THE WAGE WORKER
A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere.
VOL. 2 UXCOLX, XEBKASKA, JUXE 23, 1905 1 XoTTl
A Suggestion to
The Woman's Club
The Lincoln Woman's Club is a magnificent organization, and it
has accomplished a splendid work in assisting in building up the
city on educational and material lines. It is possible for the Wom
an's Club of Lincoln to inaugurate right here a movement that will
do more to uplift and benefit their sisters throughout the country
than any previous movement has ever done. While working along
intellectual lines the Woman's Club could be bettering industrial
conditions, and by so doing make it possible to increase the results
o! educational effort.
With all due respect, and with every assurance of its interest in
the work of the Woman's Club, The Wageworker ventures to sug
gest that the Club take up the subject of "sweat shops" aid start a
movement that will result in wiping out this iniquitous evil. The
Wageworker believes that the members of the Club have only to
understand the terrible evils of the "sweat shop' system to impel
them to organize a movement against it. There are union men in
Lincoln who are amply able to give the Woman's Club information
on this subject, and if the women think they can snd to hear some
of the horrors that actually exist and drag women and children down
to depths lower than death, The Wageworker will be glad to fur
nish the speakers.
The women of this country have it in their power to wipe out the
'sweat shop," and if they want to take up a work that should be
done a work that will save their sisters, and stop the hellish sac
rifice of innocent children upon the altar of Moloch let them begin
right now. It would be in keeping with the eternal fitness of things
if the movement that will abolish the "sweat shop" system starts in
the city bearing the name of the man whose hand struck the shackles
from the black man. There exists in free America today a system
of slavery by the side of which negro slavery was a beneficent and
a model institution. Chattel slavery bound only the body of the
slave the slaves of the "sweat shop" are bound body and soul, for
the "sweat shop" system is the recruiting ground for the brothels.
"Women who would starve before they would sell their honor to feed
themselves, sell their bodies in order to provide a crust and shelter
for those whom they love better than their own lives. "Women in
1'iis unhappy state exist by the thousands and tens of thousands in
the "sweat shop" districts of New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bos
ton. Pittsburg, Cincinnati and Baltimore.
'. The unholy craze for "bargains" is the foundation of the "sweat
shop svstem." . '
"Just think. I got this lovely dress for $18,"t exclaims Mrs. lar
gainseeker. "Why, I couldn't hire it made for that, let alone buy
the material." -
pf course not. But some poor, hollow-cheeked and Jialf-starved
sister of yours, Mrs. Bargainseeker, living in a windowless room
'and working twenty hours a day, stitche her soul into that bar
gain of yours. Perhaps three or four half-starved children tugged
nt her ragged skirts and cried for a crust of bread that she could
not give while she stitched with fevered hands and aching heart
upon that "bargain" you boast so much about.
In God's name, you happy and prosperous women of Lincoln,
give some heed to your struggling, starving sisters of the "sweat
shops." If you know nothing of their condition, ask some one who
does know. " The writer, the humble editor of this little labor paper,
has seen sights in the East Side "sweat shops" of New York City
that would make the heart of every true man and woman ache
sights that would put to shame the tortures of the inquisition. '
If the Woman's Club of Lincoln wants to engage in a work that
is really worth while, let it inquire into the industrial situation as it
affects the sisters of its members and seek to abolish the evils that
exist today.
THINK IT OVER, MR. TOLL. f
What Labor Unions Have Done for Their Members in the Way of
Helpfulness in Trouble.
Thil R. Toll, the chief agitator of the Employers' Association of
Kansas City, who was formerly at the head of the Phil R. Toll Box
company, recently sold by the sheriff, will perhaps admit that labor
iinoins have some good features if he will just think' over the follow
ing figures, which show the amount of death benefits paid by the
different international unions to the widows of working men last
vear :
"By the Carpenters ' $109,0fi!).38
By the Cigarmakers 148,120.00
By the Iron Moulders 54,400.00
By the Bottle Blowers 45,000.00
By other unions 345,102.,70
z ,
A total of $782,382.08
Another item that might interest Mr. Toll, and other labor fighters
5 9s the sick benefit feature of labor unions.. Unions have reported
paying the following sick benefits to members :
By Cigarmakers. $ 15,(500.00
By Iron Moulders 205,G!)8.25
Boot and Shoe Workers 88,000.00
By Carpenters. . . . 75,000.00
By Machinists 00,000.00
By other unions. 172,008.58
A total of ! :.. .$756,702.83
Unions have paid, or at least reported as having paid in death
benefits and sick benefits alone the neat little sum of $1,539,144.01,
which, by the way, is not one-half of the money actually paid out,
but not reported.
