The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-02
QUIT WORK HERE
Topeka Printers Decide to
Strike by lis to 4 Vote.
Men Out of Work Report at
Labor Hall.
Nine FIRMS. ARE AFFECTED
Number of Firms Accept Forty
Four Hour Week.
Thirty-Five Printers and Seven
Apprentices Out Here.

Since 7:5o o'clock this morning, the
men who are on strike from the job
and book printing plants of Topeka
which have refused to accede to the
forty-four hour week demanded by
the International typographical union,
have been reporting at Labor hall.
Men on strike are required to report
each day at the headquarters of the
union.
Thirty-Five Printers Affected.
Eight printers from Crane & Co;
six from the Capper Printing Co.; one
from f. S. Evarts; five from Adams
Brothers; nine from Halls; two from
the Shawnee Chief; two from the Kel-
ley Publishing company; one from
Ives & Sons, and one from Vesper &
Fox. are on the strike.
The following firms have acceded
to the demand for forty-four week,
and have been placed on the fair
list, with their men still at work:
Superior Printing Co., Clarkson, Wag-
College Hill, A. D. Bauer Printing Co,
and the Poehler King Mercantile Co.
Strike Vote Was 11S to 4.
The vote taken by the local union,
Topeka Typographical union No. 121,
by which the instructions of the Inter
national union were carried out was
11S to 4. The vote was taken at the
regular meeting of the local union,
held Sunday afternoon at Labor hall.
At present there are affected thirty
five printers and seven apprentices.
What will happen when the blndery
operatives and the press feeders, VINO
have separate unions affiliated with
the Typographical union. decide to act,
is as yet unknown. Inevitably. the
bindery operatives and the press feed
ers will run out of work in the shops
which the printers have left, which
will result in closing these shops
down.
Take Out Strike Insurance.
Both sides have taken measures to
protect themselves financially during
the strike. The employers are carry
ing strike insurance, the workings OF
which will be observed for the first
time in Topeka. The striking printers
are receiving strike benefits both from
the local union and from the interna-
tional organization.
1t is made plain by the employers
and the printers alike that the strike
is not a result of any local ill feeling,
but is national in scope. There is no
question of wages or the open shop
involved.
Newspaper plants and the state
printing plant are still to be operated
on the forty eight week schedule.
Employing Printers Meet.
A conference of the employing
printers was held this morning to con-
slider the general aspects of the situa-
ton.
''The majority of the employing
printers believe that this is not the
opportune time to bring this matter
up" Charles Mitchell, of Crane & Co,
said after the conference THE course
of least resistance for the employers
would be to accept the 44-hour week
and check the increased cost to the
consumer, but we believe that the
buying public expects us to bring
printing prices down, along with other
reductions, rather than to increase
them.
several of the employers who have
been listed as fair and in whose shops
the men are still working today have
signed no 44-hour week contract, and
,, , do net intend to. The employers are
standing together, as a unit
Tic Up City Directory.
The plants from which the com
! positors have walked out either are
tied up or will be, very shortly, Nit
cheIl said Altho only the members
of the Typographical union, compris-
ing compositors, makeup and lookup
men, have left the shops, there will
soon be nothing left for the other en-
ployes to do. The city directory be-
ing printed by Crane & Co., is one of
the big jobs which is to be tied up,
Mitchell said.
.sEyerything we have in the chases
will be run by tonight Mitchell said,
"and the other plants are in the same
\