The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-08
PRINTERS BIG MEETING.

typographical Union Meets at Louis
LOUISVILLE, Oct s.-The forty-second
convention of the International Typo
graphical union opened here this morn
\ ing at Odd Fellows hall.
1 Mr.. w. b. Prescott Of Indianapolis,
president Of the l. Z. e, called the con
vention to order
Dr. 2. 6. Eaton opened the convention
with prayer
Mayor Taylor delivered an address Of
welcome TO the visitors.
| Col R M. Kelly, editor of the Com
mercial, welcomed the ''typos" on behalf
of the press and Mr. II. A. Boies, presi-
dent of the local typographical union, on
behalf of the local printers.
The following is an abstract of Presi-
dent Presc0tt's annual report:
President Prescott, in his annual report
Sad that the membership of the organi-
cation has increased during the past year
by over ], 800, exclusive Of 1,OJ0 German
speaking printers who affiliated IN &C
cordance with the agreement approved
pal city in the country Is represented by
the new charters issued
Financially the union IS in excellent
shape, the general fuLd continuing to
accumulate. Despite tn = prevailing con
dItiOns, the receipts lave more than
equ<lled expenditures. Reference is
made to failure of the indianapolis bank,
in which the funds of the union were
deposited and it is figured out that after
the final dividend has been declared the
union will sustain net loss Of about
$4,000.
With the idea of reducing this amount
suit has been Instituted by the directors
as individuals. / he report deals with
the pressmen's imbroglio, with the con-
dltion OF the printers home at Colorado
Springs. and with the question Of shorter
hours. On the latter the report refers TO
the defeat last year of the proposition of
making nine hours days work, and con-
tinues:
1T is evident that the causes which go
TO make shorter hours, sucA a necessity
at this time. also serve to impart hope 10
The opposition and should warn US that
adequate preparation is more necessary
than ever. In business where the prof
lis are not usually inOrdinate and in
which the cost OF material and rent are
such potent factors in the cost Of Produc-
tion, it is futile to suppose that employ
ers will make d change long as there
is seeming opportunity for successful re-
sistance.
.sTherefore it will be duty to formu-
late some plan for submission to the
membership which contains as
prerequisite to the adoption of 4 shorter
work day a means for accumulating a
large fund for the purpose of posecut'ng
the fight. The most cursory observer of
recent events in the labor world must be
sentiAl feature will be prelude to
worse state than the existing one.
Though the industrial outlook is not
an encouraging one just now, yet this is
the proper time to make preparation
Now is the time to buckle on our armOr
and prepare for the fray."
Touching on machines and their effect,
he says:
.Coincident with and perhaps in a
measure attribute BILE to the depression
through which the world has been pass
ing. type-setting machines we're intro
duced in large numbers throughout the
country. Based on the most reliable in
formation obtainable, it ID 4 conservative
statement to say that these devices, Of
which there are about ], 400 IN opera
tion, according to the various manu-
facturers, have deprived $500 Of our
mem bers of employment True to the
history and ethics of trades unionism,
we have not antagonized them,
but have with some reluctance form
uIated scales and entered into agree
ments subject to the changed conditions
Many changes have arisen and will arise
to harass,a in dealing with them it will
benefit US and the future of the trade to
be deliberate, accepting the inevitable
and securing the best terms possible. 1t
would be a foolish invasion of facts to
deny or close our eyes to the inevitable
truth that machines for a time are plac
ing US at disadvantage in dealing with
employers This, too. can only be mini
mized by the application Of the basic
principles of unionism, hearty acqules-
cence in the majority's will.
''It has been advocated in some quar-
ters that the union secure control Of
or offer Inducements for the
invention of new ones, rent
ing them to publishers and others. This
may be dismissed as chimerical. The
makers of one of the most successful
machines expended about $1,O00,OOO
coming.
lowing to the acute inventive genius
of the age. the life of any machine IS
problematical, and II would take an ac-
cumuIation of capital far beyond ours to
successfully undertake the making OF
one and maintain its supremacy
s.Amid the darkness and gloom that
surrounds the Introduction of machinery
il is pleasing TO know that in the major
ity of cases employers have shown dis
position to engage their old employees as
operators thus effecting the least posi-
bic disturbance in the personnel of the
affected unions"
At 12-3O the convention adjourned un-
til Tuesday morning out OF respect TO the
memory of George W. Childs and An
thOny j. Drexel
This afternoon at 2:30 there will be a
street parade. In this parade Will be the
oldest member of the International uu-
ion; in the person of James R. Watson of
this city. sir. Watson is 81 years of age
The parade Will be followed by an enter
tainment provided for the visitors at MI
sic Hall
Tomorrow the work of the convention
proper will begin, but the election Of Of
ficers will not come up before Thurs
day.
RRECK FOR SENATOR.