The Wageworker
WILL M. MAU1MX,
Editor and Publisher.
$1.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
'.Entered as second-class matter
April" 21, W04, at the postoffice at Lin
coln, Neb., under the Act of Congress
126 NORTH FOURTEENTH ST.
J JtJtJj J J SJtJJJtJ&
j y)chanU who advertise in ,2
jt thn labor papers show that J
' they care for the union man's J
j trale. Patronize those who .S
jt ar wiling to heip you. J
" jt Re.id the advertisements in J
jl THE WAGEWORKEK, and if J
jt you need of anything in their
line, visit their stores and jf
Jt make your purchases,, and tell vJ
j them why you came there.
Jt We desire to particularly iin- v
jt press this matter upon the jf
wives and daughters of the si
v" union men, as they do most of
the purchasing.' . v
THE CITY ELECTION
The city election is drawing near,
and already Interest Is becoming in
tense.. The republican primaries are to
be held on February' 7,' and the can
didates are hustling night and day.
Lincoln is an overwhelmingly repub
lican city, as matters now stand, ami
it seems that if anything is to be
gained by labor it must be sought
through the dominant party. For that
reason it behooves union men to be
very careful and not allow themsolvW
to be made tools in the hands of de
signing politicians. All politicians look
alike to The Wageworker. Politically
it doesn't know a republican from a
democrat, or a prohibitionist from
cither. All it wants to know is where
a man stands on the labor question,
and if he is sound on that point it
asks nothing more. It has bo.en
charged that The Wageworker was es
tablished for the purpose of further
ing some political interests of Its edi
tor, but a little thought which some
men are incapable of exercising will
disprove the charge. Personally the
editor of The Wageworker is a demo
crat, and a democrat stands about as
much show for political preferment in
this city, county and state as a snow
ball does of continued existence in the
infernal regions. The editor of The
Wageworker wants no office, would not
accept the nomination for any office,
and wouldn't turn Ills hand over to
elect any politician to any office. The
Wageworker was e3tabltbhed for the
purpose of furthering the Interests of
union labor, and if it succeeds in so do
ing, even, though in the slightest meas
ure, its editor will feel satisfied..
But right here and now let it be said
that this labor newspaper is out of
politics as politics is generally under
stood, that it is owned, edited and
controlled by the man whose name ap
pears at the head of these columns, and
that it reserves , the right to advocate
or oppose any candidate it sees fit, rc-
' gardles' of party affiliation. Lincoln
. has had a sufficiency of newspapers
that were Influenced by campaign con
tributions about election time, espe
cially labor newspapers.
If the union mc.i of this city are wise
they will jump in and secure control of
the republican primaries. If they are
foolish they will let a coterie of jackleg
politicians use them to boost into of
fice a lot of cheap screw grafters who
never have any use for union la.bor
except on election day. Organized la
bor must bear in mind that it must
make atonement for a grave mistake
made two years tgo, and if it fails in
this and makes another mistake of
equal magnitude it need not expect to
1 ave any standing with decent men in
the future. '
If organized laboi is wiae it will not
nwallow any old dose put up by the
leaders of the republican party, but
will look further. The sooner the
workingman cuts loowe from partisan
politics the better it will be for him.
While the editor of this lebor paper is
n democrat he wer.ts it distinctly un
derstood that democratic leaders can
eusily fix up a do-:e that he will refuse
'tloi swallow. It husn't been so very
long ago that a dose like that referred
to waa declined with thanks.
1 Let union men make an effort to
nominate friends of unionism to the
council, the excisi board and the may
oralty not pretended friends, but
fi lends who are actual. The interests
of organized labor are of much more
moment than the advancement of any
politician or selfish interest. Here are
a few things that organized labor
should insist upo.i before its member
Mipport any candidate:
Employment of rrganized labor upon
al! public work.
Kqual taxation, whether of individ
uals or corporations.
Eight hours a day's work.
The union label on all city printing.
Rigid enforcement of all the laws
and ordinances.
Better street railway service.
No franchises to be granted with
out a majority vote of all the citizens
entitled to vote at any general elec
tion. Lower street car fares.
Clean streets.
A public park commission to serve
without pay. and steps to be taken to
establish a city park that will be a
credit to the city.
Strict enforcement of the excise
regulations.
These are not all,: but they are the
most important, of the things that or
ganized labor should stand for and
vote for and work for. If you are a
republican and the republican candi
date will not pledge himself to support
these things, be man enough to fight
him to a standstill. If you are a demo
crat and the democratic candidate will
not make a similar pledge, then fight
him till Hades turns a skating rink.
