Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-11
TYPOS IN ANNUAL
SESSION AT CINCINNATI

SESSION AT CINCINNATI
Cincinnati, Aug. 1.-THE 4Sth an
nual convention of the international
Typographical union began its ses-
sion of four days here today with
365 delegates and over one thousand
visitors. President James T. Lynch,
in response to the addresses of well
come, delivered a speech in behalf of
the union.
The president said: THE greatest
problem of this or any other age is
said to be embraced in the scientific
creation of wealth and its scientific
distribution. Capital is endeavoring
to solve the first part of the question
and the combination of wage earn
ers, the labor organizations, the lat
ter. To this effort the international
Typographical union has contribut-
ed. The high place of the printing
trade, the prosperity of its followers,
and the constantly increasing re-
muneration which they are receiving,
attests in great measure our sue
cess"
The president then reviewed the
work of the entire International field
for the year Just closed. which he
said had been remarkable for peace
and tranquility in its Industrial re-
lations The membership, he said,
had reason for congratulation, when
the many betterments which had
been secured without friction was
taken into consideration. Continuing
he said: '''Fhe new year opened well,
and every effort will be made by
your officers to avoid conflict, and at
the same time conserve the interests
of local unions. While strikes Will
be avoided where possible, yet if en-
tered into, they Will be prosecuted
with all the vigor that can be eNer-
ciSed. and will not be abandoned until
the unfair employer is made to feel
the terrible cost upon arrogance
and a refusal to accord just condi-
tions.'
The president directs attention to
two recommendations embodied in the
report of the union delegates to the
American Federation of Labor, relat-
ing to the economic and political pro-
positions, and reiterates the advice
of last year in his remarks on this
subject that we should confine our
action to the admonition to study all
political policies with the hope that
wise selections may be made" The
president joins the federation dele
gates in recommending that it
would be well to refer both the po-
litical and autonomy propositions
to the referendum in concise ques-
tion and allow the membership to eN-
press its will as to the policy that
should be pursued by the Typo
graphical union and its representa-
tives on those important subjects.
The new or amended arbitration
agreement, the president says, is
being taken advantage of by pub
fishers, but owing to the fact that
the agreement is to run five years,
he is exercising great care before
attaching his signature to establish
to a great certainty that the con-
ditions are as represented in the con-
tracts.
''The practice" the president says,
''of securing industrial peace through
contracts running from one to five
years, has become very popular with
local unions and employers. 1t
would be well for the convention to
recommend to our subordinate unions
that wherever possible contracts be
executed and that these contracts
contain arbitration provisions that
will guarantee the peaceable opera
tion of industrial departments under
the terms of the contracts, and make
as remote as possible the chance for
friction and trouble.
THE desire on the part of our book
and job members for an eight hour
day is beginning to manifest itself
and is receiving encouragement in
many jurisdictions. That the eight
hour day will eventually be estab
lished as the maximum for our en-
tire membership goes without chal-
lenge. We trust that it may come
peaceably, but in any event, come it
must''
The report of j. NJ. Bramwood, sec
retary-treasurer, showed that the re-
ceipts from June 1, 1901, to May 81,
1902, were $151,141, and the expendi-
lures were $145.76S, the balanct on
hand being $3s,O72. The present
membership is 39,711. There were
twenty strikes in all during the year,
nine resulting in victory for the
union, three being lost and eight in
progress.
Resolutions of sympathy and sup
port of the United Mine Workers in
the anthracite strike were adopted.