T H E
WAGEWOR
ECER
A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the interest of Wageworkers Everywhere.
VOL. 1 ScOLN, NEBRASKA, JANUAEY 271 NO. 42:
Are Such "Factories''
Good Fdt Lincoln?
Anions other business firms crippled by Tuesday night's big fire
was the Lincoln Shirt and Overall company, which sustained a com
plete loss of its plant and stock, although the monetary loss is practi
cally covered by insurance. The loss is chiefly from the fact that it is
put out of business for a long time right at a period of the year when
' it should be busiest in getting read to fill spring orders.
A meeting of the directors of the company was held Wednesday
morning and the situation gone over. It was the unanimous opinion
that the people of Lincoln ought to come to the front and provide
the company with a suitable building at a rental not to exceed $100
a month, and that if this was not done the company would locate its
plant in some other and preferabl ysmaller city.
The Wageworker would be sorry to see any business enterprise
lost to Lincoln, and it entertains the hope that the Lincoln Overall
and Shirt company will not feel compelled to go elsewhere. But right
here The Wageworker desires to make a few deductions from figures
given in Tuesday evening's News and doubtless inspired. The News
says : '
"This enterprise has been one of large importance to the city as
well as to the company. Seventy-five, persons have beengiven-prac-
tically constant employment, and an average weekly pay roll of $500
has been expended in the city. The business is on a good basis and
growing rapidly. It is no experiment, and yet the company confronts
a serious dilema."
A simple little sum in long division will show that "an average
weekly pay roll of $500" distributed among seventy-five employes
means an average weekly wage of $(!.G0 a week. But superintend
ents, traveling men, foremen and foreladies, bookkeepers, ct.c, etc.,
certainly draw more than the average, and in view of this fact one
wonders what wage is drawn by the girls who run the machines or
'v do the real work of making the shirts and overalls.
This "average wage" business is very deceitful. For instance, the
"average wage" on any great railroad system, including president,
vice presidents, general manager, division superintendents, master
mechanics and everybody else would doubtless look good, but the
section hand working for a dollar
ways of drawing the average. And an average wage of $6.60 a
week in a manufacturing plant like the Lincoln Overall and Shirt
"V factory simply means that quite a nnumber are workig nine and ten
hours a day for an almighty scant pittance.
If The Wageworker is not mistaken Manager Jones of the Lincoln
Overall and Shirt factory is opposed to labor, unions and one of those
eminent business gcntlemnc who insist upon "running their own
business without the interference of walking declgates." If The
Waceworker is mistaken it apologizes. But employers who pay an
average wage of $6.60 a week are
idea of interference from organized
As before stated, The Wageworker would regret it exceedingly if
any Lincoln enterprise should be compelled to seek another field, but
before it rends its nether garments trying to provide the Lincoln
Wverall and Shirt factory with a suitable location at a merely nom
- inal rent, it would like to know a little more about the "average
wage" paid.
WHAT WOMEN CAN DC
A Great Work at Hand That She can
Accmpllsh by Unionism.
When a man marries, he generally
tries to the best of his ability to make
his home pleasant and comfortable
for the girl who ha3 consented to share
her lot with him.
And a woman ought to consider her
husband's interests first.
If a woman has a husband whois a
candidate for some office on the re
publican ticket, do we bear her sing
ing the praises of her opponent?
Why, even if she didn't know the
difference between the republican
ticket and an example in algebra, she
would swear by it because her hus
band does.
But when a man belongs to a union,
the greatest and only protection a
working man has, how many wives
uphold him? When there is an extra
assessment to aid some strike, she
will say (as a rule): "Let them take
care of themselves. You are not one
of them, and why should you help
them? I need that small amount my
self, I want to buy a new waist."
"But listen!" the husband will say;
"If ever I am on strike these men will
help me."
The wife answers: "But you may
never go on a strike; there is all your
money gone."
