The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-25

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per sent OF the total newspaper circulation
is on the one cent basis. and this percen-
tage will apply In many parts Of the coun-
try.
within the five years from 1900 to 1906
capital to the extent of forty-seven mil
lion dollars ($47, 000. COO had been added 10
the investment for newspapers and peri
odicals, but the product per thousand dol
lars $1,000 invested had declined from
81. 400 in 1900 to $1,2SS In 1905. During that
period the mechanical cost of output had
increased about 30 per cent. For many
newspapers the increase In size and the
increase in circulation had not been at
tended by corresponding Increase In profit;
The tendency toward concentration and
consolidation in every other direction has
increased the cost OF every article sup
piled TO the newspaper. though 1t receives
less than formerly for the article itself.
Considering the care and attention and
energy and ability bestowed upon 1t. the
newspaper percentage of profit Is less than
hat of any other manufacturing enter
prise,
Speaking generally, the newspapers have
encountered large increases In cost OF pro-
duction and enormous decreases In earning
power with cuts in prices and cuts In
advertising rates. To meet competition
and save themselves. some Of them have
reduced their prices in sheer despair. The
competition between themselves and the
increases in output had been maintained
to the advantage of the employee-not of
the employer. This vast manufacturing
industry. representing a greater number
of establishments than any other one in
is refused the protection of the govern
ment.
"Unlike all the others, it has reached a
point where 1t cannot readily pass along
Its burden to its customers and It cannot
restore the conditions which prevailed prior
to the time when It gave away all OF It's
gains and improved facilities to the pub
burdens arising from the protection OF
every interest with which 1t deals. Every
machine that the publishers buy1and they
vested in machinery-has a tarlH on IL
whereby the manufacturer taxes them un-
duly. Every ounce or paper tney n o ort ass
prices.
I'm New York city and elsewhere. the
morning papers e sell praSI5leas Known s1 o. As tn tbe
American News Company. The newspapers
obtain all their telegraphlc news from a
macbinery from the Mergenthaler Limo
TYNE Company. They buy their advertising
type from a company formed by a compl-
nation of type foundries. In some cities
thew are confronted by combinations OF
advertisers which mark down the price
per line that the newspapers can onlain
every mechanic whom they employ Is pro
tected by a self-constituted tariI III ine
form of a labor union, and to tnat species
of COmDlDdlluu LutJ ~ NS'N6
amount of tribute. "a
"ft should 10 understood that the Ameri-
can Newspaper Publishers Association is
. n voluntary organization OF 2S newspapers
located In 11 cities. 1t has no power 70
compel any member to act outside or ms
own volitlon. Its national agreements WITH
labor organizations are not labor contracts.
They simply provide a way by which eacn
Individual publisher may secure arDitra-
ton without interruption TO his business,
the national labor organizations guarantee
" - 81 Aan nant fa RfA
made by the local unions under their 1uris-
diction: i'm other words, the national or
CARNATIONS underwrite local agreements;
These agreements have stood the practical
test of time and Of wide application under
an extreme range of conditions.
Under that arrangement both sides
were bound to make an effort toward con-
Citation. If that failed then they agreed
to try local arbitration, and finally ma
tIonal arbitration. II is true that under
the plan of arbitration neither side has OBJ
tnined II thought 1t was entitled 10
receive. but friendly relations were main
tanned. The employers had the oppor-
tunlty of work uninterrupted by strike or
lockout.
wasting effects Of warfare. Both sides
have been gamers. The principal gain Of
the employers is not In the troubles they
have settled, but In those they have pre-
vented. l know of no other group Of EN-
ployers which has succeeded in perfectinR
a great pact with the labor unions and
In maintaining entirely satisfactory re-
lations.
I'm 1901 the newspaper publishers had
accepted the idea of the closed shop and
of the eight-hour day. They had decided
to deal with labor representatives rather
than with individuals, and thereby they
Increased the responsibility of the unions.
They recognized the fact that the labor
question was full of complications and
that the leaders of The unions must exer-
else great patience and tact In controlling
the men who elected them to office. Dur
ing ak years, ending May ], 1907, arbitra-
ton contracts had prevailed whereby the
employers and employees arbitrated all
differences arising over wageE and hours
In new scales. A new agreement, which
went into operation on May l. 1907. in
Guided working conditions within the
scope of the arbitration, and also outlined
II radical departure in the abandonment OF
the third man, or umpire, In the boards OF
arbitration. Each side has an equal num-
Der of votes.
with the expiration Of the old arrange
ment and the Inauguration OF the new
plan the newspapers received an unusual
number and variety of demands. Sufficient
time has not Elapsed to test thoroughly
the merits Of the later methods. only
partial returns OF the present arbitration
ton. Thus far, this year, the publishers
and the unions have discussed 7B new
scales IN So cities, with the following re-
suits:
Settled by Cancellation (which means by
concessions to the unlons) ,.............. %
Nv afpltIatiOO. ...-..s. .
Under negotiation. IL
Total 76
"Regardless of these details, we find
that the adoption of arbitration for the
adjustment of labor disputes has tended
to increase the stability Of investment in
newspaper property, and it has afforded y
means for the settlement of minor con-
~tentions which formerly caused infinite
trouble, often leading to destruction of
property. enormous losses of wages and
| the p~nRGn0prt0E OF passion. Vhe DlY~
ments they made for the maintenance OF
this arbitration arrangement and for the
ca ryinC out of the policies of. Cancellation
were regarded by publishers as payments
for industrial Insurance. just az they paid
for fire and accident Insurance.
1T has been calculated that In New York
city clone the newspapers pay $1,5C0,000
per annrm as their tribute to the closed
shop and to organized labor. Any attempt
to estimate the aggregate paid by ali the
newspapers of the country would involve
too many complexities to justify the effort.
With each new concession to the unions,
or each new award Of arbitrators, che pub
fishers ask how far his payment may be