Nebraska Newspapers

    TIHE WAGEWORK
A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere.
f LIXCOLX, XEUIJASKAi JAXpAKV "O, lfX& fC06
VOL. 1
3sX. 41
ER
The Posturing of Post
Produces Peals of Mirth
Elsewhere in thin Issue will bo found
an article headed "Result of .Itoyeot," the
Iti'iicl being set In large display type. The?
al tcutlon of every reader is culled to this
article, mid every reader is especially
invited to road it through without skip
ping a, word. The article has appeared
In the dally newspapers of Lincoln and
h paid for as regular advertising niat-
I'lio Wageworker prints it for noth-
g. it is tne only way ine nngc-
worker would print It, for C. W. Post
couldn't buy space In this newspaper if
he tried.
A word of explanation may not be
amiss at this time. C. AV. Post, manu
facturer of Postum Cereal and Grape
Vuts, Is one of the, ringleaders of the
Parry Citizens' association outfit, and
has been selected by his fellow conspir
ators to take the lead In the attack upon
the unions. The trouble arose primarily
over the Typographical Union's light
against the "scab" Los Angeles Times.
The printers struck for decent treat
ment on the Times., nnd In pursuance of
a well defined policy prlntera all over
the country began asking advertisers not
to patronize an unfriendly sheet. Post
made a grandstand play and the print
ers cut Into his business. Then he craw
fished, withdrew his advertising: from tho
Times and advertised the fact through
out the country. Later l'arry. Job, and
other union busters, convinced Post that
he had a chance to secure unmeasured
publicity, free advertising- and self- I
aggrandisement by getting to the front
of the l'arry ranks. I'ost then renewed
his contract with the Times and threw
down the gauntlet to tho printers. Tho
printers accepted the challenge, and If
the llrst squeal Is any sign of defeat, i
then I'ost Is beaten to a frazzle. This Is J
the second time he ins squealed, and i
the printers have continued to smile and
go right ahead with their plans.
I'.efore giving undivided attention to
the false, bombastic and usinino utter
ances ce-t.lned in Post's article. The
Vgev.-(i.- deems It proper to Inform '
the general union public Just who
Charles W. Post Is. lie Is a millionaire
manufacturer of patent edible sawdust
at linttlo Creek. Michigan. lie ts the
fellow who has priated so loud and long
Hlxiut his sympathy for the "free and
Independent tollers" meaning non
union men and women, lie Is tne fellow
who has boasted of ..is kind heart and
his regard for his fellows He is also
the same fellow whose cruel treatment
'iimtnllcil tho wife who had sacrilieed
and toiled to make him rich to seek a
divorce to escape his cruelty. And he
Is the same I'ost who, after compelling
his wife to seek refuge In the divorce
courts, turned around and within a fi:W
hours thereafter married his young and i
7iretty anil fresh stenographer. Charles
W. Post, the kind-hearted, the sympa
thetic and the humane, who talks almut
kindness and orotherly love and all that
sort of thing. Is the same Charles V.
Post who so cruelly treated the wife he
had sworn to love, honor and protect,
that she had to seek a divorce, and also
the same Post who Haunted his new
htWIc In the face of the abused wife be-
I li ink upon the divorce decree was
Being one of the greatest adver
sers In the country the daily newspa-
ers did not give these facts more than
n bare mention. And now for a little
attention to Post's bombast: He starts
off with this assertion:
"The only place in. the United Siates
that guarantees freedom from strikes,
lockouts nnd labor warfare Is Buttle
Creek. Mich."
That Is not true. Wherever greed has
control and human lalior works with de
spair In the heart, there Is no danger of
labor troubles from the employers'
standpoint. Such places may be found
on the East Side In New York, the cotton
mills of the south and the cotton fields
of the "Black Belt." According to the
Post ideals of "sound labor conditions"
Canton and Pckln. China, are the ideal
places, for there urn no strikes, lockouts
or labor troubles there, and employers
can llnd plenty of workers willing to toil
thirteen hours a day for 4 cents a day.
,llecauHe Post and his outfit of union
I smashers find themselves thwarted by
I the labor unions In their efforts to sub
stitute such conditions for American con
ditions, they weep and wail and gnash
their teeth In Impotent rage. I'ost then
iys :
"Mr. Post was ordered to Join the
unions of the country in their conspiracy
to ruin and put out of business these
publishers, etc., etc."
