The billboard (July-Dec 1898)

; I [ fl I ill THE BILLBOARD PI If: Chicago. Bill Posters DEPARTMENT ^ THE IRREPRESSIBLE BILLPOSTER. He was an advertising man Whose business was to post the hills Which tell how-every ailment can Be cured by taking Bunkum's pills. He wandered over all the earth. And posted without stay or stint. Till every tree proclaimed the worth Of Bunkum's pills in staring print. The ships displayed upon their sails The virtues of those magic spheres; They shrieked aloud from hills and vales Till artists were reduced to tears. At last his earthly work was done. And each square foot was occupied; I He could not reach the moon and sun, •* And so he laid him down and died. And Satan, walking round his halls. Among the throngs or the accursed, Saw chalked upon the burning walls, "Try Bunkam's pills to quench your thirst!" —Los Express tCaS.). Big Strike Billposters of Greater New York Are Oat. There is a big strike on against the three big billposting firms of New-York, viz., Harry Munson, A. Van Beuren & Co. and Reagan & Clark. The News of October 19 says: Fifty members of Billposter's Union 1 were ordered to strike to-day by Delegate Thomas A. Sheehan In the shops of A. Van Beuren & Co.. 128 Fourth avenue; Reagan & Clark, 21 Ann street, and Harry Munson, 4 Murray street, because they refused to sign the new agreement of the organization, although they had agreed to nearly all the demands In that document. The demands are as follows: Not to employ a bill poster or distributor in New York City excepting those being mem- bers of the Billposters' Union 1. or such oth- ers as will he recognized by them through affiliation; that from October 17, 1898, nine hours shall constitute a day's work, work to commence at 7:30 a. m.. and end at 5 p. m., one-half hour being allowed at noon for din- ner on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs- day and Friday: that on Saturady work shall commence at 7:30 a. m. and end at 5:30 p. m., with balf an hour for dinner at noon; that salary for steady men shall be $14 per week, rain or shine, and all extra routes shall be paid- $1 per route, a route to consist of two shh£ one-half hours' work; that all extra men 1 "employed on the wagons or on foot routes posting three sheets or stands shall be paid at "the rate of J2.50 per day; that snipers are to be paid at the rate of ?10 per week, work to- commence at 7:30 a. m. and end at 5 p. ml. with one hour for dinner at noon, all extra ^routes for snippers to be paid $1 per route- route to consist of two and one-balf hours' rork: that all emplayees shall be paid on Saturday of each week,- up to and including the preceding Saturday evening overtime. The Evening World of the same date says: ii Fifty members of Billposters' Union No. 1 11 are on strike to-day from the shops of three leading firms, including A. Van Beuren & Co.. Harry Munson and Reagan & Clark. The trouble was caused by the refusal of the em- ployers to sign an agreement for a year from October 17. stipulating among other things that union men only were to be employed and that nine hours should constitute a day's work. The firms say they are willing to accede to the demands, but will not sign an agreement. The Journal of October 20 said: A strike of fifty members of Billposters' Union No. 1 was ordered yesterday by Dele- . gate Thomas A. Sheehan, in the shops of A. Van Beuren & Co.. No. 128 Fourth avenue; Reagan & Clark, No. 21 Ann street, and H. Munson. No. 4 Murray street. Tne strike was ordered to enforce the recognition of the union, the unicn wages of $14 a week, and unicn hours. Ttoare is a close alliance existing between the three employing firms, and they are joint- ly advertising for men to fill the strikers' places. THE STRIKERS* SIDE. Under date of October 20. Mr. T- A. Shee- han, walking delegate of the Journeymen Billposters' Unicn. writes as follows: Editor cf "The Billboard": You have doubtless learned of the strike ere this. Our grievance is that we want an agreement signed by the firms' for one year, but they will only give us their verbal word. Our agreement has been endorsed by the Miscellaneous Section of the Central Labor Union of New York, and we have. all our men out to a man, and intend to stay out, as we think cur cause a Just one. . We have been out since Tuesday,'October 17, and have had all the'shops tied up. We have all our men still in the theatres, as they do extra work independent of the billposting firm. We have