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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1905)
r V j Patronize I THE WAGE WORKER A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere. The Wageworker I Advertisers VOL.. 2 .LLNDOL., NEBRASKA, MAX 26, 1905 NO. 7 The Whole Truth About Chicago During the past month The Wageworker has been cited to the Chicago situation by a hundred or more men who are inclined to be opposed to labor unions. The average professional man or clerk knows little or nothing about unionism, and their first expression is usually something like this: "Of course I believe in unions, but I don't believe in the sort of thing that has been carried on in Chicago. That is what injures 'abor unions." The trouble with such men is that they secure all their informa tion from the daily newspapers, and the daily newspapers are con trolled by interests opposed to the unions and hand-in-glove with the union busters. The chief interests behind the "Employers' Teaming association" which association is frankly engaged in im porting strike breakers and trying to break up the unions is made up of business men who are the heaviest advertisers in Chicago. Their advertising patronage runs into the millions every year,. and it is quite natural that the Chicago newspapers, which are purely business propositions, should snuggle up to the men whose patron age amounts to so much. As a result of this condition of affairs the Chicago daily papers have been full to overflowing of the most lurid strike "news." Charges of murders, arson, riot and assault have been scattered broadcast, and an outsider unfamiliar with Chicago newspaperdom would be led to think that Chicago was one vast battlefield swim ming in human gore. Now what are the real facts? The Record-Herald is a good enough average. It is not avow edly anti-union like the Chronicle, nor avowedly anti-Parry like the American. It has been lurid enough in its handling of the strike news, however, so it will be taken as an average. On May 17 the Record-Herald printed in big black letters a summary of "Deaths Charged to Teamsters' Strike to Date." The Record-Herald so framed this summary as to make it appear that each of these deatrs was due to the strike and chargeable to the Teamsters' Union. Here are some real facts about those deaths: Richard Cummings, a police sergeant. Killed. Was run over by an omnibus. George R. Pierce, a striker. Killed. Shot by a deputy sheriff appointed on recommendations of the "employers' association." Pierce called the deputy a "scab," and for this was shot. Peter Klasen. a small merchant. Died in hospital. Charged that he was assaulted by strikers, but absolutely no proof offered. Charles Beard, killed by falling brick. Brick fell from top of tK'vv building and struck Beard, who was one of many pedestrians j i'ssing along a business street. Absolutely no foundation for believing that it was other than an accident. Albert Enders. Killed. Shot by an imported strike breaker. Harry Grady. Shot in his own back yard. No one knows bv whom, or Why he was killed. Nothing to connect his murder w ith the strike. James. Jennings, an imported strike breaker. Killed bv fellow strike breakers in a drunken row at the headquarters provided for i'lem by the union busters. Enoch Carlson, aged 9 years. Killed. Shot by an imported strike breaker. I he boy was playing with some other boys, some of whom shouted "scab" as the imported strike breaker was driving by. -The strike breaker drew his revolver and shot into the crowd of boys, killing young Carlson. Not one of these deaths resulted from what the Chicago papers call "mob rule." One was a run-over accident; one is connected with strike violence very remotely if even at all ; one resulted from a quarrel among employes of the employers' union ; three were homi cides committed by agents of the employers' union under circum stances which leave their justification at least open to serious ques tion ; and only two of the eight are chargeable, even prima facie, to a murderous act by strikers or strike sympathizers. Does anybody believe that- the . Record-Herald, or any. other Chicago daily paper, would have failed to make a graver showing against the strikers had it been possible to do so? Here is another important fact to consider : - Mayor Dunne appointed an investigating committee. This committee had no power to compel the attendance of witnesses. The Chicago daily papers declared that, the Chicago Federation of Labor and the attorneys representing It and other unions involved in the controversy "refused to offer any testimony." This is a half-truth which is far worse than a whole lie. ' The Chicago Federation of Labor expressed a willingness to sub mit testimony, providing the sessions of the committee were thrown open to the public. This the employers' association refused to con sent to, demanding that the investieation be a secret one. Louis F. vPost, editor of the Chicago Public, and one of the fairest-and' most conservative publicists in America, declares there is a well founded suspicion that "the Chicako strike was instigated uuu iiis ucch ncpi auve wmi a deliberate purpose to provoke whole sale breaches of the peace and necessitate military interference." No one is so idiotic as to claim that union men would instigate a strike and provoke breaches of the peace for the purpose of securing military uuerierence. Here is another significant fact: On May 1" Alderman Dever offered a resolution in the citv council declaring in substance that "it is due to the public and to the city that both parties to the controversy should submit the questions at issue between them to some impartial tribunal." Every alderman who opposed his resolution was opposed to the municipal ownership program which resulted in the election of Mayor Dunne. I he chief interests opposed to the Teamsters' union in particular, and all labor unions in treneral, are opposed to munici pal ownership for selfish reasons, and there is ample grounds for suspicion that this strike was deliberately forced by these selfish interests lor tlie purpose ot discrediting Mayor Dunne s admmistra Why did the employers association insist upon a secret hear ing before the mayors committee? Whv did the councilmanic agents of the employers' association oppose arbitration? Let an unprejudiced public study the facts connected with this Chicago situation. Organized labor is perfectly willing to be judged by the .real facts. -. The Wageworker has carefully and thoroughly investigated the Chicago strike. It charges that the employers' association, whose chief aim and end is to destroy labor unions, deliberately precipitated the strike, has kept it alive and promoted whatever, of rioting and incendiarism has resulted, and all for the purpose of securing mili tary aid in the work of breaking down the unions. The employers' association deliberatel ytmported negro strike breakers for the pur pose of inflaming the passions of the strikers to the rioting point, aiming in this wise to secure military aid in the work of destroy ing unionism, from first to last the whole things has been a scheme to break the unions by fair means or foul generally foul and in their scheming the employers association has had the earnest, though selfish, support of the Chicago daily papers with the ex ception of the American and Inter-Ocean, the latter showing signs of being friendly to unionism, and the former being avowedly a tnends of the wage earners. Let an unprejudiced public investigate. The unions of the country have nothing to conceal. . THE PRINTERS' ! MEMORIAL DAY MISS LIBBIE HOGE MR. SHOEMAKER MR. KINGMAN MR. ROGERS, JOHN LONG ELMER ENGLISH CHARLES E. ALEXANDER WILL SULLIVAN 8S 8 One year ago Lincoln Typographical Union No. 209, assisted by Capital Auxiliary No. 11, inaugurated the custom of devoting one .lay to the memory of the departed comrades who fought in the Grand Army of Peace. The memorial services this year will be held on Sunday. May 28, the morning service being held at the First Congregational church. Rev. J. E, Tuttle, pastor. Members of the Typographical Union and of Capital Auxiliary are' requested to meet at the Lindell hotel corner at 10 o'clock sharp, members of the union wearing their badges. At 10 :15 sharp, the two organizations will move in a body, to the First Congregational church, corner of Thirteenth and L streets. Rev. Mr. Tuttle will preach a special sermon and special music will be provided. Every member of Lincoln Typographical Union No. 209, and of Capital Auxiliary No. 11 is urgently requested to attend these ser vices, and to meet promptly at the time given. There will be no delays, the church services being run on a regular schedule. At 2 :30 in the afternoon the two organizations will meet at Carpenters' hall. Eleventh street between O and N streets, and at 2 :45 will take special cars to Wyuka cemetery, where services will be held at the Typographical Union's burial lot. The complete program of the day's services follows : 10 :00 a. m. Meet at Lindell hotel corner, members wearing badges. 10 :15 a. m. Move in a body to First Congregational church. 