Think it over, Mr. Toll, at your leisure. Kansas City Labor.
Herald.
WHERE YOU GET THE LABEL.
Clothing That Union Garment Workers Make Are Very Easily Ob
tained in Lincoln.
Every suit of clothes made by Kohn Bros, o Chicago bears the
label of the United Garment Workers of America. This is a guaran
tee of the excellence of the workmanship, the fairness of the condi
tions under which the tailors work, and the fairness of the members
, of the firm who make the clothing for the trade. Kohn Bros, are
advertisers in The Wageworker. They deal fairly by union labor,
v and at the same time they deal fairly ; with their customers. The
brand of Kohn Bros, is a synonym for good goods at right prices.
The Armstrong Clothing Co. is the local agent for Kohn Bros,
clothing, and the company carries a large line. There are many
reasons why The Wageworker wants you to buy Kohn Bros, cloth
ing. One of them, and the chief one, is that Kohn Bros, employ only
mion garment workers. Another is that Kohn Bros, advertise in
The Wageworker. Another is that every demand made for Kohn
Bros, clothing stimulates the "union label crusade. It it's Kohn
Bros, clothing it carries the label. Ask for it.
A BENEFI1T PERFORMANCE
An Opportunity for Central Labor Un
ion to Better Its Finances
Last week the Fulton Stock com
pany, headed by ..Miss Enid Jackson
and Jess B. Fulton, and embracing a
company of unusually competent peo
ple, presented a labor play, "Lost
Paradise." The play is one that thrills
a union man through and through, for
it is full of the union spirit and teaches
a lesson that unionism has been seek
ing to impart for many years. The
great strike scene, the never-ending
questions between capital and labor,
the sufferings of the toilers, the
thoughtless selfishness of the rich, the
joy at the ending of the strike all
these are pictures that appeal direct
ly to. the heart. The company pre
sents this powerful drama in a way
that leaves nothing to be desired.
M. Jesse Fulton was approached by
The Wageworker editor early last
week and the suggestion advanced
that it would be a good idea to pre
sent "Lost Paradise" later in the sea
son as a benefit for the Central Labor
Union. Mr. Fulton Imedlately fell in
with the suggestion, and agreed to do
so at any time set by the central body.
If the delegates to that body and the
unionists of the city will take hold,
it will be possible add a nice amount
to the treasury and lncidentially call
the attention of the public to what
unionism is trying to do to better the
social, moral and material status of
those who toil. It will do any man or
woman good to see this magnificent
play.
The Fulton Stock company is pre
senting a series of dramas at the Oli
ver, and each performance is far above
the average of repertoire attractions.
The company is exceptionally strong
and is deserving of the most liberal
patronage. The bill for the remainder
of this week is "Lynwood," a touching
military drama. The opening bill next
week will be "Thelma," the week con
eluding with "Young Mrs. Winthrop."
THE PRINTERS
Feeling Good Over the St. Louis Sit
uation Since Last Sunday
The printers of the city are feeling
mighty good over the action taken by
the St. Louis union last Sunday. For
a week "before that the boys "were-not
feeling so good, and when St. Louis
was mentioned they said things that
were extremely warm and. smoking.
Now that the big town on the river
has got back in line there is a better
feeling in union printer circles.
Mr. and Mrs.- Charles Turner took
advantage of the Woodmen excursion
and visited around the Wisconsin
lakes.
Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Sayer were
among the Milwaukee excursionists
this week.
Mrs. F. C. Greenlee has returned
from a pleasant visit with relatives
and friends in Iowa.
