The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-05-31
DEVELOPMENT
Of UNION|SM
As RECORDED
Early Effort of Printers Dis.
cussed In Bulletin of
Government.

Every other month the Department
OF Commerce and Labor at Washing
ton issues a bulletin setting forth in
statistical form labor conditions
throughout the country. and also en-
bracinS special articles by agents If
the department and noted economists.
Bulletin No. 81, issued in November,
1905, had a notable contribution from
Mr.. Ethelbert Stewart, one of the
special agents of the Department of
Commerce and Labor. CaptiOned a
Documentary History OF the Early Or
CARNATIONS of Printers" That a num-
Der of disconnected typographical So
cieties existed in various parts of me
United States prior to the formation
of the unions as now constituted,
while not perhaps generally known,
will not be new to students of the
history of labor organizations.
The references to these early Or
CARNATIONS are usually hazy," says
Mr.. Stewart, in the article referred
to, containing no more than a mere
statement that they existed at certain
dates, with no evidence offered of the
truth of even these statements In
this article it is believed the first at
tempt is made to be specific in the
information presented about these ear
ly organizations. In this respect, at
least, the article represents pioneer
work in its field, not only in the re-
production of documents, but in the
resort to the minute books of these
societies. as a source of information
about other kindred societies Thua
the transcription of circular letters
from other societies. upon the records
of the Columbia Society. or the New
York or Philadelphia societies, has
furnished documentary proof of the
existence of many printers organiza-
tons nowhere else referred to-"
Much In Public Eye.
Trade unions have teen very much
in the public eye for the past FIVE
years Few people have the time. or
perhaps the inclination, to give study
to the early growth of Ghe great trade
unions of to-day, although nearly ev-
cry one will be interested in d brief
history of this phenomenal upbuilding
such as it furnished in the bulletin
of the Department of Commerce and
Labor referred to, in connection with
the International TypOgra phical I'm
ion, whose foundation rests on the
early efforts of printers to organize
typographical unions and typOgraph-
ical societies. 1t is shown that for
more than hundred years the Inter
national Typographical Union was in
the making, and that it has taken all
of this time for this great trade or
ganiZation to reach its present
strength and high standing in the
public estimation.
Will Furnish Pamphlet.
So we'll did the union printers think
of Mr. Stewards researches, and the
resultant article, that the officers of
the International Typographical Tn
ion were instructed by a convention
to reprint the article in pamphlet
form, and it can now be obtained
without charge by application 10
James NJ Lynch, president, or ]. W.
Brentwood. secretary-treasurer, of the
International Typographical Union.
the head Office of which is in the New
ton ClaypOol Building, indianapolis,
Indiana. Economists especially will
be interested in this article, while all
who have taken even a passing in
terest in the growth and work of the
modern trade union will also CLEAN
much information from the facts gath
cred and collated by the agent of the
Department of Commerce and Labor.