And if neither the republican nor the
democratic candidate will pledge him
self to support these things, then let
workinginen get together and put up
a candidate who will. If the 1,800
union labor votes in this city will stand
together they can make the republican
and democratic leaders crawl on their
knees to offer anything organized labor
wants.
Get into the game! Don't be a suck
er! Don t swell up with pride every
time a political "fixer" pats you on
the back and tells you that you are a
"man of influence," for be sure the
"bxer" will give you the horse laugh
a goon as he finds that he no longer
needs your help. Forget partisan peli-
tics and
babies."
vote for "Molly
and Ihe
HARRISON AND ODELL
Two candidates before the republican
primaries to be held on February 7, are
Frank G. Odell, who seeks the council
manic nomination in the Seventh ward,
and T. P. Harrison, who is a candidate
for exciseman. The Wageworker has
no hesitancy in endorsing both of these
candidates, not because they are repub
licans but because they are friends of
labor. Mr. Harrison is a contractor,
and from the inception of the agitation
he has advocated the. eight-hour day.
He fought for it in the Builders' Ex
change. He fought, for the "closed
shop" agreement, and although that
failed to cany lu has maintained the
"closed shop" by employing only union
men.
Mr. Odell is also a contractor. He
employs union men, and he was a
leader in the fight for the shorter work
ing day. He favors the "closed shop"
because he believes it beneficial to
both employer anJ employe. He stands
upon the platform outlined in the
kading editorial in this issue. He de
serves the cordial support of every
union man in the Seventh ward. Mr.
Harrison has been endorsed by the La-'
boring Men's Political Club, an en
dorsement that docs the club credit.
If the republicans will nominate a
full set of candidates equally worthy
at, these two, organized labor should
rally solidly to their support. The
trouble is that the republicans are
not at all likely to do it, and the
democrats have no encouragement to
do so. If union men would forget par
ty once or twice in a city campaign
there would be -omeihing doing that
votild be worth while.
Look here. Air. Local Merchant! Be
fore you join in any movt to destroy
the labor unions, just do a little figur
ing. Which would you rather have
for customers, l.Wio union men work
ing cn average of eight hours a day at
15 a week, or .,500 non-union men
working an average of twelve hours
la day at $8 or J9 r. week. Figure it out
lor yourself.
The manufacturer who opposes union
labor insists on petting ths price upon
the labor he buys, and also insists upon
setting the price on the product of
labor that he sel:;. Your union buster
always wants tlx?, big end of both
transactions. :
. St
If the railroad managers want to
make government ownership a sure
thins they will oppose President
Roosevelt's plan of federal supervision
ol rates. The ;op!e are becoming
aroused, and the corporations are up
against it.
.
Look here, Mr. F.ocal Merchant!
Which would you rather have, 1,500
union customers earning an average of
15 a week, or 2,300 non-union cus
tomers averaging ?b a week? Figure
it out lor yourself.
v
Of course you have hoard the old
conundrum, "What makes more noise
than a pig under a gate?" Well, the
new- answer is: "C. W. Post under
present conditions."
St ,
How would you like to belong to the
"good labor unior" that. Post, the
"grille guts" ma- talks about?
- St St
In cities where labor is best organ
ized wages are always at their best,
local merchants a "e always prosperous
and the people generally happy. The
reverse is always true in cities where
labor is degraded.
. St
Organized labor recognizes the right
of every man to work, but the union
man has too mucii self-respect to work
alongside the man who is too mean,
narrow, selfish, sordid and foolish as
to refuse to assist organized labor in the
work of securing and maintaining bet
ter conditions for those who toil. The
man who will not share the expense of
securing better conditions but insists
on enjoying those betterei conditions,
is too low in the moral scale to be a
tit associate for right-minded men.
,4 t4 s
The laborer who insists on having a
voice in the disposition of his labor
i an "anarchist." an "agitator," a
desperate citizen," a "menace to free
dom" and a "thug." But the man who
secures control of a necessity of life
and sets the price is a "captain of in
dustry," a "foremost citizen," and hi3
"vested rights" must be proteeted.
:. 4 4 .4' -"
Post is such a confirmed keab" that
he "scabbed" on the . advertising
agents. Thfo " "Grandin Advertising
Agency" consists of Post and a cheap
secretary, aid was organized to cut
the throats t legitimate1 advertising
agents. ThcJ advertising agents need a
lesson or two ; in thorough trades
unionism. "
t.4 Jt jt
"The hated white collar of human
slavery, the union label' is what the
manufacturer of "postum cereal" and
' grape nuts" calls it. : And there are
union men who still insist on using
'I e conglomerations made by this
same inanufacturti.
t4 jt St
There are no labor uniens in China,
consequently no labor troubles worth
mentioning. China seems to afford an
ideal country for the manufacturers
fcvho want to enipioy "froe and inde
pendent labor."
s
.When organized labor gets into the
political game with its eyes open
there will be a sudden decrease in
te number of juuges who are willing
a any time to do the bidding of or
ganized capital.
