The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-07-03


The union printers of the United
States and Canada, point with pride
10 the Union Printers Home at Colo
RADIO Springs as one of their most no.
table achievements. This model home
and .sanitarium has the unique distinc-
ton of being the only institution of
the kind maintained by a labor organi-
cation in this country.
One minute of his working time ev-
cry day is what every union printer in
North America gives as his mite to-
ward the maintenance of the Union
Printers Home at Colorado Springs.
Col Every month every one of the
i5,0 600 members of the International
Typographical Union pays an assess
ment of Is cents-half a cent day.
or less than the amount the average
printer will earn in a minutes work
ing time. 1t is a small sacrifice, but
il is this small sacrifice, coming from
every man, working in cooperation
with his fellow laborers. which gives
the home an annual fund of $780, 900
for maintenance and improvements.
The printers have built an main
tanned the home themselyes-and hey
are proud of the fact 1t is their
homes every man has an equal share
in it. an equal right to partake of its
bounty IL the time should come when
old age or illness should make it nee
essary for him to retreat to the shell
ter in the rearing and maintaining
of which he has done his small part.
In the beginning George w. Childs
and A. ]. Drexel, proprietors of The
Philadelphia Ledger, made a gift of
$4,000 to the International Typo
graphical Union. With this as the
nucleus. the home fund was started
Since the foundation for the mein
building were laid in 1891 nearly
100000 has been spent in buildings.
furnishings, improvements and main
tenance. Every cent of this. with the
exception of the Childs-Drexel gift
and the income from the Julia A. Ladd
endowment of $1,000, has been con-
tributed by the printers themselves
Not only has the Union Printers
Home proven to the world a splendid
example of what can be accomplished
by harmonious cooperation. but it has
been to other labor unions and fra
ternal organizations an inspiration be-
cause of its humanitarian features. 1t
has been the pioneer institution in its
field and has become the model from
which others copy ideas and methods.
Figures may tell part of the story
of the Union Printers Home. But it
is not sufficient to know that the prop
erty, which stands on a commanding
eminence east of Colorado Springs, is
to-day valued at 100000 when 20
years ago this tract was barren prairie
land which could have been bought fol-
a few dollars an acre; or to learn thai
there are now six buildings on the
grounds, the main building, the tuber
culosis sanitarium, the superintend
ent's cottage, the laundry, heating
plant and barns. besides the $50. 00t
addition, the beginning of which ha.
just been authorized by the trustees
1t is not enough to know how thes,
so aSaas have been reclaimed from
barren waste until they form one o
the garden spots of the continent; no
to be told that in all more than .OO
men have been admitted to residenc
since 1892, that the average numbe
at any one time is las. and that tn
average cost, per resident, is s33
month, this sum covering all ordinar
expenses in connection with the PROF
! erty.
1t is far more significant to lear
> how this home has been so manage
that it has become indeed a sanitar
I UNI where the sick may soIourn for
: time to build up. in Colorado's healtl
giving climate, their broken constitl
tons and restore lost strength and v
n tally, haven where the aged and il
I firm may retreat to a peaceful closin
: of life that has been spent in to
. and battle in world of labor an
!. strife. Really. to understand the wor
n that il being done requires an inspe
ton of the buildings and grounds.
few hours random chat with the res
v dents and an investigation of Il
: methods and regulations enforced /
!, the efficient management Many
~ the printers themselves scarcely col
N prehend the scope and Importance
v the home, and the annual convertis
has twice been held in Colaras