THE W AO E WORKER
A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere.
VOL. 1
LIXCOLK, X E 151! ASK A, DECEMBER 30, 10O4
NO. JiS
Rev. Mr. Batten
Lincoln, Neb., Die. 11 - To the "KUl
tor cf the Wngeworker: As one whose
envictiofu: and t-ympatiue arc with
the working men, permit me to offer a
lew. reflections with reference to the
present municipal situation. I see that
, it tew rttoiwtyling tlwrase-lves tin Work
ins' Men's Club arc engaged in the busi
iiogs of endorsing candidates for the
excise board. No one will deny the
right of sr.y man or of any number of
liit n to meet and endorso whom they
please, for any office in the sift of tlu
people. Hut when this Is done in the
name of the working man, it wears
a different aspect. Ami this conduct is
ali the more questionable when the
particular men do not possess the ro-niiirt-d
qualification for the ofllee.
I s-hal! not enter upon a discussion
:i this time of the fitness of any of
the men named for the office of excise
men in the city of Lincoln. Two at
least of these men have l.cld office in
he city, and their administration ha:!
tict been such a shining success that
cny man in wax-ranted In endorsing
C them for a second term. The mayor
hat? lacked backbone; ho has blown
hot and blown cold; lie has not done
tinythinvr to make the l cople believe
that he- favors n fair and Impartial ad
ii'inistratton of the law; he ha allowed
li.w breaking to continue in the city
without any real effort l-i stop it; his
y courso has not commended him to the
confidence of the tetter mind of the
people. Tho second men-her of the
' I'Nclso board has shown more baek
bono, though not always on the right
side. The third name p-n.osert I shal!
not here discuss.
There- are two considerations whien
tie worthy of notiee. Do the members
or this 0-cal!cd WorWlunmcu's Club
i"l,reRent tho real working men of the
city? Or is this some i:e)i-eoustltutcd
.ind self-npiKJinted cabal created by a
IVv pelf-necking men wh are trying
ii use the- working men te hirtlier iheir
iYTut-ittf ? Let anyone c.ifunino this
, tiling to the bottom and ( l-iink he will
ir.d that rome time or J-jtir men who
have axes to grind are i tying to per
suade, the working men to turn the
;.riiid!-.tone. The people .:f this coun
tiy have seen a lot o: I!: is sort of
work lately; some self-seeking man
comco along and uses Ui-- workiugmon
to promote his schemes; wlien oi.ee he
is in office and Rets his :.liare of pap,
lit.- can s nothing for ih ; v, orkingman
The working men of. this city two years
ayo allowod themselves to be used in
tho furthering of some relieincs if the
political managers, and one of their
"rop.-w-entativtsa" was el-ctcd to office.
Hut are t'.lc working men of Lincoln
proud of the record cf their "repre
sentative?" 1 trow not. lias he riot
provou to he a nils-representative ol
the worklnsman? I am .Mtisf!cd that
rhcuc nun who use th- workiugmen
t'l further their own itit "rests are the
iral enemies of the working people.
And arc the working men willing to
appear before th? people :s curing only
for office! and spoils and places at the
pie counter? 1 trow no:. Then let
them rebuke all such self-appointed
M'prosentattvts aii are v.ov in tho Sold.
The men who are endorsed for the
nft'f of excisj1 coainilsioners tfcanrt
more or less for cn open town, for a
j'oas-you-plesso enforcement of law,
lor carr blanche to th? reservation
people; they haw taV.e.i no vigorous
r-cllon against l.rosiiuuicn in the
Necks: thev have not duuo all in ihr-lr
power t.o mlniniiy.e the eaiigr cf lie
lie.uor tra'llc. Suppose prostitution in
the b.ocks Ik allowed to co on; who
f.re th people most likely to he aftcctcd
ly it. 1 lu people who live in the
bliViliH; and many of thei-;e are working
nii-n and their families. 1 believe that
the workiuK man's child is entitled tc
:v. fair and pure condi'ioin as any otii
ev nuon's child in the community. Sup-
rcvo that nothiup is done to make
wostitution hazardous in rjur city?
