The Washington herald., 1911-02-14
LABOR INTERESTS
JOIN OPPOSITION
Enter Fight Against Pro-
posed Increase of Postage.

The storm of protest against the enact
ment of the increase of postage on
second-class matter has become an
avalanche. AT first the Senators were
the recipients of kilograms from pub
fishers who told them that their bust
ness would be ruined if the amendment
TO the post-Office appropriation bill was
adopted, but these kilograms have been
FOLLOWED with protests by letter and addi-
tional telegrams, and even the men in
terested have appeared in Washington to
emphasize the fact that they are not
making mere perfunctOry protest
against the legislation.
Religious publications have become
aware Of what the proposed amendment
will do and have added their protests.
John H. Scribner. representive OF the
PRESBYTERIAN Board of Publications. came
to Washington Yesterday 10 hay before
members Of the Senate what the pro-
posed increase meant TO their publca-
tiOns, amounting TO 1.NOl.O0O week and
scattered over a wide field. Other de-
nominations having large circulations OF
religious papers have also made known
their objections.
ne l4CulluId di press mas appeared IN
strong force and has used every effort
to stop the amendment. There was an
intmauon that agricultural publications
might be saved by being classed as news
papers. but that idea seemed chimerical
in view of the general Interpretation of
what constitutes a newspaper of the pre-
sent day. Many other publications have
also conclude that they cannot escape
the increased tax by the newspa per
route.
Delegations from different parts of the
country. representing allied trades
which work in connection with pc
riodical publications. have come TO
Washington to protest against the pro =
resenting Typographical Union No. Is.
of Chicago, is here to consult with the
officers of the American Federation Of
Labor on the subject, and says that
the labor interests. especially the
trades which will be affected by the
destruction OF the periodicals. will
generally protest to Congress against
the attack upon the publishing busi-
ness
The increase" said Mr. Madden,
will affect 5000 printers, 5000 press
men. $4,000 feeders. 22.OOo binders. and
$4,000 mailers. besides many thousand
stereotypers and other trades closely
associated with the business of print
ing and publishing. All of these labor
ing men protest against the utter an
Inhalation OF a business which means
the loss of employment to them"
W. c. Hollister is at the head of COM
mittee of seven representing the Ben
Franklin Club, employing printers Of
Chicago, who have come here to oppose
the amendment. I'VE represent a bust
ness of slOO,OOO,O0O a year" he said. land
more than $1,000 employees who will be
affected by the increase of the rates
which will drive so many publications
out OF business. We are here to do
everything we can to prevent the pas
sage Of this legislation which is so in
imical TO a great business"
The American Federation of Labor IS
also opposing the proposed increase on
second-class mail Frank Morrison, sec
retary of the federation, says that the or
ganization represents 100000 working
men, I'VE are heart and soul in the
effort to defeat Hitchcock's BILL said
Mr. Morrison. I'VE want no penalty TO
be placed on reading matter which has
such a far-reaching educational value.
The American Federation of Labor will
do everything possible to defeat the
measure"