That Is not true. Mr. Post was courte
ously asked to refrain from giving pa
troimgo to a newspaper that was uu
" friendly to union labor. Mr. Post replied
that existing contracts prevented, but
Hint lie would not renew those contracts.
Tint lie did renew tnem, -and because
union labor resented his duplicity he
wuxed wroth -for a time, and then can
celled his contracts, ljiter, after secur
ing the' backing of tho Citizens' Indus
trial Alliance, he delied the unions. When
Post said he was ordered to help "ruin
these publishers" he lied In his throat,
he knew he lied, and every fair minded
man In the country knew that lie lied.
That Is the plain Kntrlish of It. Then
Post snvs:
Tlie "union" record of assaults, crip
'pliug of u'k n and even women and chil
dren, destruction of property n.nd mur
der of American citizens during tho past
two years is perhaps tea limes the vol
ume of crime and abuse perpetrated by
slave owners during any two years pre
vious to the civil war. Wo are in a hor
rible period of lethargy, which permits
us to stand Idly by while our American
citizens arc abused, crippled and mur
dered In dozens and hundreds by an or
ganization or trust, having for its pur
pose, thrusting what it. has to sell (labor)
upon us whether or no.
This sounds good from the lips of a
man whose wife had to secure, a divorce
to put an end to unbearable cruelty. It
sounds good from the lips of a man who
turned from, the notice of divorce and
took to his bosom a pretty stenographer,
infutuntion from whom had led him to
hap cruelty upon the wife who had wic
rltlaed and tolled with him to secure the
' foine now being lavised upon another.
"o-d'oursc Post mourns becaus-3 work
ing men of America refuse to submit
as the majority of slaves submlttted. and
will not purchase bro.id and board at the
Hnrrlfirp ef manhood and liberty. Any
refer-.'Mico to slavery by Charles W. I'ost
Is very much like Hatan rebuking sin.
At...., Tine buanplu Hint li n-nu iiulr.td
to Join ii criminal conspiracy he utters
H falsehood, and utters it knowingly. Hear
Ills cheap boast:
I'liiei a nm reftisnl bv Mr. Post to
Join this criminal conspiracy o general
boycott was ordered on Grape-Nuts and
Postum all over the country, which set
the good red blood of our ancestors In
motion, bringing fortli the reply that has
now passed into history: "We- refuse to
Join any conspiracy of organized labor to
ruin publishers, nor will we discharge
any of our trusted employes upon the
orders of any labor union. If they can
raiiko their boycott effective and sink our
ship, we will go down with the captain
on the, bridge and in command."
O. lempoie, O. mores:
Likewise. O. fudgel
And O. hell!
Nothing funnier' has been seen In print
for many a day.
Then Post asserts that this bombastic
clap-trap "set the writers of labor pa
pers crazy." Post tak-js his mouthings
too seriously. The writers on the labor
papers instead of growing crazy, merely
gerw merry and gave Post the horse
laugh. -
I'ost says there are some good labor
unions. Mr. Post, thank you for noth
ing. We wouldn't give three whoops
In tiades for thelabor union that youwould
ondorse. It would be a union in name on
ly. Its members would not dare call
their souls their own, though they would
lie foolish enough to swell up with pride
every time you patted them on the back
and called them 'fre and Independent
wirkingmen." Thoy would accept any
soiled crumb from the employer's ta
1.1'. return thanks and crawl on their
bf-IIIes to hold their Jobs. That's the
kind of "union labor" you want and would
endorse.
The Wageworker brands that as a false
tlon to but one more assertion made by
Post. He says:
A short time ago inquiry came from
the union forces to know if Mr. Post
would "keep still" if they would call off
the boycott on Postum and Grape-Nuts.
Tho Wageworker brands that as a false
hood constructed from whole cloth. If
Charles W. Post will prove his assertion
The Wageworker will apologize to him,
will quit advocating unionism and advo
cate the "open shop," and will print free
of charge all of the Post advertisements
he now has contracted for with any daily
or weekly newspaper In the United States.
The labor unions are making no war
on Post. They are meroly exercising their
God-given and constitution-guaranteed
rights to refrain from doing business with
an avowed enemy and that's what's the
matter with Post. Lack of union trade
Is cutting into his receipts, thus depriv
ing him of money to squander on another
while his divorced wife finds refuge from
cruelty in the divorce court.