three hundred members and a good, financial treasury.' Hoping you.will give this a prominent place in "The Billboard." We remain, T. A. SHEEHAN, Walking Delegate. THE OTHER SIDE. _. ,. . New York, October 24, 1S98. The "Billboard" Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Gentlemeu—Your advice of the 21st inst., was received this a. m.. and we note the information trom Mr. Sheehan. billposter, this city, and his claim of a victory in regard to the strike in New Relative to this matter, will say that Mr. Sheehan is the walking delegate for the Bill- posters' Association of Greater New York, which comprises a membership of 2<» men, and only about 15 per cent of this rat billposting associa- tion are practical billposters, working for the firms of A. Van Beuren & Co- H. Munson and Reagan & Clark, and the balance constitutes the rat and ash barrel billposting element They have lately co. te under the control and direc- tion of the Central Labor Union, who haTi sent fluent talkeis to the Billposters' Union at their weekly meetings Sundav afternoons, and. con- sequently, they have the' regular billposters worked up and laboring under ihe idea that they r re expert- and should 1 ec -ive salaries from ?u^° ' J * 3 P« r day. The union then demanded this rale of wages from us, giving us three or four hours to decide and sign a contract for one year, and this the three bii:pTsting firms men- tioned above refused to consider, as the time given to look the matter up and consult with our attorney was not sufficient for us to decide upon. As a result, the billposters in the em- ploy of the three firms went out on a strike the 18th inst., and are Hill out. The principal billposting firms in all the large cities from Chicago to Bangor. Me., have seut us all the help we require at present, although some of these billposters are only loaned us by the billposting firms in the adjacent cities. We are. therefore, open for first-class, intelligent billposters, American citizen.**, who know their trade and willing to accept steady employment at $12 per week. The three billposting firms mentioned are working jointly from A. Van Beuren s shoos at No. 128 Fourth avenue, downtown, and also from H. Munson's shops at East Twenty-sixth street, covering the uptown territory. 1 he theatrical work was ill completed last week and every- thing finished in first-class shape. We start in this morning on the same lines as last week, with practically all the help we require. Under no circumstances will the rat-ash-barrel element among the billposters in this city domi- nate the situation for the three billposting films mentioned in the future, pnd our old employes will only be taken lack as individuals after they have resigned from the rat billposting union. It seems a pity that a bright, intelligent class of billposters who know their trade should permit themselves to be dominated over by such an ele- ment, who. to say the least are of a very savory character in connection with the billposters' fraternity-, and. we believe, recognized no wheie on the face of the earth, or evtr have been, ex- cept as "rats' in the trade. With kind regards, we begsto remain. Yours very truly," . A. VAN BEUREN & CO. Took a Costly Boat Ride—P. F. Shaefer Is Robbed of $700 in Money and Jewelry, aid Has One Man Arrested. P. F. Schaefer, manager of the Chicago Bill Posting Company. 395 and 397 West Har- rison street, caused the arrest September 27 cf John Ryan, charging him with being an accessory to larceny. Detectives De Roche and Muibrandon, of the Central Station, are scaichlng for two men who, in Ryan's pres- ence, robbed Schaefer of nearly J7C0 in money and jewelry. Schaefer says he met the men Sunday night on Washington street, and accompanied them to the foot of Van Buren street, where they hired a boat for a ride on the lake. Ryan was engaged to row the boat- During an hour spent on the lake, Schaefer says, he drank from a bottle handed him by one of the men. and soon afterward lost consciousness. He thinks he was drugged. When he recov- ered his senses he was on the pier at Van Buren street, with Ryan near him. He found he had been robbed of a gold watch worth $175, two diamonds valued at $350, and $160 in currency. He asked Ryan what had hap- pened, and the boatman told.him he had fal- len asleep and his companion'had been unable to arouse him. They had left 20 minutes De- fore Schaefer revived. , Ryan told Detectives De Roche and Mui- brandon he