The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-07
CROWELL COMPANY
LOCKS OUT PRINTERS
Publishers of National Mag
azines Are Fighting
Typographical
Union
Attempt to Enforce "YellOw
Dog Contracts in Com
posing Room

Locking out its composing room en-
ployes, members of Springfield (Ohio)
Typographical Union No. 1T, the
Crowell Publishing Company on Oc-
tober | declared for the non n-union
shop. The Crowell Company pub
fishes the Woman's Home Companion,
The American Magazine, Farm &
Fireside, and Mentor. 1t also is owner
and publisher of Golfers National
Weekly. The latter magazine is pub
lished in New York City. All the
other magazines are produced in the
company's Springfield plant.
Prior to instituting the lockout, the
company through its manager, J. E.
Miller, sought by coercion and bribes
in the nature of wages greatly in ex
cess of the union scale, to prevail on
members of the union to give up their
membership. The usual open-shop
"yellow-dog" contract was presented
to the men, and with two exceptions
all refused to sign such an agreement.
Several months ago, following the
usual custom, Springfield Typograph
ical Union presented its wage scale to
the employing printers of Springfield.
Among the number was the Crowell
Company, which the union believed
still maintained its membership in the
American Newspaper Publishers As
sociation, but later it was learned the
company had permitted its member
ship to lapse last year without in
forming the union of its action.
The Crowell Company Immediately
rejected the wage proposal, and at no
time sought to bring about an adjust
ment by the usual methods hereto
fore employed-negotiation, concilia-
ton or arbitration Shortly thereaf-
ter the union learned that the manage
ment, through Vollmer of Chicago and
other strike breaking agencies, was
recruiting non-union printers to take
the places of members of Springfield
Typographical Union.
The officers of Springfield Typo
graphical Union were loath to believe
that the management of the Crowell
Company would adopt such despicable
tactics, because of the long years of
friendly relationship, but the real at
titude of the present management be-
came apparent when the attempt was
made shortly before October 1st to get
the union men to give up their mem
bership in the union.
Under a former management, about
twenty years ago this same company
refused to recognize the eight hour
day. After a two-year fight, during
which the company was sold to other
persons, the eight-hour day and Typo
graphical Union were recognized. Of
ficegs and members of Springfield
Typographical Union are just as de-
termined now as they were 20 years
ago to win in the war that rs now
being waged against them by the
Crowell Company The locked-out
members of the union have organized
committee and are notifying mem
bers of organized labor and friends
that the Crowell Publishing Company |
has dealt with them unfairly by fill
ing their places with strikebreakers,
bringing the latter surreptitiously to
Springfield and having them in the
composing room on the morning of
October 1st when union men reported
for work.
O. n. Boyle, Labor Temple, Spring !
field, Ohio, chairman of Typograph- |
ical Union lockout committee, IS ask
ing the moral support of all wage
earners to aid in the controversy
particularly those who have been or
are readers Of the Woman's Home
Companion, The American Magazine,
Farm 4 Preside, and Mentor Lit
erature viii be furnished to indiVid |
uals or unions on request.