Denver labor bulletin., 1916-08-19

tember, where measures were discussed
to make the printing industry more
stable in Colorado, Wyoming and New
Mexico. There are twenty Topographic
al Unions in this territory and in only
three cities are there classes in printing
in the public schools, the one in Denver
being the most substantial member
OF No. 40 gives instructions to fifteen
pupils: the equipment is sufficiently
complete to do live work for the board
of education. President Pulver asked 10
cal unions to enforce International Typo
graphical Union regulations for better
apprentice training. He said that un
nessary and irresponsible vocational
schools commanded our earnest atten-
ton
Your president would report that dur
ing the past year the Denver public
schools had under consideration the in
stalling of linotype machine for use
OF students in the printing department.
We succeeded in temporarily putting a
quietus on this scheme, but it is not un.
I likely that in the future we will have
/ to contend with this added feature to
the vocational school problem.
Printing by the Government
/ l. T. U. delegates to the American
Federation of Labor made the following
report on the subject OF printing corner
cards on government stamped envelopes
| by the firm holding the contract from
the United States postoffice department.:
The delegates OF the international
/ Typographical Union to the Philadelphia
convention brought the attention OF that
convention to the campaign of the l. T.
U. against the monopoly that had been
built up under the present laws of the
federal government which provide that
the postmaster general shall contract for
the manufacture of stamped envelopes.
Under the contract now in effect, and
under contracts which have been in g
feet for many years past, the success
full bidder has been enabled to build up
a monopoly on the printing OF corner
cards on stamped envelopes, for the rea-
son that all the business which has been
done by the contractor is handled to a
large extent by the United States gov
ernment and without cost to the contrac-
or. this system extending to counting,
packing. shipping and delivering OF such
stamped envelopes containing return cor
ner cards printed to the order OF custom
ers in all parts of the United States.
"I'he purpose of the international
Typographical Union campaign is for the
protection of its members in that they
should have an opportunity for the eN-
ecutiou OF this work, also for the prOtec.
tion OF employing printers who are un-
able to meet this unfair competition.
The Philadelphia convention directed
the executive council and the Legislative
committee OF the American Federation OF
Labor to lend its best assistance to Tia
| T. L. in securing the passage OF %
amendment to the present laws which
will prevent these unfair contracts
Supplemental Trade Education.
The report of the Commission on Sup
elemental Trade Education is most inter
esting. One paragraph reads:
The present-day slogan is greater ef-
ficiency, and this can only be accom-
plished by the worker by close apprca-
tion and study looking to a thoro mas.
terry OF the work in which it is desired
to excel. The International Typograph
ical Union has made more progress IN
this direction than any other trade union
and its opportunities for greater ad
vancement are unlimited. But to make
| greater progress it must be moro dras-
| tic in its scrutiny of those who come
into its membership. 1t must subject
| them to a closer examinatin than the
average local union requires as test of
competency. The /. T. U. Course Of
fers the opportunity for this test until
some better one may be devised. II local
unions would require certificate OF
graduation in the course before admis-
sion, sufficient assurance OF the compc-
tency of the applicant might be had-at
least a better assurance than the old
method of inquiry on the part of a 10
cal investigating committee from
friendly foreman or friendly co-workers.
The international Typographical Union
should make it mandatory to take the
course and by making it mandatory
make the course self-sustaining, make it
an inestimable asset to the journeyman
of the future with consequent recog-
milton on the part of employers where
the best journeymen are to be had"
Inasmuch as the next session of the
I. T. u. will probably be held in Colo
rado Springs, your president would rec
ommend, with the expressed sanction of
the entire executive committee, that the
fifth annual meeting of this conference
also be held in that city at a date to
be fixed by this convention. The rea-
sons for such action are many and should
be obvious to all here present.
President Extends Felicitation,.
The necessity for seal or emblem for
use on official documents and printed
matter has been noted by your officers
Your president would recommend that a
committee be named by this session to
have prepared suitable design for such
seal and have same made also electro
types for use on official printed mat
ter of the conference.
The financial condition Of the confer
ence is in good shape-our receipts have
not been large, but our expenses have
been held down to a minimum-and con-
sidering these facts a nice little balance
is in the treasury. These matters will
undoubtedly be fully covered in the re.