The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-01-31


have a record breaking attendance.
On that day the local will go on rec
ord with it's collective choice for the
various international offices. This being
true, it might be we'll to review few
pages of recent typographical history.
of the eight-hour fight, and The Wage
worker advocated the reelection of
President Lynch on the theory that
it was not wise to swap horses while
crossing the stream. The argument
will not prevail now, for, as we are
told by President Lynch, the eight
hour fight is won. He is now basing
his claim for reelection on the ground
that he has earned it. Whether he has
or not is matter to be decided by the
individual members. Whether or not
the eight-hour fight is won will be left,
with the consent of President Lynch,
to Omaha, Minneapolis, st. Paul, Phil
adelphia. Pittsburg, Los Angeles and
four millions of dollars were collected
from the 10000 union printers of the
United States and Canada to finance
the fight, and it would seem that with
that enormous war fund almost any
body could have waged a winning
fight
The writer bases his opposition to
the reelection of Lynch upon many
things. He unhesitatingly admits
Lynch's ability. He admits that as a
presiding officer Lynch has the late
Tom Reed backed off the boards. He
admits his ability as shrewd poll
tician and as "fixer." But he has
instituted some changes and estab-
lished some precedents that are dan
gerous in the extreme. Instead of be-
| ing a representative body the annual
convention is but a reflex of the exc
cutive council. The imperialistic doc
trine of lese majaste has been engraft-
ed on the organization and apologies
| are demanded for outspoken senti-
| ments that CRATE harshly on the SEN
| sitive ears of the officials, threats OF
revoking charters or depriving OF
/ cards following up the demands for
apologies. An effort to make the ap
peals committee representative OF
the convention instead of the execu
tive council was frustrated by finesse
and committee framed up that is still
creature of the president and al
added expense of from $3.50 to $1,000
to a treasury already sadly overbur
dened by expense.
Organizers have been switched from
district to district without warrant an,
at an expense that should not hav'
been placed upon an already over
burdened treasury. The executive
council has usurped authority in loca
affairs, and has withheld assistanc
in other cases until patience ceased t
be virtue.
The so-called initiative and referer
dunn" of the International Typograpf
ical Union is as lame as one-legge
duck. The initiative rests with a cor
vention that never represents owe
twenty-five per cent of the activ
unions and is usually dominated by
few selected leaders. The refereI
dunn part is all right as far as it goe'
There. are whole lot of things col
nected with the administration of il
ternational affairs that need revision
and in the estimation of the write
now is the time to revise them. N
| Oh <ho hn1
can be honestly made against Jane
NJ Lynch's integrity. But his a.
ministration has been characterize
by a Capitalization of power that
menace to the future of the organ
zation.
John w. Brentwood announces hir
self candidate for reelection to til
Office of secretary-treasurer. TIL
writer believes that it will be to til
best interests of the organization
select some other man. 1t would
difficult to select more capable ma
so far as ability TO perform the work
concerned. But personal matters al
such that Mr. Bramwood's candidae
is not. in the writer's opinion, for tt
best interests of the body. Johnny
Bramwood, courteous, genial, able an
tireless, has endeared himself to tt
membership in many, many ways. b
his graceful retirement now Nigh
after all, be best for him and for b
fellow craftsmen.
OF course Frank Morrison must
nominated as one of the delegates
the A. F. of L. Not to do
would be calamity. He is on of tt
big men among printers and one
the big men of the Federation. He
secretary of the A. F. of L., and Pre-: