The Connecticut labor news., 1923-06-15
Engineers Condemn Gary For His
 Refusal To End Brutal l2-Hour Day
STEREOTYPERS PAY SMALL, HOURS LONG,
 IN PRE-UNlON ERA

Ten hours work a day for two dollars a week. How does that sound to you, MT. Union Man? Not so good, you say: We'll, where do you think men worked such hours at such wages! In Chlna, land of coolie labor or India, with its teeming millions of unorgan1zed and docile toilers? No, it was right here III these United States, only forty years ago!
 A copy of an aprentice agreement found py an old member ot Local Union No. 5, International Stereo- typers and Eiectrotypers Union tells more viv1dly than anything else the story of conditions Ill the eIectrotypers' trade before the days of un1onlsm. The man learning the trade in those days had nothing to do, but work. Spending his wages did not bother him, as the first year he drew only $2 a week and the most he received was S8 week, during hls fourth year of the ten-hour day. Oh, yes, we nearly forgot; he got bonus of $25 at the end of h1s sentence, provided his duties had been fully and satisfactorily performed.
 The historic agreement, with its lesson for urllon1St and nOn-unlOnlSt alike, tol- lows:
 This indenture, witnesseth: That Herman kaageg of the County of Cook, State of Illinois, has voluntarily, ot ms own free will and accord, put and bound himself apprentice to A. Zeese x O., of the city of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, to learn the art and trade of an electrotyper and as an ap- prentice to serve from this date for and during and until the full end and term of four (4) years next ensuing; during all of which time said apprentice shall serve his masters faithfully, honestly and irdustriously, their secrets kept and all lawful demands readily obeyed and to denean himself in modest, courteous and accommodating manner toward his masters and all other persons employed i'll and about the premises and business of said masters; at all times protect and preserve the goods and property of ms said masters not suffer any to be wasted or injured and, 1t being the custom in said business to work at least ten hours per day the said apprentice shall also employ himself in and about the premises of his said masters during the tune of at least ten hours per day during the full term of his apprenticeship.
 And the said masters shall use the employe the utmost to their endeavors to teach or cause him, the said appren- tice to be taught, or instructed in the art or trade as an electrotyper.
 . And the said A. AZeese & Co., further agree to pay the said Herman Kaage the following sum of money, viz: For the first year of his service the sum of two e dollars per week; for the. second year of his service, the sum of four (4) dollars per week; for the third year six (6). dollars per week; and for the fourth year of his service, the sum of eight (o) dollars per week, payable at the expiration of each week of actual work.
 And 1t is further agreed, that i'll case the said Herman kaage fully and satis- factorily performs his duties as set forth in this contract, the said A. Zeese & Co. will pay him at the expiration of this contract the sume of twenty-five (25) dollars as bonus for the true and faith ful discharge of his obligations.
 In witness whereof the parties afore- said have hereurto set their hands and seals this first day of November, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight | Hundrey and Eighty-three GA. D. 1885
 (Signed) HERMAN KAAGE.
 A. ZEEGE & co.