Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19

standing the Bookbinders' Local Union,
No. 4. is classed by labor leaders as among
the foremost. This organization has baffled
the ties Of life for more than half of CEN
fury and judging from its present status
1t will continue until the end of time.
The history of this craft is closely related
with the history of the United States gov
eminent bindery. as most all the members
of the organization are employed there, and
have been since the government bought the
immense plant in 1861 AS far back as
1885 there existed in the city of Washing
ton bOokbinders' society. Its membership
was small and consequently the meetings
were few in number.
In 1910 it ceased to exist and for more
than ten years the bookbinders Of the city
were unOrganiZed and no regular scale OF
prices prevailed in any shop. in January,
1850. trouble arose in one of the large local
binderieS on account OF the reduction In
the wages paid for piece work. The men
refused to accept the reduction and strike
was inaugurated, but, having no organiza-
ton or funds. the prospects of winning the
strike were not the least favorable.
The binders held a meeting and it was
decided to appoint a committee of two to
wait on Mr. Columbus Denham, who was at
that time foreman in bindery, and to con-
suit with him and get his advice as to what
course of procedure the men should select
The conference with MIR. Denham was held
and he tod his conferees that their cause
was just but. as they had no organization
TO assist them, it would be Impossible to
maintain their position, and he advised
them to call meeting of all the journey
men bookbinders in the city. form an or
ganizatoH. adopt a scale of prices and in
sst on its enforcement in every bookblndery
in the District Of Columbia
Following out his instructions the COM
mittee issued "A call and Mr. Dcnham was
invited To- be present. The meeting was set
for February IL 1850, and was held that
evening with the following bookbinders of
the city in attendance: Messrs- columbus
Denham. William Pettibone, Joseph A
Decide. ICUatiuS NJ. Knott, r. A. ConneI,
p. II. Cation. John W. Glover, Charles LIE
mon T j. AiuIIoy, William McLane, Viii
liam II. Nally, James Neale, l. r.
Stewart. Thomas Sessford. a. Sessford,
John TretIer. Thomas Triplett William b.
WiIliSs and George r. p. Britt. the greater
number of whom have since died
Mr. Denham. one OF the number re nam
ing took very active part IN the lorna
tion Of he society against the wishes ana
protests of his employer, who did not want
his foreman TO be an organizer OF labor
Organizations. After nineteen names had
been affixed TO the charter roll Mr., Den
ham was nominated and elected president
Of the organization. without Il dlsSe ming
voice Tha other officers elected were; vice
president Mr.. William P6ttibone; recording
secretary. Mr. Joseph y. Decide; treasurer,
Mr. I-uat:uS NJ. Knott
In the constitution Of that year the fol-
lowing preamble was inserted and 'JunCti
IN uno' adopted as the Eotto Of the body:
'.Fxperi,nce having proved that the
efforts IF individuals. however determined
they are. have been Undvailing in maintain
iGS an adequate rate OF wages, ana the
iuGep-rG. nee Of those compelled to labor
at the art and mysteries of hoolIbinding;
and in order to attain those desirable ends
the Coop. ration Of all the latter class Is
necessary. that q frequent meeting and in
tsrchaUGe Il opinions of all who work at
the art and mysteries of bJokpirdinS is
highly conducive to a thorough understand
r # gs Of
maiu;. Ua.ssc of q reasonable compensation
for his I.bor: ard belle wing that all who
work AT tJoEbiUdiTS in this city aye tenc-
tttd by he existence q this society, and in
justice bound 10 contribute their mite to
defrav its ,EpeESts. do enact. declare ard
establish the following as our constitution
and future rules Of government"
From 1915 - the present time the society
has been in continuous existence. increasing
in membership and growing III influence
each year II its life. and il stands today
one of Tho strongest labor organiza lions in
the country. and without doubt the oldest
bookhiud.rs society in the Uuited States.
For many years previous 10 ISL. all the
printing and h3'sbIndlnS Of the govern
mtHt was done 10y contract. and S there
were several Wei. established firms in the
city the bidding for the government work
WIS brisk. and rs the lowest bidders geuer-
ally received the contract work was taken
at very low figure The average scale of
wages during the period of the fifties
amounted To about ST. a wyt l.. and as the
contractors always endeavored to make as
much as they possibly could. they often re-
duced the wages and precipitated a strike.
In almost every instance the workmen were
successful. = they were thoroughly organ
tied.
In 1851 the United States government
bought the printing and binding estab-
NshmeUt uf Cornelius Wendell and ]. e.
MasUirr, ana early in March. after Presf-
dent L-rculn's inauguration. Mi. John D.
Defr5eS was appointed IS first superintend-
eEt Of public printing When the govern
Vel IL al : he. n1p
binders were increased from ST. To $14 a
week.
Shortly after the civil war broke out and
great many members OF the craft enlist
ed i'm the United States service to go to the
front. This left very few boukbnders and
as the prices of commodities increased,
wages were again pushed up. In February
1Stsi, the cInp- uSatiOn was Increased to SIG
a week: in December. 1867. 10 $3.50: in
june 1861. To ST.. and in November. 1864
10 81 The wages Of the bOokbinders re-
mairei al the latter rate until the passage
Of the act of February rs. 1877, which low
cred them 10 ~ cents an hour. BY an act
Of Congress which went into effect July l.
1889. wages were restored to 80 cents an
hour.
From 49,; 70 1865 the bookbinders had a
standing committee before Congress advo-
eating the passage Of the eight-hour law.
The committee was also affiliated with the
NorkingmeHs Assembly, organization
similar 10 the Fedora ton of Labor. and in
ali demonstrations, parades. public meet
laws. the hDokhinders society took d prom
ineEt part.
During the cafly days Of the organ'za-
uon. and also during the civil war strikes
were of common occurrence. Any infringe
ment Of the bOokbinders' rights and D wi
ieges was resented Immediately, and in
most cases they were victorious One OF
the longest and most stubborn battles the
craft experienced was in lSCrS at which
time there w.s no uniform scale of prices
the wages paid running from $1i to SIS
week.
The boohbinders and the printers resolved
to strike for SIS week ana eight hours 10
constitute day labor. When the time
arrived for the struggle the printers. ii is
said. wake ned and refused To back up the
binders, who. in conseq fence, went on
alone, and. after a seven weeks battle in
which many exciting incidents occurred a
comPr5rniss was effected, Public Printer De-
frees allowing them The increase of wages
but stating il WAS not in his power to grant
reduction IN the hours of labor.
During the struggle company of marines
was or duty around the printing Office and
the strikers had their pickets at the railroad
6epcts aud in the vicinity of the Office SO a s
TO prevent uOu-UuiUn men from dpuIVine for