saw Echaefer's companions shake him and bend over him in the boat when, it is supposed, the unconscious man was robbed. Los Angeles. Billboard Battle-Merchants' Ad Sign Co. Gets Judgment Against L A Bill Co- Another skirmish in the battle of the local hill board companies was enacted before Judge Allen. September 22, between the Mer- chants' Ad Sign Company and E. W. Camp- bell and the Los Angeles Bill Posting Com- pany. The fight was one-sided from start to finish, as the Merchants Ad Sign Company won hands down. The Merchants' Company was plaintiff in two suits. One was against the Los Angeles Posting Company, in which the plaintiff ask- ed judgment for the sum of $o,C00 as damages, and also that the company he restrained from engaging in conducting a bill posting busi- ness. The Merchants' Company, in Septem- ber. 1S97, purchased the good-will and ap- pliances of the City Bill Posting Company, which was owned by E. W. Campbell. A year later Campbell engaged in business and as a result the present suit followed. In this action the court cave judgment in the sum cf $1,200. In the second action, which was on the same ground, the court granted a re- straining- order, enjoining the defendants from engaging in such business. Philadelphia. There is nothing new regarding the rumor- ed consolidation of The R. J. Gunning Co. and the Western Ad-Sign Syndicate. There is a hitch In the negotiations, but no one but the parties Interested know where it is. President O'Mealia has called a meeting of the Executive Ccmmitte of the A. B. P. for November 15. at the Bartholdi, New York. Death of 'William J. Nagle. William J. Nagle, for many years a well- known bill poster of this city, died at his residence, September 23, after an illness last- ing over a year. He was fifty-seven years of age, having been born in April. 1841. He started business when a very young man as a cigar manufacturer, but soon left that voca- tion and went into the bill posting business, in the basement of the old Sheriff's Office, on Chestnut street, above Fifth, where he con- tinued until 1891. when he retired. He was a member cf the Masonic Order, the Elks, the Odd Fellows, and other organizations. Mr. Nagle leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters. Every bill poster in America ought to have a display ad in our Christmas edition, which will be issued November 28 next. The last form closes November 26. Information for Drivers. Every bill poster who has ever made a country route will appreciate the following compilation from the pen of Bert Scott, pro- prietor of The Capitol, 209 W. Fifth street Kansas City, Mo.: * .It is customary for the driver to carry water. Drivers are supposed to pay for their dinner in the country. Yes. we sec lots of country. We do not know anything about crops. Paste is made of flour and will not hurt you. We can draw money whenever we want it. We do not get to see the show. We do not know where the show is going from here. We do not print the bills on the cars. We do not think drivers would make good bill pesters. The East is the best for shows. No, this is not hard work. We are all married and do not do any mashing. The show gets in the morning of the show. Yes, the agent is good to us. The balloon goes up after the afternoon show. The show has 26 elephants. The people with the show eat in the cook tent. The show has 73 cars. Rajah Is the largest elephant on earth. For further information inquire of Bert Scott and Harry A. Gray, back with the show. Don't Give All to the Circus. When the circus agent comes along, and says he wants all your bill boards, tell him that you have to retain a portion of your space for commeicial woik; tell him that you depend on commercial work for a living eleven months out of the twelve, and that such woik is therefore of consequence. The agent will object to this arrangement; will declare that he must have all your boards or none: will go off and buy lumber and hire carpenters and start into building boards of his own. Let him go ahead. When he gets his boards built, he wi.l come to you and take your space also: and in addition, he will » c il you his newly-built lumber at about one-half value, and you are well fixed for the coming year for commercial work, theatrical work and also for the next circus. The circus agent is a splendid bluffer, but there are a few bill posters that he don't bluff, among whom may be named the ex- bluffer. Bob Campbell, of Chicago. Campbell retains