Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-12
UNION PRINTERS MEET
Fiity-Third Session of tbe Inter.
 national Typographical Union.

|
 hotel, which has been temporaril,
 converted into a convention hall, Ad 1 dresses of welcome were made by tn, mayor of the city, the officers of tn,
 local union and others, and were re
 sponded to by President James M I Lynch. The reports of officers wer,
 then presented to the convention About 1,500 delegates and visitors
 were in attendance.
 The report of President Lynch is { l comprehensive document, and covers the progress made by the Interna
 tional Typographical union for tht period elappsing since the Colorado Springs convention, and also outline, new policies and touches upon those that have become part of the worl and history of the organization Among other things an aggressive campaign for the union label is re commended, and 1t is quite likely that this subject will occupy con- siderable of the conventions tmie The campaign for an eight-hour day which has been vigorously prose cuted by the International Typo graphical Union for nearly two years is touched upon extensively.and 1t is | shown that this movement has been attended with a very large degree lof success, about 45,000 members oi the union now working not more than eight-hours per day.
 In the presidents report the prop | osition to pension the superannuated and incapacitated membersof the un. ion is given considerable space. This feature if adopted will be new venture for the union, but it is looked on with much favor by the delegates and undoubtedly proposition em- bracing the pension feature will be submitted to membership vote o. 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 mem- bers to learn the operation of the new device. Because of that wise policy nearly all typesetting machines are now operated by union printers. This object Is touched upon in the presidents report, and the member ship is advised to continue the friend ly attitude toward the machine, and to create the greatest opportunity for the instruction of union printers in the operation of typesetting ma chimes.
 Another most important propo- sition touched upon in the presi- dents report embraces the sanitary conditions in composing rooms throughout the country. The pres ident strongly advises that local unions insist on healthful workrooms and without question the conven- tion will endorse the presidents recommendation. The movement for the stamping out of tuberculosis has become national, and the union printers believe that they arc vital ly interested in its success. Tuber- culosis 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. It is believed by the union printers that unsanitary and badly ventilated composing rooms are re sponsible for much of the tuber- culosis that exists among them. and they propose to see to 1t that they are not made victims of 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- tween the American Newspaper Pub fishers Association and the Inter- national Typographical Union is given extended notice in the presi- dents report. It is shown that about 200 of the larger newspapers of the country have arbitration con- tracts with the International Typo graphical union. It is also demon strated that this agreement has been of great value to the union and that many increases in wages have been secured under 1t in a peaceable way. The operation of this agreement thus far has been distinct success. and it is believed that there will be but lit- tie friction under 1t. It will expire in 1912.
 The president recommends rigid rules for the education of appren- tices. The union seeks to turn out first-class workmen, believing that the betterment of conditions and the securing of a fair wage depends to a large extent on the ability of the workman.
 The Union Printers Home. as stat ed by the president in his report, Is a most successful institution. It is supported and maintained entirely by the International Typographical un- ion. and is the only institution of Its kind in the world.
 Secretary -Treasurer Bramwood, in his report. shows that the collections for the year ending May 31. 190E have reached the enormous total of s1, ,93a, ,304 91. and the expenditures Sl.- 642.441.94. leaving a balance in the treasury of s296. .s62gT. There was also collected during the same period for the support of the Union Printers home, s61 .a31.40.
 The secretary-treasurer shows that the expenditures from the burial fund for the year reached the sum of s3n.- 20. The total expenditures from thIs fund since it's establishment In 1S92 have been s443.105. The average age of death of printers for the year was 45.7 years
 It Is proposed to build an addition to the Union Printers home. and the fund for this purpose is known as the Cum minrs memorial fund. There was in