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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1905)
THE WAGEWORKER WILL M. MAUPIN, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Published Weekly. One DoHar a Year. Advertising Rates on Application Entered as second-class matter Ap ril 21, 1904, at the postoffice at Lin coln, Neb, under the Act of Congress. THE CHURCH AND LABOR UNIONS. The action of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church at Winona Lake in appointing a committee to make a systematic study of the aims of organized labor, is indeed gratifying. It shows ;hat the great Presbyterian denomination is arousing to a realizing sense of a great opportunity. The Wageworker feels sure that the deeper the committee goes into the study of the objects and aims of organized labor the more favorably it will be impressed with the work organized labor is doing in the interests of humanity. Organ ization in labor circles was brought about in the first place by the failure of the church to do its whole duty, and during the early years of labor organization the church was its bitterest enemy. This was in no wise due to any fault of the Christian religion, but was entirely the fault of njen who mistook selfish interest for religion. The church that existed at the time labor first began organizing was the servile tool of oppression au naturally sided with the oppress ors against the downtrodden who were worse than slaves. The church has undergone a process of evolution during the past two hundred years, but along humanitarian lines it has not progressed as it should. The result has been that labor unions have flourished because they were doing the humanitarian work the church neglected. While the church was putting great stress upon the spiritual and the hereafter, the labor organizations were putting especial stress on the physical and the now. Naturally enough the latter appealed most strongly to those who suffered privations while their oppress ors reveled in luxury. But now that the church is awakening to a realization of the fact that it has a work to do along physical lines, and as much interest in man's condition in the present as in his con dition in the hereafter, v may expect to see a wonderful revival in church work. In many respects the missions of church and labor unions are the same. Fraternity, mutual helpfulness, advancement along bet ter lines, love, protection all these things are duties that both church and union owe to humanity. When such great engines as '.he church and unions are hitched to the van of human progress who can measure the advance along moral and physical lines that may be made during the next century? SPLENDID LEADERSHIP. Union printers throughout the land will be quick to recognize the splendid leadership of President James Lynch and Secretary Treasurer Bramwood in the eight-hour campaign now being waged. These men have been tireless in their efforts and fertile in their re sources, and the result has been a solidifying of the lines in all parts of the country. They have kept the enthusiasm worked up to a high pitch, and have infused life into men and unions that were in clined to be listless upon this important point. Messrs. Lynch and P.ramwood should be given to understand in terms that can not be mistaken that they have a unanimous army of men behind them, and that as long as they keep up their present work that army will back them up till victory is won. The scene upon the floor of the Toronto convention when the question of endorsing the eight-hour movement came up was an in spiring one. There were no doubters, no laggards, no listless ones. '1 he unanimity of that splendid convention was a tribute to the splendid work of organization that Messrs. Lynch and Bramwood have been doing during the last year. The Rhymes of Childhood The nursery rhymes of the olden times, How dear they were to me; "Little Jack Horner" who sat in the corner, 1 The "Three Wise men at Sea." And sitting tonight in the dim twi light I croon them o'er and o'er. While two little tots in their nursery cots Keep asking more and more. The "Babes in the Woods" so brave and gqod I tell them o'er again, And they feel deep grief as each forest leaf Hides them in woodland glen. But I know full well that the tale I tell , A lesson strong imparts Of trust and love for the One above Unto their childish hearts. The nursery tunes that the mother croons At quiet close of day. When the shadows creep o'er the River Sleep, Bear childish cares away. And dear eyelids close on the day time's woes And life is love and light; For they dream sweet dreams