New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-17
HELP FOR NEEDY PRINTERS.
TIE PRESIDENT OF TYPOGRAPHICAL tNloN
10 6 TELLS WHAT THAT BODY Is DOING
FOR IT'S MEMBERS.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: A widely circulated letter signed "Old Typo
IN the cours. of a severe criticism OF alleged nom
action by Typograp hical Union No. 6 in the mat
ter Of the unemployed calls on me. as president o'
the union TO make a public explanation OF TINS
failure Of the Union TO perform urgent duty Old
'rvno'' complains that the dues Of the Union are
very heavy and the expenses light; that NO D.
although "the strongest union in the state ~
Every much in the dark when figuring among
the donors: and that while he has himself Deeh "a
paving member for nine years. he must. If he
gets sick or In need" merely trust IN COD ana
not expect all from the union AS NO. performs
its work year in and year out with little flourish
Of trumpets. It Is not surprising to It's members
that editors should be unaware OF the mislniorhld-
ton contained in "Old Typos letter lut on
every point touched upon in 1t "Old Typo Is IN
error. The union dues are but O. cents a month";
and In ten years there have been but three assess
ments for additional funds-one In the winter oil
1851 one for a brief period In 1871 ana one OH
two weeks nav last fall on the other hand, be-
yond the regular expenses Of the body as VradeS-
union incurred TO maintain fair wages for "Od
Typo and his fellow-members. no. q pays out on
an average 5000 year in funeral BENEFITS ana
it has beds for sick members in s.. Marys HOS
ptal. Brooklyn. and st. Nincents New-fo rk' ana
an option on five beds in Roosevelt. On SUNDAY
last it made its stated appropriations OF sfV ior
hospital purposes, with $50 additional to St Jo-
consent also paid full death benefits in the cases
three members who had died disqualiiltu. + M
ther in neary every large cna Th s orsanz
tons pay from Sc to 80 a week as SICK penen''
all times lend money to their members without Sc
curty. ,., -. ,ho
Union is the sharing of their work by me en-
ployed with the unempoyed This meth9d wriSh rs
become general. many members going on IRON
work two days a week. and some even 'hret; 10
do m
unionsts Some Of the chapels have NGted nt non o,.
vrel< In iris y'av several thousand dollars in
worl; is given every week to those Otherwise "'-
During the present hard times No. began an the the
wor; of relief early In October it rai%td by ,o a9
poycd This was sufficient to meet the calls on
the Union for nearly w' months IN 'ha' c mn
and ffty-two in the form S1 aa ., hycad Tho
money thus handled passed from the contrlpip'S u.s.
the assisted at cost of but per cont when W.
ing Committee served without compensation. ana
it's report, with the details OF collecting IN, mon I
he received open at the Union Rooms to the l',-
bershp Part Of this fund was spent com IN nni
in sending others TO Europe. while to others VIZ
extended loans. At the Union nee;ns on Tor
four weeks by which at least 5000 VIII be ra.,'
The n12n S nan be ran uPon h members
giving cheerfully. Loyalty. and are hcarty support
M The cue unkind reference Of lola Typo to the two
political clubs made up by union me EN- re-, .a,
The case OF the $500 members. not NOR than 100
we're in both clubs. and the existence OF either as
printers clubs deeply regretted by our mem
bership In general .omn,r. ., .,o
In Conclusion | take pleasure In referring TO thc
fact that up to the present only one employer
among the hundreds 70" won the members OF NO
6 are working has shown a disposition TO reduce
wages Apparently even This one VIII not insist on
trying TO do So Relieving that No. is wortny
no confidence Of all ts members. ana assurll-
. .a MAJ The rress can at time obtain proper
a00e"s ~ ''' JAMES J. MURPHY.
President Typographical Union NO o.
New-York Jan. &C. 1894