a portion of every bill board for use of his commercial work: he looks after the Interests of the commercial advertiser at all times, and as a result posts more commercial paper than any other L.ll poster in the world. It is claimed that the American Advertising and Bill Posting Co.. of Chicago, can post 1.200 24-shaet stands for an advertiser without duplicating in a single instance. And they have built all these beards because of a de- mand for them: and they'have had a demand because they treat the advertiser right. Quick Action With Lists. The Associated Bill Posters, at their last meeting, passed a resolution requiring all membeis to send in lists of locations within three (3) days from date of posting, a failure to do so being punishable by forfeiture of the entire bill. That law was passed in July. Many mem- bers were present' when It was passed, and were instrumental in passing it. All others were promptly notified; in spite of which the quick list is still the exception rather than the rule. This is the experience of ail the sollcitois and all advertisers who send work diicct, up to the present time. There is only one way in which this law can be made effective, and that is to clap on the penalty. The honest, conscientious bill poster, who posts the paper thoroughly and on good loca- tions, and then through carelessness or for- getfulncts fails to tend in the list. Is plating himself, in the eyes of the advertiser, on a par with the bill poster who is not 50 honest. A few well-directed digs at his pocket-book will cure his foigctfuinets, and in a very short time there would be no cause for com- plaint, except against the very small per- ontaso of lu.-cais who have not yet been weeded cut. Buffalo. The great bicycle contest came to an end September 26. Clias. K. Kubrick, the popular hi.I poster of this city, won the chief prize— a magnificent Shav piano, vulued at $100. The voting contest took place under the uu- s|..ec's of Not man K. Mack, proprietor of tho fluna.o Dally and Sunday Times. l'llbrlik was declaird the most popular wheelman In the city of I'.utTalo by loo.litig votes. His nearest competitor received but 72.GS0. Louisville. Ailie.lcs incorporating the Consolidated Hill Posting Company wetc filled October 1 In tho County Clerk's Office. Tho capital is 5.000. and the corporation results from the consol- idation of the E. T. Hevcrln & Bro. Bill Post- ing Company and the Falls City Bill Posting Company. THE BILLBOARD Jesse J. Sinclair, EI Reno, O. T. A New Insect overed in Worcester—It Has Been amed Olearicos Blackmaificus—The ame Is Good, Especially the Terminable f liable ie following excerpt is from the Gazette Mobrr 7. It is very plain that Worcester at least one Councilman at large who nt to be in the bug house: if City Council Committee on Ordinance under consideration a proposition to ■ 1 " .l?,? < V ,n th< " ru!< " s governing the lion of hill boards in the city, and Coun- •an O Leary. who has been the father of orders which led up to this stage of the Ufsion. will ask the Committee to make Bjrdlnanrc which will compel all bill post- 10 obtain a license for every board crect- At present the bill posters are licensed wives, and they can erect boards wher- tncycan get the consent of the propert- ■> r " , „ OLear y thinks that this often ■ts In financial loss to adjoining prop- owners because of depreciation of prop- ''.S.'y ar l lnt roduced an order some time asking ,he City Solicitor for an opinion 0 the riRhts of a poster to erect boards. ,ho opinion stated that every board should n Z "''', , T £ ls Wnion was followed by lnTtt.ee Wll!C S ii n ° W '" ,hC ha,!dS ° f ,h * ■?r h«r on " rd '"ances. Mr. OLearv will iT.nL* "l? Committee and ask that tho to "onS !"' <nan f eo so «»» «o requite post- r»fh 1 in ,? P ctlt 'on to the License Board ,1" ' m"°1;., Thl8 Petition should be , fn, ii O I«arjr thinks, as applica- a Z ' , q ,T, ".T" c * arc advertised" and • t he . \ " l 5 cre ,a an >' "monstrance. tl „ ;,i" nK th 1 noard ca " K rant of •«- In «,',,," as ., ,lw >: BM fll - Mr. O'Lcary IniMio.nlng that he had In mind many ' ,f" wl >' which Were damaged be- d. i, , "L nr °P cr ty had been filled with s oui"i. . ? tMn S B 80mc ,uore definite * °"KM to be made. War in Portsmouth,[0. The Spanish-American war is over, but there is a little war going on in Portsmouth that is being fought to the bitter end on a somewhat limited scale. This war is in theatrical circles, and is called by the