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A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that. is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere.
VOL. 2 LINCOLN, NEBBASICA, DECEMBER 8, 1905 - , NO. 33
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MAY GOD BLESS THE KICKER
He iw a Valuable Adjunct to Any Organization
and Helps to Keep Things Moving by Eter
nally Stirring His Fellows Up to Renewed
Efforts There is a Big Difference Between
the Kicker and the Knocker.
Heaven bless the "kicker" in the labor un
ion, or any other organization. The "kicker"
serves a valuable purpose in the world. With
out him there would be no material progress.
.Martin Luther was a "kicker." and the reli
gious world owes him a debt of gratitude.
Oliver Cromwell was a "kicker," and Old Iron
sides conferred great benefits upon his fel
lows. The barons who cornered King John at
.Runnymede and made him cough up the Mag
na Charter were a precious lot of "kickers" to
whom the world is greatly indebted. George
Washington was a '"kicker," and everybody re
veres his memory. These men all "kicked"
against established customs that were wrong.
They "kicked" early and late, and finally they
kicked the abuses out and made room for right
and justice.
Don't get . mixed on the "kicker" . and
"knocker" business. There is a big difference
between them. The "knocker" tries to pull
down. The "kicker" tries to build up. The
labor union that hasn't one or more chronic
"kickers" in its ranks is unfortunate. Without
them there is danger of things getting into a
rut. With one real good, lively "kicker" on
the rolls there is always some one to call at
tention to abuses and wrongs. Besides, the
makes the real, genuine labor union stronger
makes the real, genuine labor union srtonger.
We like a "kicker." We like to "kick." And
The Wageworker is going to make a "kick"
against the hypocrisy of men who make loud
prayers in public and then "sweat" the wages
of poor girls in order to make a fat salary for
themselves. $it is going to "kick" against a man
who thrives at the expense of honest . work
ingmen by employing convict labor getting up
and talking about "boosting home industry.
It is going to "kick" every time a lot of cheap
skate politicians try to make catspaws of union
men to pull political chestnuts out of the fire.
Kick and the world takes notice; .
Submit and it swats your eye.
Hut a real good kick will turn the trick
And make you stand ace high.
Don't think that because you "knock" that
you are making a "kick." Just stand up on
yo.ur hind legs and make a holler every time
you see something that looks wrong. "Kick"
against lethargy. "Kick" against indifference.
"Kick" against extravagance. "Kick" against
radicalism. "Kick" against graft and grafters.
Heven bless the "kicker!"
THE DIFFERENCE.
Senator Burton Cinched, But Paul Morton
Given a Clean Bill of Health.
It does make-a difference, doesn't it? Sena
tor Burton of aKnsas has just been sentenced
tor Burton of Kansas has just been sentenced
leged illegal transactions. Burton is a poor man
who had to scratch like thunder to make a liv
ing. He had no influential corporation con
nections. The moment he got into trouble his
few friends deserted him because he could no
longer be of service to him. And a court sent
him up.
Paul Morton is rich, and has rich and influ
ential friends. He confessed to having vio
lated the law, but instead of being cinched he
was put into the cabinet and afterwards made
president of the Equitable Life Insurance com
pany at a salary . of ..$80,000 a year. When
brought before the court his confession of guilt
was thrown out and he was dismissed under
the demurrer that the court had no jurisdic
tion. Senator Dietrich was charged with violating
law. He demurred on the ground that the acts
complained of were committed before he took
the oath as senator, although he admitted that
he was drawing his senatorial salary all the
time. But Dietrich is rich and has powerful
corporate friends.
It does make a difference, does it not? and
yet people wonder, why the poor are rapidly
coming to believe that the courts construe the
law one way for the rich and another way for
the poor.
LOOKS LIKE PROSPERITY.
Omaha Western Laborer Comes to Hand En
larged and Full of Good Business.
The Omaha Western Laborer looks prosper
ous to a degree that must be pleasing to Edi
tor Kennedy and the "Mate of the Brig." It
certainly is to the friends of that sterling labor
newspaper. The Big Bennett stores had an"
advertisement in last week's Laborer that was
the largest union label advertisement ever ap
pearing in a western labor paper, and is an in
dication that the management of that big in
stitution knows the value of a labor news
paper that reaches the majority of the wage
earners of that city. It is to be hoped thai
the unionists of Omaha will be quick to see
the advantage of patronizing an institution that
makes such a splendid display of union label
goods.