Such a woman might be talked to
till a man turned to stone, and she'd
never understand. She doesn't want
to, and when a person doesn't want to
understand, they're worse than those
who can't.
A man comes home and says to his
wife: "My dear, when you go into a
store to buy anything, always ask for
goods with the union label on them,
as that will insure to us the fact that
we are not buying penitentiary made
goods."
The wife smiles very sweetly and
sJ she will, and the very next day
"pftJ into an unfair house and buys
goods that salesmen tell her are not
made by union working men.
Now, what are the union men going
to do in their fight for Justice when
their wives, who have promised to be
a helpmate to them, will tear down
what they have built nip? Even if the
union men do demand unlgn-made
goods, where they spend one dollar
l heir wives and daughters spend fifty.
What the country wants and needs
and fifteen cents a day lacks a long
usually very much incensed at the
labor.
are union wives and union daughters.
Where women have come to the
front haven't they always won? Who
can fight and win against a woman
who is a woman?
Can't the women see that where the
husbands received two dollars ($2) a
day before unions were in existence
they now receive three dollars ($3)?
The old saying, "Men must work
and women must weep," has gone out
of style. There is very little use for
weeping, clinging women that men
used to die for and consider them
selves heroes for doing it. What we
want now are women who work; wom
en who are not afraid to hold up their
heads and say: "I demand the rights
that belong to me and mine."
Oh, women sisters! Wake up be
fore it Is too late! When women will
stand side by side with , the men in
their struggles the men are strength
ened and encouraged, and women
should consider who are men fighting
for if not for them? If a man cared
nothing for his family, would he care
how much money he earned as long
as he was provided for?
And now let us put our hand in the
hand of our union brothers and say
"As long as I live I will do my part
toward advancing tne cause or Or
ganized Labor by always demanding
the union label." Colorado Springs
Labor News.
WHAT MEANS IT?
Looks Like a Scheme to Make Trouble
for Union Pressmen.
Every day for the past week the
following advertisement has appeared
in the Lincoln dally newspapers:
PRINTING pressmen in the state de
siring to make a change address us,
stating particulars. Address 274
Journal.
Doubtless this advertisement has
been seen, read and answered by
number of boys in the country towns
who have had a brief experience suov-
ing noteheads and envelopes into
Gordon press, or patent insides into
the grippers of a country Campbell and
imagine that they are pressmen. And
doubtless they think they see in the
advertisement an opportunity to come
to a city and make big wages.' The
boys would better think again. The
wages are not big. the work is hard
the expenses are high, and the chances
are that they would not last long,
Why? Because they can not do the
work, for one thing; and another
thing, they wouldn't be given any con
sideration whatever after they had
been used to hammer down the wages
of expert pressmen. The country
pressmen would better stick to their
jobs and let the above glittering offer
go. Don't be a "scab.'V
PRISON-MADE BROOMS.
Watch fOr Them and Admit Them to no
Good Union Home.
The Lee Broom and Duster Co., is
displaying in the show windows of
Incoln business houses the diploma it
received at the St. Louis exposition.
The Lee broom is convict made, and
is made in competition with free labor.
Union men and women should make
note of the fact.
The Merkle-Wiley broom, made at
Paris, III., is not a fair broom. The
Merkle-Wiley company wa3 made a
union shop at the request of the pro
prietors in 1899. Now the company is
trying to force the open shop and the
employes are on strike. Keep your
eyes opened for the Merkle-Wiley
broom, and when you see it remember
that it is "unfair."
SOME RESOLUTIONS.
Painters and Decorators Disclaim any
Connection With Political Scheme.
Painters and Decorators' Union No.
