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AUGUST 31, UM
The Commoner.
7
A MONUMENT TO TRADES UNIONISM
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Standing on the summit of a high hill just
east of the city of Colorado Springs, Colo., is
an institution unique in its character, successful
in its plan, and a model that bids fair to be
followed by the erection of similar institutions.
It is the Union Printers' Home, built and main
tained by tho members of the International Typo
graphical Union for the use and benefit of the
sick, disabled and indigent members of the craft.
It is the only institution of its kind built and
maintained by a trades union, and its success has
been so manifest that other trades unions have
taken the preliminary steps looking towards tho
erection of similar homes for their members.
For nearly thirty years the union printers
of the country discussed at their annual conven
tions the subject of erecting a "homo" for needy
craftsmen, but it was not until tho convention
of 1888 that tho project took tangible form. At
that convention a communication was read from
George W. Childs, editor and publisher of the Phil
adelphia Ledger, offering to start a fund for the
erection of a home by donating $5,000. Immedi
ately the convention decided to accept the offer
and to begin active work towards the end sought.
Later, Mr. Child's partner In the banking busi
ness, Mr. Drexel, gave an additional $5,000 for the
home fund. This $10,000 is all that was ever
contributed by outsiders for the erection of the
home the rest of the money being contributed
directly by tho union printers of the country.
The publicity given to the Childs-Drexel donations
gave rise to the erroneous idea that Messrs.
Childs and Drexel built and endowed the home.
'At first it was known, as "The Childs-Drexel
Home for Union Printers," but this name' was
soon discarded and it is now known as "The
Union Printers' Home."
-'Citizens of Colorado Springs donated land
upon which to erect the home, but every ' dollar
raised for Its erection and maintenance, with
the exception" above noted, has been raised by
the voluntary contributions and assessments of
the printers themselves. Some idea of what may
be done by co-operation may be had by noting
that althqugh the International Typographical
Union numbered barely 30,000 members when
the start on the home was made, and has never
reached 50,000 since, more than $600,000 has been
expended in the building and maintaining of the
home. '
The home was dedicated in 1892, and from
that date to the present time its growth has been
phenomenal, and its management has been- such
as to reflect great credit upon the union which
supports it. There was but one building at. the
start, a stone structure four stories high, includ
ing .the high basement, in which Is located, the
dining rooms, billiard room, barber sfiop arid
kitchen. Within a short time after the completion
and occupancy of this building it was found im
perative that a hospital be erected for the treat
ment of tuberculosis patients that disease being
unusually prevalent in the craft and the complaint
of a majority of those demanding constant hos
pital treatment. The question of finance im
mediately presented itself. "How may we obtain
the money?" asked the trustees of the home.
"Tell us how much you wantand we'll give it,"
came the ready response from" the rank and file.
It was decided to ask every member of the union
to contribute 50 cents at Christmas . time that
year as a "Christmas present" to the home, and
the request was mode. The answer was so unan
imous that before the first of February enough
money was in hand to erect and equip a splendid,
three-story hospital annex. In this annex tuber
culosis patients receive the best of care and at
tention. In addition tents of unique construction
have been placed about the grounds, and all
those who may be benefited by life in these tents
are placed therein. The tents are thoroughly
ventilated, steam heated in winter and possess
every modern convenience.
The, home is maintained by an assessment
of ten cents a month upon every member of the
International. The assessment was but five' cents
a month at the start, and this was supplemented
by ' contributions of one hour's work eocjj ; year
by every member of the union. On Mr.r Childs'
birthday every union printer east of rthe $nsis
sippi river donated the proceeds of one four's
work, and on Mr. Droxel's birthday tho printers
west of the Mississippi river did the same thing.
Some very prominent men who came from tho
ranks of the printers have donated this ono hour's
work. Every yoar tho latfe Representative Amos
J. Cummings of Now York went into a nowspapor
ofilce-s"In Now York City, showed his card and
worked at the case for an hour. Then ho meas
ured his "string," cashed It at tho counting room
window and handed tho money to tho local secretary-treasurer.
Tho late Governor Hogg of
Texas was a union printer, and for several years
he observed Mr. Drexol's birthday by working an
hour at the case and contributing tho .proceeds
to the support of the home.
A movement Is now under way to erect a
new building on the grounds to bo known as the
"Cummings Memorial Building." Tho coat will
be about $30,000, and already one-half of that
sum is in hand, tho voluntary donations of the
members of tho union.
The Union Printers' Homo has now been In
practical and successful operation for fourteen
years. The rules of its conduct are few and sim
ple. There is very little of red tape In its man
agement, and the union printer who needs Its
shelter has but to apply with the recommendation
of his local union and th6 endorsement of the
board of trustees who manage the home's affairs.
There are now 150 guests at the home. Note the
use of the word "guests." Tho men who enjoy
the shelter and benefits of tho home are not
looked upon as "inmates," and they and their
fellow craftsmen resent tho application of the
word "charity" as commonly usod. The men
are guests because they are enjoying benefits that
they have earned by their own contributions.
Union printers will accept tho revised version of
the Bible in the respect that the word "charity"
is rendered as 'love," for fraternity love Is the
basic princple upon which the Union Printers'
Home was built and is maintained.
The home now costs about $60,000 a year to
maintain, an amount that Is raised by an assess
ment of ten cents p. month on each member. It
is thoroughly realized that tho homo must be
enlarged and tho amount raised for its mainten
ance increased. But among the 45,000 union
printers there is not one word of protest against
increasing the expense. They are rightfully proud
of the magnificent institution they have erected
and are maintaining sosuccessfully, and it goes
without saying that they will readily respond to
any request for more money for all the money
that is needed to maintain a home suited tb the
needs of the great organization.