10:30 a. m. Memorial Service First Congregational Sermon by Rev. J. E. Tuttle, Pastor. AFTERNOON. At 2 :30 p. m. Union and Auxiliary will meet at Carpenters' hall, and at 2 :45 will take special car to Wyuka cemetery. 3:15 p. m. Prayer ....Rev. Samuel Z. Batten Pastor First Baptist Church. Song "Blest be the Tie that Binds Assembly Address "Memorial Day" - ...Harry T. Dobbins Editor Evening News. Song "Nearer, My God, 'to Thee" Assembly Address Our Union Dead Jesse E. Mickel Lincoln Typographical Union No. 209. Decoration of Graves Capital Auxiliary No. 11 "Taps" Miss Walters Members of Union and Auxiliary are requested to bring as many flowers as possible to Carpenters' hall in the afternoon. Once more, every printer and every member of the Auxiliary, is urged to attend both the morning and afternoon services. Let us be loyal enough tp our dead comrades to devote a few hours one lay in the year to honoring their memory. Note carefully the time set for these services and be there at the hours indicated. S3 a T0-TKC BODE, 1 " WTSfil MEMO SVet.' SAow, AieV- "ivt dear xvoe $ Vve V&qe CaW W tvo' mott o ve VvtaVo Wve fra. Tbuo,v orv YeAvivo. vtaceyaw o ttve Wo IbVoom ttvt.. Swt i,utmAvs o T&emorVaX Dm. 'W.tvq&t Wne , A sKvc Yoj VVfcAtaoo, , Via . YiaWoweo "Vll4.M j tt.t fVao, so Vorv. iiVt tt sut Sfct?. SoVAxer, . StacoV .Soa waVcYtts Wvj tXuTOker ..31 nation v? Viomao,t.toaa o Wve'taaue. SA&er 'uv lStat voino oe'Vfc 9t Mtvov. SAaitr oV SouMaTva wvo ouo Axi ttw &ran &o4 va omool vt to o tjow aTao,A Wv4r one ao; tjom art AtcoV&o, oaa?. &arlanaa o &4T& oAana& oVwwtws Strew in toaav on ne grants .wraeaa--SVec?. SoVowr.t&eev j3or ttya warfare'vi oraer ot s.&nta oi u&tA Xvtomo VvtontWT o tvoV. ALonor stonta qM&TO, Vvtoxov ttvt YitaA'jafi ttvt tvootvo&v- Joml TOVvo'tadveo. Vw&oaaivo. Yveno. tdWuoTvs-jMWV -VtimI'va deep TaCTorWve.VveTo &'vwttj Ys Vfc ior s saV.t. SV VAV Soa'a teittvo,t Jftvaay aVt. ' "fttacon t woe.o VtioAaV AovVuvo, 'ytvzv. HtvMxt oS TaL., waWvtaa' o ,ttvt jSree. .iij:st odaV on Wvg Vcro, TvaTrovn Vita. 'Swv. SAtoer; Aeep '. 3or Vve,vaiv&s o vev6Viui &avaTva .oaa aVV.ttvt .TvaWm's brawAeaa. I Label League's Successful Social Either the Woman's Label League must quit holding socials or else. get a larger hall. The crowd at Monday night'si social was so large that comfort was almost out of the question, and the dancers found great difficulty in securing floor space. The attendance was Unexpectedly large. Had the committee in charge known it in time a larger hall would have been secured. But despite the over-crowding it was a jolly and goodnatured crowd, and everybody went in for a good time and had it. The W Oman's Label League believes, in having everything union made, therefore the music was union, the ice cream was union and the printing was union. The only union deficit was union men pres ent. The majority of the gentlemen present were not union men, al though their sympathies were in the right place'.'' 'The carpenters had the largest representation present, there being about five or six. There were about as many members of the Hod Carriers Union, three or four members of the Electrical Workers Union, two mem bers of the Typographical Union, and an average of one each from the other unions as nearly as could be ascertained. The union men are almighty quick to "holler for help" when they get into trouble, but experience demonstrates that when every things is lovely they are very forgetful. The'Woman's Label League is doing a splendid work for the cause of unionism, and yet it is re ceiving mighty scant support from the union men of this city. t During the evening refreshments were served, and the committee in charge kept busy seeing to it that' the guests were having a good" time. Several business men dropped in to lend the light of their presence and were impressed with the showing made by the ranks of unionism. The League netted a neat sum from the social, and will devote it to the payment of the delegate's expenses to the interna tional convention at Chicago next month. There will be a special meeting of the League at Richard's hall next Monday evening, and as especial business will be attended to every member is urged to be present. , WAIT AND SEE SCUDDER! The President of the Lincoln Distraction Company Once More Ignores Wishes of Citizens. , ' Wait and see Scudder ! Perhaps you have heard that expres sion before. Doubtless it sounds familiar. Every time the people have asked for decent treatment at the hands of the Lincoln Dis traction company the invariable reply has been : "Wait and see Scudder.' And