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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 1905)
THE WAQEWORKER Rochester Labor Journal entitled "Strange But True."' We have read the article with great interest and declare it to be one of the best we have ever read, We would reproduce it in The Wageworker were it not for the fact that it appeared in the columns originally, was written by the editor of The Wageworker and very evidently re-printed in the Rochester Labor Journal without credit. The chief satisfaction in all this is that the editor of the Journal clips with rare discrimination. WILL M. MAUPIN, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Published Weekly. One Dollar a Year. Advertising; Rates on Application Bhitered as second-class matter April 21, 1904, at the postofflce at Lin coln, Neb, under the Act ot Congress. SHALL THE LABOR PRESS BE GAGGED? Elsewhere in this issue will be found an open leter issued by a number of editors of labor papers who attended the Toronto con vention of the International Typographical Union. The incident calling out this manifesto is briefly as follows : Shelby Smith, editor of the Philadelphia Trades Union News, and a member of the Typographical Union of that city, was charged by the executive council of the international with having violated section 81 of the laws. Section 81 provides that any member of the Typographical Union who impugns the motives of any officer or member may be disciplined to the point of expulsion, and it was enacted as the result ot a bitter and prolonged fight against President Donnelley when he was a candidate for re-election. In effect the section nullifies the constitution of the United States, 'and is a de liberate attempt to muzzle the labor press. During the progress of the Philadelphia fight the local union and the executive council of the international became involved in a misunderstanding to use the most polite term possible. The local union belieVed that it had been discriminated against, and Editor Smith went so far as to charge that the executive council was "in league with the rats and rat employers of Philadelphia." This language is open to two con structions, and Mr. Smith insisted upon being considered the most competent witness regarding the intent of his language. The execu tive council demanded that Mr. Smith be tried by the Philadelphia Union under section 81. Accordingly a trial committee was ap pointed and a date set for the hearing. The executive council refused to appear in person or by representatives, and the trial com mittee, after hearing all possible testimony, brought in a verdict of acquittal. This verdict was sustained by the Union by a practically unanimous vote, only two votes being recorded against it. The executive council appealed to the convention, and then proceeded to appoint the committee that should hear the case and render a verdict. The Wageworker has no disposition to cast reflections upon Chairman Draper of the appeals committee. He is an able man and enjoys the confidence of the Dominion printers to a remarkable degree. But Mr. Draper was unfortunate in being forced to become counsel for the prosecution before the convention in order to bolster up a verdict he helped to render in a case wherein he was appointed ly the prosecution. The finding of the appeals committee was that Mr. Smith be unseated as a delegate to the Toronto convention and that he be compelled to make suitable apology to the executive coun cil, failing which Philadelphia Union was to take up his card within thirty days or have its charter revoked. By a vote of 241 to 34 the convention sustained the findings of the committee. By thus sustsaining the findings of a committee appointed by the prosecution the International Typographical Union has gone on record as favoring the gagging of the press, nullifying the con stitution of the United States which guarantees the liberty of the press and setting at defiance the established law and principle that a man shall not be twice tried for the same offense. Here and now, and with all the emphasis at its command, The Wageworker wants to notify President James Lynch, Secretary Treasurer Bramwood, Hugo Miller, all the organizers singly and collectively, every delegate to the Toronto convention and the mem bership at large, that it will see every one of them jammd hard and fast against the red-hot hinges of the inner gates of Hades before it will yield one jot or tittle of its rights as guaranteed by the con stitution at the dictation of any man or set of men. The editor of The Wageworker has been a union printer as long as President Lynch, and his record as a unionist is just as good. Without boast ing, the editor of I he Wageworker will put his record as a unionist and as a citizen against the record of Secretary-Treasurer Bram wood. And the editor of this paper, loval as he is to the Typo graphical Union, would rather give up his union card than to give up Ins rights as an American citizen to speak and write as he so desires, subject only to the laws of his country, and not subject to the whims or caprices ot lellow unionists. The Wageworker has no apology to make for Shelby Smith. It believes that he was unfortunate in his choice of language, and that he framed his remarks in the heat of passion. But that he had a right to say what he did can not be gainsaid. If he injured any member of the executive council, that member had recourse to the civil or criminal laws. But things have come to a pretty pass when the officers of any union can deprive a member of his card or a local of its charter because that member has exercised the right of free speech. And every thoughtful union printer in the land must regret that it remained for the labor organization most benefited by the right of a free press to be the first to endorse the idea that a cen sorship