New-York tribune., 1900-03-25
HALF A CENTURY'.S RECORD
WHAT TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION NO. HAS
ACCOMPLISHED SINCE ITS ORGAN.
IZATION.

In the latter part of 1a49 the price paid for
position per 100 by the New-York newspapers
was on The Tribune, 81 cents; the other papers,
30 cents This OF dissatisfaction to
the craft. and finally meeting was called dis
-cuss the advisabilty OF forming organization
and TO devise ways and means to adopt a uniform
scale of prices and also any other measures that
would lead 10 the betterment Of the condition OF
the compositors. This meeting was held on the
evening of December 20. 1s49, in Stonealrs Hall,
corner Of Nassau and Fulton sts, and was at
tended by twenty-seven compositors from the
offices Of The Commercial Advertiser The
Herald" The Tribune. and The Post" John
L Brown, who af<erward served several terms
Alderman of the city. chosen chairman of
the meeting, Charles w 'olburn secretary, and
George 4. Colburn GOorkeeper. After thorough
discussion It was decided TO form an organization
and constitution and bylaws adopted one
dollar fixed upon the initiation fee upon
the payment OF which and signing the constitution
those present could become members The twenty
seven promptly stepped forward, paid their
dollars. and affixed their to the constitution.
IT decided leave the election Of perma nent
officers to the next meeting. and Charles w Col
burn was appointed committee OF invite
Horace Greeley become the first president of the
organization.
On the first Saturday in January 1850 another
meeting was held in the hall and a perma-
nent organization effected. Horace Greeley hav-
ing accepted the invitation was elected president
Frank J. Ottarson vice-presIdent, w. a Prindle
recording secretary. Robert Cornngton fnan-
cial secretary. and Thomas y. Rocker of The Trib-
une. treasurer. II decided TO call the new
organization THE New-York Printers Union" A
uniform scale Of 32 cents per thousand was
adopted This was afterward put into effect with
little or no opposition.
INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP.
The union grew rapidly in numbers. and in De-
cember. 1885, convention of printers from this
and other parts of the country held for the
purpose OF discussing the formation of a National
organization. Ten unions represented The
following year another convention was held at
Baltimore. In 1852 the convention was held in Gin
cinnati, and the third day of session the
National Typographical Union (Which
afterward changed to the International Typo
graphical Union) formally organized. II was
agreed that the subordinate unions should be
designated by numbers. the numbers 10 be drawn
So chance gave 10 New-York Union the name she
has since made famous IN trades union annals
In 1863 the organization had grown SC large and
tts needs great that permanent headquarters
esta blished, with a salaried secretary 20 de-
vote his whole time TO the business OF the union.
and he filed the office for years with honor
himself and credit 10 the society.
In le7l the House Of Call was established. This
is place where members out OF work may regis
their names. and where employers IN need OF
In 1876 a disastrous strike in the book and job
Offices of the city. which the uflon between
$4,000 and 10000. and only partially success
ful the beginning OF the DARK period Of Big
financial distress and depression in the business
world. No. G. like all other trade organizations.
suffered from fl, The union was finally com
Ing allowed TO work for whatever they could get.
and the membership dwindled until out OF a mem
AsrshiD OF over 5000 only 800 were left in good