December
10, 1914, few of the more prominent printers
then resident here. They met at the house
Of ii. G. Lewis, and with Andrew Tate
chairman and William Duncan acting as
secretary, 1t was resolved that all jour-
neymen printers in the District Of Colum-
bia be invited to meet with the promoters a
week later and at the same place. There was
ameetIng at the time appointed, when Messrs.
Lewis, Coyle, Gideon, Sauttee and Sauter, who
had been appointed committee on constitu-
ton, reported document which seems to have
been satisfactory. A curious old constitution
1t is, gazed at through modern eyes, and some
of its provisions would be regarded as perhaps
little too paternal in these advanced days
One Of the more remarkable articles in it is
the twelfth, which SAYS: Whenever satisfac-
tory evidence of the immoral or improper con-
duct of any member shall be exhibited to the
society by member thereof it shall expel such
immoral or improper person if two-thirds of
the members present concur"
CARE OF THE SICK.
The society also proposed to take care of the
sick AID to properly inter the dead. Article
XIV provided for the payment of sick benefits
to ''sickly or distressed members. their widows
and children" not exceeding 50 a week in any
one case. Section Of the same article pro-
vides that 'the sum of SIS be allowed from the
funds OF the society to the widow or nearest
relative of any deceased member for the pur-
pose Of defraying funeral expenses" &c.
BADGE wEARERs
They wore badges in those good old DAYS,
for it Is expressly stated in a whole article that
"every member Of this society shall furnish
himself with a silver rule, of such size and di-
mansions as may be established by the society;
on one side shall be engraved the members
name and on the other a press; and a golden
rule shall be provided for the president for the
use OF him and his successors in Office, on one
side Of which shall be engraved President of
the Columbia Typographical Society," and on
the other side press. over which shall be an
appropriate motto. to be hereafter designated
and expressed by the society. At all process
6IOQs of the " ma. M m hall
their badge 11spspdsd by blue ribbon from
the second button OF the coat" ~4G
sUBsCRIBERs TO THE CONSTITUTION.
The constitution was subscribed to by Alex-
ander Graham, Andrew Tate, Francis Burke,
Jacob Gideon, jr., F. Coyle, Peter C. Konkle,
81. c. Lewis, Henry Martin, John H. Wade,
David Mckenna, Christopher Byrne, William
Fighter, John Allen, Robert Allen, W. L. Now
land, John Hines, James Pettlgrew, John
Erskine, John Morrison, Alex. l. Lawrence,
VIM. Dougherty, Thomas @. Foster, JAS b.
Carter, Robert Dodson, Augustin p Soaring
D. futile, Peter Force, Timothy Byrne and
William s. De Grushe. This old document.
with the proceedings of the society up to the
date OF Its merging into the typographical
union, Is to be found in a number of volumes
now IN the hands of Secretary Frank Padgett
OF the union. These volumes are in frst-class
condition despite their age. The binding is
worn and rusty, the edges are stained with the
dust OF three-quarters of a century, but the ink
with which the society's proceedings were
noted has faded but little in some instances
and not at all In others.
The FIRST OFFICERS.
The FIRST president was Alexander Graham.
and his brother officers in the primary organi-
Eation were Vim. Duncan, vice president: An
drew Tate, treasurer; John Sutor. secretary.
They were elected January z, 1915 The sec
Rotary, who had started out well chirographi-
caily, began to get tired in June, and when the
hrst day OF July came around his penmanship
was OF very low order, but still readable
Very precise was his record, very stilted
were his phrases and he was simply a past
master as to grammatical construction. In all
the minutes Of the society's proceedings
there was not visible to The STAR reporter who
examined them a single grammatical error Az
the second meeting a letter, copies OF which
had been sent to the societies in Baltimore
Philadelphia, New York, Albany and Boston,
was read In 1t the attention of iourneymen
at those points was directed TO the fact that a
society was IN existence here, and in order
that there be no doubt as 70 what the society
was FOR scale OF prices appended From
this document II seems that the wages paid
while Congress was III session were fixed at : 10
per week, but during the recess the Journey
men had TO get along on 80. There was a good
deal OF hberality In the scale, however for
when there was a rush OF work the men would
work three or four hours longer than was Gus
tomary and without extra compensation some
times Tor week a. a time. Then they would
get even during the less busy season by taking
day or two OF once in a while and the pro-
prietor OF the Office never made any deduction
on account Of absence. This treatment was
ere long accorded only to a privileged few for
when Congress was not in session liberal
minded and open handed employers frequently
gave their men opportunities to do piece work
allowed them TO make much as they could
when there was no work to be DONE
DRAINING THE LINES.
1t was not long, therefore. before the society
lost some of its early elasticity for it insisted
that work done for the departments and au-
thorized by Congress was congressional work.
The practical result of this was the abolition
OF the 80 rate; IL was either $40 all the year
round or 1t was piece work.
Piece rates were fixedat % cents per 1000 for
BREWER and upward and 1919 cents for smaller
sizes than BREWER. Job press work was recon-
Pensed at the rate of 33}s cents per token but
the newspaper pressman was given 3714 cents.
Sunday work was frowned upon TO the extent
OF s2 and no member of the society would
allow his conscientious scruples to be wrenched
for a less SUM-
The FIRST member Of the Society to escape
from long hours and $40 a week was John
Hines and at special meeting held on the
evening OF Monday, August Is, 1915 the secre-
tary was authorized to draw on the treasurer
for go with which to deiray Mr. Hines funeral
expenses AT the next regular meeting men,
bers were requested to wear Grape ON their left
Wna Nnr ENNN H.