Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1919-08-15
BOOK co. UNFAIR
School Authorities Urged to Use Only
Such Text Books as are Produced
by Union Labor and Under
Union Conditions

The Atlantic City convention of the
American Federation Of Labor adopt
ed a resolution introduced by the dele
gates from the printing trades organ
izations as follows:
Whereas, The American Book Com
pany, of Cincinnati, Ohio, manufac-
lures a large number of school text
books, which are in general use in
the schools throughout the United
States and Canada; and
Whereas, The social, economic and
political advancement of the citizens
Of the country in general depends
finally on the enlightenment that
comes through the free schools, which
are the very foundation and support
of our free institutions; and
Whereas, The books from which
the children of the country, on whom
its future solely rests, receive their
first instructions on which to build
their character as men and women
should be of a quality beyond re-
proach in any regard; and
Whereas, Unremitting efforts have
been made without success to bring
about the unionizing of the various
departments of the American Book
Company's Cincinnati plant, its man.
agement absolutely refusing to treat
with the representatives of organized
labor, or the unions directly involved,
but persisting in the practice of en-
ploying only non-union labor as being
consistent with it's policy of control
of the text book trade wherever it
may, and thus bringing before the
mind Of the child at its most impress
sionable time the product of unfair
labor; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the American Fedora
tion of Labor in convention assembled
at Atlantic City, New Jersey, That
we heartily condemn the policy of the
American Book Company in its gen.
eral attitude toward organized labor
and the unions of the craft employed
in the production of school text books
in particular; and be it further
Resolved, That we urge upon all
school authorities and purchasing
agents for the public schools that
they provide only such text books
and other material for the use of the
school children of the country as are
produced by union labor and under
union conditions, to the end that the
first inkling of general knowledge OBJ
tanned by the children, and the first |
lessons they receive in the glorious
history of free people be not derived |
from sources tainted by the contami-
nation of scab labor, to the profit of |
those who refuse to recognize the
fundamental principles of justice and
fair dealing on which the labor move
ment of America rests; and be it
further
Resolved That we request the edi-
tors of the journals or other publica-
tions Of national and international
unions, the American Federationist,
and the labor press in general to give
to this resolution or its substance the
widest possible publicity, and that we
urge upon the various state and city
central bodies the necessity of giving
the vitally important matter of school
text books a prominent place in their
program.
In thus bringing especially the at
tention of organized labor to the
action of the convention as above
quoted, it is urged that all parties at
interest should take such steps as
will conform to the above declaration.