The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-22
big SIX REJECTS Sc
WAGE RAISE OFFER
Two Factions Struggle Hard
For and Against Strike Of
Job Printers Oct. 1.
FINAL VOTE NEXT SUNDAY
President Rouse Defies Inter-
national Union-MOre Con-
ferences With Employers.

Although the members OF big Six"
typographical union rejected the offer OF
the book and job printers Of this city
for q SO weekly salary increase yester-
day afternoon they unanimously passed
q resolution directing their officers TO
enter into further negotiations with the
employers association, and postponed
taking any further action until next
Sunday.
A meeting win be held at which, ac-
cording to official announcement, "a
strike vote NAV be taken" Meanwhile
the two factions OF big Six" those who
favor standing by their international or
ganixation and arbitrating their de-
mands, and those who favor breaking
with the international and striking on
October 1 will continue to pull in oppo-
site directions.
The former class includes most OF the
''oid timers" who in the past have won
widespread respect for the organization
by their fairness, and who do not wish
to sacrifice this reputation now. The
latter class is apparently dominated by
n new element of radical proclivities
who do not care how they get what
they're after as long as they get 1t, and
who are unwilling to listen to the coun-
sells OF the older heads.
II was this latter element which prac-
tically ruled yesterdays meeting, boot
ing down moderate suggestions, and cry.
ing Lets have some more of itr' when
their president. Leon II. Rouse. re-
r marked that he had been accused of
being Bolshevist and radical. 1t was
also this element which caused the hall
20 be pamphletized with papers urging
mo Arbitration! No Compromise :" and
advising the men to pay no heed to the
statements that publishers and printers
would move their plants out of the city
in event of a general strike.
Meeting Overnoyvs From Hall.
Those who attended and crowded hall
ways and fire escapes, overlooking into
the street, were largely in the dark as
TO what was going on. Only those sit
ting near the speakers platform could
: get the gist Of the proceedings most Of
the time When the adjournment was
announced hundreds of members in the
rear OF the hall were inquiring anxiously
what action had been taken upon the
measures before the union. They did
not even know that the offer Of the
employers had been rejected.
For those who could keep in touch with
the proceedings the meeting was prac-
ticaliy n one man affair Mr.. Rouse,
whose ,sympathies apparently were with
the strike agitators, did all of the speak
ing, and several persons who wanted to
make suggestions sought the floor in
vain. One man who did succeed in
voicing a suggestion for the elimination
of the forty-four hour week from their
demands was promptly told by radicals
to sit down. and he Scomplied.
Mr.. Rouse opened the meeting by ten
dering his resignation. which was re-
fused. He then bitterly assailed Mars
den G. Scott, the International president.
who announced last Thursday that the
local union would be suspended IL II
called strike without the sanction of
its International organization. The
laws OF big Six" expressly forbid 1t to
take such action without authority, but
Mr.. Rouse told those who could hear
him that he did not intend to have arbi.
tratIon rammed down his throat by Mr.
Scott. and that the latter wouldn't have
"a Chinaman's chance" of ousting the
local organization.
II the international should move fo-
the suspension of the local. Rouse said,
he would seek to restrain 1t from so
doing by court injunction.
Rouse Uses Strong Language.
Rouse used strong language in refer
ring to Mr.. Scott, and said that the
charge had been made that he wished
TO supplant him as International presi-
dent. ANY such statement is an infer
nal lie," he said. He also declared that
he had been informed that Mr. Scott
had remained away from the meeting &c
give him a chance ito hang himself
He declared that he would lay his cards
on the table at next Sundays gathering
and give the men a chance to Judge his
case.
In order that all holders of unior
cards may get into next Sundays meet
ing the officers have been instructed Il
obtain the largest hall available.
When the meeting had adjourned Il
was fully fifteen minutes before the hal
WIS half way cleared. 30 dense was tn,
crowd and so limited the means o.
egress.
: big Six did not follow the lead O.
the pressmen's unions, headed by James
Bagley and Bernard Nolan, which hav,
declared a half holiday for Wednesda,
for the purpose of finding out how many
are with them In their desire to cal
a general strike.
Nolan's organization voted TO do thi
at a meeting held in Washington Irv
Ing High School,, Some of the mem
bers. who have been working in thu
plant of the Printers Publishing Com
pany. already are on strike. The or
ganization has been dropped by its inter
national organizer for its. refusal t,
abide by union rules and its Opposition
20 arbitration. Nolan said later;
'"The American Federation OF Labo
doesn't figure in this. 1t cannot fore
Ms to recognize the international" =
The employing printers will be mott
ned officially to-day of the results O
yesterdays meeting of Big Six ant
arrangements for further conference
win be made. The establishment
threatened by the proposed stfike ar
going ahead with their arrangement
for removal of their business to West
ern cities II 1t becomes necessary 10
them to do 30.
nRnH HIERYCl cMpIKE IAnMc