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THE WAQEWORK
ER
A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere.
VOL. 1 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, FEBRUARY 24, 1905 NO 46
i I . 3
The Facts
The Star of last Wednesday evening
contained an interview with a mem
ber of the legislature, name not given,
who seems to be laboring under a mis
apprehension. This legislator, think
ing that the "convict brand" bill was
not open and above board, said:
"It seems to me that there are three
combined influences working against
the present prison contractors tn the
Interests of certain other persons who
are engaged In the same line of busi
ness. The first is the legislation in
troduced to brand prison products as
convict made, the second in the binding
twine bill and the third is the re-organization
of the American Broom
company. The legislation to brand con
vict goods as such would operate as
a boycott in favor of the wares of a
concern like Harrison's. This, I pre
sume is intended as an aid to the busi
ness in the case the twine factory is
not established to wipe out competi
tion." This unknown legislator has had
three guesses and shot wide of the
mark each time. The "convict brand"
bill was introduced at the request of
the Central Labor Unions of Lincoln
and Omaha. The Central Labor Unions
have absolutely r.i interest in any fac
tory or factories in the state save as
worklngmen anxious to assist in mak
ing successful tho business of any and
all men who employ labor and pay
3od wages. Tho Intent of the bill is
to protect men and women when they
purchase articles of common use, such
as brooms. Hundreds of thousands of
people, object to using convict made
goods, and they are asking only that
they be given an opportunity to know
what goods are convict made. The
law ia similar in every respect to the
oleomargarine law. Manufacturers of
oleomargarine may sell all the oleo
they please, provided it is not colored
tc imitate butter and Is plainly stamped
'oleomargarine." The Lee Broom
and Duster company, or any other
company, may employ all the convicts
it sees fit or is able to employ, and sell
its wares wherever it can, provided it
does not deceive the people but gives
the people an opportunity to know the
truth by branding the wares "convict
made."
That is all there is to this bill. It
has no ulterior motive. It is plain, it
id direct, it is simple and it is abso
lutely just and honest. This unknown
legislator should investigate more
thoroughly before impunging the mo
tives of men just as honest as he or
any other member of the legislature.
MISSTED IT
M. Foxworthy, ne who represents the
Western Newspaper Union on the road.
Is sorrowful and not to be comforted.
At the Editorial Association meeting
in Kearney the first of the week Judge
Gaalin made a short talk to the asso
ciation, and among other things said
handed an oratorical bouquet to the
"patent insides." Mr. Foxworthy dis
covered when too late tnat the official
stenographer had cot made a report of
Judge Gaalln's speech, and the orator
ical bouquet was vithered beyond hope
before Mr. Foxworthy could get to it.
What Judge Gaalir said is this:
"I have always been a great read
er of the newspapers and the period
icals. Through them I have been able
to acquire a vut fund 3f general in
formation not obtainable elsewhere. I
have always read the 'patent insides,'
for there, too, one may find the best
thought and the best instruction that
can be gleaned from the lives and
writings of the greatest und deepest
thinkers of the world. The press is
the greatest educational institution in
the world, and you gentlemen have a
right to be proud of your connection
with such a splendid educational force.''
If this will remove the cloud of
.gloom from the face of our good friend,
Foxworthy, we'll be almighty glad of
It.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
The Central Labor Union will meet
Tuesday evening. Tne newly elected
officers will be Installed In office, and
other important business 'A 111 be trans
acted. President Kelsey will announce
the committee that will undertake to
frame plans for the erection of a labor
tr-mple, and as th present move looks
like business considerable Interest is
manifested in the make-up of this im
portant committee. Every union in
the city should have delegates present
af the meeting Tntbday night.
Reasons
The question of the "open shop" or the "closed shop" has been
receiving a vast amount of attention at the hands of the public
press during the last two years, and no man acquainted with
existing conditions will dare claim that the unionist's side of the
question has been either fairly or honestly stated in the great
daily newspapers. Of course there are three or four notable ex
ceptions, but as a rule the great dailies, being owned and -controlled
by men engaged in other and vaster corporate interests,
have been compelled by force of circumstances to give the em
ployers' side of the case much greater prominence than that given
to the employes' side.
Having been a union man for upwards of twenty years, and
during all that time an active member of the Typographical Union,
the writer believes that he owes it to himself and to his fellow
unionists to attempt, as best he can, to give the union man's side
of the case, and present, as well as possible, the reasons why he is
a union man instead of what Mr. Parry calls a "free and independ
ent workingman," and what is known in printers' parlance as a
"rat."
First and foremost, let it be here and now asserted that the
assertion of the "open shop" advocates that union men seek to
prevent the employment of non-union men is only a half-truth,
which is in most cases worse than a downright falsehood. The
union man recognizes the right of any man to engage in any honest
work where and when he may, and for whomsoever he pleases.