of the press should be instituted in order to prevent criti- .cism oi puonc oinciais. it win not uo to draw, as President Lvnch did, a distinction between liberty and license. That is not a cues tion for conventions to decide it is a question for the courts of the land'. The Toronto convention's action in the Shelby Smith case is the entering wedge of a press censorship that will, when carried to its logical conclusion, perpetuate in power anv labor olicarchv that secures control, and will permit any unprincipled set of men to pre- Acni uic expose oi ineir rottenness . Law abiding, thoughtful and honest union men will consider a long while before they give their endorsement to such a principle. The Wageworker points with pride to the fact that the two delegates from Lincoln to the Toronto convention are recorded as voting against the outrageous decision of the appeals committee. . u i-.ygaies rranK uottey and 11. AY . bmith it returns its thanks for their defense of free speech and a free press, and compliments . r vvn.in.t ui ucuil: um.uniruneci oy anv ciicue or ring. J . 1 The editor of The Wageworker is noiero. He is not goino- to do the martyr act. He is not going to jail if he can help it But he is not going to carry a Typographical Union card at the sacrifice of his rights as an American citizen, and when the time comes that he must submit the columns of his paper to the censorship of a convention of his union he will quit publishing the paper or remove himself from the jurisdiction of the union. In the language of the phi osopher of the sandhills The Wageworker will art upon this motto : 1 him 'iLiVC aCI ay, VU can Iook eveT mn in the face and tell him to go to thunder. This is a slight modification of the philosophers words, but they convey his idea. 3 To the printers of Toronto: :When we recover, please come over and we'll try and tell you how much we enjoyed it. "Labor editors are worse than horsethieves," declared Secretary-Treasurer Bramwood at the Toronto convention of printers. Perhaps, but up to date we haven't heard of any labor editors giving checks on a sacred fund in order to pay for the beer. As a' rule, editors of labor papers are skilled craftsmen and capable of earning as much money at their trades as they do editing labor papers. This being the case, it will be a long time ere labor editors submit to the gag law promulgated by the International Typographical Union. "Labor editors are worse than horse thieves." declares John Bramwood, secretary-treasurer of the International Typographical Union and editor of the Typographical Journal. Back up, Johnnie! We haven't wrecked any millinery stores yet. The Typothetae is learning rapidly. It has graduated in San Francisco and Detroit', and is preparing its valedictories in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis and other points. The Lincoln union that sends the largest delegation in propor tion to paid up membership to Beatrice on Labor Day, gets a sub stantial prize from The Wageworker. The effort of the Typothetae to bribe the union pressmen of San Francisco was a dismal failure. The pressmen are not pikers. Strikes and lock-outs will end when union men refuse to pur chase any article that is not made by union labor. Get into the Labor Day game and make the Beatrice trip one long to be remembered. Demanding the label is the best method of bringing the "scab" manufacturer to time. all. And the printers stand pat on the eight-hour question. That's Toronto ? Gee, what a headache ! ! SHEA RE-ELECTED BY THE TEAMSTERS. The Philadelphia Convention Sets the Seal of Its Approval Upon the Acts of Teamsters' President. Cornelius P. Shea of Chicago, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was re-elected at the Philadelphia con vention last week after a stormy session and by the close vote of VIS) to Vl for Daniel Furman of Chicago. The sessions of the con vention were stormy and at times threatened to break up in a row. Shea and his management of the Chicago strike came in for bitter criticism, but he woii out in his contention that the strike was iijstifiable. Mr. Shea admitted that the Montgomery Ward strike was not indorsed by the general executive board. The situation was such, he said, that he could not wait for the slow process of getting in dorsements. He said it was the most justifiable strike ever called in America. Some one inquired about the accuracy of some of the union's records, to which President Shea made the following reply: "I make this statement, realizing the full force of what I say. I did recommend the changing of certain things on the records of the local union of Chicago during and after the teamsters' strike, because 1 thought the alteration of the records would prevent some of our men being indicted." The convention decided to meet next year in Chicago. The fol lowing were elected delegates to the convention of the American Federation of Labor: M. J. O'Donnell. John Doody, Emmett Flood and S. T. Thompson. President Shea is a delegate by virtue of his office. The Teamsters' Union of Lincoln is preparing to make a big showing at Heatrice on Labor Day. and if possible purposes carrying off the palm for the largest attendance in proportion to the sie of the union. ' Mr. Loofe, a member of the local organization, had the misfor tune tot sustain a fracture of the leg one day last week. He will be laid up for several weeks and would like to have his fellow union ists call on him. Business is good in teaming circles. The business agent is constantly answering calls for men, and while there is a lot of'work in sight he believes that local teamsters can handle all of it. 