The wageworker., 1910-03-12


Cello. Every month every one of the
$4,000 members of the International
Typographical Union pays an assess
ment of Is cents-half Il cent a day.
or less than the amount the average
printer will earn in a minutes work
ing time. It Is small sacrifice, but
1t is this small sacrifice. coming from
every man working in cooperation
with his fellow laborers, which gives
the Home an annual fund of $4,000
for maintenance and improvements.
The printers have built and main
tanned the home themselves-and they
are proud of the fact. 1t is their
home; every man has an equal share
in it, an equal right to partake of the
bounty if the time should come when
old age or illness should make 1t nec-
essary for him to retreat to the shell
ter in the rearing and maintaining OF
which he has done his small part
Since the foundations for the main
building were laid In 1891. nearly
$S50,OO has been spent in buildings,
furnishings, improvements and main
tenance. Every cent of this. with the
exception of the original gift OF $1O.-
900 by George w. Childs and A. j.
Drexel and the income from the Julia
A. Ladd endowment of $1,000, has
been contributed by the printers them
selves.
Not only has the Union Printers
Hcme proven splendid example of
what can be accomplished by harmoni-
Gus cooperation. but it has been to
other labor and fraternal organlza-
tions an inspiration because 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. The
Modern Woodmen Of America have
recently opened their national sana-
torium north of Colorado Springs,
while the National Association of Let
ter Carriers has selected that city as
the site for its home. number OF
other organ zatiCns are considering
the plan and in many cases it has
been an investigation of the Union
Printers Home that has decided their
committees in recommending the
buildings of such an institution.
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 n commanding
cmineuCe east of Colorado Springs, is
today valued at 100000, when twen-
ty years ago this tract was barren
prairie land which could have been
bought for few dollars an acre; or
10 learn that there are now six build
ings on the grounds: the main build
ing, the san;tarium, the superintend-
ent's cottage, the laundry, heating
plant and barns, besides the tent col
ony and solarium- 1t is not enough
to know how these eighty acres have
been reclaimed from barren wastes
until they form one of the garden
spots of the continent; nor TO be told
that in all. more than 1000 have been
admitted to residence since 1892, that
the average number at any one time
is $50, and that the average cost pei
resident Is only $50 a month.
II Is far more significant to learn
how this home has been SO managed
that it has become indeed a sanator
ium where the sick may sojourn fol-
a time to build up. in Colorado's
health-giving climate, their broken
constitutions and restore lost strength
and vitality. haven where the aget
and infirm may retreat to a peaceful
closing of life that has been spen
in toll and battle in world of labor
and strife. Really to understand the
work that is being done requires ar
inspection of the buildings ant
grounds, few hours random cha'
with the residents and an investiga
! ton of the methods and regulation:
? in force. Many of the printers them
selves scarcely comprehend the scope
and Importance of the home. and the
annual convention has twice beer
heid IN COLORADO springs Ill oruef u
give the membership at large broad
er understanding of the great insti
tuition they are supporting.
OF the residents, some there are
who are cripples; some are blind
many are old; and members have
been "eXiled" with death sentence
from tuberculosis, but are slowl!
building up the bodies that have bee1
wasted by sease. And the hearts o
all beat true to that thought Of broth
erhood which Is placed in archinS let
ters above the gateway to the grounds
in this legend. THE Union Printers
Home; It's Bounty Unpurchasable.
The printer. when he is admitted