New-York tribune., 1919-10-04
Walk-Out of Compositors
of Publishers Co. Causes
Employers to Demand
Showdown From Rouse
1000 Printers Now Out
President of Typographical
Local Said To Be Still
With Outlawed Unions

The conflict between the Printers
League, the New York organization af-
tiliatcd with the Association of En-
ploying Printers, and the four press
mems, press feeders and paper
handlers unions outlawed by the In
ternational Typographical sand Inter
national Pressmen's unions may re-
solve itself, it was said yesterday, into
a conflict with Typograp phi ical Union
NO. +, unless this organization is able
to put halt to the wak-out of com
positors in various book and job print
ing plants affected by the lockout of
the pressmen.
An ultimatum was submitted yester-
day by the employing printers to Leon
II. Rouse, president of big g." at
conference in the Hotel Pennsylvania
following the walkout of 300 more
compositors, including fifty at the plant
of the Publishers Printing Company,
which prints "The Literary Digest"
This plant, located at POT West Twen-
ty-ffth Street, was tied up four weeks
ago by strike of pressmen, members
of Franklin Union, No. 23, one of
the outlaw organizations, headed by
James Bagley. The strike was broken
by the International Pressmen's Union
the plant The walkout Of the COM
positors, therefore, the employers con-
tend, cannot be said to be due to any
sympathy with the pressmen, but con-
sttutes q direct conflict between mem
bers of "Big 6" and the management of
the plant. in violation of the stand
taken by the international Typograph
ica Union that no local union can
raise the demand for the immediate in
PRODUCTION of the forty four-hour week
stipulated to begin not before MAY /,
1921
Action by Rouse Demanded
The Printers League, following yes
terday's conference, called upon Mr..
Rouse to either order the men at the
Publishers Printing Company back to
staff Of compositors. Upon the action
Of "Big CO in this matter, it was stated
by William Green, chairman of the
la Dor committee Of the Printers
League, will depend whether or not the
Printers League will lodge a complaint
with the international against Big g."
1t was said that the employers might
also call to the attention of the inter
national a statement issued the day be-
fore yesterday by committee of Big
s. in which the committee announced
that "BiX g. was. ready to underwrite
the contracts of the outlaw organiza-
tons if the employers would enter into
negotiations with them Mr.. Green as
serted that in making this announce
ment big 6" placed itself in direct op-
position to the international, and is
continuing to recognize the outlaw or
CARNATIONS as legitimate bodies affili-
ated with the international.
Following the conference Mr.. Green
announced that the employers have
again refused the proposition of Presi-
dent Rouse to enter into any negotia-
tlons or arbitration with the outlaw or
ganiza tions. He said that a. the con-
ference the employers had renewed the
offer to "Big g. to arbitrate the con-
ditlons of a new contract with the or
ganizaticn.
What Employers Offered
The old contract expired October .
The employers offered $6 increase in
wages. the Inauguration of the 44-hour
week bv May |, 1921, and asked that all
contracts be underwritten by the In
tcrnatlonal Typographical Union.
a point on which they particularly
insist is the acceptance by the union of
arbitration agreements overlapping CON
tracts. Mr.. Green laid particular EN-
phasis on this point, saying it is the
only means whereby the employers can
protect themselves against strikes fol
lowing the expiration of contracts.
Mr.. Rouse was asked by the employ
ers to take the employers proposal to
the members of Big e. at their meet
ing tomorrow in New Star Casino,
10th Street and Park Avenue. Mr..
Rouse promised to do so. He also
promised to take up the matter of the
walkout of compositors with the
executive committee of the union, al
though he declined all responsibility
for the walkout, saying the compost
tors quit on their own responsibility.
According to the estimate Of Mr..
Green, the number Of compositors out
is 1000: The new plants effected by
the walkout of the compositors. in
| addition 70 that Of the Puhlishers,