The San Francisco call., 1906-09-18
EDITED BY Q M. BOYLE.

viii regret to learn that R A Massey.
third vice president Of the tnterna-
tional body, has resigned his position
and expects TO enter into business for
himself. Mr.. Massey has been identi-
ned with the organization for many
years, ana while his work has been
mainly In cne Southwest. he is widely
knowa on this coast. To him is due
ia great part the adoption of the first
contract under the maximum hour and
minimum wage scale. That movement
was inaUgurated in Fort Worth. Texas.
some years since He rendered most
raluable services on the constitution
committee at the Galveston convention.
He was always an able defender OF
system for higher dues and more
20 erts for the individual member The
best wishes Of Mr.. Masseys many
friends on the Pacific Coast go with
him in his new venture. and if honesty
Of purpose and sterling character count
for anything in a business career, the
late vice president merits abundant
success.
Printing Pressmen's Union No "a
met in weekly session Sunday after
noon at 33S Noe street and unanimously
adopted the new scale as presented 10
the employing printers September s.
The wage scale went into effect Sep
tember 10. The scale gives an increase
X. ]
is feared that the manner of forcing
the scale upon the proprietors at such
short notice viii work a great hard
ship and may cause a breaking of the
amicable feeling which has existed for
some time between employer and en-
ploye.
The letter sent by the employing
printers to the union pointed out the
handships which would result from
such sudden action. They promised
a raise OF about 50 a week all around.
but the union would not accept the
proposition. Pending the controversy
the increased scale demanded by the
union viii be paid under protest The
letter says In part:
We consider the manner in which
you seek TO increase your pay TO be
III advised and not calculated TO pro-
mote the peace and good viii that
ought 10 exist between employers and
A employees. We submit TO you that past
, experience should have taught you that
x was unnecessary as well as unwise
Arbitrary action is rarely judiciOus. It
is naturally resisted Some years ago
when the work day was ten hours an
arbitrary demand OF this kind for a
reduction TO nine hours was success
fully contested. The employers won
and afterward voluntarily conceded at
lrst nine and one-half and then nine
hours Our contention was and is that
matters Of wages and all differences
should be settled by both parties by
conference preferably, by arbitration if
As to the present extraordinary con-
ditions, we wish TO submit that we
have no desire to blink facts. We know
that the demand for labor is great
We have shown this by paying more
than scale. We also acknowledge that
there has been some increase in the
cost OF living, and we are perfectly
willing TO do what is just and fair in
the matter. but we see beyond the
present troublesome times, and We wish
10 pursue q course that viii be for your
interest as well as ours in the days TO
come. San Francisco is in an abnor-
nal condition. but Il viii work out of
*, and when its rehabilitation is COM
misfortune If IL is burdened by a per-
nanent scale of wages greatly in ex-
cess Of those paid elsewhere There
can be but one result-the printing
business VIII suffer severely and much
work viii be done elsewhere. Even
now an enormous amount or printing IS
and other Pacific Coast points. in Salt
Lake and at the East. Any consider
able increase Of cost viii drive more
away. and II viii stay away You must
realize that most Of US have lost very
heavily by the fire. Confident of the
tpture OF the city and the trade. we
ave invested large sums in new plants,
= ld with your intelligent cooperation
we can hold the trade, gain a fair re-
turn on our Investment and pay you
good wages We want to pay you all
turns for the money We are putting cut
10 provide for the work that ought to
be done here.
We have shown in the past that we
are willing to pay higher wages and
run less hours than obtain IN the COM
nlunitfes with which we compete We
expect to DO this in the future, but we
assure YOU that there is g limit and
that when II is past We shall both SUI
fer. We wish to propose that you al
low the scale to remain unchanged un-
IS n nf nntnfF.
the meantime we Will pay an agreed
sum in advance of the scale. Or II you
prefer we viii agree upon temporary
scale for a period TO be fixed, and at
the eTtl of the time We viii confer with
you as TO its modification. II is un-
satisfactory to reduce a permanent
scale but If we can agree upon rate
that meets present conditions II can
readily be modified TO meet future con-
ditions that no one can now toresee e
others rights and come to some Just,
sensible friendly understanding that
viii enable US 10 work together TOT
sur mutual advantage.
In view of this conference and its
probable results we respectfully ask
that the present scale stand until we
understanding, agreeing that any rate
OF pay that we settle upon snail GATE
from September 10.
The executive board Of the State
feleraLlOu or LABOR was IN ScocAOli
Sunday afternoon at S55 Webster street
A progressive report was received from
Organizer L =. Biddle from the SOUTH
ern part of the State Reports from
the northern section Of California are
very encouraging. One thousand labor
bulletins have been ordered TO be dis
trfbuted to the affiliated unions and
hung in their meeting places
Varnishers' and Polishers Union No.
1S4 met at $50 Church street last Sat
urday evening Five candidates were
obligated and seven applications are
on the secretary's desk awaiting action
A committee on new headquarters was
appointed and requested to bring In
report at the next meeting. As soon
as the union is located in its new quar-
ters a high jinks VIII be given IN honor
Of the new members. A special pro-
eramme is now being arranged and
the committee in charge promises an
enjoyable evening.
Golden Gate Auxiliary Of Painters
Apprentices will hold an election for
officers next Thursday night After the
business of the evening is completed 1t