THE WAGEWORKER
At a committee meeting of union men the other day one com
rnitteeman made a strong "get-together-and-stay-together" speech,
and when he concluded he sat down and rolled a cigarette out of
"scab" tobacco. And this happened right here in Lincoln, too.
WILL. M. MAUPIN, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
is m tee Vili
Gentlemen who have land suited for park purposes and are will
ing to donate it to the city of Lincoln, are respectifully invited to
open up correspondence with "F. W. B.," care City Hall, Lincoln,
N ebraska.
Published Weekly. Oae DoMar a Year. Advertising Rates on Application
' Entered aa aecond-clasa matter April 21, 1904, at the poetofllce at Lin
coln, Neb, under the Act of Congress.
THE HUMOR OF MR. POST.
Charles W. Post, the husband of the stenographer and resident
;n the mansion at the end of the road to Wellville, is blossoming into
quite a humorist. True we have laughed at Mr. Post gyrations for
quite a long time, but it was not because he was humorous. It was
because he was simply ridiculous. But now he isu'njecting humor,
and as a result we beg leave for time in which to laugh in oui edi
torial sleeve. -
"Ha, ha!" Likewise "Ho, ho," to say nothing of Te-he!
Having had our little laugh we will now reveal the cause there
of. . Mr. Post is going to establish a "printers' home."
Wouldn't that make you wrinkle your face?
He is going to establish a "printers' home" with the understand
ing that it will be open alike to union and non-union printers.
This is certainly very kind of the husband of the stenographer,
but we stop the press long enough to thank him for nothing.
Mr. Post may induce divers and sundry non-union printers to
accept his hospitality and imitation food, But Hades will have boiled
down to a poultice before any union printers accept it. They do not
have to. Union printers have a very comfortable home of their
own, and no thanks to Mr. Post. They built it themselves, and they
pay the running expenses. There is no charity about it It is a
home in fact as well as in name, and the printers who dwell beneath
its roof are neither guests nor inmates they are in their own home,
a home bought, paid for and conducted by themselves.
The spectacle of Mr. Post building a "home" for printers, or any
other craft, would be worth going miles to see
Before Mr. Post's "printers' home" is filled, even with non
unionists, he will have to give bond not to dope the inmates with
toasted sawdust and roasted spenal.
THE EIGHT-HOUR BATTLE CRY.
"We propose to sell to the employer eight hours of the twenty
four, and we will do as we please with the remaining sixteen."
This is the official slogan of the International Typographical
Union, adopted at Toronto last month. It should be the slogan of
every labor organization in the country. The eight-hour day move
ment as it now exists is not the fight of the union printers it is the
fight of every labor organization that is not already enjoying the
eight-hour day. .Eight hours a day is long enough for any man to
work if he expects to get any pleasure out of life as he goes through
it. The man who is driven .from his bed to work and then crawls,
tired and insensate from his work to his bed, can never become what
he should be as a citizen, a husband or a father. If labor received a
full equivalent the eight-hour day would be too long, but modern
conditions are so firmly established that it is idle to dream of wholly
revolutionizing them during this or the coming generation. But
little by little labor can secure more of the product, and as it gains
thus little by little it can rise to greater heights of usefulness as
citizens and as parents.
Workingmen must have more time in which to study questions
affecting the welfare of the republic, and having secured the time
they must devote a goodly portion of it to that study. In no other
way can the problems that directly affect the toiler be solved. Let
the slogan of the union printers become the slogan of workingmen
everywhere. ;
: THE PARK COMMISSION.
Mayor Brown and the city councilmen who have backed him
up in his efforts to solve the park problem in Lincoln, deserve the
thanks of the laboring men of the city for what they have already
accomplished. True, only a beginning has been made, but a begin
ning is just what the people of the city have been asking for during
the past twenty years. Now that the city owns a park site and is in
a position to acquire additional property, there is every reason why
the people should take hold and keep pushing until Lincoln has a
park system worthy of the city.
The gentlemen who have been named as park commissioners
are known to be personally interested in the park question and
enthusiastic in favor of doing everything possible to give the city the
needed facilities. Politics will cut absolutely no figure in the make
up of the board, and The Wageworker believes that every member
will work diligently to make the park system what it ought to be
in a city like Lincoln. The start should have been made thirty years
ago, but it was not. And now that it has been made, let everybody
help push it along. Organized labor is especially interested in the
movement and The Wageworker knows without question that it
voices the sentiments of every union man in the city when it says
that Mayor Brown, the council and the park commission will have
the earnest support of organized labor in the effort to give Lincoln
a park system worthy of the name.