Here's hoping that the Western Laborer
will keep right on growing bigger, and if pos
sible, better. It is a "crackcrjack" now. By
the way, the Omaha Label League seems to
have struck a gait that will put the union label
on the shelf of every retailer in that city.
Through the Laborer it is waging a magnifi
cent campaign.
TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.
Lincoln Local Has Interesting Session and
Elects Officers.
Lincoln Typographical Union Xo. 209 met
last Sunday and had a long and interesting
session. The chief business was the election
of officers, and this resulted in an interesting
misunderstanding as to the interpretation of
the recently revised constitution. The union
has for years elected in December and June,
but the revised constitution seems to hav
changed this. But the change was not discov
ered until after the officers had been elected at
the last meeting. The matter will be threshed
out at the next meeting. The election resulted
as follows : 1
President, Frank M. Coffee.
Vice President, A. T. Pentzer.
Financial Secretry, F. W. Hebbard.
Recording Secretary, Albert Strain.
Executive Committee: Ihringer and Mar
shall. Central Labor Union: Fentzer, Smith and
: Locker.
Allied Trades Council: Creel, Locker, Lead
en. The executive committee reported on its
conference with the employers concerning the
eight-hour day proposition. I he report was
received without discussion. The home com
mittee reported progress and was given instruc
tions to continue its work. Ihe financial sec
retary reported that there were no members in
arrears, and the relief committee reported noth
ing doing. These two latter reports were
received with applause.
The failure of the Pressmen's Union to press
negotiations with the employers was discussed,
and the opinion was expressed that the press
men should do something without further loss
of time.
Appropriate resolutions upon the death of
Ernest Kreft of Philadelphia Union No. 2 were
read and adopted.. Resolutions of sympathy
for Mr. and Mrs. Hebbard were also adopted.
One new member was initiated.
Harry Thomas of Harvard, an active mem-,
berrof the Lincoln; union, and .editor and pub-,
lisher-of the Harvard Courier, was present it
the meeting and upon being called upon for a
few remarks expressed his great pleasure at
the opportunity of being present and said he
would try to be regular in his attendance here
after. Mr. Thomas' "country shop" is union
from editor down the line, and the union was
more than glad to have him present. J. E.
Mickel, who was formerly a very active and in
fluential member of the local union, and wp
is now operating the "Merg" in Mr. Thomas'
office, was also present and held an informal
reception among his old comrades. "Jess" is
always assured of a hearty welcome from un
ion printers and other unionists whenever he
comes to Lincoln.
Mr. and Mrs. Hebbard returned. the lattrr
part of last week from Aledo, Ills., where they
were suddenly called by, the death of Mrs.
Hebbard's mother. The sympathy of the un
ion contingent is extended to Mr. and Mr.
Hebbard in their affliction.
Mr. and Mrs. Maupin and children celebrated
Thanksgiving in Harvard as the guests of
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Mickel.
The tush of the Christmas season is . being
felt in printing circles and as a result the
printers are compelled to dodge opportunities
to work in order to get time for sleep.
BETTER BRING IT BACK.
Modern. Woodman Does Not Look Like It Did
When the Journal Printed It.
The Modern Woodman ought to be brought
back to Lincoln, judging by the looks of the
December issue. When the Journal company
printed it the Modern Woodman was an ar
tistic bit of work. The December issue is very
much to the bad. The half-tones look like mere
blots and the "bulls" in the make-up are glar
ing. This publication was an artistic one when
the Journal company handled it, and there is
ri6t - another office in the country as- well
equipped for the purpose of issuing such a pub
lication. If the head officers of the Modern
Woodmen want-their official organ to be im
pressive and attractive they will take steps to
bring it back to Lincoln, from whence it never
should have been moved. ,
DON'T DO IT. BOYS.
The Perssmen Should Abide by Their Contract
If It Takes Off the Hide.
It is rumored that several local unions of
pressmen are agitating in favor of "gigging
back" on the international's contract in order
to help the printers and incidentally to get the
eight-hblir' 'day themselves. . The contract' has
quite a while yet to run, and while the print
ers appreciate the friendship of the pressmen,
the pressmen should by all means keep invio
late their agreement with the employers.
