The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-17
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY
FOR UNION PRINTERS
They Are Steadily Winning in the
Fight for the Shorter
Workday.
Another Reduction Has Been
Made in the Assessment for
Strike Purposes.

That the International Typogra-
phical union is steadily gaining in
it's fight for the eight hour work
day there is no doubt.
The local officers of the Duluth
Typographical union, No. 1876. re-
ceived notice from the headquarters
of the 1. T. U. last Saturday even
ing that the strike assessment had
been reduced to S per cent of all
the moneys earned by thu men,
bers of the union.
There is no better evidence
wanted of the success of the print
ers in their struggle for the short
er workday. Ten per cent has
been most cheerfully paid by al:
members of the I. T. U. for the
past year to achieve the eight-hour
day and that their demand is just
and right is proven by the fact
that over 500 cities in the United
States and Canada have acceded to
it.
Locally there has not been much
change in the situation, but the
proprietor Of one Of the struck
shops in recent conversation said
that the eight hour was right, and
that he believed it would come. He
thought the time was little too
early yet for such a change. How
ever, he said that the business con-
ditions would adjust themselves to
the shorter workday. 1t is just
the same with all big reforms. At
first people look on them with
some opposition. When they are
accomplished very little is said, be-
cause everything adjusts Itself. 1t
will be the same in the struggle Of
the l. T. U. for the eight hour
workday.
There is no labor organization
that would have stood the heavy
assessment that the union printers
have for the past twelve months.
They have been loyal and true to
the principles which they uphold,
and their enemies admire Them for
their firm and steadfast adherence
to those principles.
In all the jurisdiction of the
great l. T. U. it is a question
whether there has been AS faith
full and as true a band of work.
ers in the cause as the members
OF l1o. 1876.
Night anil day they have labored
fer the success Of the eight hour
day: which they were ordered to
demand OF Oct. 5, 1906 at the
expiration Of their contract with
the employing book and job print
ers of this city. Never can 1t be
said that the union printers vio-
lated their contract with the en-
ployers. 1t will never be us long
as the l. T. U. exists.
The Duluth Typographical union
has now been on strike for over
one year and not one member has
deserted the union STANDARD. and
never, will. Up to the last hour
before the strike occurred, every
member of the union employed in
the book and job offices of this
city performed his work just as
faithfully as if no strike was to
occur. This fact is attested to by
the employers themselves and was
so stated on the afternoon of Oct.
4, 1905, to the secretary treasurer
of No. 1876 at a meeting of the
employers on that day.
1t was the hope of the U. T. A.,
the employing printers association,
that a great protest would have
been raised at the convention of
tho international Typographical
union last August against the 10
per cent. Instead every delesate
present assured the convention that
his union was ready and willing "
pay the 10 per cent, yes, and ,ven
more, to win the eight hour lay
Success must be ours, said thu
delegates, and we are there to win.
This was the unanimous opinion of
the hundreds of delegates. Where
such spirit of unity exists moth
ing can subdue it.
1t can be said with honor to the
International Typographical Union
and the membership comprising
the same, that they have conducted
great fight for the past twelve
months that might we'll be emulat-
ed by other trade union organiza-
tions. 1t has been a most peace
full and successful one and the men
at the head of the same, both ma
tional and local, deserve a great
deal of credit for the able manner
in which they have handled It.
The International Typographical
union is still fighting for the e.
hour day and all it asks of it's
friends is that they have all their
printing done in a union office and
that the same bear the union label
the emblem of fair workmanship
under fair conditions.
Walter r. Eastman, vice nros,-
dent of the Duluth Typographical
union, and delegate of that body to
the Duluth Federated Trades 49,
sembly, left this week for the west.
Mr.. Eastman has been a most en-
thusiastic worker in the caus, of
unionism, and has at all times heen
a willing worker for the upbui]ding
of trades unionism. His manV
friends wish him every success in
his new field Of labor.
John A. Barron has returned IN
the city after some months ah-
sence. Mr.. Barron Is a member
of the Duluth Typographical union
and was it's president at one time
for a year. He also represented his
craft in the Federated Trades, =,