TVho-arc tho persons -mo-1 likely to be
nthijtixl by the evil? The children of
the working men; their daughters are
,.'tbe ones who will be sought by the hu
man nends and led astray
In addition to all this, the IntereHts
of tho working man are t ie- interests
; all tho people. The vorking Peo
ple of this country have toinplained,
mid rightly, of the moneyed interes.U
.h hn.vo sought to use the machinery
of government to promot e their own
.tcins. How can the wotk;,.:g men re
' buko th moneyed men when they
themselves are engaged in a class
iiiruj-'gle? The interests cf all the peo
ple are. the interests of any part of the
Writes a. Bit
people. The working man who under
stands his calling knows that the
tilings that are best for all are the
things that are best for each. The
vorkinsj man who understands his call
inff knows that the most ;;awise thing
possible is to saek-his own -class inter
ests without anj- regard 1- r the inter
ests of the people at large. We de
tiiund, and we are right in the demand,
tl at work ins men and capitalists shall
coast to construe political i ction in the
terms of class interest and shall begin
to construe their action in the liirht of
the public i;e;od.
In conclusion, this is iat we ask
ei working, men and of 1 usiucss men,
ol rieU and pcor, of 'employers and
employes, that wo all ::;!:: What is
lest for t'.:e welfare of tl.e city? What
are the lines of action that, will pro
mote the highest interests of the Jars
i st number? Aho are file men that
will make their public office a public
service? What kind of men are most
likely to ri:e abov.i nr.rrov class inter
cuts and to consider the interests of all
ot the people? The wcvUing men
should be t lie last to se !:i example of
sclf-seekinj; in public life; they must
rebuke the men of other walks who
have done this 'nefarious thin&; tliey
can net rebuke it f.o ions o they allow
themselves to be iv.-cd by s.ny self-see-k-fis.
The workin; men should be thy
first nun in the world set an ex
ample of larsc minded ana public spir
ited aciion; they shoult1 be most in
si aent in demandir.s the vt iy best men
in public ofliee and shcid leit bitely
rcfuie to support any other kind of
THE
A number of Wagewoi-kcr readers
have csked for information concerning
the "Dick Militia Law." So many haw
requested information on this point
that while considerable space is nec
essary to print the law, it is bclievel
that the best way to comply vit'.i tin;
many reomests is to print it in full.
This bill was introduced in the 57th
congress by Charles Dick, then a con
gressman from Ohio, and United States
senator. It was approved by the president-January
21, 1003." The bill was
entitled "An Act to Promote the effi
ciency of the Militia and Other Pur
poses," and was as follows:
lie it enacted by the scnute and
house of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem
bled. That the militia shall consist of
everv able-bodied male citizen of the
respective states, territories and the
district of Columbia, and every able-
bodied male of foreign birth wh ha-
leclared his intention to become a' cit
izen, who is more than eighteen Sud
'ess than forty-five years of age, and
hall be viivhled into two classes the
organised militia, to be known as the
national guard of the Btate, territory,
or District of Columbia, or by such
other designation ns may be given
them by the laws of the respective
states or territories, and' the" remainder
to be known as the reserve militia.
Section 2. That the vice-president
of the United States, the officers, judi
cial and executive, of the government
of the United States, the members and
omcei-s of each house of congress, per
sons In the military or. naval service
of the United States, all custom-house
olficers, with their clerks, postmasters
and persons employed by the United
States in the transmission of mail,
ferrymen employed at any ferry on a
post road, artificers and workmen em
ployed in the armories and arsenals of
the United fe'iates, pilots, mariners ac
tually employed in tho sea service of
any citizen or merchant within the
United States, and all persons who are
exempt from militia duty, without re-Sftrd-
to ago; - Provided, that nothing
In this act. shall be construed to re
quire or compel any member of any
well-recognized religious sect or or
ganization at present organized and
'sxisting whose creed forbids its mem
bers to participate in war in any form,
and whose religious convictions ar?
against- war or participation therein.
In accordance with the creed of said
religious organization, to serve in the
militia or any other armed or vol
unteer force under the jurisdiction and
authority of the United States.
