The Minneapolis journal., 1905-10-11

cers Of the Typothetae issued circular
TO it's members containing the following
national Typographical union to in
shorter workday have been
met by the earnest opposition Of the 4
United Typothetae of America, and
every effort possible is being made to
advise cities where agitation is carried:
on to turn q deaf ear to any such sug-
gestion, and,s:if necessary, fight it.
Definite Action Necessary.
'slThis action of the Typothetae male
it absolutely necessary for the Typo
graphical union Sconv vent ton. held in ST.
Louis the following August, to take
tion of the eight-hour day, and resolrl-
tions were unanimously adopted which
contained; in addition to a quite lengthy
preamble, the following:
: H Whereas, The overtures for peace
thus made were refused and declined,
and replied to with threat, combined
with practical declaration of war,
should any effort be made to achieve
the shorter workday, as witness the
language Of the resolutions adopted. 10y
the late Typothetae convention; be it
our entire willingness to negotiate with
the United Typothetae for an agreement
under which the eight-hour day will
become operative, and so instruct our
eight hour committee l..
F'In addition to this, the resolutions
provided that if negotiations were not
entered into by. the Typothetae the
eight-hour day should become effective
Jan. l, 1906, and that an assessment
of ho1f nf aot1f
levied on the earnings Of all members
of the organization for defense fund
for use in furtherance Of the eight-hour
movement The resolutions were then
submitted to referendum vote OF the
membership and adopted by an over
whelming majority. J.. 49,. xs-- & :,
"During the year following THIS con-
vention, numerous attempts were made
to obtain conferences. for the purpose
but without avail, and previous to the
meeting of the Typographical union
convention in Toronto, during August, OF i
this year, an invitation was extended
to the president and executive board
of the United Typothetae to be present
and address the convention. This IN
vitation was accepted, the executive
board attending and President Ellis
delivering a speech, meet? meeting ny With h., 2
vention reaffrmed the resolutions
adopted at the St.. Louis convention
and indorsed the action of the eight
hour committee without a dissenting
vote. In the meantime, the Typothetae
of Detroit and Chicago had forced the
fight in those cities by demanding that
the union sign nine-hour and open-shor
agreements, which were refused.
At Typothetae Convention.
"Just following this action the con
vention of the United Typothetae was
held in the city of Niagara Falls last
month Altho not invited, President
Lynch and myself visited that city dur
! ing the meeting, having previously mott
] fed the officers of the Typothetae We
were coming. On our telegram being
read to the convention, a motion was
adopted granting us the. privilege Of the
floor should we. desire it. The officers
Of the convention failed to notify III
of the adoption of this motion, and W.
only learned of it on reading the report
in the proceedings after the convention
had adjourned. We did, however, meet
with the executive board of the United
Typothetae, and after considerable dis
cussion, submitted a proposition for thu
consideration of the convention, tt
which we received the following reply
'ne 9seCPiy sCoSyvention H1 i. jn T. r. A., fNiagar.
Falls, N. Y, Sept. 7, 19o5:--Messrs
Lynch and Hays. Representing tn
tional Typographical Union-Gentlc
men: Concerning the following propo
1 sision,; presented by you this morning
"!That if the convention is in a recep
tive mood, that is, if the convention de
rsires to approach the question with tn
intention Of adjusting it. 80 as. t
eventually reach the eight hour day
we are here to negotiate, on that basis
rittee to inform you that it is unabl
to consider any agreement leading t.
ward the eight-hour day. Very trul
yours. - William Green, Chairman
Amicable Settlement Impossible. .
t'This, of course, closed all opportun
ties for an amicable settlement Of tn
forced the issue in Detroit and Chicag
for the evident purpose of preventin
the union starting the fight in all towr
on Jan. l, believing they could win in
few cities at time, the officers Of tl
International Typographical union q
termined to accept the challenge and Il
structed all unions to ask for eigh
hour agreements Immediately, where: e.
isting contracts did not prevent, wit
the result that since Sept. 8 more ths
125 cities have secured agreement
making total Of about 250 cities tn;
now have the eight-hour day in I'll
book and job branch or agreements
put it in effect not later than Jan.
next. .. ......s--.-
, "In addition to this a large numb
of cities have secured eight-hour agre
! ! ments with most of the employers. F.
instance Chicago union has secure
l agreements with 269 Offices employi1
about $500 men, while a strike is {
in twenty-five offices employing lit
more than 400 men; st. Louis union h
> secured agreements with ninety-eig
= offices, Cincinnati with seventy-fve c
= = fees and so on down the line, there b
ing only about 5000 men on strike
:, the United States out Of a membersh
: of $4,000. a--s-.
q q ""Locally the situation is more fave
. . able for the union than we expected
I would be at this time. In spite of
. claims Of the Typothetae no printe
u are coming to- the city, and I ventu
:, the assertion that if the union would
q q low it's members to return to work
. . morrow, not one Of the new men wou
be considered competent and retained
IOWA FARMERS IMMIGRAT
III civ+on,, Ara ~, Their Wav tn NJ