, . ' "j THE MUNICIPAL LIGHTING PLANT.
, The city of Lincoln now owns its own lighting plant and its own
water plant, ao far, so good. But it has not yet gone far enough.
There are a couple of other public utilities that'the citv should own.
Chief of those remaining under private ownership is the street rail
way, just aa soon as possible that public utihty should be taken
over by the city and administered for the benefit of the public in
stead ot for the benefit of a few individuals.
"Socialism !" exclaims some one. Not a bit of it just ordinary
common sense. It is just as foolish for a city to give away a fran
chise to run street cars as it would be for a builder to give away a
franchise to a corporation to run an elevator in his sky-scraper office
building. The streets belong to the city and should be preserved
to the city. Any profit accruing by reason of use of the streets
should go to the municipality. If owned by the public the street
railway would be conducted for the convenience of the public. It
is now conducted with a view to profit, and profit and public con
venience are constantly at war.
THE VOTING MACHINE.
Mayor Brown will add additional prestige to his administration
if he will use his efforts to secure voting machines for Lincoln with
out any more delay than is necessary. The people are looking for
convenience and safety rather than .for economy in elections, al
though the economical feature has its advantages. The voting ma
chine offers ease of voting, freedom from corruption and absolute
guarantee of fairness in both vote and count. That is what the
people are most interested in these days. The Wageworker doesn't
know one voting machine from another, and doesn't care a rap what
make of machine is purchased, just so it will meet the requirements.
The offer made by Mr. Powers, however, seems as reasonable as
anyone could ask. He , has figured out just what the city would
save by using the machines, and offers to take payments equal to
the saving effected. Having inaugurated a park system, Mayor
Urown might go ahead and be instrumental in introducing the voting
machine. Then his administration would be well established as
conducive to the welfare of the community.
Pat Crowe was in Lincoln last Monday. Pat has, been guilty
of some very wrong things, but so far as known he never divorced the
wife who had helped make him rich in order to spend the money on
a young and fresh stenographer while posing as a friend of decency
and law.
The time for buying your winter suit is close at hand. Now is
the time to begin reminding yourself about the necessity of demand
ing the label when you go in to purchase it.
Compel the Lincoln Distraction company to take up the unused
rails on several of the down town streets. -
This is the season of year when you can give your fellow union
ists among tne teamsters a boost. .Purchase coal only from dealers
wno win guarantee to have it delivered by union teamsters.
Mr. Rockefeller spent some money' the other day entertaining
the American Press Humorists. He will do most of his laughing
wnen ne maices tne puDiic reimburse him. '
The newly appointed park commissioners are respectfully re
quested not to plant any mossbacks m the new park. There are
too many in Lincoln now. , -
When Post builds his "printers' home" he will have to get some
t A 1 :.. ,1 1 i i " j i. r .
icucicu juugc iu iiiduudiiius primers into it Deiore ne can get enougn
to raise an echo.
When Grand Chief Stone of the B. L. E. comes to Lincoln he
should receive a royal welcome from organized labor.
Help boost the great rally that is soon to be held in Lincoln by
the Brotherhood ot Locomotive .Engineers.
If the teamster has no button, refuse to sign or pay for the coal.
Get into the union game for fair.
An Echo of Labor Day
When Mr. Workem came home on
the evening of Labor day he was
tired and happy. Throwing his uni
form to one side, and pinning his
badges on the wall, Workem dropped
into a chair with a sigh of satisfac
tion and exclaimed:
"That was the biggest celebration
labor ever had in this man's town ! "
Mrs. Workem said nothing until
she had picked up the discarded
uniform and hung it in the closet.
Then she took a chair and replied:
"Yes, it was about the longest
parade I ever saw on Labor day."
"About the longest?" shouted
Workem. "It had all other parades
skinned by not less than twelve blocks.
We had two thousand more men in
line today than we ever had before."
"I guess so," replied Mrs. Workem,
who had a far-away expression in her
about ready, ma?"
"I'm as hungry as a
eyes.
"Ain't supper
asked Workem.
bear."
"Supper will be ready in a few min
utes, pa. I'm just waiting for the
potatoes to boil."
Mrs. Workem went into the little
kitchen and after briskly moving
about for a few minutes announced
that the evening meal was ready.
