Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-27

QuCe l1c uSudi Output, IQeFe10TG. we re-
spectfully ask your indulgence. Assuring
you of our utmost effort to protect our
Joint interests and to continue the pursuit
OF our business as American citizens
The Sinews Of War.
That is the situation as 1t IL today and
as 1t will be until next week. when the de-
mands of the union are formally made and
rejected and the war commences The en-
ploying printers are, many OF them. men,
bers of the union or ex-members. Some OF
them, It Is said, stin carry union cards and
have always been in sympathy with union
matters. up to and so far as such matters
did not interfere with their business. Both
sides in the controversy have collected
large sums of money with which to carry
on the war Today the members or the Co.
lumbia Typographical Union are voting on
the proposition to assess all members 10
per cent of their wages to swell the fund.
The matter was brought up at meeting
Sunday, and decision was made to decide
the question finally by the referendum. To-
day was set as the day for voting. and the
printers have been casting ballots since
early this morning. The result will not be
known until late this evening, but 1t Is
stated that the sentiment of the union is
Known to be absolutely in favor of the
proposition.
Gompers to Aid Union.
Samuel Gompers, the president of the
American Federation of Labor, is prepar-
ing to lend the printers all the power that
hes behind his organization of millions of
men. a labor leader said to Star re-
porter that: 1T Is perhaps wise that we
have allowed the advance movement to be
made by an intelligent craft. We are go
ing to lend them all the assistance in our
power. Perhaps the boycott, when applied
by more than four millions of men. means
an 4 ino no
thing, 1t will in this fight. The labor world
is behind the printers in their struggle for
what their patron saint said should be
adopted by humanity-'Eight hours for
labor. eight hours for rest and eight hours
for recreation With this as their shib-
boleth the army of labor will enter into the
eight-hour fight on January l.
During the week word from the interna-
tonal headquarters at Indianapolis has been
received that more than three hundred SUBJ
ordinate unions have obtained the eight
hour day, and that by New Year many
more will have secured the conditions The
strike will become general January 2 in
all offices that do not concede the eight
hour day, and President James NJ. Lynch
Of the International Typographical Union
estimates that 10000 men and women will
be affected.
Fund for the Strike.
The printers all over the country have
been asked to vote to levy an assessment
of 10 per cent on all earnings to finance
their movement.
The printers estimate that their income
will be at least 100000 a week, beginning
January /, a sum sufficient to meet all con-
tingencies. When the general strike is in
augurated it is believed that scores Of cit
les and towns will go to the eight-hour
basis with little trouble, because all those
who We're depended upon to break the strike
haIvo hnor nHcnr. to5 Nv,
which the contest has been raging during
the past few months, and there will be
nothing for the printing Office proprietors to
do but fall gracefully in line with the eight
hour reform in a majority of the cities in
which the battle begins January 2. 1t is
not expected that any Of the newspaper
Offices will be affected, although the To-
ronto convention gave local unions power
to call sympathetic strikes where no agree
ment exists at a moments notice.
The International Union of Freshmen is
lending moral and financial aid to the
printers in their strike for the eight-hour
daV