full of golden gleams From nursery lore bright. The nursery rhymes from the old, old times, They serve their mission well. They've turned our gaze to the better ways E're carking care befell. And time turns back in its onward track When just as close of day To our babes we croon each old, old tune In the well-remembered way. As the peaks we climb on the hills of time Our lagging steps grow strong When a child's lips sweet with a lisp repeat Some old-time nursery song. O, "Little Bo-peep" who lost the sheep! O, sleepy "Little Boy Blue!" What a long dull way they are tread ing today Who never have walked with you. THE EIGHT HOUR DAY. There is one feature of the eight-hour day that has not been dwelt upon at sufficient length, for it is the chief factor that com mends it to organized labor. The plea that eight hours is enough for a man to work, and the plea of "eight hours for work, eight hours for play and eight hours for sleep," are all well enough, but there is a better reason than any of these for the inauguration of the eight hour day. That reason lies in the fact that the establishment of the eight-hour day means the employment of more men. Organized labor is not seeking to selfishly benefit the men already employed it seeks to' give the unemployed man a chance, and to make greater the opportunities for work. A little more emphasis upon the human itarian side of this question will strengthen the movement among fair-minded men and women. "NO COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. Compulsory arbitration is something that labor, organized or unorganized, will never give its consent to. Labor has had alto gether too much experience with jug handled arbitration wherein its enemies by methods well known to it manipulated things. Labor is almost unanimously in favor of arbitration, but it will oppose arbi tration at the hands of officials elected or appointed by judges, gov ernors or presidents when the finding of the arbitrators must be accepted. Provision for arbitration that will leave the selection of the arbi trators to the contending parties, and will leave the acceptance of the verdict to be forced by public opinion, will be accepted by labor as a long step fowrard. But machine made verdicts are something that labor has suffered from too much already. The daily newspapers filled columns with the reports of the Teamsters' convention in Philadelphia because it gave them an opportunity to talk about "violence" and "graft." But they said never a word about the printers' convention at Toronto, because if ihey did they would have to pay tribute to the printers' conscrva i ism and organization. What Is The Difference? The Hon. William Smithers arose in his wrath and threw his visitor over the transom. Quivering with rage he resumed his seat, muttering to him self; and nervously handling the pa pers of state that lay before him. "What is the matter, Mr. Smithers?" queried the representative of the P., D. & Q. railroad who happened to be standing in the hall when the ejected visitor lit. "Matter enough," snarled the Hon. William Smithers. "That villain in sulted me greivously, and I gave way to my anger long enough to forcibly eject him from my room." "May I be so bold as to ask what offense he committed?" "I'll tell you gladly. That fellow represents the Amalgamated Restau rant trust, and hearing that I am pre paring to introduce a bill aimed at if. he had the effrontery to call and offer me a meal ticket good at any of the trust's restaurants during the present session of the legislature." 'Horrible! ' exclaimed tne repre sentative of the P., D. & Q. railroad. Such a brazen effort to bribe an honest public official should meet with the most severe punishment. This wave of corruption must be swept back if our beloved republic is to endure. Such infamous methods must be exposed and punished. else or, by the way, Mr. Smithers, al low me to present you with this an nual pass over the P., D. & Q. rail road and its branches with the com pliments and best wishes of the man agement. This is a courtesy that we always extend to public servants act ing in your capacity, and we trust that you will seize every opportunity to avail yourself of Its ' use. Should you need occasional trip passes for members of your family, or for your immediate friends, have no hesitancy in calling on us. I wish you success, Mr. Smithers, in your efforts to rep resent the will of your constituents." Having witnessed th ejection of the representative of the restaurant trust we waited to see the representa tive of the P., D. & Q. railroad flying through the air to alight in a heap just