Mrs. B. O. Wilson left Tuesday for
Chicago where she will visit with her
son, Don, and wife, and incidentally
get acquainted with that new baby.
Bert is still feeling the effects of a
serious illiness and will remain around
home for a week or two in' an effort
to get back to his old time form.
Mrs. Frank Coffey is expected in
Lincoln in a very short time, and will
renew many friendships of other days.
She expects to remain in Lincoln
through the summer, returning to the
Oklahoma farm in the early fall.
While visiting here she will doubtless
acompany Mr. Coffey to Toronto.
The "handcuff man" who played at
the Lyric last week his name being
temporarily mislaid is a union print
er and carried a Chicago card in his
pocket.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
Meets Next Tuesday Night and Im
portant Business Will Demand
' Attention
The Central Labor Union will meet
next Tuesday night for the first time
in five weeks. A great deal of im
portant business will come up for
consideration, and it is hoped that
every union will be represented by full
delegation..
Some of the unions are woefully
careless in having delegates. The
Pressmen have not been represented
for many months. Neither have the
Plumbers. In fact, less than half a
dozen unions are represented with any
thing like regularity. This is not as
it should be. Instead of from ten to
fiften delegates present as a rule,
there should be in the neighborhood
of a hundred. Let there be a full at
tendance next Tuesday night.
THE BARTENDERS
Union in Good Shape and Local Or
ganization Well Nigh Perfect.
The local Bartenders' union "is In
excellent condition, and the organiza
tion is more nearly perfect than ever
before. Every bar in the city is
manned by unionists at the present
time. Just now the local is ponder
ing over some radical changes made
hi international law by the Kansas
City convention last month. The
"Mixer and Server," the national or
gan, contained a full resume of con
vention in the last issue, and since
it appeared the Bartenders have been
studying up on some of the more im
portant changes. Opinion is some
what divided upon the advisability of
the radical changes made. Under the
new order of things the international
takes charge of the work of paying all
sick, strike and death benefits, and lo
cals are allowed to cover into the
general fund only 60 per cent of their
recepits from dues and assessments.
When Mark Wllber entered business
for himself the local found itself com
pelled to find a new financial secre
tary. Mr. Wilber has filled the posi
tion so well that, others are loath to
tackle the job. Hermann Sundean is
being urged to take it, and if he does
Mr. Wilber will turn his books over
to a man well qualified to carry on
the work.
Dan Raymer wants it distinctly un
derstood that he is in no wise re
sponsible for the fact that his saloon
was papered by an unfair firm. The
agent of the landlord promised to
have it done by a fair firm, and when
the workman showed up to do the
work he showed a card. It developed
after the work was finished that the
workman was working for an unfair
firm and that he was under $25 fine
by the local union of Paperhangers
and Decorators. The same firm had
the contract for painting . the front
and decorating up inside woodwork,
but the aforesaid firm will not do it.
Dan kicked to the landlord and the
kick went. The work will be done by
a fair firm and union men.
Al Walker knew where there was
a good fishing hole until quite re
cently. He often went up there and
returned with a goodly string of suc
culent bullheads. ' He'd do it again if
he could. But he can't . However,
he will have revenge, if he can locate
the fiends who dragged his fishing
spot with a seine.
THE TEAMSTERS
Watching the Outcome of the Chicago
Situation With Deep Interest
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Members of the local Teamsters' Un
ion are watching the outcome of the
Chicago strike with a great deal of in
terest. "The rumors of "graft" have
stirred up considerable feeling.
"We've got to get rid of that sort
of thing,' declared a prominent mem
ber of the local. "It hurts us. I don't
believe that Shea is half as guilty as
rumor charges him. At any rate he is
not' a bit worse than the aristocratic
gentlemen who put up whatever money
he may have taken. Why don't those
highly moral newspapers open up on
the men who bribe our leaders as well
as the leaders themselves. Is the rich
man who pays a bribe any better than
the poor devil who accepts it?"
Local Teamsters are not sweating
any particular amount of blood over
the local situation. True they have no
agreement with the employers just
now, but work in the coal hauling and
lumber hauling lines is very slack,
most of the work being on the streets
and on grading. But before cold
weather comes it is expected that an
agreement will be in force. The em
ployers are not manifesting any hos
tility, and there are indications of get
ting together when the proper 'time
comes.. The local is not making very
much noise just at present, but the
members are keeping up a gratifying
amount of thinking.
