United labor bulletin., 1911-11-09
REFERENDUM ENDORSES
CONVENTION
All Propositions Submitted to I. T. U
Membership Carry by Good Majority.

Below is given the result of the vote
on the six amendments to the laws of
the international Typographical union
submitted to the membership under
date of September 7, 1911, for a refer
endum vote:
First Proposition-To provide that in
the laws of the international union the
beneficial statutes shall be grouped
For, 27.112; against, 3,31S; favorable ma
jority, 23,794.
Second Proposition-To more clearly
define the duties of representative
For. 27.7s6; against, 2,s22; favorable
majority, 2i,964.
Third Proposition-To increase the
salary of the mailer Cor third yice-presi-
dent from 500 to $500 per annum-For.
0,532; against, 1920; favorable ma
jority, 1892.
Fourth Proposition-To increase the
number OF endorsing unions necessary TO
the submission of an amendment from
SO to 100 and fix the time for obtaining
endorsements at three months-For, 16,-
305: against 1895; favorable majority,
1870.
Fifth Proposition-To establish
graduated burial benefit and collect an
assessment of one-half of one per cent.
for its maintenance-For. 1921; !;
against, 1885: favorable majority, 5,226.
Sixth Proposition-1o gradually bring
about the abolition of the piece scale
system on machines-For, 24.9o4;
against, 5,S23: favorable majority, 1s,0sl.
The mortuary assessment begins with
January. 1912. For January, 1872, and
succeeding months every member of the
international union will be required to
pay monthly: Forty-five cents per
month on per capita tax; one-half of one
per cent on total earnings as the old
age pension fund assessment; one-half
of one per cent. on total earnings as the
mortuary fund assessment
Payment of the increased mortuary
benefit will begin April ], 1912, and the
benefit due in each case where death oc-
ours on or after April 1, 1912, viii be
computed under the new law. The pres
ent burial benefit of SIS will be paid until
the increased benefits begins.
Since the amount of the beneht De
pends upon continuous membership, all
members who were initiated prior TO
January l. 1916. when the register sys'
tenn of members was inaugurated. should
| lose no time in filing reports with the
international Typographical union prov
ing their membership up TO that date
/ In speaking of the result of the refer
endum vote President Lynch says:
The result Of the vote is distinct
endum for the San Francisco convention.
The retrogressiyes made their particular
fight against proposition No. 4. and SO
far as | am aware no attempt was made
to defend this proposition, although a
defense was not and is not now difficult
matter The proposition was left TO the
good sense and good judgment OF the
members of the International Typograph-
ical union, and they endorsed ii. Here
after. propositions submitted by local
unions for endorsement. in order to Sc
cure referendum action. will be care
fully considered by the proponent before
they are sent out for the consideration
of local unions And thus another safe
guard has been erected against undi-
gested and ill-considered proposals that
when enacted into law are so vicious or
unworkable in their actual application
as 10 make remodeling or reconsidera-
tion necessary.
''Inasmuch as the retrogressives op-
posed all of the six propositions, and
more especially the fourth proposition,
1t impresses me that the action of the
referendum was a distinct endorsement,
not only for the convention. but for the
international administration"