The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-08-15
UNION PRINTERS
AT HOT SPRINGS
Forty-Third Session of the International TWO
graphical Union Opened Monday
Many Delegates and Visitors.

thS iiNS liliIu convention OIL Dle
International Typographical Union
was called to order Monday in
the spacious dining room of the
Eastman hotel, which has been
temporarily converted into Il con-
vcntion hall. Addresses of wei.
come were made by the Mayor of
the city, the officers of the local
union and others, and were re-
sponded to by President James NJ.
Lynch. The reports OF the
officers were then presented to the
convention. About 1000 dele
gates and visitors are in attend
ance.
The report of President Lynch
Is Il comprehensive document and
covers the progress made by the
International Typographical Union
for the period clapsing since the
Colorado Springs convention, and
also outlines new policies and
touches upon those that have be-
come part of the work and his
tory of the organization. Among
other things an aggressive cam
palgn for the union label is recon-
mended, and it is quite likely that
this subject will occupy consider
able of the couvention's time. The
campaign for an eight-hour day
has been vigorously prosecuted by
the international Typographical
Union for nearly two years, is
touched upon extensively, and il
is shown that this movement has
been attended with a very large
degree of success, about I5, 1000
members of the union now WORKING
not more than eight hours per day.
In the :eSident's report the
proposition TO pension the super
annuated and incapacitated mem
Ders of the union is given consider
able space. This feature, if adopt
ed, will be n new venture for the
union, but it is looked on with
much favor by the delegates, and
a position embracing
the pension feature will be sub
mltted to Il membership vote of
the international Typographical
Union
This union, on the introduction
OF typesetting machines, avoided
the error committed by other trade.
unions in fighting the machine.
and encouraged and advised the
members to learn the operation of
the new device. Because of that
wise policy nearly all typcsetting
machines are now operated by
union printers. This subject is
touched upon in the Presidents re-
port, and the membership is ad-
vlsed to continue the friendly at
tltude toward the machine, and to
create the greatest opportunity for
the instruction of union printers in
the operation of typesetting de-
vices.
Another most important propo-
sltlon touched upon in the presi-
dents report embraces the sanitary
conditions in composing rooms
throughout the country. The
president strongly advises that
local unions insist on healthful
work rooms, and without question
the convention Will endorse the
presidents recommendation. The
movement for the stamping out of
tuberculosis has become national.
and the union printers believe that
they are vitally interested in its
success. tuberculosis has for
many years been the scourge of the
printing trade, and the Union
Printers Home at present contains
a large number of patients who are
suffering from the white plague
1t Is believed by the union printers
that unsanitary and badly venti-
lated composing rooms are respon-
Slble for much of the tuberculosis
that exists among them, and they
propose to see to it that they are
not made victims of a disease. that
in nearly all cases spells death.
From the expressions of the dele
gates it is evident that there will
be drastic action by the convention
along this line.
The arbitration agreement be-