But the union man does insist that he has a perfect right to refuse
to work alongside the non-union man, and to make a "closed. shop"'
contract whenever he can. The "closed shop" merely means that
the employers owning that particular mill, factory or printery has
agreed to employ only union men. The "open shop" merely means
that the employer insists on employing union or non-union men as
he may desire. This, of course, any employer has a perfect right
to do, and every well oragnized and conservatively managed craft
recognizes that right. But it may as well be stated,, first as last,
that the "open shop" is always a non-union shop. Union and non
union men can not long work side by side, for the non-union man,
not being subject to union rules and regulations, not only fails to rise
to the level of the vtnionists, but sooner or later drags the unionist
down to his level. Do not understand me to mean by "level" that
the non-unionist may not be as pood a workman or as good a man
morally as the unionists. .'What I mean is this : that having no
organization the non-unionist has no protection, and being forced
by circumstances or by selfishness to accept whatever wage the
employer may see fit to give, soon demoralizes wages and thus
wage conditions degenerate. The "open shop" not only means the
death knell of unionism and its advocates well know it and are
therefore advocating it but it means the loss of all that labor has
gained by years of patient toil and sacrifice. Their plea of being
the friend of the "free and independent workingman" is founded in
selfishness and built of hypocrisy. When such friendship had full
sway in this and other countries, the hours were. from twelve to
fourteen a day, and the wages wer? pitifully small. The "free and
independent workingman" of that day lived in a hovel, his chil
dren were forced into the mills and the mines before they had
tasted the first real joys of childhood, and were physically dwarfed
and mentally stunted, to the detriment of citizenship and the dete
rioration of the race. Should such friendship again obtain full
sway the old conditions would soon return, and that would set
this republic back a century if not finally result in its overthrow.
For no man is good enough to have arbitrary right to fix wages and
hours, and human selfishness is so strong that the rights of the
weaker would soon cease to command respect under such condi
tions. The "open shop" advocates
right to set the price on the labor
What this would mean if it were
is enough to cause any thoughtful
shudder with horror.
The country without labor
gress. The countries in which labor unions are strongest are the
most progressive and in proportion to the strength of labor organi
zation leaders in the world's commerce. The United States, Great
Britain and Germany lead the world in manufacture and commerce,
and in these three countries labor unions are strongest. There are
no labor unions in China, India, Spain or Turkey, and in the com
mercial world these countries cut a most sorry figure. In the
United States, Great Britain and Germany the working classes,
although not by any means given all that they are entitled to, "do
get better returns for their labor, live better, raise better citizens,
enjoy life better and are blessed with greater opportunities for ad
vancement in life. And these advantages are solely the result of
labor unions, never the result of the generosity of employers. No
man who has studied the labor problem can successfully deny this
proposition.
Show me a law on the statute books that safeguards the life
and limb of 'the wage earner, and I will show you a law enacted
through the efforts of labor unions and in spite of the opposition of
men who prate so loudly of their love for the "free and independent
workingman." Show me a law on the statute books that prohibits
child labor, and I will show you a law enacted through the untiring
efforts and sacrifices of labor unions whose chief opposition came
Real Meaning of the Convict Brand
Only those directly interested in convict labor can take excep
tions to the Epperson bill that provides that all convict made goods
manufactured or offered for sale within the state of Nebraska shall
bear in plain words the brand 'Convict Made." The same argu
ment and the same logic that resulted in the enactment of the
state and national anti-oleomargarine laws bear equally well in favor
of the Epperson bill.
Organized labor is not at this time opposing the system of
contracting the labor of convicts, although organized labor is un
alterably opposed 4o the prison labor contract system, and can
give its reasons for the opposition to any man whose inate sense of
justice does not already convince him without argument.
The Epperson bill asks nothing more than the anti-oleomargarine
law provides those who may want to buy convict made goods
will have a perfect right to do so under the provisions of the Epper
son bill. But just as the anti-oleomargarine law prevents the decep
tion of those who want genuine butter, so the Epperson bill provides
that those who do-not want to buy prison made goods shall not
be deceived, but shall have a plain distinguishing mark whereby,
they may know whether the article they are purchasing is made by
free or convict labor. Certainly no honest and justice loving man
can take serious exceptions to such a course. The bill does not pro
Why I am a Union Man
insist that they have both the
they buy and the wares they sell.
allowed without let or hindrance
man who loves his brother to
unions is never a country of pro
from the very men who are now making such tearful pleas for the
rights of the "free and independent workingman." . Did ever a man
who profited by the toil and tears of little children of his own
free will and accord dispense with that labor? As long as men are
selfish, as long as greed is greater than humanity, just so long will
men disregard human rights and seek to build their fortunes upon
the 'misfortunes of his fellows. Without labor unions there would
be no laws against child labor, no laws compelling sanitary con
ditions in mills and factories, no laws for safeguarding life and lim!,
no laws against sweat shops, no laws compelling the erection of
fire escapes on mills and factories. Without labor unions there
would be no eight or nine-hour working day, no sick benefits, no
burial fund save that which consigns the unfortunate to the Pot
ter's field, and no magnificent homes like the printers of the United
States and Canada have erected at Colorado Springs.
