New-York tribune., 1919-11-08
International Officers, How.
ever, Refuse 10 Accept Any
Proposition That Does Not
Eliminate Local Leaders
Employers Are Onlookers
Miss Frances Perkins Also
Seeks 10 Bring Peace TO
the Book and Job Plants

Two moves looking toward settle
ment of the printing trades trouble
were made yesterday, one on the part
of the state and the other on the part
Of the unions concerned. Miss Frances
Perkins, a member Of the State Indus
trial Commission, took hand in the
matter at the behcst of Governor
Smith. Miss Perkins would not say
what moves she contemplated to bring
to an end the "vacation strike" of 8 900
compositors, members of Typographical
Union, No. s, and the lockout of nearly
10000 pressmen. feeders, paper hand
lcrs and sheet straightcncrs. which has
been in progress for moro than six
weeks
1t is understood, however, that she
has asked for a conference with the
Printers League, the organization Of
employers.
Good Offices Not Wanted
William McHugh, president of the
international Printing Pressmen's and
Assistants Union. said that Miss Per
kins's offices will not be welcome.
At n conference at tho Hotel Penn
sylvania between Major George L.
Berry president Of the international
Printing Pressmens and Assistants
Union, and officials of the Printers
League, compromise proposition was
discussed This was presented as
result of a previous meeting at which
were present David Simons. president
of Webb Pressmcn's Local, %; Vincent
Ferris, president of Paper Handlers
Union, l James Baglcy, president Of
Franklin Union, 23; Bernard Nolan,
president Of Pressmcn's Union, 81, and
Leon IL. Rouse, president of Big g."
nfE ,.I
agreement on the basis of forty-six-
hour week, the Introduction Of the
-four-hour week September i, 1920,
and an increase of 81 a week.
Proposition Rejected
The proposition was presented to
Mr.. Berry. who sent the following reply
to MIR: Simons, rejecting the offer:
Your proposal embracing a series
of conditions relating to the strike of
pressmcn and assistants of New York
has been given my careful considera-
tlon. AS | understand the conditions
proposed by the secessonists are as
follows:
"First-That we approach the em-
ploycrs and secure q 81 q week increase
in wages with q i6-hour week now and
a 44-hour week on September l. 1920
"Second-That we agree to the plan
=
unions affiliated with the international
Printing Pressmen's and Assistants
Union with the seeding New York
unions, unat}iiated
3. lhat the unaffiliated, seeded
unions be accepted without the pay
ment of their financial obligations to
the international Union.
Reasons for Refusal
an answering the proposals ! beg
to advise you that the plan cannot be
accepted for the reasons:
Il. Regarding your proposition No.
] Will say that the employers have
already offered So increase and A
forty-four week on May |, 1927, but
are willing to abritrate the question
as to whether the forty-four- week
shall be made at an earlier date.
consider, therefore, the employers
position fair and believe that it should
be accepted by the prcssroom workers
of New York City.
- Referring to the amalgamation
as proposed by you, will Say that this
is impossible. An invitation has been
extended to the unaililiated pressmcn
and feeders to associate themselves
with the new unions. An amalgamation
would make necessary the revocation of
the present charter and the issuance of
an additional charter. This we will
not do.
Must Eliminate Leaders
"Moreover, if we agreed to ANAL
gama.lon 1t would make necessary the
holding Of a new election, which would
give opportunity for re-control Of the
pressmen's and feeders unions by ire
sponsible persons, who have precip-
tated the present industrial conflict in
New York City. Under no conditions
w!ll the international Printing Press
mems and ASSISTANTS Union agree to
the proposition of having the local
unions in New York City otcered bv
men who believe in direct action. who
disregard contracts and who refuse
arbitration as means of adjusting in
dustrlai disputes. The onlY guarantee
for stability Of the industry for the
future, as regards trade union princi-
pies and sanity in the printing indus
try, is for the men Of the pressrooms
to repudiate unqUaliiiedly he Bolshe-
vlst leadership responsib Tor this dis
astrous conflict in New York City.
Welcome to New Unions
The International Printing Press
mems an Assistants Union welcomes
without penalty or financial considera-
ton any pressmen or feeders willing to
subscribe and prove sincerity to the
following fundamental principles Of the
international body. which are: Ad-
herence to contracts between the en-
ployers and our organization. the set
tlemcnt of disputes arising between the
employers and our organization
through cancellation and by arbitra-
tlon, II conclliation fails, compliance
with the laws Of the International
Printing Pressmens and Assistants
Union, and the absolute and unQual-
fed adherence TO American ideals and
principles.
You are at liberty to transmit the
conditions as set forth herein to any
person or persons who come within
the jun diction of the lnternatlnAl
Unin'
William Green, chairman Of the la
Dor committee OF the Printers League,
said the compromise offer did not con-
Germ the league lie said it was
matter for the local unions and the
international He SAID the Printers
League cannot change its policy of re-
fusins TO deal with organizations not
in good standing With their in,cyna-
tlonals
A. meeting Of 1h, Prntsf,' League
IN the Hotel Astor res'crify the
league expelled from membership The
Martin I. Brown Company an1 the
Dispatch Printing aud Binding Cons
pany Tor cone ading agreements wi'h
the ou'lawed unions 4, the same tlnle