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION
Decides Upon a Lecture Propaganda
and Will Begin at Once
The executive council of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor met at Scran
ton, Pa., last week and decided upon
a lecture propaganda. The members
of the executive council will begin im
mediately to arrange for lecture dates
in various sections of the country, and
much good is expected to result in
the way of renewed enthusiasm along
union lines. President Gompers told
about his recent lecture tour through
the west, and said that he was greatly
pleased with the results. The affairs
of the American Federation of Labor
are in fine shape. There are 116 in
ternational trades unions, 33 state
branches, 604 central labor unions, 1,
043 local trades and federal unions
now affiliated with the Federation. The
116 international unions have upwards
of 25,000 local unions attached to
them. Secretary Morrison submitted
the following report for the eight
months ending May 31:
The balance on hand October 1,
1904, was $103,017.94, and the income
for the eight months $141,074,03, mak
ing . a total of $244,991.97. The ex
penditures were $148,356.45. The re
port shows that $70,901.52 has been
received for per capita tax of cent
per member per month. One hundred
and ninety charters were issued for
the eight months; one state branch,
forty-six central unions, fifty-three fed
eral labor unions.
T. C. Kelsey, president of the Cen
tral Labor Union, is working for the
municipality.
TRAINMEN'S PICNIC.
Splendid Program Arranged for the
Celebration at Seward.
The railroad brotherhoods of Lin
coln have completed all arrangements
for their Fourth of July picnic at Sew
ard, and the program will provide en
tertainment for all. The railroad men
have spared no energy to make this
celebration a huge success, and that
they will win out is assured, for they
have a habit of making good on all
they undertake. Those who celebrate
the Fourth at Seward will have as
good a time as can be framed up.
The following program has been ar
ranged, but other features will be
presented during the day:
11 .to 12 noon Speaking by Hon.
James P. Cosgrave.
12 noon to 1 p. m. Lunch.
1 p. m. Ladies nail driving contest.
Firts prize $3, second prize $2. .
1:15 p.m. Boys' eggs race. First
prize $3, second prize $2.
1:45 p. m. One-hundred yard dash,
free for all. First prize $5, second
prize S3.
2 p. m. Boys seventy-flve-yard foot
race, under fourteen. First prize $3,
second prize $2.
2:30 p. m. Hose race between York
and Seward, run 250 yards, break and
make coupling, purse $30, second $20.
2:30 p. m. Ball game between Utica
and Davey, Neb. Purse $50.
2:30 p. m. Cup race. First prize
$3, second prize $2.
4:30 p. m. Balloon ascension.
5 p. m. Tug of war across the river,
between train men and engine men.
Prize, two boxes cigars. One side has
got to go into the water.
Finest picnic, grounds in the state
and everybody welcome.
Trains leave Lincoln 8:30 a. m.,
10:30 a. m. and 1:30 p. m. '
THE LEATHERWORKERS
Jardine Re-elected President at the
Kansas City Convention
The executive committee of the In
ternational United E)rotherhood of
Leather Workers on Horse Goods is
still in session at the headquarters of
the Brotherhood in the Gibralter
building, and will probably be unable
to close up the work in hand until
the latter part of next week.
The canvas of the returns from the
referendum election shows the fol
lowing officers elected:
General President Mark Jardine.
First Vice President B. J. Baker.
Second Vice President Frank
Sweeney.
Third Vice President O. I. Kruger.
Fourth Vice President George
Shipman. -General
Secretary-Treasurer John
J. Pfeiffer.
District President First district,
Herbert Martyn; Second district, A.
W. Spencer; Third district, Harry
Thomas; Fourth district, C. C. Hutch
ins; Fifth district, D. D. Owens; Sixth
district, H. L. Darby; Seventh district,
C. W. Krumm; Eighth district, no
nominations; Ninth district, S. Ma
lone; Tenth district, no nominations;
Eleventh district, William Hunter;
Twelfth district, E. Simper.