Rend the closing remarks of this cheap
Bonibasles Furioso. They are full of
of fustian and funnler'than a farce-comedy.
"You can not wivneh from us that
priceless Jewel, etc.. etc." shouts Post.
We would give a pretty penny to know
what the first Mrs. Post thinks of all that
sort of talk.
PAINTERS AND DECORATORS.
Keep Open House and Enjoy an Evening
of Profit artd Pleasure.
The Painters' and Decorators' kept open
house at their hall last Friday night, and
despite the intense cold some fifty mem
bers, together with a score or more of
union friends, gathered together and soent
a pleasant and profitable evening. There
were good union made cigars in abund
ance, and while the boys sat close to the
stove and smoked, Sidney J.- Kent of the
Carpenters' union made one of the very
best labor speeches ever delivered in the
city of Lincoln. Mr. Kent is versed in
unionism and he is quite capable of giv
ing advice to the average union man. He
has studied the question in all of its
bearings, and his years of experience as
one of the national organizers of the Car
penters and Joiners make him an author
ity. Mr. Kent is a forceful and convincing
speaker, and for nearly an hour he held
the undKided attention of his hearers,
and was frequently interrupted by hearty
applause. He plead for more intetiigent
study, more united action, a broader fra
ternalism. He asserted and proved that
unionism was but another name for pat
riotism, for unionism stands for all that
is elevating and inspiring to the toil., is
of the earth. It is to be regretted that
the 1.800 union men of Lincoln could not
have heard the address. Mr. Kent said
that more open meetings of this kind
should be held, and that workingmen
should get closer together. This meets
with The Watjeworker's approbation, and
It suggests that a grand and general open
meeting of all trades unions in Lincoln
be held, and that Mr. Kent be invited to
deliver the chief address.
W. M. Maupin and T. C. Kelsey spoke
brielly, and the remainder of the evening
w:is soent in social intercourse. The
weather operated against the success of
the evening, but despite this drawback
It was profitable and pleasant to those
Interested enough to attend.
COULDN'T HELP IT.
And Perhaps George Wilson Should Not
Have Been Blamed.
George Wilson got thirty days in the
county bastile Monday for swiping a
pair of sho h from in front of the store
of Fred Schmidt & Bro. If George had
not been -Tiillty of various misdeeds be
fore lie might have been acquitted on this
charge. Firstly. Fred Schmidt & Bro.
made se -h a tine display that any man
might b ve been tempted, nnd secondly,
everybxiv knows that Fred Schmidt &
Bro. """idle shoes worth having. But
George 's chronic, therefore he drew thir
ty da; x free board and lodging in the
count' bastile. Tills should teach George
a less i not to swipe shoes. It should
also c '11 attention to the fact that Fred
Schmidt Bro. have such a fine lot of
shoes that a man might be tempted by
the sight of them.
A POTENT FACTOR.
What An Employer of Organized Labor
Says of Unionism.
Organized labor Is one of the most pot
ent factors In modern life. By some it is
considered a jnenace. I'.y others it is be
lieved to be a panacea for all the indus
trial 111.1. Both opinions are extreme.
Organized labor has been unjustly criti
cised. It has been extravagantly praised.
It is not a shadow darkening the laud.
Neither is it a light streaming effulgent
glory. Organized labor has comi to be
recognized as one of the constructive
far-tois of civilization.- Its progress is of
vital moment. Its plans affect all phases
of life. Its stock in the news market,
therefore, is quoted at par. For all these
reasons The . Globe devoted columns of
ypaee to the state federation's conven
tion . That the fairness and thoroughness
of the leports should command a resolu
tion of thanks from the delegates is prop
erly a source of satisfaction to this dia
per Joplln (Mo.) Globe.
IS THIS JUSTICE?