outside the door to the room oc cupied by the Hon. William Smithers. But we were disappointed. The Hon. Mr. Smithers linked arms with the railroad representative and escorted him to the door with every evidence of goodwill. For some time we have been won dering what the representative of the restaurant trust would say if we told him about it. George P. Baer, president of the anthracite coal trust, can make the people of the country pay him $30,000,000 tribute by merely advancing the price of coal .10 cents a ton. How is it possible to beat a game like that as long as Baer and his friends can delude working men into remaining divided on election day? It remained for a mayor elected by the votes of union men to engineer a deal whereby a decent park is obtained for the city. The next time let us elect the whole blooming outfit of city officials and get a lot more things we are entitled to. An exchange says that Mr. Rockefeller has been so busy chas- intr dollars that he has lost all of his hair. Huh ! Mr. Rockefeller has lost more than hair in his mad chase for dollars. aBHf Colors" 'P'SSSPK!- "Prices" -tfjfegft tet Sjjgfi Lowest ftg It took 22.1,000 meal tickets to supply 200,000 meals to the special deputies during the Chicago teamsters strike. The deputies claim that they did not get tne tickets or tne meals. Parade solidly next Monday and then scatter like sheep on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. That is just what capital wants workingmcn to do. Mr. JIuttoiT stood by the mayor in securing a park for the city. Mr. Hutton shows gratifying symptoms of getting nearer to the working people of the city. The Wageworker has said its say about the Shelby Smith case until after the eight-hour fight is won. Then The Wageworker is going on a scalp hunt. ' 1 The unions of America have paid more sick and death benefits than all the life insurance companies of the country put together and at half the cost. ' The Wageworker has eaten its muzzle. Definitions When people are thrown out of work and are unable to purchase the necessaries of life, manufactured goods remain in the warehouses. That is called "over production." By taking advantage of the weak nesses of humanity scheming men ob tain control of avenues of industry and immediately levy a toll upon the helpless. That is called "economic evolution." By bribing venal lawmakers men secure control of things granted by the Almighty to mankind in common. That is called "vested rights." By manipulating laws men secure control of the nation's finances and use the money of the people to pro vide gambling funds as the basis of wild speculation. This is called "pre serving the national honor." Men stand up and make eloquent speeches on patriotism and attract public attention away from the dis honest acts of partners who lose no opportunity to rob under the guise of law. These men arei called "statesmen." Occasionally a man stands forth and denounces graft and calls for a return to the old paths. Such a man is called either "an agitator" or "an old fogy." Now and then men stand forth and denounce the acts of greedy men who operate under laws secured by the liberal distribution of money and favors. Such men are called "anar chists." When a man makes his living by cheating at cards he is called a "tin horn gambler." When a man accumulates a for tune by selling nothing for something ot gulls who expect to get something for nothing, he is called a captain of finance." A Childish Wail A little incident at once amusing and pathetic occurred on board a fast train between Chicago and Omaha TRICOT FLANNEL, in every shade that is made, full 27-inch 25c FLAKED TRICOT FLANNEL, new tinted effects25- We have prepared for a large dress goods business this season and have bought from the best manufactur ers in the country, and if prices and up-to-date merchandise have anything to do in this case we will certainly run short of some of the new materials before the season is over. . You should get in on these very low prices NOW, as-all our dress goods were bought before the advance in wool and if we wcrato buy these fabrics now. they would cost from 12c to 20 per cent more and the result would be that we wou.il have to sell the same goods at an advance. We have every new combination and color that is new this season in BUenriGti&s, Panamas, MohaSrs s&isl BsodGlo$hs ' BLACK MOHAIRS, 38 to 50 inches wide at 50c, 60c, 75c, 85c, $1.C0, $1.25 and $1.50 MOHAIRS IN COLORS, either plain or fancy, 36 to 50 inches wUj .50c, 60c, 75c and $1.00 PANAMAS, in black and colors, 38 and 44 inch, at- 65c and 85c HENRIETTAS, black and colors, 36 to 45 inch 25c, 50c, 65c, 75c, S1.C0, $1.50 SERGES, black and colors 50c and up BROADCLOTHS, in black and colors, 52 inch extra quality in twill back, special price $1.00 SHOWER PROOF SUITING, 56 inches wide, in tan, Oxford, Green, Navy and Brown in an invisible plaid ,eifeet; to appreciate this cloth you. must see it; now $1.35 inch .2UC THE LITTLE PRINCESS CLOTH, in colors, Nile Green, White, Tan, Brown, Navy, Royal and Black, 38 inches wide rw. . . 