The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-08-12
In
CONVENTION.
Fifty-Fifth Session of International
typographical Union at St. Joe
This Week. Many Delegates
And Visitors.

The ffty-ffth convention of the Inter
national Typographical Union convened
Monday in the Coliseum, St. Joseph s big
convention hall Addresses of welcome
were made by Mayor Clayton, President
Burnham, of the local Typographical
union, and others, and a response by
President Lynch, of the International
Typographical Union, after which the
convention began consideration of
large volume of business
The reports of President Lynch and
Secretary Treasurer Hays show great
progress made by the union during the
last year
The International Typographical
Union is fifty-seven years old, and with
the present gathering has held fifty-five
conventions during it's lifetime In 1896
and 1898 biennial conventions were
held. The International Typographical
Union claims to be the oldest national
or international organization of skilled
labor in the world. Its sessions here this
week are attended by three hundred dele
gates and eight hundred visitors.
Matters of Importance that are to
come before the convention PROPOSE
tions for the establishment of an in
surance feature, and certain changes pro-
posed in the pension policy that was
made effective by the union one year
ago. The relations between the union
and the American Newspaper Publish
crs' Association will also be up for con
sidcration.
The International Typographical
Union has many features that are unique
with labor organizations, and which
stamp this union as one of the most pro
gressivc in the labor field. The pension
policy, for instance, is distinctive with
the International Typographical Union.
Under the pension law, members who
have reached the age of 60 years and
are unable to secure sustaining employ
mcnt at the trade are paid 81 per week.
The payment of pensions has heretofore
been considered the function of the. gov
ernment, but in this instance the union
evidently believes that its veterans should
be taken care of independent of state or
nation. The payment of pensions began
with the first of last August, and up to
May 81, when the union s fiscal year
closed $G7 $50 had been paid pensioners,
while the administration of the fund had
cost only $4,000.
The union also conducts q Home at
Colorado Springs, and contributed dur
ing its fiscal year to this institution $780,
51S.31. The actual expense of conduct
ing the Union Printers Home was $12,-
95S.94, and there was balance in the
Home fund of $32,337.63 The receipts
and expenditures of the Home from its
inception to May 81, 1909, were $S67,-
SO1.29 and $3.50, 6,463 sc. The Home prop
erty at Colorado Springs is valued at
81 900 900
The union pays a burial benefit of $75.
| During the fiscal year there were 500
deaths, and the benefits paid amounted
to $3S,175.
| For advertising its union label the
union paid out $7,617.4s.
The expenditures of the International
Typographical Union during its fiscal
year were $161,544.45.
From the year 1891 to 1909 the union
received $6,1ss, s,O45.75, and expended So
$50, SOS 90, this sum including the ex-
pense of conducting the Union Printers
| Home.
The union has membership of AHA
The union also conducts a technical
school at Chicago for the benefit of its
members and apprentices who desire to
perfect themselves in their trade