Damnable Treatment of American Citi
zens Must Not Be Forgotten. -
All cases against President ; Moyer,
Secretary Haywood and - the executive
board of the Western Federation of Min
ers have been quashed and the men- re
leased. This action was taken at Crip
ple Creek last week. y s
If this ends this chapter, of damnable
wrong against American -citizens it will
be an everlasting disgrace to the reJ
public. Moyer, Haywood and others were
arrested without warrant. , thrown i into
Jail without reason, denied the right of
trial by Jury and treated like convict
ed felons, at the behest of tho Citizens
Alliance. Their demands for speedy and
impartial trial were ignored, their
rights as American citizens denied them,
their liberty refused and their t property
allowed to go to ruin. Why? Because
they asserted their God-given right to
ha.ve a voice in the disposition of - their
labor and demanded Justice for them
selves and their fellow workmen. . And
now. after months of treatment that
would put the. Rusian government to
blush, the cases are quashed, the men
allowed to go free, and no recompense
offered for all they have endured at the
hands of the conscienceless gang that
made Colorado's ravines run red with the
blood of innocent men.
If there is such thing as justice in
this republic the men guilty of this
wrong upon Moyer, Haywood and their
felows wil be punished so greatly that
It will forever deter other petty tvrants
from committing similar wrongs.
OYSTERS GALORE.
The Central Labor Union Will Entertain
All Its Friends.
Next Tuesday evening the Central La
bor Union is going to keep open house at
its hall. 1034 O street, and all working-
men, whether union or non-union, are in
vited to attend with their wives. Oysters
will he served and "ood' music will be
furnished for those who delight in danc
ing. The admission has been placed at
the low sum of 25 cents, which includes
everything, oysters, dancing, music, so
To the Lawmakers of
Gentlemen of the Nebraska Legislature.
Greeting: .The Wageworker, representing
the interests of organized workingmen,
and speaking in their behalf, desires to
lay a few matters before you, and -asks
your consideration thereof. .In making
these requests for organized labor, The
Wageworker seeks only to advance the
material Interests of the whole state of
Nebraska, and asks nothing that will not
be beneficial alike to all classes of our
citizenship. .Organized labor stands upon
a platform of unselfishness, for members
of labor unions have for years been bear
ing the burden 'and sharing the expense
of securing better conditions for the toil
ing millions, whether organized or unor
ganized. .Every laborer, be he union or
non-union, is today the beneficiary of the
toils and sacrifices of men banded to
gether In labor unions for the purpose cf
elevating the toiler, reducing the burdens
laid upon his shoulders and making life
worth living.
Organized labor is asking nothing un
fair or unjust at your hands it is only
asking for Justice and fairness; for what
it knows from experience to be the best
for all classes, and for the best interests
of the commonwealth. .There are several
things which organized labor will ask at
your hands, and the proper bills will be
presented to you in due time. .Before
these bills are submitted for your inspec
tion organized labor desires to acquaint
you with its objects, and asks you to give
them careful consideration. .It asks you
to lay aside any pre-conceived notions of
labor unionism, to stury the matter from
an unbiased standpoint, and to act as
your best Judgment dictates.'
Organized labor will ask you to enact a
law compelling the brand "convict made"
to appear on all goods made in the state
penitentiary. .Free labor has a right to
ask that it be not compelled to compete
in the cpen market with the convict
whose labor, is farmed out to the prison
contractors. And men and women have a
right to demand that some distinguishing
mark be placed upon convict made goods
so that they will know them when offer
ed to therr. We realize that the convicts
must work, but there are many ways in
which they may be employed without
coming into compteition with the free la
borers of Nebraska. . Every- convict em
ployed in making brooms or harness or
buttons, or a like article, displaces a -free
laborer who is thus thrown upon the
world and compelled to either seek work
elsewhere or resort to crime to keep from
starving. .The employment of convicts in
such work is a premium on crime, a
wrong put upon free labor and an injury
to the state at large. .This demand is in
the Interests of unorganized as well as
organized labor, and as a mere matter
of Justice should appeal to every fair
minded man among you.
Organized labor will ask you to enact a
law making the Allied Printing Trades
label the standard of excelence by which
label the standard of excellence by which
the state. .This- is a Just and reasonable
request, because the printing office en
titled to the uce of that label pays living
wages, and the great state of Nebraska,
standing at the head of all the states in
education and enlightenment, certainly
cannot afford to practice a false economy
that will result in a lowering of wages,
the lowering of the standard of living and
bringing into her borders the horrors of
the "sweat shops" as they now exist in
the east. .By making this label the stand
ard of excellence the state will be insured
the very best work, and is an injustice
to no man engaged in the printing busi
ness. Oroanired l-bor will protest against the
enactment of a garnishee law, not be
ciability and education along union lines.
