The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-13
MACHINES PUT THEM OUT
BOOkBINDERs PROBABLY WILL ASK
SHORTER wORKDAY.
Eastern workmen Get SIS a Week
and Western SIG, and This Is to
be Equalized-A Smoker.


the International Brotherhood of Book
binders, meeting in the Statehouse, are
generally of opinion that a resolution IA
voring shorter hours OF work should be
passed before the convention adjourns
During the sessions there has been much
talk along that line, and the sentiment
crystallized yesterday afternoon with the
introduction of a resolution favoring a
workday of eight hours. No action was
taken on the resolution, and II will be re-
ferred for consideration to a special COM
mittee TO be appointed by President Tatum
The attitude of those favoring a shorter
days work Is that the introduction OF i'm
proved machinery has particularly affected
the bookbinder's trade by throwing out Of
work a considerable number of men and
bringing about increased idleness through
out the country among members of the
craft. 1t is believed that if agreement
with employers was reached, whereby the
length Of days work should be cut from
nine hours to eight hours, the detrimental
effects of the introduction OF labor-saving
machinery would be largely overcome,
since IL would follow, naturally, that more
would be employed. The bookbinders
believe that If the situation was to be rep
sented accurately 10 the employers they
would not hold out against what is re-
garded a pressing need. Before adj
journment is taken which will be prob
ably tomorrow, ii is expected that the
committee will report on the resolution
and vote will be taken.
The proceedings of the convention were
enlivened yesterday afternoon by the
urgent claims of delegates from St Louis,
St Paul, Denver, Atlanta and Columbus
that the particular city represented by
them have the next biennial convention.
The electioneering. while strenuous, was
good humored, and a hard fight will be
made by the contestants to secure the
prize. At the present time IL looks as If
St Louis has the CALL for the reason that
the year of the next biennial convention
will be the year of the st. Louis Worlds
Fair and the central situation of the Mis-
souri, city is also a point in its favor. Den
YER is also popular, and ii is predicted that
the fight will be between these two cities.
The committee on reports of officers made
its report to the convention yesterday, APP
proving the reports of President Tatum,
Secretary Dougherty and Secretary-treas-
urer ESpey. Approval was given to the
presidents recommendation that fund be
established for the care of superannuated
binders and binder women; that a death
benefit be established not TO exceed $lOO;
that apprentices shall not be admitted TO
the craft without four years service, the
age limit TO be from fifteen to eighteen
years and that an official journal be estab-
lshed by the brotherhood and issued free
TO members.
ADJUSTMENT OF WAGE SCALES.
The convention spent several hours dis
cussing how best the wage scale in the
West could be equalized with the wage
scale in the East. 1t is desired by the
bookbinders that Western workmen shall
receive no less for their work than Eastern
members of the craft and before adjourn
ment the convention will certainly take de-
cisive action on that matter. The minimum
of wages now paid in the East is SIS
week in the West il is SIG A special COM
mittee will be appointed by President Ia
tum TO consider the scale equalization.
The project of establishing a home for
aged and INDECENT bookbinders also
considered at length by the convention.
Several speeches were made in favor OF the
establishment of a home similar to the
home for printers Attention was called TO
the fact that nearly $4,000 has been sub
scribed for that purpose and that there
would be little difficulty in securing the
funds necessary. 1t is believed that the
brotherhood favors the project and action
is expected by to-days meeting. The rest
of the time of the days sessions was Oc-
cupied in clearing up miscellaneous bust
ness to make way for the larger questions
up to-day.
Inc session DrOlgnt out the Idct lndJ the
fight for the presidency of the International
Brotherhood is fierce. 1t has developed
into a contest between the Eastern and
Western delegates for supremacy. James
E. Cogan, of Philadelphia, represents the
former, and the present president, Ed G..
Tatum, of Chicago, stands as the choice OF
the latter. The vote will certainly be on
these two and the indications are that
Tatum will again capture the office. The
warm Endorsement of his policy by the
committee on officers reports and his popu-
] - ALL toe erfxr Il
that his opponent will find il difficult to
| overcome, 1t is predicted.