decamped for parts unknown, leaving the union several dollars "in the hole," minus a charter and various other small things, while his landlady bewailed the loss of several weeks' board and room bill. Bert Merrick, of the Pioneer-Times, was elected secretary-treasurer to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the absconder, which was asked for. We are now getting straightened out, slow but sure.

A review of the December JOURNAL is enough to cause the union printer man's heart to swell with pride in the perfection of his organization. The jollification starts off with the information that the Courier Litho Company has been made to see the error of its ways, and it may now expect to pay dividends in a short time, as it will again be enabled to handle large contracts. Chicago continues to pull them into the fold, while the unions all over the country continue to raise their scales.

A mistake was made in printing the new scale of Lead No. 498. They secured no increase whatever, merely signing up, for five years, their old contract, which calls for $16 for jobmen, $19 for job foremen and admen, $21 day machine and $24 night machine. Their scale is the same as Deadwood, the two cities being only three miles apart.

The one thing most needed here in Deadwood is a label committee which would wage an ag gressive warfare against those who persist in sending their work to the notoriously unfair shops of Brown & Saenger and Will A. Beach, of Sioux Falls, S. D. It is especially noticeable that in city and county printing fully 90 per cent of it goes to the above habitues of the rodent and to their infamous runways in Omaha and St. Paul. The object that should be kept in view is the fact that, besides sending thousands of dollars out of the county for work that should be kept at home, it is maintaining the one great evil that we have been paying out good, hard coin of the realm to wipe out for the past two years-that of the scab shop and slave hours of labor. It can not be denied that there is a great amount of the work that can not be done here in Deadwood, such as blank books, etc., for there is no bindery here. But, why can't we unite in the effort to have a law passed requiring the union label on the county and city printing? There are several thousand union men here in Lawrence county, and it could be done if some concerted action were taken. Surely there is a great field for the "sticker" and blotter's usefulness in the jurisdiction of No. 603.

Business in printing lines here has dropped off somewhat since the recent "flurry" among the manipulators of Wall street, but is expected to soon regain its former activity. Let us hope so, at least, for while the depression lasts, yours truly is destined to be on the waiting list (unless some one dies).

At last! A solution of the question as to what we shall do with our aged brothers has arrived. The poll of the votes cast shows what the membership thinks of the pension system. It will keep many an "oldtimer" from filling a pauper's grave; it will solve the problem of how to take care of

the many applicants for admission to our Home who have no other place to turn to in their old days, but would willingly refrain from going there only for the lack of funds. This last problem is as great as the first one. There will undoubtedly be many members vacate the Printers Home, now that they are assured of a living among their friends and relatives and will be dependent upon no one. It is but their just reward for having blazed the way for the present generation of "prints" to hoist our grand organization on and upward to the high ideal of unionism it has attained and maintained. Again, I say, it is their just reward. May the time soon come when we can give them $5 per week is my earnest hope.

'Twas surely a beautiful tribute paid to exForeman Bryant, of the San Francisco Examiner, by the members of that chapel. Tersely said, "He deserved all he received." Congratulations to Billy Henderson, who was promoted to the foremanship to succeed Mr. Bryant.

Hurrah for Kansas City No. 80! May her colors always show as proud and victorious over the detestable rodents that she has always been noted for. It was surely a wonderful victory. And a "tiger" for Guthrie-another wonderful achievement. This shows what a demand for the label will do.

The election of officers took place at the December meeting. W. C. Galloway was elected president; C. E. Petty, recording secretary; C. S. Earley, secretary-treasurer, in place of the writer, who has held the office for the past six years, and who positively declined to be a candidate again. Nearly all of the old officers were re-elected. A committee was appointed to make arrangements for a banquet following the installation of officers at the January meeting.

Two new members and an apprentice were elected at the December meeting.

An amendment to the by-laws was adopted at the December meeting fining the members a stipulated amount who do not attend eight meetings during the year without a reasonable excuse. It will take effect January 1.

What has become of the new labor temple proj ect? For information ask the delegates to the central labor union. MILTON K. BARRUS.

NEW CASTLE, PA.

Work is at a standstill in this city, with few tourists coming our way.

The Keystone Press is a new one-man job shop in our city. Harry Schweinsberg is the proprietor. Our members were glad to know the assessment had been reduced. No. 270 is one of the pioneers in the eight-hour movement, and we are proud of the distinction.

Three job printers were put on the label committee by President Engle, and we may expect big results, as almost everybody wants the label.

PHILIP S. EVANS.

SCRANTON, PA.

