The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-31
THE PRINTERS
STANDPOINT
Strike of Union Printers as Viewed by
the Unf0n-Facts Set Forth in Jus.
LITIGATION Of the Walk Out and Rea.
sons for the Same.

SUuc lUT luC SHules
To the Editor:
The undersigned wish to set before
the reading public of this vicinity a
few facts regarding the present strike
of union printers. 1t is an acknowl-
edged fact that our most bitter enc
mics are to be found in the ranks of
those who have never known anything
OF the relative merits of union and
non-union workmen, in other words,
those whose occupation has naturally
linked themselves with the capitalistic
element-on the other hand our
warmest friends are found to be sue
cessful employing printers, notable ex-
amples of these being G. w. Childs. the
founder of the union printers home;
William r. Hearst of Chicago; John
Ross Robinson of the Toronto. (Can-
ada) Telegram, and many other men
of ability to both think and act. The
reason of this friendship is: they have
found, as rule, that the word union
list was synonymous with capability
when applied to printers. There are
very many exceptions no doubt-which
proves the rule-union printers are
generally admitted to membership only
ulSC1 q lAOl OuSu LQOS6
competent to judge.
The charge has been made that, as
body, we have attempted to control
the business of our employers. This
is barefaced falsehood. Union print
ers, after an experience in the labor
market as unorgauiZed individuals,
benefited by the examples set by busi-
ness corporations and organized them.
selves into body whose interests were
common, subscribed to rules and regu-
lations under which they would con-
tract to furnish labor. and mapped out
conditions under which they would not
work, and employers have known what
these conditions were when they have
employed union men. Could they have
done better the field was open for
them to experiment
This condition Of affairs only come
about as a result of the laborer's ex-
perience under sweatshop conditions.
A point we'll worth consideration is the
worn out statement that the union de-
bases the superior workman to the
level of the average or inferior one.
This is also false. as the wage scale IL
minimum one, and superior work
men all over the continent ere drawing
salaries in excess of the scale of wages
set by the Typographical union.
We're the readers of this paper to
visit the sweatshops of the larger cit
les. where women are treated as cat.
tie and children worked into old age
before their thirteenth birthday they
would have picture of conditions OBJ
tanning at the present day in vast
number Of printing offices in the
United States, where no union exists.
In making this statement the writer
is speaking of what his eyes have seen.
The difference between these condi-
tons and those under which unionists
work have been brought about by in
telligent organization and united effort
on the part of men and women whose
chief aim has been to apply the prin-
ciples of the business world to their
own particular niche in the labor mar
ket, to the end that they might fur
nish fair days labor for . fair days
wage.
AS the reader probably knows, the
request Of the striking printers at the
present time is for an eight hour day.
This was very generously granted by
the employers of Grand Forks, almost
Immediately upon the solicitation of
the local union. At the present time
number Of printers in other localities
are on strike and we wish to gain for
them the moral support Of all persons
who, after giving the question due con-
sideration, are convinced that our mo-
tives are commepdable.
With this end In view those who
watch the advertising pages of this
paper will find In next Saturdays is
sue something of interest.-Grand
Forks typographical Union.