The members of the committee say
the Leather Workers organization
was .never in better shape. The or
ganization has not got one strike on
now, and has satisfactory agreements
with both the National Saddlery Man
ufacturing association and also "with
the employers in the trade districts.
Kansas City Labor Herald, June 16.
THE PRESSMEN
Watching the Outcome of the Interna
tional at San Francisco
The annual convention of the In
ternational Printing Pressmen and As
sistants Union met at San Francisco
last Tuesday with upwards of 200 dele
gates present from all parts of the
country. The Lincoln local is not rep
resented, but the members are watch
ing the convention and waiting to
learn the outcome. ,
President Higgins is a candidate for
re-election, ' but is being oposed by
Frank Pampusch of Denver. The bat
tle is good-natured but is being warm
ly waged. The international union is
in good shape and material progress
has been made during the year. The
Lincoln local is still negotiating a
wage scale with the employers, and
while progress is very slow the mem
bers are in no wise discouraged.
THE LABEL LEAGUE
Meets Monday Night and Will Map
Out a New Campaign of Work '
The Woman's Union Label League
will meet in regular session next 'Mon
day evening. A kensington has been
formed and it is expected that iif will
have the effect of arousing neW and
deeper interest in the work of- the
League. Mrs. Alice Kent, president
of the League, has also been selected
as leader of the kensington. 1
The largest line- of union made shoes
in the city is to be found at Rogers &
Perkins.
Will Union Men
Ever Get Wise?
The other day we stood in a cigar store and watched. A union''
painter came in and called for a cigar, indicating the brand he
wanted. It was a notorious "scab" cigar, but this "union" man bit '
off the; end of it, struck it against the gas jet and went out puffing
contentedly.
Shortly, afterwards a printer came in. He is a card man and has
been for years. He indicated his, brand of cigar ,and it was "scab.'
But he lit it and sauntered out: .
An hour later we stood in a clothing store and saw a union me
chanic buy a pair of "scab" overalls. While looking .for a pair that
would fit he removed his hat and laid it on a counter. We stole a
look under the sweatband, and it was made by the most notorious
"scab" hat manufacturer in the country. Before we left that store
we saw another "card" man buy a two-piece summer suit made by
a "scab" Rochester clothing house. He never even asked or logked
for the label.
Not one of these men is a genuine union man ! He may belong .
to a union and keep up his dues, but he; lacks as much of being a
union man as a cat lacks of being a lion. He may talk about being
a "square man," and he may be chief orator in his union, but he
hasn't learned the first and fundamental principles of unionism. . '
It is awfully discouraging at times, this thing of trying to preach
consistency into members of trades unions. .It looks as if any mem
ber of a union ought to see without particular urging that it is his
duty to buy union made goods whenever he can. But the most of
them fail to do so. It is not because they do not want union made
goods, but because they never think. And that's the chief trouble
with union men they do not think enough. They never forget the
duty that others owe them as union men, and if the other fellow -employs
a non-union man the unionist raises a holler about it. But
while he is making his "holler" the chances are that he is wearing
"scab" clothing, hats and shoes, smoking or chewing "scab" tobacco s
and getting shaved at a non-union shop 'because it is so handy."
The genuine union man would as soon think of "scabbing" on his
fellow craftsmen as he would of buying the product of "scab" or un
iair labor. ' , .
Brace up, fellow unionists, and get into the union labor game up
to your eyebrows. Get your brains as well as your stomachs inter
ested. One year of solid and insistent demand for the union label by
every union rfian and woman in the country would double the nu
merical strength of the unions and put the Posts and the Parrys
cut of business. The union label is the greatest weapon in the union
arsenal. Intelligently used it will overcome the 'sweat shop' the
unfair factory and the "scab." 1 ., i
r.i?rti v - ' ,'St,;iiit"Hi,ii,Vai' W
. i. '- ST. LOUIS "GIGS BACK." - -
Joe Jackson's Bunch Sees theError of Its Way and Gets Back
Into the Fold.
