The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-06
A DEMOCRATIC UNION
The Membership Governs This Great
Combination Of Wage Farmers.


The local unions of the international
Typographical Union are about to nom
mate candidates for the various inter
national offices. Nominations are mads
at the regular February meetings Of
the local unions. The eiection will take
place on the third "Wednesday in Mag
Inasmuch as the Typographical union i
the 0idset aud best conducted trade
union on the NortA American continent
some information as to its methods Of
stlf.Royernment will be Of particular
interest at this time.
Many persons outside the ranks OF
organized labor are unfamiliar with the
democracy that prevails in almost all
trade unions. AS democratic body the
international Typographical Union Of
North American is the pioneer, and
stands pre-eminent az such in the or
ganized labor movement.
The typographical union Is free as
ISOLATION of economic equals, men and
women, for be it known women are adj
nitted TO membership in t.as organiza-
tion upon the same basis as are the men,
one OF the cardinal principles OF the
union being equal pay for. men and
women for equal services performed.
Inc international union Is composed Of
unions scattered throughout the United
states and Canada, and it's jurisdiction
extends from Alaska to the Philippines.
Eacn local union administers it, local
affairs in conformitN with International
rules and regulations. said rules and reg
uations being developed BY the COM
bined local unions and administered by
q central body known as the executive
council in the interest of all the locals
This executive council Is composed OF
certain Of the International officers, who
are elected By the referendum for terms
of two years.
When. more than fifty years ago rep
resentatives from the unions scattered
throughout the United States met and
organized national body, which deyel-
oped into the present international or
ganization, the initiative and referen-
dun were but little known or used, 50
that up to about ten years ago the an
nual convention is retained, all of the
international officers are nominated AMI
elected by the referendum, legislation
i initiated and all constitutional laws
and amendments must be submitted to
the referendum. The officers of all local
unions are elected BY the local refersn
dunn. In fact, the way in which these
men and women, associated in a volun-
tary organization for their collective
benefit. govern themselves Is one of the
greatest expositions Of democracy ex
tsnt
Not only does each local union govern
itself, but each union shop is organized
into a chapel, the members elect chair
man and secretary and such other Off
GERS rs they may deem necessary, de-
pending upon the size of the chapel.
The chapel formulates and adopts rules
for the government OF its members. ana
il is the duty Of chapel officers to see
that all union and chapel laws are HveI
UP 70. These chapels are not only for
the benefit ofethe members, but arr
protection TO the employers, as the
rtmbers ARE as jealous in seeing that
the office rules are observed as they arr
70 see that the union laws are lived
VIZ to.
All members Of d union have a voice
IN the discussion Of all matters before
the union, but only those who have been
in good standing for SIX
months have vote on certain questions.
sue as, for instance, amending The con
stitution, changes in the wage seals or
to declare strike, The strike Is the
weapon Of last resort in this Union. and /
Is only appealed to after all other means
to adjust difficulties have failed. 4 pro-
position 10 declare a strike must receive
4 three-fourth vote Of six months mem /
bers in good standing, and ia order that /
The members may be entitled TO inter.
national benefits must conform to Ger. |
.ain international laws and be SANCTION
Il by the executive council.