The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-18
BOOKBINDERS
CHEER limited
AMALCAMATION
Biennial Convention is
Bored by Orators

Amalgamation of the International
Brotherhood of Bookbinders with the
printing trades was enthusiastically
applauded at their eighteenth biennial
convention at the Hotel Morrison, lift
ing the convention momentarily out
Of state of boredom induced by an
overdose of oratory.
Resolutions were offered the conven-
ton of the bookbinders lifting the
censorship of the International officers
in the pages of the unions publica-
tion-"The Bookbinder's Journal; re-
ducing the salaries of the President
and ecretary-treasurer providing for
the sending of an organizer into the
Cincinnati Ohio territory; recommend
ing that the financial statement be
printed in the Journal; and for the
establishment of an old age pension.
Gompers' Agent a Bore.
George Perkins, President of the In
ternational Cigar Makers Union, who
spoke for Samuel Gompers, President
of the American Federation of Labor,
so bored the delegates that half of
them went out into the reception room
while he was speaking. Most of the
rest of them read newspapers.
Perkins told the delegates he as we'll
as Gompers had absolute confidence in
the executive officers Of the bookbind-
ers. He pleaded with them to do what
ever their officers told them to and
stave off disruption.
"The necessity of organization is
going to keep the trade unionists to-
gether in spite of themselves" he said.
1.-THE American Federation of Labor is
the greatest labor organization in the
world"
Nonsense, Georgia.
To-day we are in a crisis" Perkins
continued, while the delegates chatted
and read. "The Employers are using
race hatred and religious questions in
an attempt to divide us. This method
is employed in all progressive move
ments. 1t happened in the Democratic
convention in New York. In the same
way the employers are attempting to
|
divide the workers and industrial
farmers"
Perkins then launched into mixed
| up dissertation on economics. Pray
and vote where you like" he advised,
'but'remember that the economic con-
litions of the workers are most i'm
)ortant. The American Federation of
labor has developed political auto
lomy of its own"
'The cause of unemployment is un-
Ter consumption agd not over-produc-
| ion. There never was law of supply
and demand. The cold storage plants
nave nullified it. With our improved
machinery we make more than we can
consume on the wages we receive.
Perkins said he spoke for Gompers
when he declared that the American
Federation of Labor will some day
make the economic laws of this coun-
try.
Labor is Chief.
Remember" Perkins finished, COM
pleting the confusion of his speech,
that the things necessary to indus
try are labor, management, engineer
ing skill, and capital. The trades
unions must see that labor gets its fair
share"
John j. Manning, altho declaring
that the members should always be
guided by the instructions of their Of
ficers, and spouted to some length of
tolerance and cooperation, struck a
popular note when he referred to
amalgamation. "The international
Bookbinders Brotherhood of Book
binders should not only work shoulder
to shoulder with the other printing
trades, but should affiliate with them.
Why should there be differentiation
in trade disputes when the workers are
all in the same industry" said Mann
ing.
Kate Richards 0'Hare made a plea
for the Bookbinders to refuse to buy
prison made goods.