Our December meeting assumed the proportions of a delegate election in the matter of attendance. Ordinarily there is little interest taken in our annual election of officers, but our last meeting was a decided exception to the rule. For most of the offices there were no contests, but this was far from true of the presidency. President Skeoch and William Corless were the contending candidates for that office, the latter winning out by a small majority. Over a hundred members were present. The following officers were elected for the coming year: President, William Corless; vice-president, M. W. Walton; secretary-treasurer, C. A. Kellar; recording secretary, James E. Clarke; sergeant-atarms, Henry Scholl; messenger, John Christian; auditing committee, James Folan, M. H. Millard, J. H. Eaton.

It was a fitting tribute paid the labor press of the country by the American Federation of Labor convention, and we have a right to feel proud of the lofty position some of these journals are earning for themselves. The ability with which some of them are edited gives the labor movement a security it could not receive in any other way, and shows plainly the sacrifices being made by the talented writers in the cause. In view of all these truths, and for the sake of the many excellent labor papers that are so earnestly and consistently casting their powerful influence on the side of organized labor, it is to be regretted that there are a few very few-that, while they continue to hover under the banners of the labor movement, seem to exist for no other purpose than to assassinate the character of good men and to surround the tried and true officials of organizations with a haze of disrepute, and to deprive them of the confidence of their constituents-the most essential element to the success of any cause. It is fortunate indeed that free thinkers constitute the rank and file of trade unionists, and are therefore not easily swayed by blatherings of merchantable writers of so-called labor papers. Furthermore, experience has taught us to consider the source of these scurrilous attacks, and when they emanate from the self-proclaimed traitor-in-the-camp, they are given the condemnation they richly deserve, and the same consideration is given to the fakir who greedily grasps the carrion feast for reprint, and feebly tries to extenuate his cowardly act in a few oily lines after the credit. To my mind, the last offense is the graver, when we consider the author may have once suffered the humiliation of being unseated in a convention of his craftsmen, and that his eviction might easily have been made permanent had it not been for the leniency of his victims. If the time ever arrives when these character assassins decide to discontinue their onslaughts upon able and competent leaders of men, and direct their talents along consistent union lines that will rank them with the reputable labor papers, the cause of trade unionism will be advanced many years.

Our retiring executive committee leaves a record behind of which it may justly feel proud. It has given us a fine example of what can be accomplished by close attention to duty. The good work

during the past year pays a glowing tribute to its energies.

There seems to be little foundation in this city for the claim that churches are not interested in the cause of unionism. So far our executive committee has discovered three churches in this city that have entered into the scheme of the Ladies' Home Journal and Saturday Evening Post to boom their depleted subscription lists. Every one of these has yielded to the arguments of the committee and decided to discontinue their efforts in behalf of these rat products, and have taken up a union publication. In one instance the aid society of the church had secured 900 subscribers, but they never reached the Curtis Publishing Company. The claim is made by the church people that the union publication is just as good and is received with better consideration.

If this Boston boosting doesn't let up, Cooke will have a bunch of Scranton printers on his hands from now until the convention is over. There is a crowd going, and it will not take much more boosting to start them "on their way" now. But we will keep on boosting just the same. JOHN M. COLLINS.

NEWARK, NJ.

Newark's jobbers have a new scale, $20 per week, an increase of $1, which went into effect December 2. It was the intention of the promoters of the advance to get $2, but, after a couple of conferences with the employers, this was the best they could get out of them, and at a special meeting, November 29, the membership, by a vote of 94 to 10, decided to accept the "plunk." At the meeting the committee presented two propositions, both without recommendation. The first, the employers', to grant an increase of $1 a week, and, if New York ever raised its scale to $23, then Newark to get the other dollar; the second, the committee's, to accept the $20 for the present and demand $21 after June 1, 1908.

That the office of delegate to the 1908 convention at Boston won't go begging is a certainty. This is probably due, in a large degree, to the fact that a change in No. 103's constitution makes it obligatory that, if two members are to be selected, at least one of them must be from the job branch. In former years the delegates came from any old branch-invariably the news endexcept about once in a decade, when some jobber with an exceptionally fine kit of tools would burglarize his way in. Now that it's a cinch for at least one jobber, it is "sure surprisin'" the number of them that are willing to devote their time and talent in the interest of No. 103 at Boston. It is rumored that some of them have been advised by physicians that a bean diet is just what they need to put them in first-class condition; also that most of them are reading up strongly on Emerson, Browning, and the Fall River and Joy line time tables; the former in order that they may be able to converse fluently in Bostonese, the latter because most of them say they want to go the worst way. A few of those in the "han's Thomas Callan, John Gilroy,

of the'r fren's" are:

Thomas Milen, John Sorg, Chris Gaarder and others. But two candidates have thus far punctured the newspaper delegate atmosphere. They are William Hackett, of the Call, and Louis Gebhart, of the News. Plenty of time yet, and we are hopeful.

