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THE WAGE WORKER
Patronize
Tlie Wageworker i
j Advertisers J
VOLi 2
A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere.
IASCOUX, NEBRASKA, MAY 5, 1905
NO. 4
Preachers Seize
The Opportunity
The Ministerial Union of Lincoln lost no time in responding to
the Central Labor Union's proposition to exchange fraternal dele
gates, and at its meeting last Monday the ministers selected Rev.
Samuel Zane Batten of the First Baptist church, Rev. H. C. Swear
ingen of the First Presbyterian church and Rev. M. A. Bullock of
the Vine Street Congregational church as their delegates to the Cen
tral Labor Union. These gentlemen will be warmly welcomed at
the meeting of the Central Labor Union, and The Wageworker be
lieves that both union men and ministers will profit by the associa
tion. Rev. John L. Marshall of the Gospel Tabernacle opposed the
whole thing; basing his objection on what he claims to be scriptural
grounds. He quoted from Second Corinthians, 6:14-15, as follows,
to sustain his position:
"Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship
have righteousness and iniquity. Or what communion hath light
with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or
what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?"
All right, Brother Marshall ; but what's the matter with being
equally yoked up with 'em in the good work of trying to uplift and
better humanity? Isn't the ton of coal contributed by a labor union
in the name of unionism just as helpful as the ton of coal given by
the church? Isn't the crust given the starving man by a fellow
unionist just as filling as the hand-out given at the back door of the
Christian home?
During the great industrial depression of 1893-94, when thous
ands of unemployed men were homeless and all but starving on the
streets of Chicago, "Bath House" John Coughlin and "Hinkey Dink"
Kcnna, saloonkeepers, set out free lunch every hour of the day, and
no man was turned away because he might not have a nickel to spend
for beer. There are men right here in Lincoln who were kept from
highway robbery or worse during that awful winter by the generosity
of "Bath House" John and "Hinkey Dink" Kenna. And while these
great saloons were keeping thousands of men from starvation the
churches were dark every night in the week except Sunday, and
' foreign missions" got at least 50 per cent of the money donated to
church work. The Wage Worker may be unorthodox, but it unhesi
tatingly asserts the belief that "Bath House" John and "Hinkey
Dink". Kenna were doing a whole lot of the Master's work when
they fed the homeless and hungry thousands, even though they were
doing some for Satan by operating saloons. As to the latter point
there is room for difference of opinion. Be that as it may, The
Wageworker knows men right here in Lincoln who owe more to
Coughlin and Kenna for help extended in time of need than they ever
owed to any church for a similar service. . w 'U
But Brother Marshall was the only pne of .the, ministers to op
pose the exchange of fraternal delegates. 1 He is honest in his oppo
sition, too; and every fair man must admire him for his consistency
tven though his judgment may be off color.
Rev. Mr. Batten offered the following resolution, and it was
carried with but one dissenting voice:
"Whereas, The representatives of Jesus Christ and His gospel
are interested in every movement that makes for the uplifting of
man and the betterment of th world ; and
"Whereas, The ministers of the church are here to promote a
spirit of fraternity and unity among men in their (efforts to unite
mankind as one army to do battle against the foes of humanity ; and
"Whereas, The Central Labor Union of Lincoln has declared its
willingness to exchange accredited delegates with the Ministers'
I'ssociation of Lincoln, such delegates to have the privilege of the
floor at all times but without a vote ; therefore, be it
"Resolved: First, That we the Mmisters'-association of Lincoln
fully reciprocate the expression of friendship and fraternity of the
Central Labor Union, and place upon record our satisfaction at this
grownig sense of human solidarity.
"Resolved : Second, That we elect three delegates from our
body to serve as our representatives in the Central Labor Union of
Lincoln ; and
"Resolved : Third, That we cordially receive the delegates of
the Central Labor Union and welcome them to the priviliges of our
body."
