Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-27
BATTLE OF GIANTS
IN LABOR WORLD
Contest Over Eight Hour Law
in Printing Trades.
TO OPEN NEXT MONTH
BOTH SIDES OF CONTROVERSY
WELL PREPARED.
Big Fund Raised for Expenses-state-
ment by Observation-Disclosures
Aids Employees.

we DO not WdIi bifc ciShS-iSe' N'~-'
reason of charity or philanthropy. We do
not want it in order that our physical or
mental well-beng may be improved. we
refuse to abandon our eight-hour demand
because we may under present conditions
be more fortunately situated than other
day because we are convinced that 1t SUI
fees for the work there is to do. the work
that is to be done, the demand OF society
for the product of the press. We propose TO
sell to the employer eight hours out of the
twenty four and we will do as we please
with the remaining sixteen. Extract from
report of eight-hour committee, lnterna-
tional Typographical Union.
A struggle that will involve the printing
offices throughout the country is to begin
next week with the clearly enunclateo
principle quoted the casus belli. Inc
fight will be one of principle entlreiy. 1nete
is no such element of human interest in TINS
struggle for supremacy as enters the orol-
nary war between the employer and the
employed. There is no sudden precapltaIoH
of hostilities. For months the matter mas
been under consideration, and months ago
this consideration bore fruit IN the report
that has been cited Due notice was given
the employers by their employees that on a
certain date they would make a demand,
and each side was given ample opportunity
to collect the sinews of war, to prepare for
a battle which would decide once and for
all time a question That has been one OF the
ghosts that have haunted practical econo-
mists since organized labor came into
being. And whatever way the question Is
decided the result will be far-reaching.
Far-Reaching Effect.
AS the slowest to provoke trouble the
best-managed and most intelligent of
unions the international organization of
printers has always been looked upon by
other labor bodies as a leader in all that
made for the good of the laboring classes.
Whatever it has done, the other unions have
also endeavored to do, and whenever it
has enunciated principle the other unions
have chorused an amen" that meant they
also would try to do it. Il is therefore ap-
parent that the fight of the typos for eight
hours will be watched closely, not only by
all labor organization leaders of whatever
class or kind, but by employers of all
kinds and classes, as the barometer is
watched by the farmer who has a field of
wheat to cut, or the mariner who has a ship
on the sea.
The employers. in this instance, have an
orga niation which is only second in impor-
lance to that of the employed The Ma
tional Typothetea, made up of employing
printers, is regarded by the printers as a
most fornlida BILE body, just as the Typo
graphical Union is regarded by the
ployers as a strong organization. The prep
arations that are being made and that have
been made for the struggle that is to come
is perhaps the best evidence of this fact.
Neither side is max ng aamboyant state
mentS for the purpose of creating public
sympathy. Both sides are very much in
earnest end are determined to carry the
fight to the last ditch, to give no quarter
and accept none. Each side believes it is
absolutely right and each side is determined
%
it's demands, the Typographical Union
has issued, in its defy to the employers a
statement that shops that do not comply
with its demands shall suffer through the
calling out of all the union printers whom
they may happen to employ. This state
ment has been given the widest publicity.
The employers, as represented in the Ty
pothetea, have absolutely refused to COM
ply with the demands and have come out
In an equally fat-foot manner.
Statement of Typothetea.
In this city, as in other cities throughout
the country, customers of the various
| print shops have been given due notice of
| the conditions that will exist when war is
actually on The notice to the patrons of
the printing trade In Washington was re-
| ceived by them this morning 1t is signed
by sixteen firms of printers who are in
Guided In the Washington Typothetae and
states:
Columbia Typogra phical Union, No. 1Jl.
having demanded of the employing print
ers of Washington an eight-hour day and
closed shop, said demand being accom-
panied with a threat to call out their mem
bers from those offices not accedng to
said demands, the undersigned respectfully
| submit to their clients and the public the
| following statement:
The Typothetae of Washington (mem-
| Der of the National Association of Employ
! ing Printers), in response TO Il communica-
| ton from Columbia Typogra phicaI Union,
| No. 10l, requesting a conference to nego-
! tiate an agreement concerning hours of Ia
| Dor in printing offices, appointed COM
| mittee of five to meet a like committee
| from the union. The employing printers
| we're fully empowered to enter into any
agreement the result of the conference
would warrant. The conference, however,
! " as without result, 1t being early developed
| that the committee of five from the union
| we're powerless to transact any business
| other than to submit a paper prepared
| before they came to the conference.-the
| to obey the instructions of an International
! body with offices at indianapolis, Ind, the
| union committee having no powers beyond
! the presentation of demand.
we maintain the right of every firm TO
| conduct an open ofIice-one wherein any
| American citizen may pursue his vocation
| and reap the benefits of superior knowledge
and workmanship untrammeled by int1u-
| ences seeking repression of ability to boil
| ster up incompetency. We deny the right
| Of any person or organization to demand
| closed shop'-that is, shop wherein only
| such persons as have subscribed to the
| union oath are deemed worthy OF employ
| ment.
| I'VE maintain the right to conduct our
| business without the supervision or inter-
| ference of persons designated by the unions
"a system of surveillance repugnant alike
| to our manhood and American Institutions.
/ We maintain the right to sell or purchase
| from whomsoever we may see nit without
| prejudice. 1t being understood that the laws
| of demand and supply alone should govern
| transactions Of buying and selling.
| Would Increase Cost Of Printing.
I'VE propose to resist every unwarrantea
| or unJustifiable incroachment of organiza-
| ton upon our rights and to the full extent
| of our resources viii resist this well-piau-