The home grounds are beautiful beyond de
scription. Cement walks are bordered with flow
ers, and the grounds are a revelation in the art
of landscape gardening. Sitting in front of the
home and in the midst of the beautiful grounds,
the guest can look to the west and see the ever
changing shadows of the clouds as they flit to and
fro across the mountains, and eighteen miles
away the hoary summit of Pike's Peak stands as
a mute and everlasting sentinel. The mountains
stretch away to the north and south, and with
the naked eye the guests can see across a vista
120 miles in extent and beautiful beyond compari
son. Tho health giving sunshine and air builds
up the body and brain of the enfeebled guests,
and within the confines of this magnificent home
many a tired printer has spent his last days in
rest-and peace, closed his eyes amidst surround
ings furnished by loving hands, and passed into
the great beyond without a care.
There is one thing that brings Instant dis
grace and expulsion from the home intoxication.
Other rules may be violated a few times and re
sult In only reprimand or a small fine. But a
repetition of the offense of Intoxication brings
expulsion, and expulsion for that cause means
that the expelled guest may neyer return. Each
guest receives a small pension, about enough forf
"tobacco money," and violations of the rules
are punished by suspension of this pension or con
finement to-the 'home grounds for a stated period.
Those who obey the rules may come and go as
they please, subject only to tho rules that annex
patients must be on the grounds between 6 p. m.
und 6 a. m., and the other guests on the grounds
between 10. p. m. and 6a, m. The only thing the
guests have to do is to lay around and try to
get well. Most 'of their" time is spent' in the read
ing and library rooms, whero all of the best pub
lications aro received regularly. Tho homo library
now contains about 3,000 volumes, and under a
plan of donation adoptod at tho convention last
month It will bo increased a thousand or more
volumes every year. TI1I3 will entail tho hasten
ing of tho erection of tho Cummings Memorial
building, as already the homo lacks for room.
Sovoral local unions have furnished rooms
which bear tho names of those locals. The "Den
ver room" contains a magnificent telescope with
which ono may see plainly the tourists on Pike's
Peak. The "Chicago room," tho "George V,
Childs Room" and tho "Jefferson Davis room"
aro all handsomely furnished and would . do
credit to tho palatial residence of any million,
aire in America.
It largo part, the meat, poultry and eggs
consumed at the homo are produced on tho
grounds, and every year tho item of oxponse for
theso things grows smaller. Superintendent
Charles Deacon and his wife occupy a handsome
llttlo stone cottage erected near tho mnin build
ing, and Mrs. Deacon officiates as matron. They
have been in chargo of the homo for tho past
six years, and during their Incumbency the Im
provements in management and in tho appearance
of tho grounds have been such as to reflect great
credit upon them. It is safe to say that no in
stitution in America is surrounded by prettier
grounds than the Union Printers' Home.
In front of tho home grounds is a magnificent
arched gateway upon which is Inscribed "Union
Printers' Homo." Upon the gateway of tho
Stygian regions, is written: "Abandon hope all ye
who enter here." Upon tho gateway to the home
might well bo Inscribed: "Take on now hopo, all
ye who enter hero," for many who thought their
days were numbered and few have entered
through that gate, and within the shelter of the
homo have found new strength and gone
out again into tho workaday world and taken
their stand among tho toilers.
Truly the Union Printers' Home at Colorado
Springs stands, as tho greatest monument, ever
erected to the principles of trades unionism., It
embodies in its structure the fraternity, tho love,
tho mutual helpfulness, the "all for ono and one
for all" spirit that must imbue every man who is
a true trades unionist, and which must bo pres
ent in every union that is true to tho cause of
the toilers of earth. Criticise trades unionism
as you will, the homo at Colorado Springs Is a
mute answer to every criticism. The men who
have built and who maintain that home will
readily admit that trades unionists have made
many, very many, mistakes. But they will point
to the home as evidence that they are trying to
reach a higher level, that they are endeavoring
to further the teachings of the Man of Nazareth
by a practical application of His words: "Love
one another." WILL M. MAUPIN.
LOST BOYS
The Commoner has been asked to print the
following: ''
Oliver Knight, fourteen years old, but looks
older, weight 110 to 115 pounds. Powder mark
on left side nose, red spot on cheek under" left
eye; was dressed In dark worsted suit. The
boy Is likely to be working for some farmer. An
anxious mother is eating her heart out in sus
pense. If found notify M. O. Brown, sheriff of
Guthrie county, Guthrie Center, Iowa.
Mrs. Flora Boggs "of Thayer, W. Va., desires
information concerning her son, George Boggs.
The last Mrs. Boggs heard from her son he was
in Omaha," about a year ago, and ho was then
thinking of going to Oklahoma, but his mother
has not heard from him since. Any information
will be thankfully received by this mother.
Edgar Smith, Sr., of Murfreesboro, Tenn.,
desires information concerning his son, Edgar
Smith, Jr. Edgar is sixteen years old and well
grown for his age. He was last seen at Mitchell,
Neb., July 13, and was then on his way east from
Wyoming. If any Commoner reader has infor
mation concerning tho whereabouts of this lad,
he will cpnfer a favor by telegraphing Edgar
Smith, Sr., Murfreesboro, Tenn. Kansas and Mis
souri papers are requested to copy this para
graph, and thereby confer a favor upon the
' parents. "
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