Rev. Mr. Bullock hastened to second the motion to adopt the
resolutions, saying that he was glad the opportunity to meet the
wage-earners in this capacity had been presented. Rev. Mr. Swear
ingen expressed pleasure over the fact that the matter had been
brought up. "Let us extend the hand of fellowship to these men,"
said he, "not because they are laboring men, but because they are
men. Like Henry George, we are for men. Christ was for men. As
men they need the ministers. It is not good for us to ally ourselves
with any particular class of men, but men are our concern."
Secretary Salsbury called attention to the fact that no communi
cation had been officially received from the Central Labor Union,
but the publication of that body's resolutions in The Wageworker
was deemed notice enough a tribute to The Wageworker's relia
bility which is fully appreciated.
MARK MORTON.
A Nebraska Man Who Crawfished Quick When His Bluff Was
Called at Nebraska City.
Mark Morton,' son of the late J. Sterling Morton, is the man who
has organized the Employers' Teaming Co., Chicago, for the purpose
of putting the Teamsters' Union off watch. Mark Morton is a union
buster of the most virulent type with his mouth. Having some
money of his own, and financial connections with a lot of millionaires
who amassed their millions by stealth and theft and special privilege,
Mark thinks the man who works ought to be content with enough to
eat and a place to sleep. In his opinion it is a high crime and misde
meanor for workingmen to organize to protect themselves against
the rapacity of men of the Mark Morton stripe.
Mark is great on posing and mouthing. But he is a four-flusher.
This was proved down in Nebraska City a few short months ago.
There was a strike among the packing house men and teamsters
down there, and Mark rushed to the old home to bust the unions and
end the strike. He went around breathing threatenings and slaugh
ter, when there were no union men in sight. He happened to pause
in front of a livery stable and saw posted in the office the scale card
of the Teamsters' Union. Mark looked around and thought there
were no union men or sympathizers in sight, but he was in such a
hurry that he overlooked one brawny teamster. With a great flour
ish Mark tore down the card and threw it on the ground. Then he
swelled up like a poisoned pup and waited for the applause. He got
it not. The teamster pranced around in front of Mark, shoved his
fist under the Morton probocis, and said:'
"Put that card right back where you jjot it." '
,And Mark put it back without a word. That's the fellow who
has organized the "Employers' Teaming Co." in Chicago to put a
quietus on the Teamsters' Union. The first time he sees a union
' teamster coming his way he'll fall in a fit and holler for the militia.
UNION BUSTER.
WHAT THE MINISTERS SAY
FROM REV. BYRON BEALL.
Lincoln. Neb.. May 3. To the Edi
tor of The Wageworker. Dear Sir:
Your favor of late date inviting me
to express an opinion of the plan
adopted by the Lincoln Labor Union
whereby an exchange of delegates is
proposed with the Pastors' Union of
Lincoln, is at hand. .
I gather that yon desire me to say
what I think the practical outcome
will be of the proposed exchange.
Presuming that you wish me to speak
the truth, I must answer that I do
not look for great results from such
an exchange.. What are .the simple
facts concerning the men who com
pose these two bodies?
First The workingmen, or mem
bers of the union. It is true that
among them are Christian men, those
who give their .'.time and money freely
to the churches, who are found with
their families Sabbath by Sabbath in
the house of God, Protestant and Cath
olic. But these men are in the mi
nority, the men who are in control in
the unions seem to be the infidel and
of the agnostic sort, so that when any
decisive action is to be taken, as
when a strike is called as in Chicago,
the Christian element goes to the rear
and violence and bloodshed follows.
If you propose to boycott some firm
in Lincoln who sell hats with a non
union label not only that but any
"firm that patronizes" these hatters.
This, I think, an unchristian thing to
do. On the other hand, take the men
who form the Pastors Union while
there are men among them who start
ed in life as poor boys and have work
ed themselves up to their present
positions, and so know the life of
a poor workingman well. Or they
are men of genius with ability to
adapt themselves to all conditions, as
Father Strlne or Bro. Luther Lud
den; men to whom a workingman could
go for advice upon practical affairs
of life. Yet for the most part they
are men who came from sheltered
homes, far apart from the common
people. They were early put in a
Christian college, then hurried to a
theological seminary, where for three
years they were as completely buried
to the world as a monk of the middle
ages, then upon graduating put into
a church where by a little inner cir
cle they are kept from any base con
tact often, even from the outer circle
of that same church not to say a
wicked world. These men who oc
cupy a high social position, finely ed
ucated, pious, whose salaries are as
sured so that they may be "free from
all worry about worldly affairs," are
as far apart from the poor struggling
toiler who knows what actual hunger
is, whose wife and . babies often can
not go to church even If they would,
because of lack of clothing. Not far
ther apart are angels and bed-bugs
than some of these ministers and
laboring men.