Section 3. That the regularly en
listed, organized, and uniformed active
militia in the several states and terri
tories and the District of Columbia
who have heretofore participated or
shall hereafter participate in the ap
portionment of the annual appropri
ation provided by section sixteen hun
dred and sixtv-one of tho revised sta:
ntes of the United States a3 amended.
Hhether known and designated as na
tional guard, militia, or otherwise,
ohall constitute the organized militia.
The organization, armament, and dis
cipline o" the organized militia in the
n.en. The- working- men should lie tha
lirst people in the world to rise above
c'ass interests and to contider the in
terests of all of the people; then they
can rebuke and oppose ;:he conduct ot
Pi:y other men with a brave- heart and
a clear conscience.
As one whose convictions and' syrt:
liithies are with, the wor'iins men; aa
one who has Ions been "under sus
picion" because of his lriondliness to
ward labor unions; as one vl:o has
been told again and again that he has
'hurt ' himself" by 'his i.leas ' for the
working man: as one who is anxious to
see thi working men ;;cme to their
own in society and receive the honor
that is their due; as oiw who is sin
cerely anxious that the working men
should do nothing that can occasion
the hiss of scorn and the linger of re
proach. I must a-sk the working men
of the city to consider carefully their
course autl not allow themselves to be
used by any self-seeking 'tuen who are
t-.tekiug office.
1 am yours most sincerely,
AS ML'EL, Z. BATTEN.
ALLIED PRINTING TRADES.
Attention Called to a City Directory
That Is Harmful to the City.
The Allied Trades Council wlwhes to
ask all union, men to withhold their
names from the Hoye Cit..' Directory as
it is being printed in Kansas City,
when the work should be dene here.
An effort is being also to have the
merchants refrain from advertising in
the concern as it is of ro benefit to
the city, the revenues derived from it
all being withdrawn from tho local
channels of trade.
Hereafter the Council v. Ill meet at
Carpenters' Hall, 130 fcToutli 11th street,
on the fourth Friday nisht of each
month. The pressmen, bookbinders,
Kicrootypers and printers have also
DIGK MIL.ITIRY
several states and territories and in
the District of Columbia shall be the
same as that which is now or may
hereafter be prescribed for the regular
and volunteer armies of the United
.States, within Ave years from the date
of the approval of this act: Provided,
that the president of the United States
in time of peace, may by order ti:
the minimum number of enlisted me:i
in each company, troop battery, signal
corps, engineer eoriw, and hospital
corps; 'And Provided Further,' that
any corps of artillery, cavalry and in
fantry existing in any of the states at
the passage of the act of May eighth,
seventeen hundred and uiuety-two,
which by the laws, customs, or usages
of tbe ::aid states have been in con
tinuous existence since the passage
of said act under its provisions and
tiuder the provisions of section two
hundred and thirty-two and sections
sixteen hundred and twenty-live, to
sixteen hundred and sixty, both in
clusive, of title sixteen of the revised
statutes of the United States relating
to the militia,- snail be' a-Howed to re
tain their accustomed privileges, sub
ject nevertheless, to all other duties re
quired by law in like manner as the
other militia.
Section 4. That whenever the United
States is invaded, or in danger of
invasion from any foreign nation, or of
ronellion against the authority of the
government of the United S'tates or
the president is unable, with the other
forces "at his command, to execute the
laws of the union in any part thereof,
it shally be lawful for the president to
call forth, for a period not exceeding
nine months, such number of the mil
itia of the state or of tho states or-territories
or of the District of Columbia
as he may deem necessary to epel
such invasion, suppress such rebellion,
or to enable him to execute such laws
and to .'ssue his orders for that pur
pose ro such officers :f the militi i
as he may think proper.
Section T. That whenev-n- the presi
dent calls forth the militia of any state
or territor" or'-tho District of Colum-
bin, to be employed in th2 service of
the United States, he .nay specify in
his call the ncriod for which such
service is required, not exceeding iiin.
months, and the militia so called shr.M
continue to serve during the term
specified, unless sooner discharged in
order of the nrpsideut,
Section (i. That when tie militia
of more than one state is called 'nto
the actual service of the United States
by the president he may, in his dis
cretion, apportion them among such
states or territories or to the District
of Columbia according to representa
tive population.
