The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-22
l. r. u. WORKING DAY.
The Proposition to Make 1t Nine Hours
Does Not Garry.

The Proposition to Make 1t Nine Hours
Does Not Garry.
INDrANAPoLIs. Aug. 21.-'rhe vote Of shs
various typographical unions Of North
America on the proposition to make nine
hours days work has been completed,
and Monday w. b. Prescott. president, and
w. s. McClevey, secretary, OF the Inserna-
national union, at headquarters In this
city, concluded the work Of fguring up the
returns. The vote closed Saturday night.
AL the unions did not vote at the same
time on the proposition, but at their conye-
nience as regards the holding OF the slec-
ton. The total actual membersn snip in tho
union IL 23,5l3, and the total vote cast WAS
1886, considerably less than one-half the
membership voting. Under the ruling of
President Prescott that three-fourths sote
Of those voting was necessary to ratify, the
proposition failed to carry. This would
require 5,t72 votes in it's favor, and
but 9,340 we're SO cast, 1856 being against
1T. 1t thus fell shot of ratification by 332
votes. There are $40 unions in the juris-
diction. and the correspondence incident to
the vote records various reasons on the part
of those who voted against the provision.
A considerable number bclieve. that the
time for the Inauguration OF tins shorter day
was set for SO near a date, the 1st of Octo-
Der, as to render impossible preparation
so thorough as should he made before en-
terinR on q movement of 80 great impor-
tance. Another reason given, and one that,
i'll meaaure. explains why q greater vote
was not polied, was that number OF unions
efrained from voting because of the uncer-
tainty Of the effect. Still another reason
WAS because of existing agreements with
employers, which will not expire until after
the dato set for the law to take effect, and
for which no provision had been made.
"Thoae in favor of the shorter day" said
President Prescott to the reporter, "oan not
but feel Rratified at the result, and when
next voted upon the proposition will doubt
less carry. Another effort will be made
within twelve months"
Many of the unions are already working
nine hours and some only eight. canvass
of the vote of some of the larger cities shows
curious facts. No particular section was
markedly for or against it, the vote being
fairly divided all around. In New York
4l9 votes against. OF these the German
American union cast 1893 votes in the affirm
alive and not a vote in the negative. This
is signincant as showing how the German
printers stand as to shorter hours. In
Philadelphia 1893 votes were cast for
and 27S against; Cincinnati, 276 for
and 1873 against; Baltimore. 165 for and 122
against Boston, 33l for and 81 against;
New Haven, 10 for and II against; Pitts
| burg. 80 for and against; st. Louis, ~ for
and S3 against New Orleans, 16 for and
81 against; Louisville, 43 against; Detroit,
299 for and 81 against; st. Paul, 251 for and
As against; Cleveland, 100 for and AZ
against.
The smallness of the vote in a number
of places is accounted for by the fact that
it was taken the day after the Fourth of
July. The vote at st. Paul is nearest full
vote of the membership of the union of any
taken, and that of New Haven is the small
est. In Chicago Boston, Baltimore aud
some other places the pressmen have sap
arate unions and their vote is here included
in that Of the printers unions.