It: is to be hoped 'that the non-union
men. and . .Choir wives will turn out in
numbers. ; They-will be benefitted bv as
sociation wtthainion men and women, and
may learil'someilung decidedly to their
advantages" The.- hall should be crowded
next Tuosflaynight. Tlie proceeds will be
placed m"the"Gontrat Labor Union treas
ury and HI1 "be, devoted Xo advancing the
intcret. kibo. ;
j,"' " ' -
.BAD t; FIGURES
"J, ' .vfo., ;
Contractor. Hdwar., Bess for Relief Be
. ;,- cause He Figyretf Too. Low. r
" Contractor VHownrrf,i..rhov isecurort the
contract fori buHdln'iliefiew datry barn
at the stjifcp-turm is:.aslthigvth.e legisla
ture to rembur,3i hlw'vtttieause , he lost
mono' on- the foutpu-l . He Lijs j-the
blamo onlvthd Carpn:t,4s" TUiiou How
ard ir p;eia tit . of tho atutldersf Bi
chonge'iuid eerta.in.lv wii iri . position
to know -hn; the U0or Would cot him.
This Is, thip. plea "he put.$ Jin td the legis
lature f . ' ' t f f ' '
'The undersigned havlnjf entered 'Into
con tract , to build a , dairy bar iv tit : the
st.vte fnrnV foiind after eutrttig Into con;
tract that on- account . of t the -entfaodriv
nary ;Jemnnd for. oarpentir&' -in" the.' city
he was- compelled . to: pay.; higher wages
than was .paid ,iij the' city" .untl ..'put up
with unskilled labor; tlieK ? carpepters
union being -largely re,sfionsiUle:.tor ; the
increase iji wages, all -of which- Wtia be
yond his -control, And the-faet-.:tliiit one
ot the principal-. ltemsi. Jiv oowtvef -ibitUd-nig
was labor," hr. having figured labor
to cost n( t to ..exceed LS09. and rtctually
cost. 3.07! making a loss -of ?r,:!78;, .which
loss caused him to lose his homes and
every thinij he hud, therefore owing to
the existing . conditions i-as- statetr.:rtove
he feels that . hn-Juts a "risfht :.to? asltf-re-.
hef " t -r - 1-
The Wageworker has Tnne! a -little lig'
uruig on this matter and, "is "willing, 'to
bet a penny that its 'figutes are- better
than Contractor Howard s.:. The -Jarp(Ht-ters
scale is 32 cents un hour, aidsae4
cording to Howard s ' vcstin-iate "--of;.' . -the
labor cost' there were ".RsJT- hours of -work.
He ligured it would 'cost ; him f '$I;0U,
which would, at his figuring," mean 19
cents an hour. The contractor wh-e.x
pects to get skilled labor at !l!) coots Sin
hour liiiun t much . room -f.o-oc-.mpfxm'i it
he gets stuck. . : --'j - '. -.- ;.t..:J.;.
The Wageworker- -would' like j tovjtsk
Contractor Howard, ;i question; -It. - you
had made twice as much as -you. expected
on the Jolj, would vou have turned oer
50 per cent of the profits; -to the state? -
The Hod Carriers and Building T-jibor.-ers
Union -has a committee out visiting
the sister locals and .asking their assist
ance in making tho Hod Carriers'-',. local
stronger. Hereafter: tin local will, meet
at Westerfield's hall on. Thursday .evening
of each week. , . . '.- a.
The State of Nebraska
cause it desires to protect the dishonest
workingman who will not pay his bills,
but because it desires to protect the hon
est workingman who through illness or
misfortune may be temporarily unable -to
pay his bills. It opposes the enactment
of such r. law because the present collec
tion laws are ample, and because the
state should not be made a collection
agency for p. nandful of men who, realize
Ing their own unfitness for business, ack
the state to protect them against the re
sults of their own foolishness.
Many of you are farmers, and you per
haps can not understand why tradesmen
ask for the short hour working day when
you work from twelve to fifteen hours.
But remember that you gentlemen live in
the open air, under the blue skies and
beneath the health-giving sun, while the
majority of tradesmen are cooped up in
doors, deprived of sunshine and pure air
and at the mercy of every trust and cor
poration that exists. .As farmers you
should remember that when organized
labor is fully employed at remunerative
wages your crops sell for good money and
prosperity is mutual. Every advance
won by. organized labor is profitable to
you and redowns to your advantage.
