The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-18
A GREAT LABOR UNION,
From the Syracuse Post-standard.

from tne syracuse POSt-Standard.
we are indebted to James NJ. Lynch, of
this city, the president of the Interna-
tional Typographical union, for copy of
the reports of officers of that magnificent
labor organization, printed for the forty
eighth session in Cincinnati.
Evidently the Typographical union is
in tourishing condition. 1t had 3S,S75
members when the reports We're made
and it has distributed $l45. 76O.3l in bene-
fits, salaries and other expenses during
the fiscal year, having, among other
things, used $46,433 of it's money for the
support of a home for unfortunate men,
bers. On hand at the end of the year
was balance of S3S072.25 in cash. Five
hundred and fourteen individual typo
graphical unions belong to the organiza-
ton. The l. T. U. is big, broad and
successful institution, and in many re-
spects a model to all other labor organi-
cations throughout the world.
We like the way Mr.. Lynch regards
his organization. When he addressed the
Publishers convention in February he
said: "Tradcs-unlonism is business
proposition. Our members have labor to
sell and We are desirous of extending our
market. We claim that we control the
best labor in the market We can, if
given the opportunity, prove this claim
to be a fact" That is, the International
Typographical union is not demanding
rights and privileges for its members,
offering nothing in return; it is trying to
make it appear that the best business
interests of the employers of printers are
furthered by doing business with the
union.
The fact that IS per cent. of the ma
chimes which do the work so much faster
than it used to be done by hand are
operated by members of the union, is evil
dence of the soundness of the claim. The
nrt tr,tt f,,l t,,t L.,
bor unions are trying to hinder industrial
progress. does not hold as against the
Typographical union. "If we have de-
creased hours" said a recent writer in
the Typographical journal, 1--WE have also
more than increased the relative pace till
the output per man per day Is greater
than ever before"
BY all odds the greatest thing speaking
from the point Of view of the spectator,
that the International Typographical
union has achieved within recent times
Is its agreement with the American News
paper Publishers association. Under this
agreement, which is printed in full in
Mr. Lynch's book, a complete system is
provided for the settlement of disputes
between employers and employees. 1t pre-
vents strikes, lockouts, loss of wages and
hindrance 10 the employment of capital
1t is a splendid arrangement, and the
Typographical union has brought 1t into
hor organization that exists in this coun-
try, perhaps In any country.
One important thing remains to be
done; that Is, to alter the clause which
provides for the abrogation of contracts
when publishers have trouble with other
trades, 1T must be admitted" says
President Lynch, that 1t is not good
business policy under ordinary conditions
to sign contract containing a stipua-
tion that one party to that contract, with
out reference to the other authority, may
at it's discretion declare the contract null
and void"
The amount OF money, needlessly lost
by employees, by great business enter
prises and by the general public through
the refusal of labor unions to recognize
the wisdom of the kind of progress which
the Typographical union advocates would
provide sick benefits, out of work bene-
FITS. homes for the infirm and bread and
butter for widows and orphans of work.
.ngmen for q long space of time.