4 -.4 .4 st
The city campaign waxes warm al
ready, and the iale.ring nun finds his
ciicle of friends .growing larger every
day. The circle . w ill vis-bly contract
the day after election.
,4 , ,t ,4
Dave Parry is nobody's fool. As
long as he can keep well uider trover
and get blatant fools like C. W. Post
to do the fighting Parry will rejoice
in spirit and be exceeding glad.
St ' St St
If Attorney General Moody doesn't
end up his fight on the boef trust with
anot her damphoo) injunction he will
be entitled to a vote of thanks.
St ,4
By the way, how many homes and
hospitals have been built by the "free
and independent labor" that the Par
ryites love to talk about?
j
Organized ianor merely insists on
having a voice in the fixing of the price
of the only thin.? labor has to sell
labor.
,4 ,4 St
The story of how the eight-hour day
came to Lincoln, published elsewhere,
h well worth reading.
4 .4 ,4
Governor Douglas starts off all
right, and here's betting that he'll keep
it ui).
St v4 vs
Convict made goods must be branded.
.4 st
The Lee broom is convict made.
St st s
Demand the union label.
v4 4 jt
Be consistent. "
J St St
"EX" OR "SELECTED."
There are troubles galore that upon a
man pour
As through the old world he doth
travel.
There are things that perplex and so
many that vex,
And tangles he can not unravel.
But speaking 1.1 person I think that
the worse one
At least it makes mc dejected
Is swiping these rhymes by the dozen
at times
And crediting "Ex" or "Selected."
A man sits, him down with a deep
thoughtful frown
And takes a fall out of the muses.
He writes a good verse that should add
to his purse.
But money and credit he loses.
For surer than fate, it is sad to relate.
It always is to be expected
That some scissors fiend's shears cuts
it out it appears
With credit of "Ex" or "Selected."
If a joke makes a hit, or you show flash
of wit.
You're robbed of the fruits of your
toiling;
For the scissors fiend's eye will the
good thing espy.
Then snip-snip your work he'3 despoiling.
Properly Labeled
EX-GOV. PEA
RIDGLEY M'D'SE. CO.
1406 O STREET
AE GIUE S. & H. GREEN TRADING STAMPS
It's a ten-to-one shot that the fellow
will not
Give credit for what he's collected;
But if he does, then, he will grab up
his pen
And credit it "Ex" or ''Selected."
THE ELEMENTS
The board of directors of the Po
dunk Gas compar.y were in secret ses
sion, called for the purpose of arrang
ing a few matters. , The people had
been demanding an investigation of
certain political deals in which the city
council was mixed up; also concerning
financial methods following along the
lines of dividends.
"Gentlemen," said the president,
"something must bdone. The people
are becomii.p; inquisitive and are de
manding a look at the books. What
shall we do?"
Then arose the expert of the com
pany, he looked -about him and then
spoke softly.
"Gentlemen," he said, "nature has
given us a hint. Let us not ignore it."
Naturally enough he was called upon
to explain, and the explanation wa3
forthcoming.
The books were burned, the stock
was watered and the pipes were
pumped full of air.
DISCOVERED
Mr. F. R. Webber of Decatur, 111.,
has made a discovery. .Not long ago
he read in a daily newspaper an ac
count of the arrest of a brass finisher
who had been detected in the act of
srealing brass castings from his em
ployer. At the trial it was brought out
that the prisoner, an expert workman,
made an average of $6 per week, with
which he had to support a large family.
The complainant testified that the pris
oner had secreted the stolen goods in
his dinnerpail.
"At last," writes' Mr. Webber, "after
eight years of diligent search I have
discovered what the republican lead
ers meant by their talk of 'the full din
nerpail.' "
THE SEASONS
Snow has its time to fall
In many a soft and feathery flake.
But on this season thou now hast the
call,
O buckwheat cake!
THE TEST
Good citincv.s are numerous
If you will search them out,
A fact they wil I admit to you
If you express a doubt.
But there's a test you can apply
And then you'll surely know
Just watch the citizen who cleans
His sidewalk of the snow.
THOSE DEAR GIRLS'
"Percy Flage proposed to me last
night, and I decided to accept him."
"I expected that. Percy .threatened
to do something desperate when I re
fused him the other night."
IN THE FUTURE
The workinsman in search of em
ployment was ushered into the office
of the manager of the great concern.
"What can I do for you, sir?" asked
the manager.
"I am Jooking for, emplpyment. I
am a skilled workman in your line, and
I can give satisfactory reference. Do
you need a man?"
