The San Francisco call., 1907-01-18

The news that the executive COM
mittee Of the United Typothetae of
America and the executive council Of
tle international Printing Pressmen's S
and Assistants Union have signed a
nye-year agreement in Philadelphia
under the terms Of which the men Will
not be granted an eight-hour day until
1903 is not likely TO be received with
enthusiasm on this coast The press
mems agreement, with the typothetae
viii expire next May, and the printers,
\ who have spent over S3,OOO,0O in their
night for the eight-hour day. expected
that the pressmen would join forces
with them and insist upon the conces-
sion at once. The fight Of the Typo
graphical Union is practically won, only
1000 or 5000 out Of $4,000 members
working over eight hours at the pres
ent time. Under these conditions most
OF the pressmen expected to be granted
the shorter workday at the expiration
OF the present agreement Under the
terms OF the agreement just signed the
nine-hour DAY will remain in effect in
the pressrooms for two years. The rea-
sons Tor accepting these terms VIII be
eagerly sought by the printers and
pressmen alike. The news Of the sign
ing OF this agreement was the talk OF
the printing trades men IN this city
yesterday. International Organizer
George L. Berry OF Printing Pressmen's
Union no. "a has not yet been nOu-
fed that such a contract has been
signed and was astOunded over the
news.
IF such an agreement has been
signed by the executive council Of the
international Printing Pressmen," said
Organizer Berry in discussing the sit
uation. 1T certainly viii not meet with
the approval Of the Pacific Coast dele
cation to the next international conven-
tion, which viii meet in New York next
June. Up and down this coast, with the
exception OF Los Angeles, the press
men are working on an eight-hour
basis and we viii take no backward
step out here. We believe that very
little trouble would have been expert
enced in enforcing the eight-hour day
for pressmen in all parts Of the coun-
/ try after the present contract viii have
expired in May, provided the pressmen
and Typographical Union had worked IN
harmony as they did on this coast. II
is certain that there will be a big fight
brought about by this so-caled COM
promise at the next convention
To show the feeling Of the local
Pressmen's Union on the subject-a
feeling that is shared by all the locals
on the coast-the following excerpt
from a resolution recently passed by
the local union and sent to every union
in the United States is particularly
pertinent:
Resolved, BY san Francisco Printing
Pressmen's Union No. "a, that we en-
phatically protest against the making
Of any agreement between the J. p. p.
and A. e. and the United Typothetae OF
America involving a wOrkday Of more
than eight hours, and that we demand
that a fun statement of the present
status of the negotiations be given TO
the membership through the board OF
directors and that if such board should
fail to reach an amicable agreement
with the United TypOthetae by the end
Of January 1907, the question OF en-
forcing the eight-hour day by strike
id necessary, at the expiration Of the
present agreement, be then submitted
TO the referendum for decision"
George A. Tracy, president OF Typo
graphical Union No. 21, was also sur
prised that the pressmen should have
signed such an unfavorable agreement.
Mr.. Trac-- said:
The agreement reached between the executive
council OF the Interna ti0nal Printing Bresslen
and the National Iypothetae OF America; Mie winch
runs for i've years after next May, ana Wnlcn
provides that the eigt-hOur day shall be IN et-
feet after January 4, 1909, is, 70 my mind,
| en exceedingly poor bargain Tor the pressnelL
\ flfhough Il IS not for me 10 criucise their
action II they themselves are satisfied. The
fact that the Typothetae has agreed TO grant
hence Is evidence undisputable that the EN-
ployers organization has been whipped 10
hnish bv the Typographical Union in the great
eight hour struggle that has been Wagcu The past
wear In fhe conference at Philadelphia between
the committee of the pressmen and the Typothe-
fae viewing the result at long range ] should say
that the pTessmen have been very neatly gold
bricked-
As a result OF the fight between the printers
and the Typ0thetae, the latter organization has
thar two years hence IL win have passed out Of
existence. Already q new employers organiza-
tion starts ont on much broader lines than those
of the Typothetae, and, II the employers are TO
have an organization, the new employing Frlnt-
on League Of America VIII undoubtedly be the
medium through which they VIII be success
fully brought together. In the event Of the sue
cessful elimination Of this new employers or
ganization the present fve-year contract with
the Typothetae win not be worth much more than
this time bv the pressmen's council would have
settled the whole eiglt-hOur question in our
craft for all time 70 come
At the meeting Of the Labor Council
tonight the nominations for officers
for the ensuing six months viii be
closed At the meeting last week An
drew ]. Gallagher Of the Photo-en-
gravers' Union and George W. Bell OF
the Gas Workers Union were placed
in nomination for the presidency OF
the council. IT is not likely that any
more nominations viii be made for
this office, and already the delegates
are being lined up by the friends OF
one or the other Of the candidates.
From present indications there is likely
to be q close fight between the pair,
as each is well qualified for the posi-
tion and has a large clientele OF friends.
Secretary william p. McCabe is the
only candidate placed in nomination
so far for the position OF secretary.
There viii be considerable Of contest
for places on the executive board. 9th
eryvise there is no likelihood OF any
close fights.
Walters Union no. 80 met in regu-
lar weekly session at 1895 Scott street
on Wednesday night, NJ. p. Scott pre-
siding. Reports were rendered by the
delegates TO the Stockton convention.
They stated that they succeeded in
carrying out all the instructions OF the
local and assisted in forming a Cooks
and Walters Union in Stockton A Q.
Beck was elected auditor TO represent
the union on the joint auditing board
OF the affiliated unions. II was de-
cided 20 hold a reelection for presi-