The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-08-18
PRINTERS HEALTH
Their international Union Proseeutes
Its Campaign to Conserve.


of the officers Of the international
Typographical Union for the fiscal
year ending with May, 1911, is now
in circulation.
The International Typographical
Union has for years conducted a
health campaign from its international
headquarters, and working through
local committees. In his report this
year President Lynch has this to say
as to the progress of the campaign:
Your president has continued the
agitation during the past year for bet
ter sanitary conditions in the work
rooms where our members are CON-
PEELED to labor. We have also con-
tinued the distribution of the tuber-
culosis pamphlet. AS to sanitation and
other workroom conditions, our local
unions should continue to give these
subjects attention. With the move
ment against filthy and non-entilated
composing rooms there will be entire
sympathy on the part of the general
public, and no employer can afford to
resist the demand for change in
working conditions that will guarantee
health and comfort AS matter of
fact. well-ventilated and scientifically
arranged composing rooms are as good
an investment as is the latest improve
ment in typesetting machinery, or the
newest and most up-to-date faces in
type. The worker who is in good
health and who is working amid pleas
ant surroundings is the best kind of
a worker for both mentally and physi-
cally he is equipped to produce the
best that his art knows. Good printing
means additional patronage for the
printing Office and to a very great ex-
tent good printing requires artistic
typesetting.
'All Oh our local unions should have
health committees, and these commit
tees should be untiring in their efforts
to improve sanitary conditions and
other features in composing rooms re
quiring betterment. Whenever a con
dition exists that requires improve
ment, if the employer fails to make
the improvement on request of the
health committee, then the bad con-
dition should be called to the attention
of the local board of health and if the
local board of health refuses to act,
agitation should be started through
the central body, through pamphlets
circulated liberally, and through the
withdrawal of our members from en-
ployment in the composing room of
the offending proprietor, if this last
radical step is a nabsolute necessity.
"As I have repeatedly asserted, a
higher wage scale is of no benefit to a
member if the conditions under which
he works make for the propagation of
disease and early death The family
might better retain the provider and
protector under a low wage scale than
enjoy the fruits of high wage scale
for only a limited period, and then
when husband and father is removed
become objects of the charity of the
public, or of the union, or of fraternal
societies.
President Lynch also touches on the
great white plague, and says that:
Scientific research has proven that
there is no known medicine that will
cure consumption and that it is a
waste of time and money to use So
called consumption cures" All adver-
tised cures of this nature are frauds
Doctors who advertise should be avoid
ed as much as medicines which are
advertised Reputable doctors do not
advertise. When a person learns that
he has consumption he should go at
once to a physician or dispensary and
do as he is advised He should not
waste time and money on patent medi-
cines Advertised cures and adyertis-
ing doctors are all worthless. This is
the advice given by one of the most
eminent physicians over S15,000,O0
annually is poured into the Golfers Of
those who exploit and advertise fake
consumption cures. according to the
National Association for the Study and
Prevention of tuberculosis; and for
this vast sum the victims receive moth
ing in return, but are often permanent
ly injured. and in the majority of
cases, cheated out of the chance for a
real cure. Sanitary workrooms and
an abundance of fresh air at all times
are the best preyentiyes. These ad-
monitions are being constantly pro-
claimed by the International Typo
graphical Union through it strayeling
tuberculosis exhibit, its sanatorium at
the Union Printers Home. and BY the
annual distribution Of thousands Of
pieces of literature"