Let the employers do all the contract vio
lating that is done. Let every union stick to
every article in its contract, even if it takes
the hide. If your local has a contract, stick
to it through thick and thin. It may turn out
to be a jug-handled sort of affair and we know
of such not a thousand miles away but jug
handled or not, stick to it and live up to it like
men.
GET INTO THE GAME RIGHT
The Central Labor Union Dying Because of
the Neglect of Men Who Ought to Be Tak
ing a Great Interest in Its Work Com
mittees Neglecting . Duties and Meetings
Slimly Attended Time to Get Into Action.
Due regard for the truth, and likewise a re
gard for the interest of .organized labor in this
city, compels the blunt statement that the
Central Labor LTnion is doing little or noth
ing to make its influence felt. Seldom are more
than three or four unions represented at the
meetings, and often the unions represented are
represented by one delegate. Nearly a dozen
affiliated unions have elected delegates or so
notified the secretary and these delegates
have never been present at a meeting. The
plumbers were rejpresented at the meeting
three weeks ago, for the first time in two years.
The tailors were represented at the same meet
ing, for the first time in a year. The pressmen,
the stereotypers, the lathers and the plasterers
have not been represented at a single meeting
since The Wageworker was founded. The bar
bers have not been represented for many
months. .The: -bartenders have been represented
once within the last three months. The loco
motive engineers have been represented once
since The Wageworker was founded. The sta
tionary engineers have not been represented
for a year.
The same half-dozen or dozen faithful few
attend every meeting and that is about all
there is to it. Committees do not act. Plans
that promise well are set on foot and are
never heard of again. Candor compels the
statement that the Central Labor Union has
not made its influence felt in a single industrial
line within the past year. It has "resoluted"
against two or three unfair firms, appropriated
a little .money to sister unions at different
points, and has paid its dues to the American
Federation of Labor. If it has done anything
else the fact has not come to the- attention of
The Wageworker.
One thing the Central Labor LTnion has
done it has staunchly supported The Wage
worker to the extent of its ability. For this
The Wageworker is grateful and is endeavor
ing to make good return. But a labor news
paper can not build up and maintain fair labor
conditions if the men to whom it appeals take
no interest. Every trades union in Lincoln
should be represented at every meeting of the
Central Labor L nion. The local unions should
elect delegates, and should then insist that
those delegates attend to their duties or suf
fer the consequences. It is time to either get
into the labor game right and make the Central
Labor Union a power for good in the labor
field, or else abandon it as a useless expense.
Next Tuesday evening is the regular meet
ing night of the Central body. The delegates
should ginger up and try to be present and in
ject some life into the meetings. There is a
lot to do. Labor conditions in Lincoln are
better than they ever were before but -they
are by no means what they should be. They
would be better far better if the Central
Labor Union would get into the game. There
are three big overall and shirt factories in Lin
coln, and all three are veritable "sweat shop."
They ought to be made fair. The street rail
way employes are unorganized, and they seem
to be afraid to organize. The Central Labor
Union ought to get busy. The retail clerks
are unorganized. The Central Labor Union
ought to get busy. The unions of the city are
paying enough rental for inferior hall accom
modations to pay 6 per cent interest on a fund
that would build a neat and commodious labor
temple. The Central Labor Union ought to
get busy.
Wake up. ginger up and get up !
Remember the regular meeting next Tues
day night, and get there if you have to come
in an ambulance.
STATE PRESS ASSOCIATION.
Will Hold Its 1906 Session in Lincoln on Feb
ruary 19, 20 and 21.
The executive committee of the Nebraska
Press association met in Lincoln last Monday
evening and selected February 19, 20 and 21
as the dates for the 1906 meeting of the asso
ciation. A partial program was outlined ior
the meeting, and a later meeting of the .asso
ciation will complete the arrangements. An in
vitation will be extended to Governor Hoch of
Kansas to address the association, Samuel
Hopkins Adams, who has been dealing the
patent medicine business some hard blows
through the columns of Collier's Weekly, will
also be invited to address the association.
A number of the editors belonging to this
association are members of the Typograprical
Union and are interesting themselves in the
battle the Typographical union is now wag
ing for the eight-hour day.' On Monday, even
ing "Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Maupin entertained
the members of the committee at dinner.
THE TEAMSTERS.
In Need of a Little Ginger and Enthusiasm to
Make Things Go.
