[LABOR]. Unfair. Barnum and Bailey Are unfair to lithographers and printers. Evansville, [IN]: Evansville Typographical Union No. 36, [1907-early 1908].

8 7/16 x 5 3/4 in. printed broadside (toned, some creasing); mounted to cardstock 8 7/8 x 6 1/4 in. with hole at upper edge for hanging; framed to 10 3/4 x 8 7/8 in. (not examined out of frame).

The broadside, issued by the Evansville Typographical Union, urges the public to boycott the Barnum & Baily circus, noting that they "are unfair to Lithographers and Printers. They do not consider them when ordering work. Friends of organized labor keep away from this Show."

The January 1907 (Vol. XXX, No.1) issue of the Typographical Journal reports on the labor issue at hand: "The Courier Company, of Buffalo, N.Y., which does the show printing for Barnum & Bailey and other circus people, absolutely refuses to grant the eight-hour day, and runs an 'open shop.' It will be pretty tough to have to 'cut out' the circus, but we'll do it unless their printing is done under fair conditions. Write to Louis E. Cook, manager Barnum & Bailey's greatest shows...and tell him so."

The campaign of boycotts and letter writing was a success with the Typographical Journal (Vol. XXXII, No. 5, May 1908), reported their success within a year and half, in an article titled "Circuses Abandon Unfair Printing" which includes responses to the campaign from various circus managers including Barnum & Bailey who are quoted: "We regret exceedingly that our ticket order was carelessly placed, and have made an arrangement with James M. Lynch, your International president, whereby future orders will be placed in a manner that will meet with your approval."

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana, and Historical Documents

[LABOR]. Unfair. Barnum and Bailey Are unfair to lithographers and printers. Evansville, [IN]: Evansville Typographical Union No. 36, [1907-early 1908].