when Scudder came in from the east, where he draws a fine salary from western people without giving them any attention he shakes his head, and goes back east to lraw some more salary. Now who in thunder is Scudder? He is president of the Lincoln Distraction company that's who he is and the overcoat General Grant -wore around the world , wouldn't make a patch for Scudder's vest. Scudder is an almighty big man, if you only knew it. He's so all-fired big that he can take'.', the rather sizeable city of Lincoln by the nap of its corporate neck and swing in around his head without even- starting the perspira tion upon his noble expanse of brow. ' - That's how big Scudder is. Lincoln Park is a rather pretty place. - Of course it is not just the kind of park we would all like to have, but its the very best we ' have. And the Lincoln Distraction company runs a couple of streaks of wobbly rust from the city to the park. And right here the Dar- r winian theory of evolution gets a boost. The more you contemplate " the hoggishness of Scudder the more you'll believe that some where back in the dim vista of time evolution got in 'its work on the ; pork family and . finally bred up or down to a street railway president, . , iA- '. At any rate, with utter disregard of the rights or the conven- ' ience of Lincoln people, Scudder refuses to make any- concessions -that w;ill insure Lincoln Park being kept open during the sum mer. Scudder wants it all or none. - " So w;e will have to wait and see Scudder. ' Wise boy, Scudder. He knows just how to Work the people-of this blooming burg. Every time they raise a big holler and begin showing signs of doing something, Scudder comes prancing out , from Bosting and brings a new car or two with him. And we are so delighted with .his condecension and . liberality that we forget all about the rottenness of the service, the fUthiness of most of the cars and the awful roughness of the tracks, and we-gather around , that new car like kids around a circus and cheer till we are red in the face. Then Scuddervgrins hske$ back to Boston and tells -us" - to go to the devil. ' We've stood for this Scudderization until we seem actually to like it. So we'll sit around like a pack of dummies and wait to see Scudder. ' CENTRAL LABOR UNION. Contribute to the Cause of the Chicago Strikers and Consider Some Labor Matters at Home. The Central Labor Union met in regular session Tuesday night, the attendance being the smallest in many weeks." The pleasant weather seems to have acted injuriously upon the central body. Very little business was transacted; . but a large number ot long communications were read. Among others was an appeal lor help for the Chicago strikers, and an appropriation of $ was maae. The San Francisco Federation of Labor asked the Lincoln body to . join in a protest against the importation of Japanese, Chinese ana Korean labor. The local body took no action further than to make mention of the fact that it wasn't the importation of the yellow man" that was hurting .this immediate section of the country. At tention was called to the importation of hordes of Hunand tins and Lithuanians through the eastern gatevvays to the detrirrterit ot. labor and the injury of the republic. ' ' ' . . The committee appointed to assist the local teamsters in i then efforts to secure a conference with the employers reported failure to, accomplish anything definite, although seven of the seventeen em ployers met to talk over matters. The employers stfenuously deny that they have an organization. The committee expressed itself as being under obligations to Mr. John Dorgan for courtesies extended. Mr. Dorgan tried to secure a meeting of the employers and an nounced himself as willing to concede considerable."- "' The executive committee Was instructed to make preparations for an open meeting in the near future, and a well known ' union wprkingman of Omaha will be invited to speak. As soon as definite arrangements can be made full details will be published. Just as soon as we can forget the importation of ' hordes of ignorant Huns,, Finns and Lithuanians into the country through the v . i- -. .. i - mi ' . i -.. .knuf'ttip irri gates oi iaste uarucu, wc wm ujegin mrowiug 111 If the Chicago strikers are wholly to blame, why it is that the strikers offered' to arbitrate aQ give testimony in public, while the employers refuse to arbitrafeand insisted on secret sesssions of the investigating committee? If it is a Chicago daily paper's story of the strike it was written from the standpoint of the Tjieavy advertiser. . II . it r