The Teamsters had an interesting meeting
Monday night, at which time it was decided
to grant no further time to a delinquent mem
ber who is not only behind in his dues, but al
so behind with the union in the matter of
money collected for the union and not account
ed for. This member has not toted fair with
the union, eithei in point of finances or loyalty,
and unless he gets to the front and "makes
good" the union will take some drastic action.
He has been leniently dealt with until patience
has ceased to be a virtue.
The union also decided to dispense with the
services of a business agent, a matter which
should be reconsidered at the earliest oppor
tunity. Without a business agent the union
will not be in a position to command respect
and attention. Besides, the members will find
that the absence of a business agent will ma
terially affect the opportunities offered for
work. There are a number of members who
seem to be discouraged at the outlook. This
should not be the case. Although things may
not seem prosperous just now, a little patience
and a lot of hard work will result in great good
to the teaming industry of Lincoln. While a
lot of men who should be in the union and are
holding back, while enjoying the benefits, are
refusing to come into the fold, should not pre
vent the good union men from continuing
their efforts. .
The teamsters are making righteous com
plaint against a number . of union men who
make no effort to aid the Teamsters' Union by
demanding union teamsters. Several cases have
been brought to The Wageworker's attention
where members of trades unions have 'ordered
coal and failed to insist that it be delivered by
union teamsters. This should not be the case.
There are two or three union coal firms in the
city that employ none but union teamsters.
Two of these are the Adam Schaupp Coal Co.
and the Phelps-Burruss Coal Co., both of
which advertise in The Wageworker. By pat
ronizing these firms you help not only the
Teamsters' Union but The Wageworker.
IN "FREE AMERICA."
Where Worse Than African Slavery Still
Flourishes and Spreads.
Every time the Georgia legislature meets an
effort is made to enact laws against child la
bor. And every time the Georgia legislature
is "influenced" by the owners of the big cotton
mills to defeat all the efforts. As a result the
Georgia cotton mills are filled with children.
Conditions exist in that state that would not
be tolerated in Russia,
: .. Thousands of children less .than 8 years old
work from, eleven to thirteen hours a day in"
the Georgia mills. It is no uncommon sight
to see children barely six years of age watch
ing the whirring spindles. Disease, idiocy and
premature death is all they have to look for
ward to in this life. They have never known
how to laugh. They are the victims of the
insatiate greed of men whose god is the al
mighty dollar.
The labor unions of Georgia are fighting
against this condition of affairs with all their
might. The fight is an "uphill one, for they
have the combined power of capital against
them a power that has neither heart nor con
science. How long will it be ere this greedy
power, voluntarily ceases from employing child
labor? The labor unions are the only hope of
these little slaves.. And yet there are men and
women who pretend to be Christians who are
fighting the labor unions. Even the church
and its leaders in Georgia are fighting the la
bor unions and teaching the children in the
mills to "submit yourselves to every ordi
nance of man." It is the same church that up
held slavery as a divine institution, too.
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN.
How They Can Help the Printers Win Their
Demand for the Eight-Hour Day.
The union women of the country qan ma
terially help the Typographical Union in its
fight for the eight hour day. The Butterick
people have violated their contract with the
New York Typographical Union. This com
pany publishes the Butterick patterns and the
Delineator. It is, therefore, not entitled to the
patronage of union men and women. We have
heard much about the irresponsibility of trades
unions, but this is another evidence that em
ployes adhere , to their.,. contracts much more
readily , than l the employers;1 The Butterick
pebpTe'have ''locked out their union printers,
and that, too, in spite of their contract with
the New York Typographical Union which
does not expire until January 1, 1906.
There are other pattern makers and other
publishers of fashion magazines. They are fair
with organized labor. Look them up and give
them your patronage.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELVES.
You Can Do It by Being True to Your Fellow
Unionists Everywhere.
There are 2,500 unionists in Lincoln. Half
of them' never think of asking for a union ci
gar.'1 'Suppose ' these' unionists smoke an aver
age of two cigars a day and that is a small
average. It means 5,000 cigars a day. Sup
pose you just added a demand for 2,500 union
made cigars a day to the present demand that
would giye employment to at least ten more
union cigarmakerst
Do you see the point? If you do not, just
study it out. No good union man will smoke
a non-union cigar. Neither will he wear "scab"
clothing, hats or shoes. If he is a good union
man, instead of a mere mouther, he will look
for the label every time Get into the union
game and do your share. .