Workem hastened in, not forgetting
to give the baby a kiss he as passed
his high chair. During the ensuing
fifteen minutes Workem said very
little, being very busy with knife and
fork. Mrs. Workem ate her meal ia
silence. Finally Workem shoved his
chair back, reached into his upper
vest pocket and pulled out a cigar.
When the cigar was going to his satis
faction he leaned back in his chair
and said:
"Ah, but we made a magnificent
showing this day. Labor showed its
strength today in a way that will
make the bosses sit up and take no
tice. We own the world, I tell you.
The sight of this grand army of toil
marching proudly shoulder to shoulder
is one that will "
"Rats!" exclaimed Mrs. Workem.
"What's that, ma"?" shouted the as
tonished Workem.
"Look here, husband," said Mrs.
Workem, a steely glitter showing in
her eyes and the lines about her
mouth settling deeper. "Look here!
I ve been thinking all day today. I
had to stay at home and take care of
the baby while you paraded, and I
had plenty of time to think. I've been
thinking on this problem of organiza
tion. I'm a good union woman, my
dear, and your working card is as
dear to me as it is to you. I'll suffer
anything with you, too, to stand by
the union's principles. But I'm rafaid
you unionism is merely a veneer."
"Why, ma! How can you say- that?
Why, I'd die for my union if neces
sary. I've gone ragged and hungry
rather than go back on the boys, and
I'd do it again. Why, my unionism
is as deep as any man's can "
"All right, my husband. I'll admit
il for the argument, and then make
my indictment. Didn't you carry a
banner today saying something about
the peril of Chinese cheap labor?" i
"Yes, ma; I did. The importation
of Chinese cheap labor to compete
with American work '
"O, stop, husband. I've heard that
till my ears ache. And all the time
you are howling against Chinese cheap
labor you have been voting the ticket
put up by men who have been import
ing cheap labor from the slums of
Europe by the hundreds of thousands.
You've been foolish enough to let the
Baers and Morgans keep you howling
about Chinamen so loud you couldn't
hear the tread ot the hundreds of
thousands of criminals and paupers
being imported by contract to work in
the mills and the mines of the east."
"Why, look here, ma; I wouldn't
get"
"And last campaign you spilled
grease all over your best coat carry
ing a torch in a parade and holding
it so everybody could see the words
on a banner your marching comrade
carried. It said 'Protection to Ameri
can Workingmen, didn't it?"
"Yes, ma; and I "
"Well, the men who paid for that
banner and who contributed the ex
penses of that and other parades,
have raised the price of their meat
and flour and sugar and clothing a
half-dozen times since then. Now tell
me where we come in? Has your
wages been increased. The landlord
has raised the rent. The coal dealer
has added a dollar on the ton. We get
three pounds less sugar for a dollar.
We pay as much for a round steak
as we did for a tenderloin. The
trust managers furnished the parade
money and tne workingmen furnished
the votes now tell me who is getting
the worst of it? Show me your share
of the 'protection' you talked about."
"Why, mother!" exclaimed Workem.
"You wouldn't have me voting against
tnese sweat shop slaves?"
the grand old party that freed the
slaves and "
"Freed the black slaves, yes;" inter
rupted Mrs. Workem. "But how about
some white ones? -The girls in Gouge
& Grind's overall factory could not
parade today because Gouge & Grind
wouldn t allow them a holiday and the
girls couldn't' afford to lose the time.
What have you done to emancipate
"Now look here, ma; there ain't
no use o' your "
"Last campaign you hollered your
self hoarse for Senator Smooth. He
went down to Washington and hasn't
been heard of since. Last week he
took his family to a sea shore resort,
riding in a special car furnished by
the railroads. . You and me and the
baby have been to the park one Sun
day afternoon so far this summer,
Ain't I right?"
"Yes, ma. But I had to support
Senator Smooth- because he was my
party's candidate, and
"And who made him your party's
candidate? Why the men who are
putting up the price of everything we
have to buy and keeping down the
price of your labor by importing
white men through New York city
while you are hollering about keep
ing the Chinaman from coming in
through San Francisco."
"But I ain't a coin' back on my
party, you bet. I'm goin' to stick to
it, cause it is the greatest
"Of course you'll stick to your party,
husband. I don't expect you to quit
it. It s been so long since you done
anything for yourself that you couldn't
do it I. done a bit of figuring while
you 'were parading. Every time ''you
stepped while keeping time to the
bass drum Mr. Rockefeller made as
much as you make by half a day's
work. And he makes It because you
and your fellow unionists have been
voting for the policies that Mr. Rocke
feller advocates policies that make
him the richest man In the world and
you a workingman earning $2 a day.