Section 7. That every officer and
enlisted man of the militia who shal!
be called forth in the manner here
inbefore prescribed and shall be found
fit for military service shall be mus
tered or accepted into the United
States service by a duly authorized
mustering officer of the United States;
Provided, however, that an officer or
enlisted nin of the militia who shall
refuse to neglect to present himself to
such mustering officer upon being
called forth as herein prescribed shall
engaged the same hall. An effort is
being made to have a residing room
fitted up at this hall and make it
l eatlquarU-.rs for the printing trades.
The Allied Trades Label has been
fe'. anted to tho Wood Printing Co.
The Council decided to endorse what
ever person the Typograpbitsil Union
may choose for clerk of the State Print
ing Board. .
DIGEST THIS..IF YOU CAN.
Some, Thoughts Jfbr. Worklngrn.n . t- Pon
derl Over These Winter Nights.
Laborers use tools they do not own.
Capitalists own tools tht y do not use
Laborers produce wealth they do not
own.;
- Capitalists own wealth they do not
produce.
Laboiers toil and mal.o capitalists
i ich.
Capitalists remain idle rnd make la
borers poor.
Labor 'is exploited and capitalists aro
the exploiters.
Laborers are nv.merous em capital
ists aro few.
Laborers form a political party for
which the capitalists will not vote.
But capitalists form a political party
for which laborers alwa vote.
Laborers arc controllei by government-.?
that arc always imitrcllerj hy
capitalists. Kailwiy Jou -'ial.
AN OPEN MEETING.
The Painters and ppoctrators are pre
paring for a gala time on the evening
of January 13, on which occasion they
will have an open meeciV-K to which
they invite, all g6od ;wionT3ts. Sidney
Jl 'Ke'nt will make r. short address, and
ether speakers will add their mite to
the feast of good things for the mind.
Tho social features will rot be over
looked and all who attend are assured
a gootl time.
be subject to trial by court-martial,
and shall be punished as such court
martial may direct. -' - '
Section S. That courts-martial for
the trial of officers or men of the mili
tia, when in the service of the United
Stales, shall be composed of militia
officers only.
Section 9. That the militia whei
called -into the actual service of the
United States shall be subject to the
same rul?3- and articles of war as th:1.
regular troops of the United States.
Section 10. That the militia, when
called into the actual service of thi-;
United States shall, during their time
of service bo entitled to the same pay
and allowances as are or may bo pro
vided by law for the regular army.
Section 11. That when the militia
is called into the actual service of the
United States, or any portion of the
militia is accepted under the provis
ions of this act. their pay shall com
mence from the day. of . their appear
ing at the place of company rendez
vous. " 'But this provision shall net be
construed to authorize any species of
expenditure previous to arriving it
such places of rendezvous which is not
provided by existing laws to be paid
after their arrival at such places of
rendezvous.
Section 12. That there shall be ap
pointed in each state, territory and
District of Columbia, an adjutant gen
eral who shall perform such duties as
ay be prescribed by the laws of such
state, territory and district, respec
tively, and make returns to the secre
tary of war, at such times and In
such form as he' shall from time to
time prescribe, of the strength of the
organized 'militia and -also make sucu
reports as may from time to time bo
required by tlie secretary of war. Th-tt
the secretary of war shall, with his
annual rcpoit of each year, transmit:
to cousriess an abstract of the returns
and reports of the adjutants-general of
the states, territories, and the District
of Columbia',' with . siich observations
thereon as he, may deem .necessary fot
the information of congress.