25c MELITTA SUITING, a 45-inch cloth warranted all worsted, all staple shades ..75c SELICA SUITING, a 45-inch cloth, light in weight with a fine granite finish, warranted all worsted in' colors Cardinal. Navv and Green $1.00 INVISIBLE CHECKS AND PLAIDS in suiting of all worsted at 50c, 75c, 85c, $1.00, $1.25, and $1.50 PLAIDS and CHECKS in Worsted and Mohair at 15c, 25c, 29c, 50c, 75c, 85c, $1.00 and $1.50 FALL are arriving daily and in locking for anything in this line be sure and have our salespeople show you our now ' lines cf Taffetas, Peau fa Soies and the new Silk that is out, called TUSCAN. New arrivals in Czarina petticoats in good quality, mercerized sateen; they are beautifully designed, high' grade in workman ship, perfect in fit and very low in price. W e have them at $2.75, $2.25 $1.98, $1.75, $1.50, $1.25 and 88c. TRY ONE OF THESE GAR MENTS; YOU WILL WEAR NO OTHER THAN CZARINA. Walking Skirt A rich assortment of newest styled skirts in popular materials such as Panama, Voile, Serge, Cravinette, Cheviot, mannish cloth and others in all desirable colors. We invite your inspection as to the style, fit, quality and low prices of our skirts. The prices ranging at $8.50, $7.50, $S.C0, $5.00, $3.75 and $2.75. Fiaissd&ieiiGB To induce early buying ot choice Fall Styles in Outing and Flannelettes we place on sale the following at very low prices: 10 pieces Unbleached Shaker Flannel 4c 50 pieces, full width, Medium and Light Colored Outings in stripe and checks. 5c 50 pieces Fine Soft Outings," light and dark colors' like vou paid last fall 10c This week. .7y2c 50 pieces Light and dark Flannel ettes, fast colors and good pat terns 10c 15 pieces of Moleskin Flannelette in pretty kimono patterns and soft as down, 12ic value. .10c Dmii&s and GusMon Taps 144 Tinted Doilies go on sale this Aveek; they are 12x12 inches and usually sell at 15c. This week you can buy them at 10c each, and we give you 2 skein1' of Potters silk with each doily fveo Choice of 500 Tinted Cushion Tops with backs ; they are worth to 50c. This week at 25c. . We have two things we want to tell you about in one breath. The first is our $3.50 Men's Shoes; the second is o u r $3.50 Women's Shoes. If we dwell too long on one we neglect: the other a I'd both have equal merit. THESE $3.50 S II O i: S ARE THE BEST SHOES THAT MONEY CAN B U Y A N Y WHERE One of the best mak ers in the eouu- trj' built them to order from the best of Velour Calf, Box Calf. Vici Kid. The shapes are the latest and there's nothing about them to enable you to distinguish them from a $5.00 shoe, COME AND SEE THE $3 50 SHOES. often BSs-nEgets GUtray or Tan Z-C Gray or Tan 7&G 917-921 0, OPPOSITE POST OFFICE Special faSzsGs in Bed Comforts. one day last week, the exact scene being in the palatial "dining car. At one table sat a mother and son, the former dressed in a manner indicat ing an abundance of this world's goods, the latter trim and neat, but with pale cheeks and hollow eyes. Just before Elgin. 111., is reached the train dashes along the banks of the Illinois river, and looking through the window the little boy saw scores of other little boys swimming and wading in the shallow reaches of the broad stream. He pressed his pale face against the window and looked longingly upon the scene as long as his eyes could reach it. When the scene was no longer visible he sank back into his chair with an audible sigh and ate his meal in silence. Evidently his childish mind dwelt upon the scene, for full fifteen minutes later he looked up at his mother, and in a voice full of longing he asked: "Mamma, did you ever wade in the water when you was a little girl?" The question brought a rosy blush to the matron's face, and the diners within earshot smiled at the ques tion, even though it brought a pang to their hearts. The boy s tones in dicated that it had never been his pleasure to feel the contact of cool, moist earth against his little feet, that he had never known the childish joys of wading in running water and feeling the mud ooze up between his wriggling toes. The question was at once a wail and a protest against parental thoughtlessness that believed itself to be watchful care. The in finite pathos