United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1910-03-25

ceived the hearty commentator of Anti
tuberculosis organizations. physicians
and visitors. The fact of a trades union
making such an exhibit was tavorably
coAiiiehteu upon by press and public.
Battle Against tuberculosis.
IN ADDITION to its Home and Tubercu.
losls Sanatorium at Colorado Springs. the
international Typographical Union has
peeh III the forefront of the battle against
tuberculosis that is now being waged for
the elimination of this curse on the white
race.
Local unions of the International Tyno-
graphical Union, of which there are near.
ly foo, are working through Tuberculosis
committees, and these committees aim tn
get before the local members the great
danger OF working in filthy and poorlv
ventilated composing rooms, and to also
urge upon employers the necessity for
reforms in this respect Where emn,ov.
ers refuse to act, our local unions arc .d.
Vised to instruct their tuberculosis com.
mittees to go direct to the boards of
health and insist on action by these Off.
cial bureaus. AS result. the phvsica,
character of the composing rooms is i'm.
proving, and employers are realizing that
healthy workmen are a good business as.
set. This may be a selfish view. but If
selhshness VIII accomplish the object
sought, it will all rebound to the benefit
OF the wage-worker, in that it will secure
for him healthy, pleasant and comfortable
quarters in which to earn his livelihood
In several of the larger cities, notably
Philadelphia. New York, Washington and
Chicago, the heavy mortality among
printers mas become a subject of grave
concern TO the numerous organizations
OF physicians and laymen who have
banded themselves in societies for the
prevention of tuberculosis. 1t behooves
US, therefore, to evince our primal inter
est IN the health of printers by spreading
the propaganda of decent working condi-
lions throughout our Jurisdiction. And.
IN addition, to quote from President
James NJ. Lynch's last report, We are
JUSTIFIED from every standpoint in de-
manding that the employer shall do his
share to aid in stamping out tuber
culosis'"
Sanitary Composing Rooms.
Subordinate unions should use
every endeavor to secure sanitary com.
posing rooms and instruct chapels to see
q.
| Vaults should be looked after very care.
| fully, and also should the matter of spit-
toons; the sweeping of floors while the
employees are working should be discour-
aged and every effort made for the dis
continuance of this practice, which is one
of the most effective means of filling the
air with the germs of tuberculosis An
other practice that is detrimental to the
health of the members of our organiza-
ton, and the one cause of the transmits
sion of the germs of tuberculosis greater
than all others, is the common drinking
cup which, when becoming rusty or the
enamel worn off, transmits moro germs
than any other way, as the rust spots and
the dampness are ideal breeding spots;
wherever possible, fountains such as are
used in public schools should be placed
in composing rooms, doing away with the
germ-breeding drinking vessels.
Ventilation of composing rooms is an
other matter of the most vital import
ance, and should be taken up by subordi-
nate unions and cintinual fight made
until conditions in regard to light and
atmosphere are such that the germs of
disease are entirely destroyed"