Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-23
BERRY CHOSEN BY UNIT VOTE
San Francisco Man Unanimously Re-
Elected by the Freshmen.
REWARD FOR E1GHT-HoUR FIGHT
Animated Discussion owes Seating
Delegates 60 COnventiOn-Local
Conditions In These Towns
Are Aired.

Are Aired.
George L. Berry Of san Francisco, the
Young man who has successfully led the
for an eight-hour day for print
pressmen, was unanimously nominated
for reelection for president Of the I%nterna-
tional Printing Pressmen and Assistants
union. holding its twenty-first annual con-
vention at the Rome. Being the only can
didate Mr.. Berry's nomination assures his
election.
Mr.. Berry's nomination followed q rather
stormy session. precipitated by the report
Of the credential committee, placing a
number OF cities in the second class.
Ex-President Theodore F. Galoskowsky of
st. Louis was called to the chair, it being
the usual custom for the president to call
a substitute to preside during the election.
There was no rush to make nominations,
First Vice President Peter ]. Dobbs of
Brooklyn, who was present at the organ
ization of the international union twenty
one years ago, was given the floor. The
vice president outlined the work of the or
ganization and declaring President Berry
had succeeded in doing the will OF the or
ganlzation, building It up and actually &C
complishing something, placed him In nom
nation. No other name was brougt be-
fore the convention and Mr.. Berry was
unanimously nominated to head a labor or
ganizatlon with 1000 members.
Nomination of Others.
The convention then proceeded with the
nomination of other officers, which re-
suited as follows:
First Vice Pfesident-Peter J. Dobbs,
Brooklyn; Frank r. Wnkie, Milwaukee.
Second Vice President-K. H. Flannery,
Chicago; John p. Mines, rev York.
Third Vice President-C. A. Pense, Chi
cago.
Secretary-Treasurer-P. j.. McMullen,
Cincinnati.
Ballots are to be printed and the formal
election OF officers will be held Wednes-
day or Thursday.
vice President Peter J. Dobbs presided
during the discussion Of the seating OF
delegates. The gavel made a noise like
a tom-tom a good bit Of the time, as
many questions were raised.
The cities reported in the second class
were Toronto, San Antonio, Minneapolis,
Columbus Boston and Philadelphia
Much of the trouble in the cities was
said to be caused by the refusal Of many
to pay assessment levied to support the
eight-hour campaign, but Boston made the
frank admission the failure in that city
to pay the assessment regularly during the
last two years was because the financial
panic OF 1907-190s had 80 crippled business
in that city that pressmen we're unable to
pay. The delegates from that city said 200
pressmen were now walking the streets,
publishing houses which had a score OF
cylinder presses idle offered no hope at
present and the pressmen and feeders were
in bad shape.
Toronto was seated, though the union is
having trouble to keep the suspended mem
bers out of the union. Minneapolis has a
large number of men paying dues, while
the very foremen under whom the men
work are suspended because they refuse to
pay the assessment necessary to support
the eight-honr campaign. The Toronto and
Minneapolis delegates were seated, as were
the delegates from other protested cities,
because it was the belief OF the convention
that the delegates themselves and most OF
the pressmen in the cities were making a
sincere effort to conform to the rules of
the International union.
Sacrifices They Made.
Something of the sacrifice the Interna-
tionaI Printing Pressmen's and Assistants
union has been making in order to secure
the eight-hour day was disclosed in the
discussion over the seating OF delegates.
When the campaign began the union
voted a 10 per cent assessment. This means
that every pressman who was receiving
$40 per week paid 50 to support the work
and help pressmen who had to strike in
various cities in order to secure the eight
hour day.
In Boston, for instance, where the finan-
- -. .L-A $50 -za-.v s.,AIInAH-- -,..
the Feeders union had 1866 members. A 5
per cent assessment was made on this
union. II amounted to so cents each week
from every feeder receiving 81 In wages
for the weeks work, making q total of
s132.s o from the press feeders Of Boston
each week.
The delegate from the union reported that
S26.s0 was all the union could pay. as too
many press feeders were out of work and
the assessment had reduced the member
ship Of the local union more than half.
Cities in all parts of the country have
paid the assessment, however. and all but
five cities have been made eight-hour cit
les by the pressmen.
President Kellogg Speaks.
Al the afternoon session the interna-
tional union was addressed by President H.
N. Kellogg or the American Newspaper
and Press association.
The closer harmony of the two organi-
zations," President Kellogg said, points
to a more equitable adjustment of all diff
ferences in the future,
During the last year twenty new con.
tracts have been made by the press
mems union with the press association
which fact, / take 1t, is enough evidence
TO show how much nearer together tht
two organizations are coming. / am greatly
pleased with the progress the pressmer
have made toward a more perfect unior
during the year and hope to see then
make still greater progress next year"
Following the speech by President KEEL
logg a resolution. presented by Delegate
sprague of Washington. d. c., asking the
United States senate to admit print papel
and wood pulp free, was adopted by 4
unanimous vote.
Another resolution endorsing Presiden'
? Barry for the position OF vice president Of