The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-10-03
TYPE-sETTING MACHINES.
The typographical Union PIe'ideat
Talks Plainly to the Craft.


CHICAGO. Sept. 30.-One week from
Monday next the 42d annual conven'
ton of the International Topographic
cal Union will open at Louisville, KY.
An advance proof of the annual re-
port of President w. B. Prescott Of
Indianapolis, and which will be pre-.
sented Oh the opening day of the con-
ventiop, reached this city today. II
deals at length with a score o. ques.
tons affecting the fraternity and incl
dentalIy of interest to the world OF
trade unionism at large.
Type Setting Machines.
Touching upon Machines and Their
Effect" President Prescott will say:
''Coincident with, and perhaps In q
measure attributable to, the depression
through which the world has been
passing, machines were introduced in
large numbers throughout the country.
Based on the most reliable inforlna.
ton obtainable, it is conservative
statement to say that these devices-of
which there are about $50 in
operation, according to the va
rious manufacturers - have de-
prived $500 of our members of
employment. True to the ethics and
history of trade uhionism we have
not antagoniZed their introduction,
but have. with some reluctance, it may
be, readily formulated scales and ELL
tered into agreements suitable 10 the
changed conditions. Many new Ques-
lions have aud will arise to harass aud
aggravate us, and IN dealing with them
it will benefit US and the future OF the
craft to be deliberate, accepting the in
evitable and securing the very best
terms possible.
Don't Fight the Machines.
ut has been advocated in some quar-
ters that the international union Sc
cure control of patents of exist ng
machines or offer inventors induce
ments for the invention of new ones,
renting them to publishers and
others. This may be dismissed
as chimerical. Tue manufacturers
of one of the most successful
machines on the market expended
about $1,000, 900 before any financial
return was forthcoming, and it is
thought that this concern is even now
preventing, to 1t, disastrous compe-
tition only on account of its immense
capital and consequent ability to take
advantage of legal technicalities. or de-
fend it's supposed rights under our pat
ent laws.
"Amid the darkness and gloom that
surrounds the introduction Of ma
chimes it is pleasing to know that In
the majority of instances employers
have shown q disposition to engage
their old employees as operators, thue
effecting the least possible dis
turbance in the personnel of the
affe cted unions. While unable to
condone any local union regu-
lation which sought to deprive inter-
national card-holders of their legal
rights. what influence your officers
have had has been exercised in urging
employers to forego the importation of
static, and advising unions to impress
this upon their members, even going to
the extent Of urging the adoption of
particularly liberal students scales in
order to attain this end. In
some instances these sugges.
lions were not favorably con-
sidercd, with obvious results. 1t
Is hoped that similar mistakes will not
be made In the future. and it Is thought
a strong recommendation emanating
from the convention will tend to their
avoidance"