Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-06-21
PRESSMEN COME
FOR BIG MEETING
International Union Will Spend Week
in Omaha Considering Questions
Important to Labor.
GUESTS OF AK-sAR.BrN FIRST
Before Getting to Bus ~ delegates
Go to Den to \ IL.
RECEPTION AT WAT LIANT
Out Where it is Cool Wis, S%yill
Meet Many Friendl Z
TECHNICAL SCHOOL FAVORED
This IL one of Large Questions which
WIN Come Before Tvventy-first
scSsion of prA.su,eu and
Before Getting to Bus ~ delegates
Go to Den to \ ~.
RECEPTION AT WAT SLAN
Out Where it is Cool Wis -
Meet Many Friendl z
TECHNICAL SCHOOL FAVORED
This iH one of Large Questions which
WIN Come Before Tventy-first
Session of Pressmen and
ANsistants' Union.

over 200 delegates and many more visitors
10 the convention of the International Print
ing Pressmen and Assistants Union Of
North America are already in the city and
more are coming on every train. 1t Is the
expectation that 300 delegates will attend
the convention. which will open here today
for a weeks session.
"Our boys seem TO get the convention
fever after they have once attended con-
vention. and we always have large num-
Der Of past delegates at every meeting"
said NJ, II. Flannery Of Chicago, first vice
president of the international union How
many OF these will attend this meeting we
do not OF course know but there will be
a bunch of them"
The convention. which is the twenty-first
annual meeting opens at the Hotel Rome
Ed NJ Burch of Omaha will be chairman
Of the opening meeting, the program call
ius for addresses by Mayor Dahlman.
Colonel T. w. Mccullough, managing editor
OF The Bee; Frank y. Kennedy, editor OF
the Western Laborer; Tony Donahue, rep
resentative Of the Central Labor union, and
william Cole, president of the Omaha
Pressmen's union No. 80. All these will
deliver addresses of welcome, while the
response will be given by George l.. Berry
of San Francisco, president of the inter-
national union. Rev. Thomas ]. Mackay
OF All Saints Episcopal church WITH open
this mornings session with prayer.
Reception at Florence.
This afternoon an informal reception TO
the delegates and visitors will be held at
the Mime Lusa pumping station OF the
Omaha Water company at Florence. Char
tered cars for Florence will leave Sixteenth
and Farnam streets at 2 o'clock. This
evening the delegates and visitors will be
guests OF King Ak-SarB Ben at the Den.
The regular business sessions of the con-
vention will begin Tuesday, with session
at 0 o'clock in the morning. Sessions will
be held Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday from 3 a. m. to IL m. and from
D. IN, TO 6 D. M, and on Saturday from
a. m. 10 W M, the convention to close
Saturday morning Election of officers is
scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Wednesday evening an informal ball will
be given at the Hotel Rome and Friday
evening the delegates and visitors Will be
guests at a stag social at the Bohemian
Turner hall at Thirteenth and Dorcas
streets.
For the entertainment of the women
visitors the following program has been
arranged: Monday, theater party; Tues
day. automobile ride; Wednesday, informal
dance; Thursday, concert and visit to the
LininEer art gallery: Friday. Hsnscom park
I'm the afternoon and luncheon at O'Clock
at the residence of Mrs Ed M. Burch, $500
North Twenty-flrst street.
Talk of Eight-HOur Day.
President George L. Berry Of the Inter
national union believes the principal dis
cussion at the convention will be on pro-
longing the strikes in the four cities which
have failed to grant the eight-hour work
ing day These cities are Atlanta, Louis
lille, Nashville and Akron. There are
over 1900 members OF the International
printing Pressmen and Assistants union
II North America, but despite the de-
ressed condition which has prevailed to
certain extent during the last two years
the eight-hour law has prevailed In every
city but these four where about $50 men
on strike.
When the eight-hour law went into ef-
sSct in November 1907, working pressmen
paid an assessment of 10 per cent to main
ain the men on strike. AS employers
signed the new scale and men went back to
work the assessment was lowered from
time to time until now 1t amounts to 1
per cent
Il think the delegates TO this convention
win reterate their determination to con-
tlnue the strike In these four cities until
the eight-hour law is firmly established
throughout the country" said President
Kerry. I'VE are looking more and more
into the competitive field and out of all
fairness the eight-hour law should be uni
versaL"
Some of the delegates object to the con-
tlnuance of the assessment, believing there
Is a sufficient fund in the treasury TO
maintain the strikers for a considerable pc
riod. One OF these is Edward a. Stephen,
secretary OF local union No. Ill Of Joliet,
III, Several Canadian delegates join him
In this belief
I'VE have no way OF determining just
where the money goes that we pay in on
lnis assessment" said Mr. Stephen. "and
while I would not charge graft, still there
is chance for graft OF course, l per
cent Is not much but it all counts up"
Technical school Question.
Another thing which will come in for
discussion is the establishment OF a tech
nicai school" said President Berry. "The
many kinds of improved machinery call
for experienced men, and I am in favor
OF establishing a technical school, where
iourneymen can become better workmen
and attain high standard OF efficiency
II think the great majority OF the dele
gates are In favor OF establishing a home
for consumptve pressmen similar to the
Colorado home OF the Typographical
union" continued the president. II intend
TO offer a resolution asking for the ap-
pointment OF committee to go into the
matter and recommend some action.
know OF a number OF moneyed men, pub
fishers. who will give us assistance"
Second Vice President Flannery OF Chi
cago is in favor of the tuberculosis home
and said that IS per cent OF all the deaths
among pressmen Is due to consumption.
This is due TO the fact" he said, that
most all press rooms are poorly ventilated
and that those in large cities are invariably
IN Easements The press room OF the New