.,1 f
ARE FAR BEHIND THE TIMES
We Think We are Pioneers in the Eight Hour
Movement,TDut Bless Your Soul a Lot of .
Convicts and Descendentd of Convicts Beat
Us to It by a Wide Margin of Nearly Forty
Years New Zealand Away Ahead of Amer
ica. When you come to think of it, wouldn't you
be ashamed if a lot of convicts and descendants
of convicts distanced you in the race for good
government and wise economics? Of course
you would. t . ' , '
Well, be ashamed then. '
New Zealand used to he one of Great Brit
ain's penal colonies. Political and. other crimi- .
nals were transported to New Zealand as a
punishment for crime. These convicts settled
and peopled New Zealand. There are no mil
lionaires. Pauperism is unknown. The gov-
ernment pays old age pensions. It owns and
operates the railroads, the telegraphs, Ihe
banks, the insurance companies, the mines, and
it owns the land, too. There is no idle land "
held out of market for speculation . in New
Zealand. No man can hold or occupy jnore
land than he can utilize. They have had the1
eight hour day in New Zealand for upwards of
thirty years, and had it in everv trade. They
are now preparing for the six hour day. Think
of it, you citizens of a free republic! A Six
hour working day in a prosperous, busy coun
try that was settled and peopled by convicts.
They have no meat trusts, no coal trusts, no
woolen trusts, no railroad trusts in New Zeal
and. , They have no "Citizens' Alliances no
sweat shops, no Parrys and no Posts in that
blessed country. They have no strikes, for
they have fair and impartial arbitration. There
hasn't been a strike in New Zealand in thirtv
years. While in theory a dependency of Great
Britain, New Zealand is as free as America
and a whole lot freer industrially and politically-
There are no political "bosses" over there -because
the workers are in the majority and
are determined to run the government in their
own interests. There is no subsidized pritsv ;
over,, there. -" --. - . , . :
'Better read up on New Zealand. It might '
give us all a lot of valuable pointers on '. "how
to get a lot of things we are sadly in need
of in this great and growing republic. ;
A HORRIBLE SLAUGHTER,
Railroads of the United States Claim Thou
sands of Lives Annually.
An act of congress approved March 3, 1901,
requires all common carriers engaged in inter
state commerce to make monthly reports, un
der oath, to the interstate commerce commis
sion of all accidents which may 'occur to its'
passengers or employes while in the service of '
such common carrier and while on duty. The
law also provides that such reports shall state
the nature and causes of such accidents and the
circumstances connected therewith.
An accident bulletin issued by the interstate
commerce commission gives, the number of
such accidents in the United States during
the period beginning July 1, 1902, and ending
June 30, 1905. The number of employes killed
in 1902 was 2,516, and injured 33,711. In 1903
there were 3,233 killed, injured, 39,004. Ih
1904, killed 3,367; injured, 43,266; 1905, 3,261
killed, 45,426 injured. The number of passen
ger killedby years was as follows : 1902, 303;
1903, 321 ; 1904, 420 ; 1905, .537 Injured : 1902, .
6.089; 1903, 6,973; 1904, 8,077; 1905, 10,040.
The entire number of both passengers and em
ployes killed during the four years was 13,958; -injured,
192,586. In these reports accidents
to employes resulting in slight injuries which
do not prevent the employe from performing
, his accustomed service .for more than three
days in the aggregate during the. ten days im
mediately following the accident are not in
cluded. Thus it will be seen that the total of killed
and injured for the four years amounts to the "
enormous total of 206,544, as, reported by the
railroads themselves Denver News.
GET THE LABEL HABIT.
The Right Way to Do Your Part in the Great
Organized Labor Crusade. .,.,,-.
You can do a great work in the crusade for
the betterment of labor. And you should do
that part every day. .';..' ,
Get the union label habit. J
By that we mean just this: Make it a point J
to look for the label on everything you buy; '
If 4t is not on tfce article, refuse to buy it at t,
any price. Do not argue with the clerk.' Tell ,
the empjoyer. Familiarize yourself with the
union labels so you may recognize one the
moment you see it.
This thing of looking for the label is a mat
ter of habit, .as well as of principle. Stand
by your principles by forming the union label
habit. ,
Don't "scab" on your fellows by purchasing
non-union goods. If it is union made it will
have the label no matter what some cheap
clerk may try to tell you. "
Get the union label habit.
s