(The charge of the "open shop" advocates that the union puts
the good workman on the same level as the inferior workman is
absolutely and unqualifiedly untrue. No labor union fixes a maxi
mum wage scale. Wage scales are fixed on an average, but in no
instance within the writer's knowledge has a labor union fixed a
maximum scale. The union merely says to an employer: "If you
employ union men you shall not pay less than a certain sum. But
fi the man earns more than that you are at liberty to pay him any
additional amount you and he may mutually agree uport If the man
is not capable of earning the minimum you are under no obligation
to keep him." The fact that a man bears a union card is prime
facie evidence that he is able to earn the minimum fixed by the
scale.
Because of the benefits that organization has conferred upon
the Inan who works at a trade benefits in the way of shorter hours,
better conditions, better wages and fraternal helpfulness I am a
union man. Because organization means that I can be of help to
my fellow toilers as well as the recipient of their help in time of
need, I am a 'union man. Any church member will' admit that his
church membership helps him to better live up to his professions
because it gives him the help of those who may be stronger than
himself. Churches are organized for the sole reason that by so doing
its members may help one another. Labor unions are organized
for identically the same reason. And when the opponent of labor
unions tells me that the unions have made grave mistakes, I tell
him that that is no more an argument for the destruction of labor
unions than the assertion that the church has made mistakes would
be an argument for the destruction of the churches of the land.
Being made up of fallible men the labor unions do make mis
rakes often gigantic mistakes. But just as the church has profited
by its mistakes and its experiences, so labor unions have and are
profiting by their mistakes and experiences.
"But labor unions have countenanced assaults and murders and
riot$ !" exclaims an opponent of unionism.
Quite true, labor unions have been guilty of all that. But his
tory! tells me that blood has been wantonly shed and rapine allowed
to run riot in the name of the church. Men undoubtedly honest in
their convictions have fared forth with a Bible in one hand and a
musket in the other demanding that other men accept the one or
the other, and all in the name of the Nazarene whose every word
breathed love and peace. And I note even in this day church organs
that advocate a very similar doctrine, but do it under the claim
that they want to "confer benefits upon the benighted." To claim
that unions resort to assault and bloodshed is sufficient reason for
the extermination of unionism is to claim that the church should
be exterminated because some of its misguided zealots have re
sorted to similar tactics. But the church has almost outgrown
that sort of thing, and labor unions are outgrowing it much faster
than the church did.
"But you seek to prevent the non-union man from securing
employment !" exclaims another advocate of the "open shop."
I do nothing of the kind. I merely refuse to work at my trade
alongside the non-union man. And why, The answer is not far
to seek. I refuse to work alongside any man who is so selfish that
he tries to share with me the benefits, that he will not make equal
sacrifice to maintain. I have paid dues and assessments for twenty
years to secure better hours, better conditions and better wages, and
I will not, under any circumstances, work by the side of any man
who seeks to share those benefits with me without ever making
any financial or physical sacrifices to secure and maintain them. He
may be as good morally, or better; he may be as good a workman,
or better; he maybe my equal mentally, or even my superior but
whether good or bad, I insist that in all justice to me and my fellow
unionists he has no moral right to lay claim to a share of something
he did not help to bring about or to profit by my sacrifices and ex
ertions. I am a union man for the same reason that I am a church mem
ber because my membership in the union is as helpful to me as
regards my labor conditions as my church membership is to me as
regards my moral conditions. And I frankly confess that I might
be a much better member of both.
Labor unions make fpr better citizenship, teach patriotism, in
culcate higher ideals, and put the family the unit of society
above the-dollar. Therefore I am
membership as a prize and my working card as a badge of honor.
hibit the use of convict labor nor the sale of convict made goods
The sole provision is that convict made goods shall be so branded.
It is to be expected that the Lee Broom and Duster com
pany will oppose the bill, for the Lee Broom and Duster com
pany employs the labor of Nebraska convicts in the making of
its wares. Naturally the enactment of the bill into law will in
terfere seriously with the sale
braska. But the anti-oleomargarine law killed the oleomargarine
industry, and as a result the laboring men of Nebraska are paying
from 3o to 3o cents a pound for the same butter that sold for 18
and 20 cents when oleomargarine was a competitor. And vastly
more money was spent for oleomargarine, and knowingly, than is
spent for Lee brooms.