It might, however, be worth trying
to bring these classes together in
some working plan to help each other
as an experiment. If Jesus were
here, in my opinion, the first homes
he would visit would be those of the
poor working men of Lincoln, infidel
o- Christian.
God bless the Pastors' Union and
the Central Labor Union in any sin
cere effort to bring in . a better state
of brotherhood among men. "For one
is your Master, even Christ; and all
ye are brethren."
BYRON BEALL.
FROM REV. H. C. SWEARING EN.
Lincoln, Neb., May 3 To the Edi
tor of The Wageworker:' In reply to
your request that I, write my opinion
of the resolutions recently adopted
by the Central Labor Union looking
t an exchange of fraternal delegates
between that body and the Ministerial
Association of the city, permit me to
say that my only regret is that we
ministers did not move a little more
quickly and take the initiative in the
matter.. However, the honor belongs
to the Central Labor Union, and I
congratulate it on this display of
breadth and brotherliness. Only good
can come of this fraternizing by the
ministers and the representatives of
labor. Misunderstanding is a fruit
ful cause of disputes among men and
of conflicts between opposing inter
ests, and anything which will tend to
bring about a better understanding
among men ' of all occupations and
stations will' be a distinct step to
ward the realization of that brother
hood which was the ideal of Christ
and which all earnest men are seek
ing to promote.
The Ministerial Association at its
meeting last Monday reciprocated, in
the most cordial spirit, the expres
sions on this point of the Central
Labor Union. In affiliating with the
laboring men the ministers should
not do so in the sense of allying them
selves with any particular class. They
should fraternalize with them because
they are men and, therefore, broth-
ers. Christ knew no classes. He
knew men only. He loved them be
cause they were men, and for the
same reason labored" and sacrificed
for them. And His representatives
should meet the representatives of
the laboring interests in the same
broad spirit. We ' should come to
gether with the earnest purpose to
be ot mutual help. ;
The minister needs the laboring
man, and, perhaps, the laboring man
1 needs the minister. The laborers con-
stitute a large and influential element
in. every communit", and, as one who
is striving to do th? work of his Mas
ter, the minister can not afford to
e out of sympathy with those who
toil.
Personally, I hail this move with
the greatest satisfaction and with
high hopes that it may prove of bene
fit to the mass of wage earners in
our city and likewise an honor to the
name of the blessed Christ. Cordially
yours.
H. C. SWEARIXGEN.
FROM REV. F. S. STEIN.
Lincoln, Neb., Mary 3,. To the Edi
tor of The Wageworker. You have
been so considerate as to send me a
copy of the resolution of the Central
Labor Union concerning affiliation
with the Ministers' Association and to
ask my opinion of the same. I was
out of the city Monday and so could
not be at the ministers' meeting. Had
I been present I should have heartily
supported the movement. This inter-
I change of relations and exchange of
opinions will prove mutually helpful.
The industrial, social, and civic im
provement of our fellowmen is one
of the aims of Christ's kingdom.
J While men can not live by bread
alone, and the life is more than meat
and the body more than raiment, yet
the material and spiritual are so in
terdependent that the study of their
relative importances is greatly to be
desired and will be promoted by this
formal and closer , affiliation. Very
truly yours. I. S. STEIN.
REV, SAMUEL $NE BATTEN.
Lincoln, Neb., May 3. To the Edi
tor of The Wageworker: In reply to
your inquiry for my opinions concern
ing the resolutions adopted by the
Central Labor Union and published in
The Wageworker, permit me first to
refer to the resolutions which I pre
sented at the recent meeting of the
Ministers' Association of the city.