18 of Lincoln has adopted the follow
ing resolutions: :
Whereas, A few men have gotten
themselves together and formed a "La
boring .Men's Political Club" and have
endorsed certain candidates, etc., and
Whereas, This has placed organized
labor in Lincoln in a false position, and
Whereas, This union stands: for clean
The Central's
The oyster supper and social
Tuesday evening was the most successful affair, financially and so
cially, ever engineered by that body, and it success argues well for
the growing spirit of unionism in the Capital t.ity. lhe weather
was bitterly cold, and although this doubtless kept many away, it
did not prevent the hall from being comfortably filled, and when the
oysters were served there were four rows of guests the entire
length of the hall.
It was a jolly and good nattired crowd that came up for pleasure
and fraternity, and they got all they came for including the good
music and the dancing. President Kelsey of the central body made a
few remarks, and the editor of The Wageworker succeeded in con
fining his speech inside of 120 seconds. , Then came the oysters, and
when they had disappeared the tables followed suit, and the dancing
began. In order to give the evening the proper start r. Anhauser of
the Cigarmakers' Union sang "When Other Lips and Other Hearts"
and was warmly applauded.
The success of the social was so great that President kelsey s an
nouncement of another one to follow in a reasonable time brought
forth thunderous applause. The committee in charge acquitted itself
nobly.
One of the features of the evening was a recitation by Master Roy
Walker, who is so little that he had to stand on a table to be seen, but
who recited so manfully and so plainly that he was awarded a round
of applause. Master Roy is not a "child wonder," which fact made
his contribution to the program all the more pleasing. But he is a
bright little fellow who wins the regard of all who meet him.
It may truthfully be said that the social event wound up in a blaze
of glory, for when the social closed at midnight the merrymakers
were permitted to see the biggest fire that Lincoln has had in years.
What the Firemen Really Need
The Wageworker will not undertake to give either old or new
facts about Tuesday night's fire. It merely desires to make a few
remarks regarding the work of the fire department. The daily papers
paid fulsome compliments to the firemen and the firemen deserve
every word of them.
Of course the firemen worked hard and heroically. Nobody ex
pected them ever to do anything else if occasion demanded. Every
time there is a big fire the papers dilate on the "heroic work of the
firemen," just as if that sort of thing were not just as common; with
the firemen as falling off the water wagon is in a distillery district.
One might be led to think by a reading of the compliments, that the
"heroic work" was something unusual. At Tuesday night's fire
the members of the city fire department did not do anything sur
prising. It is true they fought a nasty fire in about the worst weather
that could be sprung on a helpless people. It is true that they suffer
ed horribly from the cold. It is also true that they faced death in a
dozen different ways, and all that sort of thing. But nobody ever
had the least suspicion that a single member of the force would ever
balk. Everybody knew that the firemen would do just what they
did, and everybody knows that the firemen would do it again under
similar circumstances. That's what makes firemen. The fire de
partment is not in any immediate need of compliments. It doubtless
appreciates recognition of its good work, but what the department
needs more than compliments or recognition of services performed is
better appliances, better quarters, better pay and better hours. If
the taxpayers will provide these things The Wageworker is willing
to bet the firemen will quite willingly do without the compli
ments. The fireman's life would be chiefly "beer and skittles" if he
had nothing to do but sit around the engine house and play checkers
or curry the horses. But working at his business for just one night
like last Tuesday night earns him about all the salary he gets in a
twelvemonth. There are about 20,000 men in Lincoln who wouldn't
do it for twice what a fireman gets unless he had to, as most of the
firemen do. ,' ,
But the point- The Wageworker wants to make is that the fire
men need something more than words of praise they need a lot of
things that will make their work more effective and their vocation a
bit less dangerous.
government and the enforcement of
law and order, therefore be it
Resolved, by Local No. IS, Brother
hood of Painters, Decorators and Pa
perhanger3 of America, representing
one of the largest bodies of mechanics
in the city, do hereby state to the pub
lic that we are not a party to the
"Laboring Men's Political Club" and
we deny the right of a few men to
speak in behalf of all the workers of
the city.
W. .E., DEWEY, Pres.
I. R. DELONG, Sec.
tSeal.)