spectators the "Bill Board War." the contending forces being led by Manager Ralph Johnson, of the opera house, and "Bob" Lodwick. the well known bill poster. Lodwick until recently was stage manager and bill poster of the opera house. Owing to a disagreement as to salary he re- signed these positions. Lodwick owned a large number of the bill boards about the city, and the opera house owned a few. Since his retirement from the employ of Mr. John- son. Mr. Lodwick has rented most of the boaids claimed by the Opera House Company. He claims that Mr. Johnson remarked that he was going to drive him out of the business and that he rented the boards for his own protection. Anyway, as the matter stands. Mr. Johnson, in order to advertise his shows, finds it almost necessary to use Lodwick's boards, or not put up the paper of the com- panies. Lodwick yesterday got a contract for the big board on Chillicothe near Second this being the best board in the city. Manager Johnson is in the fight to stay, however, and will see it out. He will adver- tise his shows some way. and mav build new boards all over the city. The "war" Is excit- ing great Interest in the theatrical colony in the city.—The Daily Times. A Bad Portrait of a Fine Board—The Pride of Char, nun's Cincinnati Holdings. I- Remember the last form of our Christmas special closes November 26. Send in your ad- vertisement now. San Francisco. Iran ., ,s;| " ,^l ' ,1 Correspondence.) for VL'" 0nth8 . aK0 Mr ' T - v - Maxwell. ark-, ,, , n £ )p< V r , t5 '„ on north-east corner oh , ; "nr ™£ " a " s *w- »•<«■ arrested bull Vi I ""demeanor for having crect- I01 e ,," t h™, rd 'Vr 1 M *h and over 300 l,„ ,' ' ,h ° 'OR ot the ono-story building nst. ' ■n „f m ,h nllm, . d ' Thc arrcs t was at wh .."( ' h S R" lof of the F 'ro Depart- iloa n, £??, tnRt ,h0 Derml1 " auc d by 4i?i V, ,,rrt | up e rv '«ors under which tho act I,i '„- i£! ? iV* 0 s »Perlor Court from !><• i bv lmi Jn 0l liT ,? ourt ' n »d the case »Kt ■ k In imnf" W L allace - °ook and Bor- « '..VrtU?h.r C ^ ,,,l0n ° f th0 P0llC0 i« 1 •'. , 1 ™"*r d .. tn0 defendant. '9 ■■! >•"and .11 . by 0wc^,, " nd Varney. lark. : street In'n'J 5 ''."" U fron «" ™ f <*t I* f <^%^™™» «»» Square Cleveland, Ohio. (Special Correspondence.) The lecal theatrical managers of Cleveland. O . have got together and abolished the use of window lithographs. The parties to the agreement are the managers of The Opera Home, the Lyceum Theatre, the Cleveland Theatre and thc Star Theatre. The cause leading up to the action is the abuse of the pass system. Lithograph passes, of course, are now abolished. Three-sheet posters and stands will continue to be used as in the past. No sign-tacking or banners will be put out. The Booklet. In many cases the booklet is the only rep- resentative a firm sends out. so. that the prospective customer who receives it has no other means of forming an opinion than this important little messenger. It has been said that the clothes a man wears are an indica- tion of his character, and it is true that we aro very apt to form an opinion of him by his garb. In like manner the booklet be- comes the medium through which the reader arrives at an opinion of the goods and the men who make them. If It presents an at- tractive appearance at first sight the opinion of the reader has been started on a favorable track, and each page perused, provided It la well written and Illustrated, has a decided effect in confirming the first bias of the mind. —Art In Advertising. Billposters' Notes. Mr. F. P. Birmingham, agent for the P. J. Sorg Tobacco Co., wrote unsolicited the fol- lowing letter to the Bennett Bill Posting Co., of»Pt. Huron. Mich., after Inspecting his work of "Spear Head" posting in that city. It speaks volumes for the good work given by the Bennett Bill Posting Co. to advertis- ers. Mr. Bennett informs us that all of his boards have been in constant use since Mav and he has contracts to keep him busy for two month ahead. Following is the letter: Detroit, Mich., Sept. 9. 