These resolutions as you know were
adopted with but one dissenting vote,
and in accordance with this action
three delegates were elected to the
Central Labor Union.
With respect to the second part of
the question, what the adoption of
these resolutions may mean to all
concerned, I cheerfully submit the fol
lowing suggestions.
For one thing this exchange of del
egates ought to make for a better un
derstanding of one another's position
and aims. Nine-tenths of the disputes
in the world would end if men only
understood one another's terms and
purposes. We are all interested, I
believe, in the uplifting of man and
the betterment of the world. It may
be that we do not all approach this
question from the same side, but we
are all seeking the one end. Let us
understand this fact; let us under
stand the relation of one man's effort
t the total problem, and we shall
find that nine-tenths of the causes
ot misunderstanding have disap
peared. Secondly, this better understanding
will promote mutual respect. My
opinion is that the average minister
has a much higher regard for the
average workingman than the aver
age working man has for the average
minister. It may be that the minister
is himself largely to blame for this
and concerning this deponent here
sayeth nothing but I do know that
workingmen havo sometimes said
harsh things about many men in the
ministry. The time has gone by when
the minister can surround himself
with an atmosphere of mystery and
sanctity, and expect men to honor
him and tremble before him because
of some supernatural claims. He must
stand forth as a man among men,
and must be rated at his real worth:
whatever respect he may receive must
be the honor that is paid to noble
manhood. And my experience teaches
me to believe that the average min
ister is well worthy of the honor of
brave and true men. But on the other
side of the question much benefit
may accrue to all concerned when the
minister has learned to understand
the aims of workingmen and has
gained a clearer insight into the real
meaning of the workingman's unions.
Not always have ministers understood
the real purpose of the unions, and
as a consequence some unjust and
unwise things have been said in con
demnation of them:
Along with this there will be an
increasing respect for one another's
aims and methods. The minister be
lieves that ideals are more important
than statutes ; he believes that right
motives and helpful impulses are all
important in life. The working men
are seeking to bring about better con
ditions for their wives and children,
they are planning to make it possible
for every person to have a true in
heritance in society. It may be that
the ministry has dealt too exclusive
ly with ideals and motives; it may
bo that the ministers have not always
been interested in the realization of
these ideals and the actualizing of
these motives. And it may be that
the workingmen have some times in
terpreted progress too much in terms
of personal and material good; it may
be that they have not given full con
sideration to the larger interests of
man and the higher welfare of socie
ty. The workingmen need the ideal
element in life, that they may know
how to measure progress. " And the
Christian minister needs to remember
that every effort in behalf of human
improvement is the translation into
deed of some article of the Chris
tian faith. This closer affiliation of
ministers and workingmen ought to
mean a more real religion and a more
ideal working life.
And last of all this interchange of
ideas ought to mean a more sympa
thetic co-operation on the part of all
right thinking people. Too long, I
fear, the. churches have stood aloof
from the 'people;, too long they have
been indifferent to the aspirations of
men after a larger freedom and a
truer life; too long they have allowed
themselves to be used by men of, the
wealth-possessing and power-holding
class against the poor and more de
pendent classes. This has been a de
nial of their divine Lord and a crime
against humanity. And I for one
have no - desire to excuse or deny
the charge of delinquency that may
be filed. But this state of things is
forever passing away, and it has
largely passed in this country. And
too long the workingmen have failed
t3 distinguish between the religion of
Christ and the religion-of the church
es; too often they have indulged in
indiscriminate and wholesale denun
ciation of all ministers; too often they
have made light of the religious hopes
and aspirations of men and have
treated these as empty sentiments.
For myself , I have no use for a re
ligion that does not stir a man to
more heroic efforts in behalf of his
less privileged brothers. . For myself
I have little hope of great success in
any movement that is not motived
and inspired by the vision of the ideal
and the higher interests of man. That
U, a real religion is social in its scope
and sphere and a real reform is re
ligious in its ideal's and aims.