Therefore organized labor believes that if
you will study the fundamental principles
of unionism you will not hesitate to Join
hands with us in seeking to secure legis
lation that will make life easier for the
workingman, protect him against convict
competition and make him a valuable cus
tomer for the products of the farm and
ranch .The free laborer is a patron of
the farmer, while the convict laborer is
an expense to the farmer .Which one,
then, the convict or the free laborer, Is
entitled to consideration at your hands?
You will be told by opponents of labor
unoinism that unionism is a trust, and
that organized labor denies to the unor
ganized laborers the right to work. Both
assertions are untrue, and are believed
only by men who can not distinguish be
tween pn association of men for mutual
benefit and an association of dollars for
selfish reasons. Organized labor recog
nizes the inalienable right of every man
to work where he sees fit, for whom he
sees fit and for what he sees fit, but hav
ing made all the sacrifices, borne all the
expense and suffered all the pains of
bringing labor up from the depths and
making ..it honorable and profitable, or
ganized labor refuses to work alongside
the unorganized member of the same craft
who is so selfish, mean, sordid and short
sighted that he will not iirfist with all
the forces at his command in the -work
by which he profits. .Organized labor does
not deny the non-union men the right to
work, but it does claim the privilege of
refusing to work alongside such a man,
because it would lower self-respect.
The non-union man is like the man men
tioned in the Bible, who reaps where oth
ers have ?own. He seeks to enjoy the
benefits without sharing in the expense.
Organized labor stands for better citi
zenship, better ' homes, better " working
conditions and for a better country. It
opposes greed and selfishness, the "sweat
shop" and child labor. .It stands for equal
pay for equal work. It stands for -all that
is good in our national life it is a prac
tical patriotism that double discounts the
mouthings of the professional patriots so
well described by Samuel ohnson when
he defined their brand of patriotism as
"the lact refuge of a scoundrel."
We ask your careful consideration of
the requests that organized labor submits
to you in your capacity as lawmakers,
feeling confident tha if you give them
the consideration asked for you will rec
ognize the justice upon which they are
founded.
How the 8-Hot Day
Came About in Lincoln
For over two years the eight hour day
has been . in force among the building
trades in this city and it is rapidly be
ing extended to all classes of organized
labor. ' The results have been so uni
formly satisfactory and the system so
popular with all classes that The Wage
worker has.Jjeen making a little inves
tigation on its own account to determine
Just how so beneficial a measure came
into vogue . so quietly and has been op
erated with so little friction. Thereby
nangs an interesting story which is now
given to the public for the first time.
Spasmodic efforts to put the eight
hour system in force have been- tried in
Lincoln many times only to fall because
of lack of definite organization and up
to the time the present system was put
into force among the building trades, the
only class of labor able to fix its own
hours of work, has been the brick
layers union which has maintined the
eight hour day for several years.
Eavly in the spring of 1902 an organ
ization was , prosecuted among the build
ing contractors of the city resulting in
the - present Builders Exchange. This or
ganization is peculiar, in the fact that
from the beginning it showed a disposi
tion to consider the right of the working
-class to have a place on earth, and soon
after" its formation several leading con
tractors, began to quietly agitate the
matter-of shorter hours of labor. ,
' The . Wageworker has made some in,
quiry to enable it to fix the responsibility
or -' this agitation and has learned that
among those most prominent in n this
movement were contractors T. P. Har
rison. C. A. Schaaf, Geo. A. Wilson, H.
A. Stephens, D. B. Howard, J. J. Butler
(recently deceased) and Frank Odell, the
latter- at that time secretary of Uie
Builders' Exchange. .
-The carpenters' union was at that time
a weak and struggling organization with
a .membership of about twenty-five, but
.they, had the nerve to come up to the
scratch as soon as the employers' asso
ciation was formed and ask specifically
for- the exclusive employment of union
labor aiid shorter hours of work.
' Tlie contractors in return received their
uequest with courtesy and while they did
not at that time see their way clear to
establish the closed shop, they did by
resolution pledge themselves to give pref
erence, to the employment of union labor,
a pledge which they have kept with
uniform fairness ever since.