"Yes, I have a place for you, but I
want to ask you a few questions be
fore I put you on the pay roll. If
they are answered satisfactorily you
get the place Now, are you a
"Hold on a moment, please." inter
OF COLORADO-
What of him? He occupies theisame
position toith the laooring men and
women that cash stores do, in compar
ison toith Ridgley's Credit Clothing
Store. We treat all alike here, and es
pecially cater to the trade of laboring
people toho haoe the same prioeleges
here and are treated as courteously
as do the cash stores their customers.
Ridgely is becoming more liberal in
his dealings to his customers. He has
commanded each of his (16) managers
throughout this broad land, to cut the
price on all $25 ladies' winter coats
to $4.50. My, tohat a slaughter! And
toe haoe done some of the same hind
of toorh on our men's clothing. Come
and. see us. We can and toill satisfy you.
rupted the workingman. "You are go
ing to ask me if I belong to a trades
union, eh?"
"Yes, that was one question I 'had
in mind."
"And if I said yes you were going to
make some remarks aoout 'free and in
dependent labor' and 'slaves to walk
ing delegates' and some stuff like
that?"
"Yes, but I want you "
"Correct! Now let me ask my ques
tions first. Is this concern in a trust
managed by a few greedy men who are
willing to rob rich and poor alike if
it only increases dividends?"
"Sir, I don't allow any common
lab"
"O, that's all right, Mr. Manager.
Does your concern give other concerns
in the same line of manufacture a
show for their white alley? ' Do you
oppose maintaining a lobby at Wash
ington to secure special legislation in
your interests? Do you buy and sell
lawmakers to suit your own convenien
ces? Have you any string tied to
judges on the bench? Have you any "
"Look here; I'll throw you "
"No, you won't, throw anything. I
just wanted to know a few things be
fore I go to work for you. Sauce for
the laboring man's goose is sauce for
the employer's gander, and when-you
howl about 'free and independent la
bor' and all that sort of tommy-rot,
don't kick if the labcrinsr man makes
a few inquiries. Good day, sir. I don't
believe I want to. work for this kind, of
an outfit."
P. S". This did not actually happen.
Eut it would be possible for it to hap
pen if laboring men -were wise enough
to vote as solidly on election day as
they march on Labor day.
CARDS '
He who wastes minutes wonders
what becomes of the hours.
The best victories are won a long
time ahead of tie real conflict.
A man is often in bad company when
he is alone with his thoughts.
"Good luck" is the term that the
shiftless apply to the diligent.
The man who talks ,to himself al
ways has an appreciative 'audience.
We have some doubts about the man
who is always boasting of his reform.
Better meet trouble half way than
to sit still nd let it overwhelm you.
A litt!e today is better than waiting
ior tomorrow in the hope of getting
more.
It beats the world how big a little
house feels when the babies are away
visiting. .' i?
The fellow who is in the wrong; is
usua.ly the fellow who has "nothing, to
arbitrate." ,
It is a good thing for this old world
that the people who growl about the
weather do not have the making of. it.
The funniest thing about the "comic
sections" of the daily papers is the act
that they are called "comic sections."
But .fine feathers do make fine birds,
despite i.-e old proverb. But fine feath
ers do not always make good or useful
birds.
Opportunity knocks once at every
man's door, but the trouble is that so
many men are so busy grumbling at
their fate that they can not hear the
knock.
Having successfully eluded the fish
erman, the. first .time, the. bass was em
boldened to try again.
This time the bass was not so lucky,
and as It lay gasping in the bottom
of the boat it cried out in a loud voice:
"Alas, I am another victim of the
re-bait system." .
However, not having an expert at the
business to advise i-m, the bass had
to suffer.
BODY
EJ
Dr.CliffordR. Tefft
DENTIST
Office Oyer Sidles Bicycle Store
xnixxxxxxxxixxmrp
EZZX
RAG AN 1&
CARE
1228
STREET
HANDLES EVERYTHING IN
SEASON
MODERATE PRICES. FIRST
CLASS SERVICE
MEALS, I5cts AND UP
OPEN
ALL NIGHT
STUCKEY'S
1-4:29 O.
Confectionery
Ice Cream.
TRY OURl
COOKING
$4.90 PEP TON
Hutchins & Hyatt
COAL
BElL Phon-e 630. Acto Phone 1630 , I
TYIiAT.VTJ TXT
lee Cream, Oysters, Milk, Ceam
Confectionery and BaKcd booaST
Prompt Attention Given to All Orien.
401 So. Ilth Street, LINCOLN, NEB.
Lincoln Auction Co.
132S O.
Will give, you bargains the next thirtj
days in Furniture, Stoves, etc
Wm. Walworth, Prop.
t