ELECTRICAL WORKERS.
Getting Ready for Their Third Anniver
sary Ball on February 10.
The Electrical Workers give their
third annual ball at Fraternity hall on
February 10, and the preparations they
are making to entertain their friends is
sufficient guarantee that the evening
will be enjoyably spent. The sale of
tickets is now going on and the indi
cations are that the crowd will tax
the capacity of the hall.
The Electrical Workers have a habit
of springing pleasant surprises at their
annual functions, and it is hinted that
there will be some unusual' doings in
this line this year.
NOTICE TO PAINTERS.
Important Meeting Called to Consider
Questions of Great Interest to Them.
All members of Local No. 18, Broth
erhood of Painters, Decorators and Pa-
perhangers of America, are urgently
requested to be present at the second
meeting in February, Friday the 10th,
for the purpose of transacting business
vital to the welfare of the union. Every
member should bear the date in mind
and be, there without fail.
Oyster Supper
s.
given by Central Labor Union last
Capital Auxiliary
Celebrates Anniversary
On January 21 Capital Auxiliary No. 11 to Typographical Union ,
No. 209 celebrated its second anniversary, and the members of the ;
auxiliary made it an occasion for entertaining their husbands a th
hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Righer, 2308 Dudley. De
spite the bitter cold weather seventeen couples were present, and a
more pleasant evening the average printer man never had the privi
lege of enjoying. The, committee inrcharge of the celebration had left
nothing undone to make the affair a success.
Remembering the fact that the Lincoln Distraction company
thinks so much of its dingy little yellow cars that it turns them into
the barn shortly after sundown, the auxiliary planned to make the
evening as long as possible, and for that reason it was announced
that the festivities would begin promptly at 7 o'clock and they did.
The gentlemen went right from their work to the Righter home,
and there they found their wives and supper all ready. It was a
genuine supper, too. None of your little coffee and wafer and tooth
pick feeds, but the kind of a supper that makes a, tired and hungry
workman feel like a grand duke and gives the cottage"' th'je -appearance
of a baronial -castle. It took an hour ,to do the banquet justice, but
the feat was accomplished to the complete" satisfaption of the ladies.
The best compliment one can pay a good cook is to eat all she caff
stack before you. The ladies of the auxiliary were handed a finF
bunch of compliments on this especial occasion.
A neat little game of wits arid geography was played. Tickets,
made in the form of coupon railroad tickets were handed around; and
with the warning to "tote fair" the guests were turned loose arid in
vited to guess. There were sixteen stations on eaeji' tiipket. ;'rThis
is the way it worked : Station No. 1 was described as '.'that for which
our forefathers fought." The wise guest wrote "Indepiendence."
Station No. 10 was described as "an opera encore." and one guest
guessed it, although the answer was as easy as falti'rjig on a Lincoln
pavement, "Sing Sing." The editor of the Wageworker won the
gentleman's prize in this contest, having succeeded in correctly nam
ing thirteen of the sixteen stations. The prize was a pair of strictly
union made suspenders. He lacked one button of having enough to
fit. but the hostess kindly supplied a pin. Mrs. Frank Odell won the
iadies' prize, an apron made of handkerchiefs and bearing the union
label.
The anniversary cake, made by. Mrs. Freeman and ornamented
by two candles, was then brought forth and carved. Mrs. Freeman
was given a unanimous vote of thanks for this display of her culinary
skill. Each guest was given an anniversary card bearing an approp
riate toast, and the reading of these toasts brought forth loud ap
plause and laughter. White the ladies were setting things to rights
after tire banquet the gentlemen wended their way upstairs with un-
ion made cigars in their faces and spent a half hour wonderincr how
the executive committee was getting along, and telling of old times
when "subbing" was. good. Singing of old-time songs, stories, and
social converse whiled away the hours until it was "grab things and
run" or miss the last car.