The pressfeeders' strike, layoff, walkout, or whatever it was, took the form of a procession hereabouts-one shop today, another tomorrow, etc., for over a week. At present all are back on an eight-hour basis. The pressmen rested on their oars and let the feeders bear the brunt, but were "Johnny on the spot" when it came to a settlement. Now they are also on the eight-hour list.

William Walsh, a member of No. 103, long a sufferer from consumption, died November 30, at the city hospital.

E. H. (Mose) Holbruner's application for ad mission to the Home was favorably acted upon at the last meeting. Mr. Holbruner will take up his residence there as soon as the necessary prelimi naries are attended to. Tuberculosis of both lungs is Mose's affliction.

William Harvey has "got a job" printin' for the government at Washington.

There'll be no raise in the newspaper scale for the present. The score was 74 to 1.

W. J. KEEGAN.

E. H. Ashton, who had been president of No. 103 for the past three years, resigned at the December meeting. A rising vote of thanks was tendered him when he left the chair. "Ash," during his administration, demonstrated ability in handling the many important questions that arose, and his energetic work during the eight-hour struggle was an important factor in the betterment of the local field. His concern for the union was paramount at all times, and his conscientious efforts were greatly appreciated.

Following the suggestion of President Lynch, a committee on label agitation has been appointed, consisting of James Heafey, Chris Gaarder and William Price.

Brant & Borden have installed a No. 5 Mergenthaler.

Fred Dealy, of the Morning Star, ex-president of No. 103, has left for Texas, his old stamping ground.

It is quite likely that several linotypes or monotypes will be installed before long in the Prudential office.

A new book and job scale was negotiated here recently, placing the figure at $20 per week, with a further increase of $1 per week contingent upon certain developments. The scale committee, with Johnny Daley as chairman, handled the proposition in a thoroughly businesslike manner and was congratulated upon all sides for its success.

Willard Small, of the News chapel, has been elected president to fill the unexpired term of E. H. Ashton.

Charles E. Francis, of the Francis Press, New York, recently formed a branch of the Printers' League of America here. The success of the league insures a great deal for the future of the typographical union, one of its prime objects being a

working agreement similar to that existing between the newspaper publishers' association and the union.

A Boston club is being formed here, and it looks as though about twenty-five will make the trip.

A local colored minister, who conducts a small printing plant of his own, recently entered a linotype composition company plant here with a job and inquired of the proprietor how much it would cost per pound to have it set up.

Through the agitation of No. 103, a union man has been appointed to the new board of education. E. D. BALENTINE.

MOOSE JAW, CANADA.

The London Times, and its reverberations, are more profuse in advice to Canadian workingmen than "American labor agitators."

Frank Dowling is receiving congratulations for gallantly saving the life of a young boy who had ventured out upon the first ice of the season on the Moose Jaw river. His presence of mind averted a tragedy, and the presence of mind of another gentleman who by chance came upon the scene averted in turn a double tragedy, for Frank had become exhausted in his struggles to bring the boy ashore. His brethren of the "little stick" want to get a medal for him, but in the meantime are engaged in curing his cold.

The printer delegates who attended the recent convention at Winnipeg of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada are entitled to know that their action in supporting and endorsing the Canadian Society of Equity has already been proven a serious mistake. The convention of the latter body, just held at Calgary, removed its president from office, and, according to a dispatch, "the express intention of the new president and board of directors was to wind up the affairs of the (joint stock) company at once." This society was secession from the American Society of Equity of North America, and the congress violated the principle of internationalism by recognizing their fraternal del. egate and adopting a resolution pledging co-operation; the fundamental fact being that the continental body of organized labor, the American Federation of Labor, warmly endorsed another continental body at its Minneapolis convention, and recommended to all unionists under its jurisdiction the strongest possible support of the American Society of Equity. The action was more surprising because a regularly elected delegate who was unable to attend the congress, and who had carefully studied the workings and nature of both societies, protested at length against the seating of the seceders' fraternal delegate. The typographical delegates were instrumental, more than others, in inviting the representative and endorsing the society, which was practically confined to one new province.

Our agreement expires at the end of the year, and No. 627 commenced negotiations for a Christmas present. The agreement now in force, put through two years ago, has been most unsatisfactory, aside from hours and wages.