St. Louis Typographical Union met last Sunday and made haste
to get back into the fold." It didn't take long to do it. either. Filled
with a realizing sense of the- fact"" jhals ;their47)00birethreni would -not
stand for their violation of international law and with visions
of vanishing charter and cards before their eyes, the St. Louis print
ers by an overwhelming vote decided to rescind the contract, for the
3-hour day tentatively agreed upon with the Typothete and get in
line. . ' . . ,-
Just what, impelled the St. Louis union to ever even think of
signing up for the 9-hour day is a deep, dark mystery that may
never be explained. Perhaps Hon. Josephus Jackson could tell
but it is doubtful if he ever will. Suffice jt to say that St. Louis
is once more inside of the foldand the Typothete bunch that was
hugging itself with joy over what it considered a death blow to the
3-hour day is now wondering what hit it, ..
The vote of the St. Louis union to sign up for the 9-hour day was
close, less than 500 votes being polled. When the thunderclap
came the boys began doing some, thinking. The first thing they
knew their cards were not worth holding, for no other unjon would
recognize them. Immediately there was something doing. Last
Sunday saw the game reversed, and 700 printers crowded the hall
and by an overwhelming vote decided to get back in line1 and be
gcod. -
St. Louis was one of the parties to the six-cities agreement and
President Jackson was the hottest . 8-hour man at the conference.
1 hen, inside of two weeks, came the announcement that his union
had accepted the 9-hour day with a paltry' advance of $1.50 a week
to the job men, and a wave of disgust and anger swept through
qmon circles all over the country. St. Louis was the first big city
whose contract expired, and the Typothete had it all figured out
that if the union lost there it wouldn't have enough fight left in it
to make a ripple in other cities. The Typothete forgot that there
were about 48,000 union printers scattered over the country, and
that no little old local union could violate international law and
retain. its charter.
In the language of Al Edmondson,, an old Missouri friend of
Ihe Wageworkers, "there's goin' to be hell a poppin' in St. Looey'
and don t you forget it. But the St. Louis printers, having become
good, will find themselves backed by an army of men who have
never been whipped when they had right on their side and they've
got it this time for fair.
The battle seems to be on now, with the first skirmish in St.
Louis and a warm battle in sight in Chicao-o Th ?t T
penence will be a valuable lesson
THE CARPENTERS.
A Bunch of Interesting Items From
Lincoln's Biggest Union. -
Three members initiated June 20;
and four candidates voted on.
The following officers were elected
to serve the union for the next six
months: President. C. E. Wnodnrri
vice president, H. B. Atterbury; re
cording secretary, George Quick; fi
nancial secretary, A. , E. Hawkins;
treasurer, R. Shepard.
The first meeting of the quarter
occuring on July 4, it was voted to
hold the meeting Thursday, July 6.
Members who have not brought their
cards for examination by the trustees
must do so that evening.
Hank Robinson injured his leg while
working for Contractor Dabcs a couple
of weeks ago, and is still laid up on
account of the injury. '
Bro. Marguis is building himself a
house at Twenty-fourth and S.
Bro. Emberson is nursing a ..good
sized carbuncle. It is doubtful if
Billy is as patient as was Job. y
The supply of non-union men! from'
College View seems well, nighinex
haustible. " 1 I
In case union .men should forget.
to all the wavering unions, if
remember that A. M. Davis don't
patronize union men. ' Remember, too,
when you want furniture or carpets,
that there are dealers who believe in
reasonable hours and decent wages,
and sometimes employ union men.
sn't it strange that so many car
penters when they become bosses be
came at the same time the most
measly and scabby employers, bearing
out the old saying, "Put a beggar on
horseback and he'll ride to the devil?"
It is disgusting how some of them will
prostitute their trade .for a little
filthy lucre. .,-' ,
There is a very fair demand for
union men.
Your correspondent is informed
that Clel Campbell's carpenter work
on the Fraternity building is being
done by members of the Building
Laborers' Union. :
In the words of the Pittsburg, Pa.,
Dispatch of May 7, "The master build
ers of Pittsburg have met with a
crushing defeat in their efforts
through the medium of a lockout to
enforce the open shop," on the' mem-
bers of our organization in Pittsburg.
It has been one of ihe, most signal
victories of the year. - i - -
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