Not the most uninteresting feature was the "athletic contest'" in '.'
the kitchen, participated in by the gentlemen. Ever try your "grip"
by seeing which of you' would let the broomhandle twist? Ever lay
flat on your back alongside a friend and engage in an "Injun
wrassle?" Ever stick a pin in the side of a chair and try to get it
with your teeth, by twisting your body around the back of the
chair? Ever sit bn the floor facing your opponent, grab a broom
handle and see which could pull the other to his feet? The gentlemen
all tried these diversions, to the great delight of the admiring ladies.
Col. H. William Smith won the pin pulling match, Major John
Zurbriggen captured the "Injun wrassler's" medal, Hon. Frank
Odell proved that he could stand further away from a wall, lean over
till his head hit and then straighten up with his hands behind his back
than any other fellow present, and "Billy" Bustard won enconiums
by falling off the chair seven times in succession while trying to
pull the pin. The following were present :
Mr. and Mrs. Righter, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Odell,
Mr. and Mrs. Barngrover, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs.
Bustard, Mr. and Mrs. Zurbriggen, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mickel, Mr.
and Mrs. Locker, Mr. and Mrs. Hebbard, Mr. and Mrs. Rhone, Mr.
and Mrs. Marpin, Mr. and Mrs. Norton, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, Mrs.
Wilson, Mrs. Freeman, Miss Hazel Smith and Miss Freda iMckel.
Capital Auxiliary has been the author of many a pleasant evening,
but none of them is to be compared in point of pleasure with the
second anniversary celebration. If the other craftsmen in the city,
could realize the help, socially and financially, that an auxiliary of
fers, every craft in the city would soon be blest as Typographical
Union No. 209' is blest by a band of women who are doing much for
the cause of unionism.
CHILD LABOR.
How Sworn Officers of the Law Permit
the Crime to Flourish Unchecked.
State Labor Commissioner McMackin
has been accused of being inefficient in
a very . .important office. According to
a report presented to Governor Hig
gins by representatives of the New
York Child Labor committee and the
National and State Child Labor Com
mittee, Commissioner McMackin . has
manifested such indifference to his du
ties that although "there were in 1903
over 50,000 violations found by inspec
tors on their first visits to the fac
tories of the state, there were only 1,
095 reinspections to determine if the
orders of the department had been
complied with, and but 9 convictions."
In one case, an agent of the committee
learned that a child four years old was
earning nineteen cents a day, string
ing beans. The report referred partic
ularly to the employment of children
in the canning factories of Syracuse,
Auburn, Oneida and Rome.
If Mr. McMackin is neglecting to en
force the law against the employment
of boys and girls under the legal age,
he should be promptly removed from
office. The future progress of our coun
try depends upon the health and in
telligence of the "rising generation."
As child labor injures the body and
dwarfs the intellect, the importance of
compelling factory employers to ob
serve the law muqt be apparent to even
careless people. Chicago Union Leader.
ROUGH ON PLATT.
Comparing Him to Sawdust Post Is Little
Short of Libelous.
Mr. Post of the Battle Creek Grape
Nut factory, is now out after the scalp
of old Tom Piatt, the New York sen
ator, who he thinks discriminates
against him in nut express rates to
different parts of the country. Post
has just got through with a legal al
tercation in which his wife secured a
divorce from him on the grounds ..of
cruelty, and he may be in good flght-
ing condition to go after the ''New
Yorker. It is a little bit unfortunate
that this Mr. Post is now in the class
with the union sluggers, as he has
been legally declared guilty of wife
beating. His charges that have been
made against union men have been ex
tremely bitter, but his is the lowest
depths to which one can descend if he
is classed in the same criminal cate
gory with this Michigan manufacturer.
Chicago Union Leader.
President Kelsey of the Central La
bor Union met with a sad mishap last
Tuesday morning. Just as he was
climbing into his carriage to be driven
to work the alarm clock went off and
woke him up.