" The gentlemen above named kept up
their agitation among the contractors for
shorter hours. This family journal has
probed into state secrets far enough to
learn that Messrs. Harrison, Odell, How
ard. Stephens, Butler. Wilson, Schaaf
and possibly one or two others, kept
nr-tlT"-"tmti'flwing, agitation at- the- meet
ings of tho Exchange, until they suc
ceeded in putting into force about the
first , of June. 1902, a nine hour day for
carpenters and building laborers on four
days' notice. Be it said to the ever
lasting honor of the contractors of Lin
coln that out of some fifty firms repre
sented . in this organization not more
than ' two failed to immediately put this
rule in force although it came at a time
when most of them were carrying heavy
contracts and nearly all were up against
an almost certain loss of money on their
labor on account of the change at such
a time.
. The Wageworker knows of no para
llel case in the annals of the labor move
ment. The carpenters were the most
surprised of any one, for they had no
reason to anticipate such a sweeping
victory and the most surprising thing
of all was that there was no reduction of
wages by the employers,' the prevailing
wage for the preceding ten hour day be
ing kept in force.
When the roll of fame is written of
those who have helped labor in its bat
tle for recognition the names of those
who brought about this condition in Lin
coln should stand near the top, for never
in history has a more unselfish action
action been performed by employers.
It is not surising that the carpenters'
union took heart and began to grow. It
is not surprising that the contractors
began to find that the union men were
working to the interest of their employ
ers. It is not surprising that whenever
tho carpenters had "an open meeting or
a social that the contractors were the
guests of honor and that each organ
ization vied with the other to see which
could outdo in courtesy.
It only took a few months to show the
contractors that the nine hours day was
a success from every point , of view and
then the same stalwart agitators began
their fight for the eight hour day.-- How
long and strenuous was this fight is
known only to the inner circles of the
contractors' organization, but enough
has leaked out to prove conclusively
that the few who had taken up tho
battle for recognition of organized labor
never knew defeat, although defeat star
ed them in the face constantly and more
timid souls would . have given up.
Up to the spring of 1903 there was no
agreed scale of wage for carpenters. In
December, 1902, the carpenters' unions,
now arrived at the dignity of three sep
arate bodies, represented by a. district
council, presented to the contractors' or
ganization a request for a conference to
fix hours of labor and a scale of wages
for the year 1903. This request was im
mediately granted and representatives of
both organizations were appointed to de
termine the details of the agreement.
The caryenters came into the confer
ence asking for three points of agree
ment, viz.: The closed shop, the eight
hour day ,and a minimum scale of 37
cents per hour.
The contractors' organization voted
unanimously ' for the eight hour day,
but balked on the other two propositions
and a compromise agreement was effect
ed on the basis- of the open shop with
a pledged preference for union labor and
a minimum scale of .32 cents per hour.
This agreement went into force on . April
1. 1903. and was subsequently ratified for
the year 1904.
So tar as known the conditions of the
agreement "nave been fairly observed by
both parties and the best of feeling
continues to. prevail between the two
bodies.
While the minimum scale has been in
force the majority of first-class union
workmen have been receiving consider
ably in. excess of the scale, and the con
tractors appear willing to advance wages
as fast as business conditions will per
mit. ( , ; ,
- - - - is, u.c oiulv jl lit i w ii.,' ,-ifarfii i.rtiii
day came - to Lincoln and it has: some
to stay. 'It. has been beneficial alike"'''
to contractor and journeyman and no'
suggestion of a return to old conditions
has ever been heard.
The unfair "competition encountered by
the fair contractors on the part of scab
contractors who work their meni ten
hours on a starvation scale of wages has
been an object lesson in converting some
of the foremost advocates of the open
shop to union Ideas and the unions and
their . employers are closer together than
ever before. -,
Both parties have shown a disposition
to be fair and right, making mutual con
cessions where necessary and the results
have been a decided triumph for union
ism in Lincoln.
ITS SECOND ANNIVERSARY.
Capital Auxiliary No. 11 Wiii Celebrate
It in, Grand Style.
In honor of its -- second : anniversary
Capital Auxiliary No. 11 to r Typograph
ical Union No. 209 will give a banquet,
to which the-husbands of the members
will be Invited. It iss hereby Ordered
that regrets be not accepted. .''The cele
bration will be held at the home of Mr.i
and Mrs. ; C. B. Blghter, . 2308 Dudley
street onl Monday evening, January . 23,
and owing to the fact that the Lincoln
Tractjon company has a reprehensible
habit of ( retiring its cars at Ktt vearlv
hour it will , be, necessary to begin the
banquet at ;7 p. m. shap. Members and
their husbands will please - take notice "
and govern themselves;' accordingly. Vino
street . carst leave the postofflce at - 25
and 55 -minutes after the hour.