1898. Bennett Bill Posting Co., Pt. Huron. Mich.: Gentlemen:—I am in receipt of your favor of the 22nd, and wish to state that I was in your city on the 23rd, and I also wish to state that the showing you gave me I shall not forget, as I think it was the best in the state. Thanking you for past favors. I remain Yours truly. F. P. BIRMINBHAM, Agent for Michigan, The P. J. Sorg Co. Plug Tobacco. Printer's Ink, issue of October 12, takes a fall out of the official organ as follows- "The National Society for Checking the Abuses of Public Advertising." is the name of a coterie of 1,000 long-nosed individua's who are trying to limit bill board advei Using in Eng.and. It i« ti"-e to organize a "So- »v to Check the Growth of Unmitigated Asses. —The Billposter-Display Advertising. G. Holtzhauer, of Newport. Ky.. has or- dered an immerse edition of single sheets ad- vertising his Consumption Cure. He will deal direct with bill posters, confining Ms efforts at first to Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. The W. O. Dean Co.. of Canton. III., have ordered fifty-thousand two-sheets, adveitising a new brand of cigars. The American Adver- tising and Bill Posting Co., of Chicago will place the posting. Donaldson did the print- ing. ..A run J or had it that O. J. Gude Co. lost J100.0C0 by the failure of their bank. The re- port, owing to the magnitude of the loss, was not generally credited. In subsequent report the amount lost or tied up dwindled consid- erably. The last rumor made it J1.600. Chas. Bernard, the city billposter of Savannah. Ga.. was a "Billboard" caller October 27. Mr. Bernard closed his season with the Main shows October 22 at Burton. Ohio. He was en route to Savannah, and savs he will hereafter devote all his time to billposting. Speaking of the new consolidated bill post- ing company of Louisville, the Commercial of that city says: The new concern is to be known as the Consolidated Bill Posting Company, with a capital of J5.000 in 100 shares, of K0 each, distributed as follows: John H. and James P. Whallen. 25 shares each; L. H. Ramsey, R. Robinson and Otto Lfer. 16 2-3 shares each. The debt limit is fixed at $1,500. All of the stockholders, ex- cept Ramsey, who is from Lexington, are cit- izens of Louisville. Directors and officers are yet to be elected. Mrs. Mulvihill promises better service. She is sincere, and advertisers and agents both' wl.l soon have little cause for complaint of the service in Omaha. The bill posters' sttike in New York, at the time of going to press. Is just a muss, with both sides claiming the best of it. Eugene Bryan, formerly with Brvan & Co.. of Toledo, has entered the eniplov of the American Adv. and Bil posting Co., of Chicago, 111 Special Dispatch to The Billboard. New Ycrk, October 27. At the list meeting of the stockholders of the Paterson Billposting Company directors were elected as follows; O. J. Gude, F.E. Fish. H. Munsou, W. B. Lowden. Alexander Clark. Wm. Reagan and J. F. O'Mealia. The directors elected the following officers: o. J. Gude. pres- ident; J. F. O'Mealia, vice-president. W. B. Lowden. secretary; Alexander Clark treasurer Illinois Billposters' Association, At a meeting held September 28. the Illinois State Billposters' Asscciation (suboidlnate to the Associated Billposters) elected the fol- lowing officers, viz.: President. W. J. Horn- Vice President. W. K. Maxwell: Treasurer Clarence E. Runey; Secretary. R. c. Camp- hell; Executive Committee. Runey. of Wau- hee-an. III.: Horn, of Sprinefield. III.: Max- well, of Lincoln, III.; Campbell, of Chicago 111.: Marvin, of Aurora, 111.; Hamilton of Urbana. 111.; Bederman, of Joliet. III. All of the above were members of the -In- ternational Billposting Association (save Campbell), and all cf them sent In their res- ignation to that organization. Runey's defection is especially significant. He was one of the hardest workers the in- ternational hr*d. Runey has boards in all the towns between Evanston and Waukegan. and the American Adveitising and Billposting Co. handles them as a subuiban service. Harvey Baker Smith. The subject of our ilustiation on this page is Harvey Baker Smith, the billposter at Washington C. H., O., and he Is a good felow if ever there was one. Mr. Smith was born in Washington C. H., O., December 9, 1846. His father was general stock agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad for forty years, and Sheriff of Fayette County for four years. Mr. Smith started in the billposting busi- ness in 1869. Up to three years ago he man- aged the opera bouse. He thinks he resigned the management in '95. but he is still the manager, so say those who ought to know. He is a. Republican and a lover of fine horses and bowling. He' owns and runs a set of superb alley. He is also the owner of con- siderable real estate. He boasts of the finest billposting plant in Ohio for its size. Harvey Baker Smith, Washington C. H., Ohio.