'THE WAGEWORKER'S' , SPECIAL PRIZE. Offered to the Local Union That Turns Out Strongest at Beatrice on Labor Day. The WageworkeV wants to see the Labor Day celebration at Beatrice successful to a great degree, and to that end offers a special prize of $T..:5() to the Lincoln union having the largest representation in proportion to paid-up membership on the grounds that day. Under this plan every union is on an equal footing. The prize will not be given to the union having the largest number of paid-up members on the ground, but to the union having the largest per centage of paid-up members there. The prize is a small one measured by financial amount, but the winning of it will mean much to the victor. Every union in the city is eligible to try for this special prize, and The Wageworker hopes that the rivalry will be so keen that it will take the official count to settle the question. A WONDERFULLY POPULAR ROAD. The daily press gave the international convention of the Typo graphical Union scant attention. It preferred to waste columns on the Teamsters' convention because it gave them an opportunity to hold organized labor up to scorn. We would far rather be a union teamster than a lickspittle on a daily newspaper owned by a union hater. Ifc'i, Non-union' men in all trades would still be working twelve and thirteen hours a day were it not for the labor unions. Hie man 'who will take advantage of conditions that he will not help to maintain is too infernal onery to associate with square men. That's why union men will not work by the side of non-unionists. Another proclamation is due from Post. The stenographer's husband insists on being in the lime light when lie is not taking advantage ot trie divorce laws. ' The July number of the Piano. Oraran and Musical Instrument Workers' Official Journal re-publishf5a splendid article from the So Busy It Had to Decline Labor Day Business Because It Could Not Furnish the Coaches. The popularity of the Union Pacific railroad with the traveling public was emphasized by the fact that it couldn't furnish coaches enough to accommodate the unions ot Lincoln on Labor Day. Jo road in America has more or better equipment than the Union Pa cific, but it is so rushed with business that every coach and every engine is in use day and night. Labor Day comes in the midst of the G. A. R. reunion at Denver and the exposition at Portland, and the Union Pacific is compelled to strain every nerve to handle the immense volume of business brought to it by these two great events. And this business goes to the Union Pacific because it has the repu tation of doing everything it undertakes in the best possible man ner. . Its magnificent trains, its convenient schedules, its attractive scenic advantages and its well known liberality of management combine to make it the favorite with tourists through the great west. The management made every effort to find a way to handle the Labor Day excursion ,but rather than cause any inconvenience or detract from its established reputation, it preferred to decline the business. This of itself is proof that the management strives to deal fairly with the traveling public. It also proves that the rail road which does deal fairly with the people will do the big business. ON TO BEATRICE LABOR DAY. The Unions of That City Preparing to Show Lincoln Unionists the Times That We Read About. "Beatrice on Labor Day" should be the slogan of every union ist in Lincoln, for that's where Labor Day will be celebrated this year with all pomp and circumstance. The excursion will be run over the Burlington, the fare is 90 cents the round trip for adults and 45 cents the round trip for children. Take your baskets well filled and prepare to have a glorious time. For further particulars see the official program, further announcements or any member of th'e committees. ' V. , SB 85 An mm TO THE PUBLIC: For three months last past we have been using the columns of The Wageworker in an effort to educate the people up to the economy and convenience of gas as a fuel. A great many Lincoln people have been receiving The Wageworker during this time, with our compliments, and we. assure them that they will not be called upon to pay any subscription bills. We have been highly gratifed with the results obtained, for scores of families are now using fuel gas as a result of this method of publicity. We have endeavored to point out the ad vantages of fuel gas in points of economy, convenience and general utilitypoints that will be concurred in by upwards of 4,000 fam Hies now using fuel gas. We are perfectly willing te leave these points with those who are using gas for fuel. Indeed, our best solic itors are those who use fuel gas, for they in variably recommend it to their friends who are nonusers, and a satisfied customer is al ways a good advertisement for any business. We are prepared to submit proof that fuel gas is far cheaper than coal or wood, and su perior to either in convenience and comfort. AH that we ask is that you give fuel gas a fair trial, unbiased by prejudice. You will find it a saving in money and in time, a saving of labor and temper, a convenience in a score of ways. Fuel gas means fuel at the point of contact without the interposition of carriage, kindling or middlemen. It means the -utilization of all the heat. It means an absence of smoke, ashes and litter. There is absolutely no waste heat about fuel gas, and the heat is confined to cooking the food and not distributed all over the house. We connect new gas ranges without cost, no matter from whom you buy them. For the convenience of users of fuel gas we carry a lare line of the best and most improved makes of ( gas ranges arid water heaters and sell them on easy terms so easy that the saving in fuel practically pays for the range within our time limit. We take this opportunity to extend our thanks to the public for its increased patron age, and assure them that it will be our con stant effort to merit a continuance of the same. Lincoln Gas t Electric Light BELL 75 OOrVIPAIMY 1323 O ST., LINCOLN. AUTO 2575 OPEN EVENINGS