- The Auxiliary met this aft-jrnoon at
the home of Mrs. -Zurbriggen, Twenty
third and 1 streets. "
;: The little daughter of Mr. , and Mrs.
Erstine. King, who has been quite ill, is
improving rapidly.
Mrs. J. E. Mickel and her two children.
Harold and Helen, have been ill for sev
eral days, but are now feeling better.
Mrs. W. M. Maupin and daughters
Dorothy and Lorena, returned last Mon
day from a week's visit with Mrs. Mau
pin's parents at North Bend, Neb.
Mrs. Eleanor Garrett, mother of Mrs.
H. W. Smith, is visiting in Lincoln.
DOWN SOUTH.
Where Labor Is "Free and Independent,"
According to Parry.
Recently the press dispatches told of
how Tom Watson had a racket with
a banker at Thomson, Ga. Mr. Watson
asked the banker. John H. Smith, who
is also president of the local cotton
mill, to let his employes oft from work
long enough to vote. Smith refused, and
Watson became justly indignant. Tlie
personal fracas between Watson and
Smith is of no interest, but" what about
Smith's refusal to let his employes oft
long enough to vote?
In states where labor unions are strong
the law provides that every voter shall
have time in which to vote, and his
employer may neither dock him for lost
time nor discharge him on that account.
Which provides for a better citizenship,
the Georgia method or the method in
states well organized by labor? Which
state is likely to produce the best citi-
zens, the state that encourages voting
or the state that discourages it?
' We don't know John H. Smith from
Adam's off ox, but we'll bet a four-dollar
dog against a couple of two-dollar
tomcats that he is one of the Parry kind
of "free and independent labor" em
ployers. Does anybody want to take the
bet and put up the stakes-?
A FAIR REQUEST.
Teamsters Ask Several Employing Firms
to Get in Line with Others.
A commitee from Team Drivers' Union
No. 440 has been visiting the different
employers of teamsters during the past
week and has met with much encourage
ment. A majority of the employers have
met the committee more than half way, .
and are now employing onjy union driv
ers. But several firms have refused to
treat with the committee and continue
to employ non-union men. The firms so
refusing are R. M. Tidball, Oberlles 8
Son, R. S. Young, Lincoln Transfer Co.,
Sullivan & Sehaberg, Ed. F. Reddish and '
I. E. Johnson.
The Teamsters are asking no increase
in wages and have made no claim to
shorter hours. Neither have they de
manded the signing of a scale as yet,
confining their mission to an attempt to
persuade the employers to recognize the .
union and employ only union men. The
Teamsters are entitled to and have a
right to expect the hearty co-operation
of all unions in their efforts to bettei
their working conditions.
PEACE AT FALL RIVER.
Governor Douglas Settles the Strike and
Employes Return to Work.
The great strike, of cotton operatives '
at Fall River, involving 20,000 work peo
ple, hits been settled by Governor Doug
las. The operatives return to work im
mediately. Immediately after assuming
his duties Governor Douglas called the
mill owners to .the state house and told
them they had to submit to arbitration.
He pointed them to the arbitration . laws
and asserted that he meant to enforce
them. The mill owners, who have strike,
insurance, will be prosecuted for conspir
acy. They hesitated only a few minutes
and then agreed to arbitrate. By .agree
ment the operatives return to work at
the reduced wage scale, none being dis
criminated . against. . Governor ' Douglaft
wtli investigate and' submit his conclu-
sions- as to what average margins shall
prevail on which manufacturers shall
pay a dividend of 5 per cent on the pres- .
ent wages from now until April 1. ' .
TRAINMEN'S AUXILIARY. . ,:-
The Ladies' ' auxiliary to tho Brother-'
hood of Railway Trainmen is a compaar
tively new organization in Lincoln, and
The Wageworker welcomes it to the fold.
It can. and doubtless will, be of great
service to the Brotherhood, and the ladies
will find it a great social pleasure as well
as a means of advancing the interests of
their husbands. Last night -the auxiliary
gave a card party at the home of Mrs. E.
Davis. ' 1213 F street.
i