Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-10
PRINTERS GIVE GLAD HAND
Warm Welcome for President Donnelly Of
International typographical Union.
swEeTHeARTs AND WIVES AMONG GUESTS
Members Of the Craft In Omaha and
Vicinity Vie with Each other
in Making the visitor
Feel AT Home.

Over 200 banqueters sat about the tables
spread in the hall OF the Central Labor
union last evening to welcome Samuel b.
Donnely Of New York City. president OF
the International Typographical union, to
this city. The guests were principally men,
bers Of the printing and allied trades and
their wives and sweethearts, with few dis
tinguished visitors from other walks OF life.
The hall was prettily decorated for the oc-
casion and an orchestra played during the
dinner. Four long tables were extended
across the hall and at right angles with the
second table was the speakers table. s. 8.
Smiley, president Of the local typographical
union, presided and introduced the speakers.
AT his right sat the guest of the evening.
Among others at the head table we're: Will
liam bell, president OF the Central Labor
union; Thomas F. Sturgess, X. 8. Fisher,
H. G. Butler, Fred M. Youngs, John Little,
F. A. Kennedy, Victor Rosewater, T. w. Nc
Cullough, Sans Woodbridge, Harry Haskell,
w. @. Boyer, Louis Hawkinson, v. B. Kim
ney and M. ]. Buckley. Lincoln printers
were represented by Messrs. Foxworthy and
Stun. Council Bluffs sent over a delegation
OF dozen, headed by Messrs Riggs and
simmons. The South Omaha crowd came in
with Messrs. B. g. Smith and Frank Hart.
A'pleasant feature Of the banquet was the
presence Of the women. 1t was the first
typographical banquet in this city at which
they were guests. Some were seated about
the tables with the men. while others looked
atter the serving Of the dinner. On account
OF their presence cigars were not lighted
until the party adjourned and nothing
stronger than coffee was served.
Welcomes the Guest,
When President Smiley had raped for or
DER ne introduced T. F. Sturgess who re-
piled briefly to the toast, "Our Guest" In
part he said:
we are proud Of our union. We have
ievel-headed, conservative men at the head
or It, During the last week there has
quietly gone into effect new scale of nine
and . half hours per day and wages that
are satisfactory to employers and EMPLOYEES.
Though the interests Of the two are diamet
rlcaily opposed. we have always been able
to get along well. and because the union has
oeen represented by conservative men the
employers have always treated us with con-
slderation. Past differences are now forgot
ten and there is not a ripple to disturb the
smooth sailing before u.s.
w. G. Boyer of the local union was called
upon to tell Of the western printer. He
described him in his early days. the "old
Missouri river pirate" the rough and ready
printer. better than any other class on earth.
The western printer learns by a harder
lesson than his eastern brother. He has no
type foundry around the corner, where he
can buy the type the business office wants.
The western printer gets into everything ex-
eept jail. He succeeds in everything he UNDER
taxes, almost everything. He 10 a hustler,
we have the national printers home In
the west and have furnished itss.liys Az .surels
intendents and expect to supply the rest"
Prof. Packard Of No. 100 played his new
exposition march on the piano and was SO
warmly applauded that he responded with
Love is King"
DOnnelly Speaks.
Every one In the hall rose and applauded
when Samuel B. Donnelly was introduced
to respond to the toast, "The International
Typographical Union" After acknowledge
ing this warm greeting he said: when I
came here tonight a friend of mine said:
Talk about New York all you like; you're
up against the real thing now.' I guess I
am. l am very glad to be here too. An
eastern man associated with trades union
ism told me some time ago that ] would
md the unions in the west very weak, that
they were made up Of the most radical men.
who wore long hair and talked free sill
ver Naughter.) But I find in the west
unions that for strength cannot be excelled
and 1t ID from the western cities that year
after year come In the reports: There are
no non-union printers here (Applause.)
This city could give the staid old town
OF Boston many pointers on trades unionism
For years the typographical union In Boston
has tried to get in the women, but without
success. I am glad to see the women here
tonight. 1t shows that you have succeeded
where others have failed. This is important.
You should have the women in your union
The men are the wage earners, but It's
usually the women who disburse the money.
No matter how high the scale OF wages may
be the happiness Of the home depends on
the disbursements.
"The printer Of today has all OF the good
qualities Of the old Missouri river printer
and not quite SO many Of his vices. The
International Typographical union is today
the strongest labor union In the country
At the coming election of the American
Federation of Labor we will cast no less
than One-eighth Of the entire vote. In more
than 800 towns we today maintain our scale
Of wages. This Is not because Of the money
at our backs. but because Of the grit and
determination Of the men in the union. We
have been generally successful In our cam.
paign for a shorter work day and there is
only one city where there is a strike now
In Pittsburg there are thirty printers out
The object Of the executive council Is, be-
fore organizing any new unions, to
strengthen those in the principal cities and
towns that may now be weak. We can do
most good by building up strong unions In
the largest cities and towns. We believe
every situation in the composing room comes
within the scope Of the union and for that
reason would admit the machinists to the
union. We favor the maintenance OF the
referendum system Of voting. We believe
in the discussion Of economic questions In
trade union meetings.
1T is through the slow process OF thor
ough education and complete organization
that we will gain our final victory. In Bos-
ton a few days ago they were discussing
a scale that wouldn't be tolerated In Omaha
ten minutes. 1t allowed the business man
ager and foreman to combine and give
thirty-six hours work to one man and forty
two to another, thus hoping to break down
the scale Of wages and keep down any agi-
tators. The International Typographical
union will be q leader in considerably dis