Section 13. That the secretary of
war is hereby authorized to issue, on
the renuisitions of the governors of
the several states and territories, or of
the commanding general of the mil
itia of the District of Columbia, such
number of the United- States standard
"service "magazine arms, with bayonets.
bayonet scabbards, gun slings, belts,
and such other necessary accouter
ments and equipments as are required
for the army of the United States 'for
arming all of the organized militia
in said states and territories and Dist
rict of Columbia, without charging the
cost or value thereof, or any Qf whicn
have been issued since December first,
nineteen hundred and one, or any ex
pense connected therewith, against the
allotment of said state, territory or
District of Columbia, out of the annual
appropriation provided by section six
teen hundred and sixty-one of the re
vised statutes, as amended, or re
quiring payment therefor, and to ex
change, without receiving any money
credit therefor, ammunition, or parts
thereof, suitable to the new arms,
round for round, for correspondjpg am
Prof. Parker's
The Central Labor Union met in reg
ular session last Tuesday night, and
despite the bitter cold a good mooting
was held. An interesting feature of
tho proceedings was a shore address by
I'rofcssor Parker of the State Univer
sity, who spoke on som? of the prob
lems now confronting the industrial
world and invited laboring men to at
tend the meetings of th College Set
tlement society.
Professor Parker has some well de
nned itleas along labor lines, and his
sentiments found a ready response In
..e minds of his nearers. One thing
especially appealed to them, and that
v.as his remark concerning the mat
ter of education. Professor Parker fa
vors cutting a lot of fol-de-rol out of
the high school course and making it
serviceable to everybody. He would
then make it obligatory upon every
child to finish the high, school course,
and compel the state to pay the .ex
pense in case the parents were unable'
to do so. He also favored raising the
standard required for admission to this?
country, pointing out that the work of
elevating the standard of labor in this
country was constantly beingnegatived
by the admission of hordes of ignorant
foreigners who were constantly reduc
ing the average. He would not close
the gates against foreigners, but he
would make entrance a bit more diffi
cult. In conclusion Professor Parker
mged laboring men to think more, to
act more intelligently, and have high
er thoughts than the mera satisfying of
bodily needs. Hia remarks were In
LAW
munition suitable to the old arms
therefor issued to said state, terri
tory or District of Columbia: by. tho
United States, Provided, that said rifles
and carbines and other property shall
be receipted for and shall remain the
property of the United States and be
annually accounted for by the gover
nors of the states and territories as
now required by law, and that each
state, territory and district shall on re
ceipt of new arms, turn in to the ord
nance department of the Uniteol States
army, without receiving any money
credit therefor, and without expense
for transportation, all United States
rines and carbines now in its posses
sion. To provide means to carry into effect
tlie provisions of this section the nec
essary money to cover the cost of
exchanging or issuing the new arms,
accouterments, equipments, and am
munition to bo exchanged or issued
hereunder, is hereby appropriated put
of any moneys in the treasury not oth
erwise appropriated.
Section 14. That whenever it shall
appear by the report ot inspection
which it shall be the duty of the secre
tary of war to be made at least once in
each year by officers detailed by him
for that purpose, that the organized
militia of a state or territory or the
District of Columbia, is sufficiently
armed, uniformed and equipped for ac
tive service in the field, the secretary
of war is authorized, on the requisition
of the governor of such state or terri
tory to pay to the quartermaster gen
eral thereof, or to such other officer of
the militia of said state as the said
governor may designate' and appoint
for the purpose, so mncn of its allot
ment out of the said annual appro
priation under section sixteen hundred
and sixty-one of the revised statutes as
amended as shall be necessary for the
payment, subsistence, and transporta
tion of such portion or said organized
militia, as shall engage in actual field
or camp service for instruction, and
the officers and enlisted men of such
militia while so engaged shall be en
titled to the same pay, subsistence
and transportation or travel al
lowances as officers and enlisted men
of corresponding grades of the regular
army are or may. hereafter be entitled
by law. and the officer so designated
and appointed shall be regarded as
a disbursing officer of the United States
and shall render his accounts throguh
the war department to the proper ac
counting officers of the treasury for
settlement, and' he shall be required
to give good and sufficient bonds to
the United States, in such sums as the
'secretary of war may direct," faithfully
to account for tho safe-keeping and
payment of the public moneys so in
trusted to him for disbursement.