Thus out of this affiliation of min
isters and workingmen there should
ccme a better understanding of one
another's aims and purposes. There
should be a more real and manly re
spect for one another's thought and
plans. ' There should be unfolded as
time goes by many a project for the
betterment of the ' community in its
educational, its industrial, its ; social,
its political, its religious life. There
should be less friction in the social
world between employers and em
ployes, for the ministers who are. in
a position to understand the demands
of all parties, may be enabled to act
as mediators in many labor- disputes.
And there should be a growing sense
oi human brotherhood as men learn
to respect the simple manhood in one
another and to take thought for the
things of social peace.
This action of the Central Labor
Union and the Minister's Association
will, I believe, in the years to come
appear as one of the most significant
events in our city's life. As one who
has long been in fullest sympathy with
working men in their efforts to ele
vate labor and to create better condi
tions in society, I rejoice in this
promise of the coming day of human
brotherhood. Yours most sincerely,
SAMUEL Z. BATTEN.
FROM REV. E. E. BOYD.
Lincln, Neb., May 5. To the Edi
tor of The Wageworker: Replying to
yours concerning Ministers' Associa
tion and Central Labor Union, I beg
to say, the mission of the church is
to save men. The mass of men are
laborers. Therefore the church, if
sho fulfills her mission, must reach
tho laboring man.
The indifference ' of the laboring
man to the appeal of the church is
largely the result of a misunderstand
ing. Any movement which will bring
about a better understanding is to be
hailed with joy.
I believe the movement of the
Central Labor Union is step in the
right direction. I should have re
garded it as a decided backward step
and one greatly to be deplored had
the Ministers' Association refused to
co-operate. Yours fraternally,
EARL E. BOYD,
Work of Cleaning
The
Mayor Brown is making good his assertions that he would bring
the saloons masquerading as drug stores up with a round turn. A.
L. Shader has been haled before the board of inquisition to answer
to the charge of selling liquor without having "the proper authority.
Shader has been up time and again on this charge, and has always
escaped the last time by virtually entering a plea-of insanity.
That's a good plea. We know men' so crazy after money that
they would loot banks, rob school children or sneak the pennies from
the closed eyes of a deceased relative. .Some men will do anything"
for money even to the extent of pelading insanity when haled up
on the charge of getting it illegally. . ' - ' , '
The senior member of the firm of Steiner & Woempener has
also been called upon to answer to the charge of selling' alcoholic
beverages without the legal authority. . : .''.',
This is but a beginning. There are others who will have ta
come up to the rack, and they are going to find that it is no grand
stand play oit the part of the excise board. But the drug stores that
have been selling liquor by the bottle or handing it out in broken
doses in the graduates are not the worst 'offenders. Not on your
tintype. The high-toned soda fountains in drug stores are dispense
ing more booze to the hour than two-thirds of the saloons in town.
Ever drink a "ping pong?" Lovely drink if you want something
that takes hold like a bull pup. . Maybe they've changed it since the
agitation began, but a few weeks ago a "ping pong'' contained about
as many varieties of alcoholic preparations as Heinze puts tip in the
shape of pickles "57 kinds." One "ping pong" would make the
drinker feel like a Rockefeller, and two of them would make the
average drinker go home and whip his wife.: O, these soda fountain
saloons do mix up some great preparations. A little dash of bitters-
some absinthe, a gill of brandy, a squirt of rum, a dash of vermouth,
a bit of gin, a couple of red cherries, a slice of pineapple and some
crushed ice a twist or two of the spooni the insertion of a straw - .
and there's a ebneoction that would make a chronic' drunkard sit up
and take notice. And the drug store saloons, are dealing out con
coctions like that to beardless boys and to girls whose skirts barely
reach their shoetops your boys and your girls, perhaps. Boys who
would be ordered out of a saloon if they went in and asked for a
Manhattan cocktail frequent the
with great abandon. They think
begged from mamma and order
contain more alcohol than you
regular whisky glass.
This sort of thing is doing more damnable dirty work in the way
of starting boys and girls on. the down road than all the saloons Lin
coln ever had ever did or are likely to do. What's the difference
between having your daughter go
dispensing of alcohol in its soda
can get just as drunk in the drug
and is a whole lot more likely to
There' are soda fountains that
can tell them in a minute by the
swaggering Choliy boys pass such fountains by, and hike tor the
drug store that has a man who knows how to mix 'em fancy.