Every time your right foot struck the
ground Mr. Carnegie was making
more than you make in a day, and
making it because your 'protection'
vote let him fix the price on his pro
duct as well as the price of your toil.
While you were taking one step Mr.
Baer issued an order and raised the
price of coal 25 cents a ton. It made
his company $20,000,000 in less time
than it took you to march a half a
block. And your vote, together with
the vote of others like you, made it
possible for Baer and his crowd to
make that money) by compelling you
to pay it.
"Why, ma; you're talkin' kind o'
crazy, ain't you? What's got into
your head, anyhow?"
"Something that don't seem to
have got in yours, husband sense.
What's (he , good of parading on
Labor day and letting the oppressors
of labor run things every other day?
If the two million union men of the
country can march together on Labor
day, why can't they vote together on
election day? You've been doing the
marching and the voting, all these
years, husband. , Norr we are going
to divide up. You are going to do the
marching just as you please, but 1 11
attend to the voting. You'll have to
cast the ballot, but it must be as I
say. And I m going to vote thoughts
instead of prejudices.
"But women don't know nothing
about politics, ma.
"Nothing about your kind of poli
tics, thank goodness! ejaculated Mrs,
Workem. We women can't see where
we get any protection under a sys
tem that increases the expense of
housekeeping without adding some
thing to the pay envelope. We can't
see the difference between having our
husbands thrown .out of work by a
Chinaman and having them thrown
out of work by a contract criminal
from Hungary. We can't see the sense
in getting together to assert the dig
nity of labor on the first Monday in
September, and then getting apart
on the Tuesday after the first Monday
in November simply because political
bosses have their orders from the
trust magnates. 'We can't see the
sense of hollering for 'protection' and
then submitting to being robbed on
everything from the cradle . to the
coffin." " ,
"I don't know what's got into you,
ma," said Workeni sorrowfully. I'm
sure I'm doin' the best I know how."
"Of course you; are, pa; but you
don't know how Very much. That's
what I'm complainin' about."
"Well, what can; I do, ma?"
"That's easy. Get your fellow union
ists to vote as solidly for their in
terests as they march to display the
dignity of .labor. Vote for us women
and the babies instead of the wives
and babies of the men who are get
ting richer and richer every day oft
of your toil and -votes. If you men
took as much trouble to learn What:
your duty on election day is as you
do to make a fine showing in a
Labor day parade you wouldn't be
quite so helpless. I reckon the trust
managers "don't care how much you
parade on Labor day just so you vote
with them on election day. Well, I
declare if the baby ain't gone to
sleep sittin' right there in his little
chair. Tou get his nightgown, hus
band, while I take off his clothes."
And as Workem groped his way to
the bedroom closet he was muttering
to himself: :
"Somethin's wrong with "ma. I
guess she's been workin' too hard." I
Considered from the standpoint of general utility, practical economy
and the possibilities of beautifying effects, there is no light which will bear .
comparison with gas light. If you want a bright, steady light, one by J
which you can read for hours without injury to the eyes in the least, let us
pipe your house lor gas. It will not cost you much and the amount of gas
consumed will be insignificant when compared to the enjoyment good light
brings to your home. . ? ''' - ,
Lincoln Gas & Electric Light Company
Auto Phone 2575, Bell 75, 1323-0 Street ' ;
Instantaneous Hot Water Heaters
The greatest convenience of modern times. No waiting for hours when
you want a bath. . All .you. have. to do is to .strike a match, light the -gas,
turn on the faucet and the hot water is pouring into your tub.
ALL THE HOT WATER YOU WANT WITHOUT A MOMENT OF LOST TIME
Friendship
When the sun is bright and the sky
is blue,
And calm is the wind and weather,
Then plenty of friends will stick
by you
' And walk down the ways together.
For easy the path where the flowers
- grow , . -...'(
And the grass in the wind nods to
and fro,
So many a friend with you will
go
On the way o'er the sunlit heather.
But if clouds grow dark and the way
grows steep
And the harsh wind blood is chilling,
But few you'll find at your side will
keep -
With hearts that are warm and will
ing. For hard is the path where the sharp
thorns hide,
Where the rough rocks hinder on
every side,
And you see the wraiths of the loves
that died
When your life with woe was filling.