Organized labor asks the enactment of this bill into law be
cause it believes that the result will be beneficial to free labor.
No broom manufacturer who pays fair wages for free labor can
hope to compete with a firm that gets its brooms made by con
victs at the rate of 50 cents a day per convict. It is a serious and
unjust handicap to the employer of free labor. It is an injustice
to the men who have banded themselves together for the purpose
of bettering the conditions of themselves and their fellows. Free
laboring men have a right to know whether the brooms they must
buy are made by convicts or free workingmen.
The demand for the enactment of the bill is founded on justice,
and opposition can be founded only on selfish interest.
a union man, and I hold my union
of the company s wares m Ne
Out in Force
The city council, chamber contained
a large number o? visitors last Monday
night. Most of the visitors were mem
bers of the allied printing trades wno
are interested in the label ordinance
introduced by Councilman Stewart. The
ordinance had been referred to City
Attorney Strode, end as that gentle
man was ill and unable to attend the
meeting the ordinance was not brought
up. It is more than likely that it will
be taken up at the next meeting, and
the printing trades will be well repre
sented in the council.
Councilman Malone created some ex
citement and favorable cemment by
opposing Chief Clement's recommen
dation that certain firemen be given
an . increase of wages. Mr. Malone
made it plain that if any firemen were
to be given an increase all would be
given it. He was playing no favorites.
He believes that the firemen are en
titled to more money, a belief shared
by every union man , in the city. And
if Councilman Malone will undertake to
secure the increase he will have the
support 6f men who believe that the
laborer is worthy of his hire.
CAPITAL AUXILIARY NO 11
Capital Auxiliary No. 11 to Lincoln
Typographical Union No. 209 met with
Mrs. Bowers Friday afternoon, Feb
ruary 17. A very enjoyable meeting
Vi as held and a goodly number of ladies
were present. After the business meet
ing tne Hostess served refreshments.
The. next meeting will be held at the
home of Mrs. C1 "R. - Tlrnwn 231 4 AT
street, Friday, 2:30 p. m., March 3.
Several ladies were reported ' sick.
Mrs. G. H. Freeman, who has been
very sick, is much better.
Mrs. mieanor uarrett, wno nas Deen
visiting her daughter, Mrs. H. W.
Smith, has returned to her home at
Omaha, Neb.
The Auxiliary extends their sympa
thy to Mr. and Mrs. Bert Pentzer.
Tne Auxiliary will give i social to
the printers and their families at Red
Ribbon hall, 1031 0 street on Monday
evening, March 6. '
Mrs. Maupin and Mrs. Righter have
gone to Kearney to attend the Press
Association.
Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Sayer have the
heartfelt sympathy of the Auxiliary
in the loss that has come to them
through the death oi their son.
LADIES' LABEL LEAGUE
The Ladles' Label League will meet
in regular session Monday evening at
Central Labor Union hall, 1034 O street.
A full attendance should be had at
this meeting, for with the opening of
spring business the League will have
a better opportunity to prosecute its
objects and aims End it should be get
ting in readiness to do so. The Ladie3'
Label League is in a position to be of
immense service to the cause of union
ism, arid it should be the duty and
pleasure of every unionists' wife to
become an active member. The League
has been meeting regularly all winter,
and despite the meagre attendance the
interest has been kept alive and the
work pushed along.
Union men should take an active
interest in the welfare of the League
end assist it in every way possible.
They are invited to become members
and to give the women the benefit of
their advice and presence.
RESOLUTIONS
Local Union No. 399, Bartenders' In
ternational Union, adopted the follow
ing resolutions at its last meeting:
It is with sincere regret that we
are called upon to record the death ef
Mrs. Krone, the beloved mother of our
esteemed brother, Fred W. Krone.
Therefore, be it resolved, that we, the
Bartenders' of Local No. 399, of Lin
coln, Nebraska, hereby extend our
heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved
family ad. friends. Resolved, that
these resolutions be spread upon our
minutes and- a copy sent to the Wage
worker for publication.
G. A. WALKER, V. P.
M. J. WILBER, Fin. Sec.
AT KANSAS CITY
There is trouble in the printing busi
ness at Kansas City and printers are
warned to steer clear of the city at
the mouth of the Kaw until matters
have been adjusted. The Wageworker's
private reports from Kansas City are
to the effect that the trouble 13 spread
ing rapidly and threatens to involve
most of the job printers now employed
there.