The fields are not green in Saskatchewan just

now, so far as printers are concerned. Once in a while we have to reach out after a man for one particular line; but job work is very slack, and ad alleys have shed a few men. Comps afflicted with wanderlust had better spend Christmas at home.

Last year we fed our "defeated" strikers on turkey. This year the "teapot" infusion has soured, and the descendant typothetæ will eat their own crow, thoroughly predigested.

Even a worm will turn to "the road to Wellville," and supplement the process of predigestion. ED STEPHENSON.

CLEBURNE, TEXAS.

At the December meeting the usual six or seven members were present. There are enough of the faithful to furnish a quorum at each regular meeting day, and that is about all. The man who does not take sufficient interest in his union to be present more than twice or three times a year is not expected to attend regularly.

A twelve-months contract (a renewal of the old scale and hours) was signed by all employing printers here in September. As usual, no unpleasant feature was connected with the negotiations between employers and employes.

The Morning Review has recently installed several pieces of new and valuable machinery, in addition to a folder of the latest and best pattern.

Hurrah for the union men of Kentucky who contributed to the defeat of the democratic nominee for governor of that state. The official, state or otherwise, who encourages and toadies to a rat office is not worthy the support of any citizen, much less that of an honorable and decent union man. Nor will a true union man vote for the candidate whose attitude toward labor unions has

always been unfriendly. "Scratch 'em," every time; this coming year will furnish admirable opportunities for seeing to this matter, and if we do our full duty the politician will have to do his. LONNIE ADAMS.

CHARLESTON, S. c.

Things printorial in Charleston are more promising than ever. No. 43 has weathered the eighthour fight, and, while we can not claim a solid eight-hour town, there is no doubt that the organization is in better shape now than it has been for ten years or more. The recent order from the executive council reducing the International assessment to 1 per cent, and the recommendation to the local unions to continue the assessment at 2 per cent, retaining 1 per cent to carry on the eight-hour fight, has been carried out by No. 43, and gives us a chance to make the campaign more aggressive. A special committee now has the matter of revising the constitution in hand, and altogether No. 43 will begin its new year under the most favorable conditions.

Joseph P. E. Donnelly, who has been working in New York for some time, is back in Charleston once more, and is running a machine on the day side of the News and Courier....Steve Craig also blew in, after an absence of many months, during

which time he covered several thousand miles.... Leo Thomas, who has been in Jacksonville, Fla., arrived a short time ago, and will stay through the holiday season.

Harry N. Scruggs, for the past several months foreman of the Evening Post, resigned that position recently, and has left for Asheville, N. C., to fill a similar position. E. F. Davenport, formerly foreman of the New Orleans States, but more recently of the Pensacola Journal, has taken the foremanship of the Post.

Among the interesting people who have been here recently was James W. Bowden, of London, England, who came to this country in search of work. Mr. Bowden presented a card issued by the London Society of Compositors, which card was accepted by No. 43, but the president required Mr. Bowden to take the obligation before his name was put on the roll. After working a few weeks, Mr. Bowden decided to return to England, and drew his card. During his stay he made many friends, and afforded much interest to his fellow workers by telling how things were done in the old country. CLIFFORD THOMPSON.

ST. PAUL, MINN.

In order to conduct its affairs on a proper business basis, No. 30 has engaged a fine suite of three rooms on the fourth floor of the Court block on East Fourth street. The rooms are neatly furnished and so arranged as to provide for a reception room, secretary's office and a private business office. The old quarters at Federation hall, where we only had one small room, were inconvenient and entirely inadequate. Every one seems pleased with the new arrangement and its wisdom is beyond question.

Stockholders of the West Publishing Company have become so disgruntled at the large reduction in the dividends of that concern since it locked out the union printers that an expert accountant is going over the books to try and locate the trouble and make recommendations to remedy the same. Having to enlarge its machine plant by more than double, which must have meant an outlay of more than $50,000 alone, and then the cost of operating the machines and the small output owing to incompetent operators, coupled with inferior proofreading, has got some of the stockholders to wondering why the balance is going on the wrong side of the ledger, when the contrary was promised under the cheap labor plan upon which they have been operating for the past two years. Union busting is proving an unsuccessful and costly experiment all along the line.

William Templeman, who came out of the West plant at the beginning of the strike, over two years ago, has gone to Chicago. Mr. Templeman is an ex-president of the state federation of labor, and was, I believe, the finest orator in the labor movement in St. Paul. He will make a most valuable member of any union in which he may deposit his card.

