Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-10
IN LABOR CIRCLES
@

The printers Of Washington are making a
determined struggle for the inauguration
of an eight-hour day. It is observed that
the elements of disorder that mark the
course of many strikes are absent from the
one being conducted by the local typos.
They are energetic and resourceful, for
they are all intelligent men-educated In a
school which has produced some of the
brightest lights in literature and other pro-
LESSONS.
They claim that they are contending for
a. principle which means much to life and
happiness, and they are fighting hard, but
within the bounds of propriety and respect
ability.
As to the outcome Of the local struggle,
It is vet too early to indulge in prophecies.
The Typothetae declares it is well equipped
for the struggle and is sure to win But
the Washington printers are hopeiu'. A'
one of their leaders expressed II: ;,
Our cause is just and we must succeeo.
The Weekly Bulletin OF the Ciotnlne
Trades, speaking editorially on the print
ers' strike. says:
"On the score of health alone the printer
is entitled to the eight-hour day. Prlntlns
Is one Of the dangerous trades. 1t stanos
fourth In the list of occupations IN TINS
country in the proportion or Vlctnns "
tuberculosis. OF the printers VINO oie ah-
The eight-hour day in the newspaper omces,
now established for eight years. has not
only noticeably improved the healtn VI INC
men in that branch of the trade, out ny
lifted them morally, financially ana ii'ei-
lectuaily.''
The union reports that 1t has been espe-
cially successful in Chicago. Preslaent E. =.
R. Wright of Typographical Union NO. 10 20
confident that his forces will win the strlke.
Luke Grant a Chicago labor writer, III
his review of the printers strike gives sone
interesting data. He says:
AT the end of the first week OF the great.
est industrial struggle in the history oA
modern trade unionism, the prospects seem
bright for the printers establishing tie
eight-hour workday in the United states
and Canada. No one can tell at TINS mo
ment what the final outcome VIII pe puI
with 800 cities and towns in the eight-houf
column it seems improbable that the print
ers ever will again be forced TO recoshiIe
nine hours as the standard working DAY.
while the agitation for q reduction III
the hours of labor has been carried on -or
years, not only in the printing craft put
in many other trades as well, there are TWO
phases of the present struggle that are OF
particular interest to the student OF the m
dustrial problem. Volumes have been VIII
ten on the abstract benefits which come 10
the wage-earner with shorter hours or Ia
Dor In those trades where the shorter
workday has been established the real bene-
fits are apparent also, but aside from that
the present strike offers a practical oppor-
tunity of studying two phases of the prop
lem that are of particular interest.
I'm the first place, 1t is one of the few
strikes called by labor organization which
extends to the limits of its jurisdiction In
two countries, and in the second pace II
will show whether the methods OF pure
and simple trade unlonism are eHectlFe
or not.
1.-The present strike affects not corpora
ton or a locality, but the entire printing
industry in the United States and Canada.
1t Is that phase of the question that makes
it one of more than usual interest TO the
close observer of such movements.
''Of recent years. at the end of each I'M
successful strike, the socialists and the
industrialists in the ranks or the LABOR
unions have declared that the pure ana
simple trade union methods had outlived
their usefulness. The socialists have ad-
vocated striking at the ballot box and the
industrialists have advocated an organiza-
ton of all the workers in a particular in
dustry under one head, so that all coulo
strike at the same moment. The SOCIALISTS
continue to strike at the ballot box, ana
the industrialists are busily engaged in try
ing to disrupt the old unions and reorganize
them on different lines. but the printers are
achieving practical results by the old
methods.
NO strike in recent times in this country
has offered such an opportunity to study
what is known as pure and simple trade
unionsm as the present struggle of the
printers for an eight-hour day. The ques-
discussed
ers were warned at least eighteen months
in advance; steps were taken TO fill the
war chest; concliatory offers We're made
the employers to avert the conflict and the
strike was finally called on the day set as
a last resort.
Since the strike began 1t has been con-
Quoted along lines that even the employ
ers cannot criticise. The press reports from
the various points throughout the country
have invariably contained line stating
that no violence attended the strike In
every respect It is a test of modern trade
unionism.
SHOULD the movement end in failure 1t
wOuld not be conclusive proof that the
pure and simple advocates are wrong. In
one respect the printers failed to make ade-
quate preparations for the struggle. the
assessment voted at the St Louis conven-
ton and afterward ratified by the mem
bership. of one-half of / per cent Of the
gross earnings for twelve months was not
enough. The leaders recognize that fact
now but they are in the struggle and the
membership by a majority of 1000 has
voted a 10 per cent assessment. In all
other respects the strike Is being conducted
In exact accordance with the ideas OF the
old school unionists.
The power of organiza ton is well shown
in the fight the members Of the United
Typothetae are making against the print
ers. Although they constitute but small
minority of the employers, they are the
organized minority, and they are holding
ont firmly where the unorganized majority
is being forced TO yield. AS is usual In
every strike, number of employers are
breaking away from the Typothetae and
treating with the union as individuals, but
If fakes a long time for that sort of cam
paign to be decisive. The Typothetae
will have to yield as an organized body be-
fore the fight will end. At the present time
there seems to be little inclination on the
part of the Typothetae to give up the fight.
The printers, however, have the advan-
tage in the way of organization. a major
ity of the competent printers of the coun-
try are in the ranks of the union, and COM
petent printers cannot be made in a week
or in q year. That makes the struggle
largely one of endurance, which means, IN
other words, one of finance.
A plan for the Initiative and referendum
which was submitted to the subordinate
unions OF the Brcklayers and Masons' In
terna tional Union several months ago, II is
said has been defeated the measure hay
ing failed to receive the required two-thirds
vote by %. The reorganization of the
vote as officially announced shows that the
proposition was submitted to 81 unions,
OF which 696 unions voted, casting a total
of II 27S, of which 1,512 votes were cast
in the affirmative and 51G6 in the mega
tive AS the necessary two-thirds vote of
the total cast is 1l,51S 2-3 and the affirma-
tive vote being 11,512, there was lack Of
6 % votes of the constitutional majority.
1t is said that the returns of the vote of