Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-25

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idea of the Importance of the body
matter which reads as follows;
Be it enacted by the People of the state
of Maine, as follows.
Section !. On and after July 1th, 9l5
all printing for all the state Depart
ments and institutions of the state OF
Maine and all other printing. includins
the State paper, shall be performed IN
printing shops complying with the rules
and regulations as to sanitation ana
hours of labor laid down by the inter-
national Typographical Union. ..,..-.,-a
The State auditor shall not authorize
payment for nor shall the head of any
department or institution certltN TO me
auditor for payment of bills for any re-
port blank document pamphlet, bulttuh
on other printing of any kind, that does
not bear the stamp of said International
Typographical Union, as evidence lhat
the sanitary and labor cendfloas re
quired by the rules of that ORGANIZATION
shall have been complied with
The real purpose of the above bill
is not 10 accomplish what the title in
dicates. but to prohibit the employment
Of any but Union workmer on any
State printing contracts.
The Kennebec journal has 70 con-
troversy with Union printers. 1t en-
rloys both union and non-unson men
irrespective of their individual ideas
on the labor question.
AS a matter Of information for those
interested. we would say that there are
five typographical unions in Maine
with a total membership of III. The
number of printers in the State Is va
riousIy estimated between three ana
five thousand.
Every fair minded man, whether or
not he belongs te a Typographical
union. must al once admit the neon
s;stency of a law prohibiting he en-
nlo&ment Of several thousand members
of a trade on state printing in favor of
less than 2oa Of the same occupation.
Responsible concerns could net afford
10 undertake the chances Of state con-
tracts If this restriction were mace IN
!, STATE where such small percentage
If printers are union hands.
Without going into any OF the afeu-
monte for or against such legislation
"a es.would give, as q mater Of pubic
information. the fact that several
states have decided that it is unconsti-
.nptional contrary to public policy
tends to create a monopoly, restricts
competition in bidding for work. ana
is dangerous form of class legisia-
ton"
Michigan supreme court decision
says in part:
No question concerning the merits
If labor or trades union is in any way
involved in this case. The rlsht Of
oraanization for mutual benefit in all
,o,,,f,, WAYS is not denied. The
question is whether the Board oil Edu-
cation has a right to enter into a com
,,,.o+ion with such an organization for
the expenditure of taxpayers money
cor Tho benefit of members Of the or
., r;zation and to exclude any portion
of +hs citizens following lawful trades
and occupations from the right TO
labor. 1T HAS NO SUCH RIGHT"
opinion by. the supreme court oil
H. siafs iof rehnelsee: says. i'iif Tie
aoso Of Marshall & Bruce Company
VS. city of Nashville, deciding that an
ordinance requiring the union iape'
an nublic printing is contrary to pun
10 ,oIicv the charter of the city, and
to the constitution of the state.
Minnesota court declares such law
or ordinance "unsound and vicious.
There are many similar, but the
noint is obvious and, we believe, ar
gument unnecessary, when the pres
emf measure is reviewed understand
;neIy together with the facts.