Sec. 15. That the secretary of war is
hereby authorized to provide for parti
cipation by any part of the organized
militia of any state or territory on the
request of the governor thereof in the
encampment, maneuvers and- Held in
struction of any part of the regular
army at or near any military post or
camp or lake or seacoast defenses of
the United States. In such case the
organized militia so participating shall
receive the same pay, subsistence, and
transportation as is provided by law
(Continued on page 4.)
Sensible Talk
teresting and calculated to arouse his
hearers to a more intelligent parties
pation in the duties of citizenship.
It was decided to give an oyster sup
per on the last meeting night In Janu
oiy for the purpose of replenishing the
treasury, and a -committee is now ac
tively at work along that line. Tho oc
casion will be an interesting one and
every union man and woman in the
city should strive to make it a huge
success. . j" ,
STRONG RESOLUTIONS.
The Central Labor Union Joins the Cru
sade Against Sweatshop Printeries.
RESOLUTIONS ?
At the last meeting of the Centra!
Labor Union a . committee was ap
pointed to draft resolutions in the
shape of a memorial for presentation
fo the state printing board. The me
morial follows:
Whereas, A living wage scale means
a better citizenship and a more pros
perous condition of affairs, and
Whereas, It is the common aim. of
all trades unions to bettsr the condi-'
tion of the toiling masses, giving then-.
opportunity for mental and moral de
velopment, and
Whereas, The state of Nebraska is
a largo patron of the printing trades,
having a large amount of -work done.
in this line during the course of th"
year, and
Whereas, The employers cf union
labor because of their willingness to
pay fair wages find themselves handi
capped in bidding for this class of wort
hy tho competition of employers -who
employ cheap labor in the shape cf
women and half-fledged apprentices
and
Whereas, Every dollar' worth of
work thus given to infe-ior and un
fair printing offices deprives skilled
labor and fair employers of business,
thus lowering the 'wage average and
entailing severe less upon 'employers
arid employes to say nothing of ' its '
being a rank discrimination against
friends of organised labor, therefore
be it '
Resolved, That this body, represent
ing all skilled trades in Uncoln and ail
v.orkingrnen organized for mutual help
and protection, do petition the state
beard of printing to appoint as secre
tary of said honorable board a skilled,
trustworthy and reliable union printer
of unquestioned knowledge of what the
state should get for its money, and who
will do all in his power to prevent the
degradation of labor by making it im
possible for the state to be defrauded
by inferior sweatshop work of cheap
printing offices maintained largely by
political pull and the ability to cut
prices because of their .ability to pay
stravation wages.
This body respectfully points out to
the said honorable board that the pc
t.ioners are taxpayers 'who are inter
ested in economy and Vy experience
have learned that there is no saving
in the purchase of cheap and inferior
goods, and who have also learned that,
the competition of incompetent and uis
skilled labor is detrimental to every
interest of the state. Eaiployers who
pay living wage should ba encouraged,
and employers who pay a starvation
wage should be discouraged, to the end
that the standard of living may be ele
vated and the welfare of the people be
protected. To this end 'tho petitioners
pray that the honorable state board
of printing aid them in abolishing the
sweatshop printery and advancing the
interests of fair, employers who asV
only that they be given i. fair price
for good work done by skilled workmen
v ho are paid a living wage.
T. C. KELSEY, Pres.
IRA DeLOXG, Sec. ,
(Seal.)
Too Expensive
"Hello, .;illson! Is it true that, you
are going to get married?
"Not much! I can't atTord it:
"But you draw a good salary!"
"Yes. But -women speud 30 much
these days : couldn't stand the pace.
It costs too much to clothe them in
the latest fashion." '
With which remark Billson lighted
a 10-cent cigar, paid for two rounds ot
drinks and proceeded to lose seven
straight games of billiards.
Hcvrd Luck
"Our postal service is becoming ab
solutely vile."
"Why, I thought it was all right."
"Well, it isn't. I swore off smoking
New Year's day, and the next day I
received a fine meershaum pipe from a
friend down east. He had sent it by
mail and it went astray and was gone
more than a week."
v
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