Fair weather friends by your side
will run
When yours is the path of pleasure;
But cloudy the sky and obscured the
sun . ,
Their love lacks the needed measure.
For love like theirs Is mere selfish
ness .
That withers away In the storm and
stress.
For .'tis rooted in pleasure and takes
no less
Than a self-willed meed of pleasure.
So here's to the friend who stands
by you ,
Tho' foul be the wind and weather;
Whose eyes look love and whose
heart beats true '
As you tread dark ways together.
For he lends you strength from his
strong right arm. y
And you build new faith on his heart
beats warm,
While you laugh at fate and its threats
of harm
O'n your way o'er the storm-swept
heather.
Brain Leaks ,,.
Any fool can become intoxicated; all
who do are.
Love laughs at locksmiths, but not
at goldsmiths.
The man who agrees with our views
is always a sensible fellow.
A face painted on canvas is always
much prettier than a face painted un
der a hat. .
Too many people conjure up trouble
and then seek credit for bearing
heavy crosses.
No man is really wise until he is
willing to admit that there are things
he does not know.
People who go to church through a
sense of duty seldom get any good out
of the service.
When we see a boy loafing on the
streets we suspect that the father
may be to blame.
It is a pleasure to lend to a neigh
bor, who always returns a heaping
cup for the level cup she borrowed.
A great many business houses now
use the card system. Another kind of
a card system has ruined many busi
ness houses.
The worst thing about a bad cold
is the task of explaining to your
friends why you do nqt try the reme
dies they suggest. ,
Our Piano Prices
and Others
Go through some of the Piano stores, note carefully the qual
ity and price of Pianos offered. Then come here and make
comparisons. It is worth that much trouble to make sure
that you are getting the worth of your money. The flood of
cheap, showy Pianos especially made for "Sales" is on the in
crease. You won't find any Pianos of that sort in this store.
Every Piano here comes from a reliable maker, and you can
buy a Pi&r.o from us without fear. A person must be woefully
careless to buy & Piano without first visiting the Curtice store.
!The,onJyplacerwHerejty03 con see a new
Chickering,
Starr,
Everett,
Richmond,
I vers & Pond,
Vose, f-lffly.
Packard, .
Harvard.
WE RENT GOOD PIANOS
Ross P. Curtice Co.
1125 O Street.
The best place to buy a good piano. Other stores at Oma
ha, Nebraska City, Beatrice and Grand Island.
CXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)0
A SQUARE DEAL.
What a Great Daily Newspaper Says
of Trades Unions.
The cost of labor is one of the prin
cipal items that enter . into competi
tion between business men. No one
can deny this. Then is it not a de
cided -advantage to deal with an or
ganization of labor that guarantees to
the business- man that . his competitor
is paying the same wages that he
does? And, besides, there is not a
union in existence which places mini
mum wages above what a man can
afford to support a man upon com
fortably. Union wages are always
reasonable wages. Employers of la
bor who object to the strictly union
shops do so simply because union
regulations require a standard justice
to the workmen that most employers
want to violate in the interests of
profit. Chicago Inter Ocean.
The Greatest Opportunity of
Your Life to Get a Fine Pair of
Shoes Union Made Cheap.....
Men's $4.50 to $5.00 Shoes now $3.75 to $3.50
Ladies' $4. 00 Shoes f or . . . ... . . . . . $3.00
Work Shoes worth $2.50 now .$2.00
We need the money and you need the shoes."
Boy's and Girl's shoes 25 per cent off. We can
save you money. V 1
, DON'T FORGET THE PLACE , '
ODEN'S
1322 O Street
SATISFACTORY BUSINESS.
Had All the Clerk Could Do, and Are
Well Pleased.
The Lincoln Clothing Co. enjoyed
a big business during fair week.
"We put on all the additional clerks
we could . find," said Manager Aach,
"and then we couldn't, wait on the
people fast enough... Our business dur
ing the week was really immense." :
;; This store is building up a trade
to be proud of, and is doing it by
catering to the wants of the people.
It has been doing business only a
couple of years although members of
the firm have been residents of Lin
coln for a long time and in that
short time has built up a business
that reflects credit upon its manage
ment. Every week you can see some
of . the Lincoln , Clothing company's
many bargains explained in the ad
vertising columns ' of The Wage
worker. .. ..
San Francisco bookbinders have no
agreement, but by tacit understanding
the bookbinders only work eight hours
now. That is the printer's workday
and the bookbinders have quietly tak
en It without any kick being made
against it. -