United labor bulletin., 1910-06-16
BILL PASSES HOUSE;
NOW UP TO SENATE
The Dodds Bill, Giving Labor Publica-
tions the Use of the Mails as Second
Class Mail Matter, May Not Get
Throueh-Action Urged.

The powerful pressure brought to bear
on members of the House OF Representa-
tives by labor and fraternal organiZa-
| tions has resulted in the unanimous adop-
tion by the lower house of representa-
tives Dodds' bill. which permits journals
owned by these organizations to carry
general advertising.
While this is considered grand vic
tory by the legislative representatives OF
the labor and fraternal organizations,
they hasten to point out the fact that a
serious obstacle in the course OF this
measure is the United States senate. es-
pecially so since the adjournment of con-
gress is near.
II is the belief of the supporters of the
Dodds bill here that too much credit can
not be given for the victory in the house
to the central labor bodies. international
unions, fraternai organizations, and the
| labor and fraternai press for the agita-
1 ton carried on by them in behalf of this
measure. The same activity must con-
tInue IL this bill is TO pass the senate at
this session and become law.
The Importance OF immediate action
on this measure cannot be exaggerated
when Il is taken into the account that
| the postoffice department had already
taken steps against many labor and fra
ternal publications. and threatening them
with the denial OF second-class mail priv
ileges.
Failure to put this Dodds bill on the
United States statutes would be a death
| blow 10 the labor press of this country.
The arbitrary ruling OF the postofiice de-
partment applies to the strongest and
most influential labor journals. Most of
the $50 labor papers in the United States
are partly or wholly subscribed for by
labor organizations for their member
ships. and all carry general advertising.
That the postofiice department is OPP
posed to admitting such labor journals
as second.class matter is shown by the
fact that the administration postofiice
measure. introduced by Representative
Weeks of Massachusetts provides that
such publications be not permitted to
carry general advertising.
The Dodds bill, as IL passed the house.
reads:
THAT from and after the passage OF
this act all periodical publications issued
from a known place of publication at
stated periods. and as frequently as four
u
of benevolent or fraternal society or
order organized under the lodge system
and having a bona fide membership of
not ,ss than one thousand persons. or
= by regularly incorporated institution
of /, rning. or by a regularly established
state institution of learning supported in
whole or in part by public taxation, or
by or under the auspices of a trades
all nf ctr rf~ft
professional, literary. historical or scien-
tifc societies. including the bulletins is
sued by state boards of health. shall be
admitted to the mails as second-class
matter, and the postage thereon shall be
the same as on other second-class mat
ter and such periodical publications. is
sued by benevolent or fraternal societies
or orders. trades unions. strictly profess
sional. literary. historical or scientific So
oietles. shall have the right to carry ad-
vertising matter. whether such matter
pertains to such benevolent or fraternal
societies or orders, trades unions. strict
ly professional societies. or to other per-
sons. institutions or concerns; but such
periodical publications, hereby permitted
to carry advertising matter. must not
be designed or published primarily for
advertising purposes and shall be orig
mated and published to further their
own objects and purposes. respectively;
and all such periodicals shall be formed
of printed paper sheets, without board,
cloth. leather. or other substantial bind
ing. such as distinguish printed books
for preservation from periodical publica-
tions;
provided. That the circulation
through the mails of periodical publica-
tions, issued by benevolent or fraternal
societies or orders. or by trades unions.
strictly professional. literary. historical.
or scientific societies, as second-class
matter. shall be limited to copies mailed
to members, exchanges. and bona fde