of that question will sound in the ears of those who heard it for many a long day to come. "Mamma, did you ever wade in the water when you was a little girl?" At the Bar The multi-millionairs entered through the gates that stood before the bar of judgment. "Well, have you any idea what your account is ?" queried the angel with ' the book. "O, yes," replied the multi-million aire with a smug smile. "I founded a great school and endowed it with millions, and I " "And you filched water from the municipality for use in your big fac tory," interrupted the angel. "I founded an orphan school and endowed it with millions, and " "With millions filched from widows and other orphans by means of watered stock, purchased laws and rebates," interrupted the angel. "I established a charity bureau and doled out millions to the deserving poor w.ho " "Who had been made poor by your unjust exactions," interrupted the angel. "I equipped a regiment at my own expense when the nation's life was in danger, and " "And made 10,000 per cent on the investment by supplying the govern ment with tainted meat, shoddy cloth ing and paper shoes under contract," interrupted the angel. "I lifted the mortgages on many churches, and " "Plastered mortgages on hundreds of cottages," interrupted the angel. "I gave large sums to scientific ex ploration, and " "And reduced defiance of law to an exact science," interrupted the angel. "I led a Sunday school, and " "And led many a young man to ruin by your example," interrupted the angel. "I provided many poor widows with coal when the winter blasts were blowing, and " "And compelled millions to suffer from those same winter blasts by arbitrarily advancing the price of the coal supply which you controlled," in terrupted the angel. "But I " "I guess that will do," interrupted the angel again, dipping his pen in the red ink bottle an rapidly setting down a total. Brain Leaks Love may be blind, but it usually finds a way. Sincerity is the only foundation up on which to build true success. The world rarely thinks well of a man who does not think well of himself. Work is a joy when the loved ones share the fruits. Feet that never stumble never carry their owners far. A premature start often means a too previous finish. A kind word now is better than a floral emblem hereafter. It is better to wear out than to rust out, and unwise to do either. Every boy is a puzzle, and it is a wise father who can guess the an swer. The man who stubs his toe twice on the same nail is foolish if he blames the nail. A lot of people never think of their religion until they hear the church bells ringing. A man must be awfully mean when he can find pleasure in depriving other people of it. There is a skeleton In every closet, but this is no excuse for a continual rattling of the bones. Many men who would scorn do a dishonest act in their business think it is all right to do dishonest tricks in politics. "The word graft has been incor porated into the language" says a lexicographer. And it has also been incorporated elsewhere. Some men never think of praying deliver us not into temptation un til they have willingly rushed into it and begin suffering the consequences, It is wrong to be envious, but just the same we never see a barefoot boy with his toe tied up . in a rag that we do not envy him, sore toe, rag and all. A hypocrite in the church is always prominent because ot the contrast. The contrast being very much less outside, the hypocrite is not so no ticeable. - The man in the brown stone palace may enjoy life after a fashion, but he misses the satisfaction of the humble cottager who can sit in the front yard in his shirt sleeves and talk over the fence with his neighbor. HATTERS WIN THEIR CASE. Danbury Firm Found to Be Counter feiting Label. Bridgeport, Conn., Aug. 28. Judge Shumway, in the superior court, has handed down a decision in the suit of the United Hatters of North America against C. H. Merrltt & Son of Dan bury, in favor of the plaintiff. The hatters sued, alleging that the firm was getting business by counterfeiting the union label on goods made by non-union workmen. ' Judge Shumway orders an account ing by the firm with the hatters and issues a permanent injunction res'train ing the firm from using any more of theoffending labels. Jurge Shumway practically exonerates the non-union firm from any intention to deceive or defraud, stating that these allegations in the suit were not proven, although, at the same time, he finds the firm guilty of counterfeiting the union label. Ninety-two printers unions have the 8-hour day, and sixty-two have arrang ed for it by contract. X I