All No. 30's stationery now bears the following extract from President Roosevelt's message: "The

general introduction of the eight-hour day should be the goal toward which we should steadily tend." We are greatly elated over the failure of the West Publishing Company to secure the contract to print the Idaho code of laws. An agent of the company went from here to Boise to try and land the job, and our executive board informed the Boise Union of the fact, with the result that the Boise men got busy and West's are out a good round sum.

In very few instances does President Roosevelt espouse the cause of the toiler in his lengthy message to congress. On the subject of injunctions he is as evasive as previously, and in one or two instances goes out of his way to allude insinuatingly to labor leaders and unions. On the eighthour day he is strong, and says: "The general introduction of the eight-hour day should be the goal toward which we should steadily tend, and the government should set the example in this respect."

W. E. Maiden and party returned from their annual deer hunting trip with their game bags full of hard-luck stories-that's all.

The manufacturers' association has found its affinity in the misnamed "open shop."

Some fellows kick on the assessment and then go out and purchase scab goods, thus paying dues to the manufacturers' association.

In declaring against the use of the words "closed" and "open" shops, the American Federation of Labor has taken a wise stand. "Union" and "non-union" are the right terms to use.

John J. Gleason, a former president of No. 30, was ratted at the last regular meeting. Gleason is superintendent in one of the rat shops. He is also city printer, but chances for his reappoint

ment are now remote.

With victory practically within its grasp, the local bookbinders' union, in an ill-advised moment, declared its strike off. Thus one small scalp hangs from the teapot's belt.

Promise of an increase in wages and the eighthour day in 1909 has calmed the turbulent (?) spirit of the local pressmen and feeders, and they will continue to put rat forms on the presses and in other ways handle the work of scab labor.

M. J. O'Keefe, who drew his card and departed a few weeks ago, got homesick in short order and is at his former post on the News.

Next year's convention arrangements appear to be thoroughly Cooke (d). JOE MAIDEN.

LOGANSPORT, IND.

This city has a new morning paper. It made its bow to the public on December 1, and is a daisy. With its Associated Press report, its modern mechanical equipment in the shape of up-to-date Mergs., a Goss press and stereotyping outfit, it presents all the appearances of a modern daily. It starts out with a subscription list beyond 3,500 and will cause the other sheets to "take note" and come to the front with a few dollars' worth of improvements. A split in the republican party has been the cause of launching this new venture, and if it keeps up its present standard, there is

little doubt of its success. We now have two morning and two evening papers, and there is a probability that the near future will see the field covered with some wreckage. While this competition is bad for the newspapers, it is a fine thing for the printers. The Tribune gives employment to five union men, which is a nice addition to our membership.

Ben Linehan was foreman of the Tribune up to December 15, when his health became so badly impaired as to necessitate his retirement. He has gone to Bunker Hill to recuperate. "Jim" Anderson now has charge, and C. L. McPherson, of Indianapolis, is machinist-operator. Frank Kingsley, of Milwaukee, is his assistant.

John J. Taggart, one of the charter members of No. 196, has gone to Texas, where he expects to locate on account of failing health.

Some changes have been made in the machine scale whereby the "mill" is working on a piece system. The management thought this scheme would be more satisfactory, and I believe it is; anyway, the boys are not kicking, as the present scale is the same as that in effect in Chicago.

KNOXVILLE, TENN.

BERT CORY.

The fifth week of the lockout of the union printers and the fourth week of the pressmen's lockout in the offices of S. B. Newman & Co., Gant-Ogden Company, Bram, Warters & Co., Dixie Stamp and Printing Company, Knoxville Printing and Box Company, and two small one-man concerns, shows little change. The union men are just as enthusiastic and more determined than on the day they were locked out, and the plants are just as badly crippled.

The proprietors change their tactics almost daily in their effort to get competent rats. They began by scouring the country for men from the rural towns, who almost immediately returned to their homes or joined the union when the conditions were put before them by our watchful pickets.

Next, a professional strikebreaker-one C. B. Carter, from Atlanta-was employed. Mr. Carter furnished the men, but the incompetency of the men furnished and Mr. Carter's boast that he had already cost the International Typographical Union half a million dollars and would make it a million before he got through, soon convinced the employers that he was a grafter who would not hesitate to accept graft from both sides.

Next they sent the foreman of the box shop pressroom to Cincinnati for a carload, and the jolt they got from that Cincinnati trip will leave a sore spot for days to come. The boys up at "Cincy" got busy and sent a bunch of union pressmen down, who reported at union headquarters instead of the box shop upon arrival here.

Their latest move has been the fitting up of living rooms at the box shop for the rodents, whom they will not allow to leave the premises without an escort.

And, after all, there are not a half dozen competent rats in the struck shops to take the places