I he VVageworker is no spring chicken: Its editor wasn t born
n the vear 1904. and he has been outside of Nebraska several times
.n his whole life. And he wants
drug store saloon evil is right now worse iri Lincoln than . in any .
other city he ever saw. Hard words, but true just the same! Mor
alists get up on their rear underpinning and howl about the awful
danger of. the saloon, but men and brethren, the saloons are hot a
patching to the drug stores when
parable damage to the boys and
fairy tale. If you don't believe it
and let him try getting enough whisky at any saloon in town to put
him off watch. He'll come home sober for all the vhisky the saloons
will sell him. But give him a dollar and tell him to load his hide
with booze at a drug stfore soda fountain and that boy will come home
with a jag on that would make an old rounder greerf with envy.
That s the illegal whisky business that must be stopped in this
fair city not because it is unjust to the saloon men who have paid
their $1,500 for permission to sell liquor, but because it is making
more drunkards, more street walkers and more parental misery than
all the saloons in town put together.
of Lincoln were aroused to a realizing sense of this damnable traffic.
I he drug store saloon must
order of its eoimr. ' '
Mayor Brown and his fellow
aiso cleaning out me cny uiocks
is no particular fuss being made
1 1 j .1 V 1 i
.11 the "free and easy" rooms spotted and he knows who owns the
blocks wherein the rooms are located, too. 'He does not make war
on the inmates. He quietly intimates to the owner that it would be
beneficial to his finances and his reputation to get other and bettef
tenants. And that's the way to handle that matter. k
the landlord who rents to bawds is no better than his tenants.
One of this class opposed Mr. Brown during the campaign, basing
his opposition on the claim that Mr. Brown represented the "vicious
elements." And while he was opposing Mr. Brown on that ground
this same fellow was renting a house to a madam who housed a bevy
of painted females.
The mayor dropped a hint to
tion, and scared him well nigh into
tenants.
There is quite a bit of municipal housecleaniner sroing on in Lin
coln these days, and it is not being
tachments.
GIVE THE CITY A
Time That the People of Lincoln
standing.
At the council meeting the other-night Mayor Brown called at- ;
tention to the need of a city park
that the council take some steps
That is something that should
It is a crying shame that Lincoln has no park worthy of the name.
With all out doors at their disposal the men who founded Lincoln
were so intent on grabbing off corner lots that they overlooked the '
park question entirely. And if ever a city stood in need of a fine
park it is Lincoln. There is absolutely nothing in the way of scenery
or pleasure resort within reaching distance of the city, and the ab-'
sence of a park is felt more keenly than in most cities of equal size.
True a park would cost money now dollars' to where it would have
cost cents if steps had been taken at the right time rbut cost should
not stand in the way of getting it. i-very dollar invested in a city
park would be Well invested.
Antelope creek furnishes Tfopportiinity to make a pa"k at com
paratively small expense small . compared with the benefits that ,
would accrue. If Mayor Brown, backed by the city council, will .push
the park question to a successtuL conclusion their administration win
go down in history with the blessings of a grateful people. ; ' . .
Gity Begins
drug store saloons and bowl up
it smart to take their girl friends
a couple of fancy named drinks that
could get-'into the average saloon's,
' , - '
into a drug store notorious for its
and going into a wine room? , She
store as she could in" the wine room,
do it.
do not dispense , alcohol, and you
class that patronize them. The
to say right here and now that the
it comes right down to. doing irre
the girls of this city. 1 his is no
give your 15-year-old boy a dollar
It is high time that the parents
go and it must not stand on the
- . '
members of the excise board are
anu n was nign iime,.ioo. mere
about it, either. Mayor Brown has
1 1 - . . rrl
. . i
that fellow immediately after elec
a fit. The house is now awaiting
..
prosecuted with brass band at-,
" . -v.
DECENT PARK.
Rectify a Mistake of Very Long
worthy of the name, and suggested
looking to the acquirement, thereof.
be followed tip until it is caught.
