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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 1905)
VW A fit ToT Tl7 I? to) '"'" W Al CISw lyj t f 1 f 1 U P ; 11 LI Li Lzzi A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interestof Wageworkers Everywhere. VOL.2 lilsCOLX, NEBRASKA, DECEMBER 29, 1905 NO. 38 s THE WINNING SPIRIT Lincoln Typographical Union Stands Ready to Pay Its Share of the Expense in the Eight Hour Struggle Favors the Ten Per Cent Assessment by an Overwhelming Vote . Chapels Vote Solidly Spirit That Wins. !'y a vote of t to 1( Lincoln Typographical Union Xo. 20!) on last Tuesday voted in favor jf a general assessment of 10 per cent a week until further notice. The vote was taken in chapel by a committee appointed by the union for that purpose. The 10 per cent assessment was called for by the international executive council in anti cipation of the great struggle which will be on next Monday. On that date the final move in the tight-hour campaign will be made and be tween N.000 and 10,000 union printers will doff their aprons and refuse to work longer unless guaranteed an eight hour day. The Typo thaete has forced the situation in a number of towns, but the union has steadfastly refused to begin trouble anywhere until the expiration of the time limit set by the referendum vote of two years ago. Last Sunday Lincoln Typographical Union Xo. 200 held a special meeting to discuss the 10 per cent assessment. Less than one-half the membership was present, but the sentiment then expressed showed clearly that the assess ment would carry by a big majority. The meeting unanimously decided in favor of it. and a committee composed of Maupin, Peat and Young Was appointed to take the vote on Tuesday. This the committee proceeded to do. Xinety votes were cast, the count resulting in seventy-four in favor of the assessment and sixteen against. The Star, Freie I'resse, Independent, West ern Newspaper Union and Woodruff-Collins chapels voted solidly in the affirmative. Three fourths of the negative votes were cast by job men. Three employers who are active mem bers of the union asked to be excused from voting under the circumstances, but declared they were ready and willing to pay the assess ment if carried and they hoped it would be. The spirit which has won many a contest was shown in divers ways. One member chased the committee for three hours in order to get a chance to vote in favor of digging down into his own pocket for alxnit $9 a month. Another one who was out of town and did not get in until after 1 :S0 in the evening immediately took a car to Secretary Hebbard's bouse and insisted . on having his vote counted in the affirmative. The assessment will put about $00,000 a week into the treasury of the international, and every dollar of it will be used to back up the men who walk out on January 1 to enforce the eight hour day. And there is more where that comes from if it is necessary. The printers realize that there must be no faltering at this stage of the game. And it would be well if other trades unionists realized the same thing.. The opposition figures that if it can beat the printers now the rest of the unions will be comparatively easy in their turn. They realize, too, that if the printers win the other' unions ' will be so encouraged that all the gains made by the union busters during the past eighteen months will be lost. It would be wisdom and economy if the trades unions of the country came to the front right now and gave the printers such a hearty financial support that the Typothaetc would see the folly of fighting longer. The willingness of the printers to stand an WILSHIRE THE SOCIALIST. Will Speak Twice in Lincoln Next Monday, Afternoon and Evening. 11. Gaylord Wilshirc, editor of Wilshire's Magazine, and one of the leading socialists of this or any other country, is billed to make two addresses in Lincoln, one at 3 o'clock New Year's afternoon and one at 8 o'clock on the evening of the same day next Monday. The speaking will be atRichards' KalUlO.'M' C) street and the admission will be free. A few seats at i." cents will be reserved for the accommoda tion of those who desire to Snake sure of a place to sit during the meetings. Mr. Wilshire is known as "the millionaire socialist," being reputed a very rich man. How ever this may be, it is quite certain that he has spent a lot of money advancing the cause of socialism. A few years ago he took his social ist magazine from Los Angeles to New York, and by arbitrary action on the part of Assist ant Postmaster General Madden was denied second class privileges. Mr. Wilshire immedi ately took his magazine to Toronto, Canada, , had if entered under the Canadian postal laws arid 'not only had his fagazinc-carried at half the rates charged by Uncle Sam, but actually made Uncle Sam carry the United States edi tion for nothing. It was a smooth trick and brought ridicule upon the head of Madden and the postoffice department. Mr. Wilshire is said to be a good speaker, and thoroughly conver sant with the tenets of socialism. The Wage worker assures all who hear him that .they will be entertained and instructed. Ladies are especially invited to attend both of these meet ings. Next Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock Gen. T. C. Kelsey will address the socialistic open meeting at Richards' hall, taking for his sub- lect "Industry and 1'olitics. Special Meeting Sunday to Discuss the Situ ation Shows the Printers to Be Ready to Meet the Situation and Fight it Out on That Line if It Takes All Summer, and Then a Lot of Next Winter, Too. assessment of 10 per cent a week will explain the strength of the Typographical Union. Printers have paid for their union and where a man's treasure is there is his heart also. The more money it costs to be a union man the bet ter the union man. And the unions that are strong, progressive and successful are the un ions that pay heavy dues. Lincoln printers will now pay about l'i cents out of every dollar they make to Jhe support of their union in its strug gle for the eight hour day. That is the spirit that wins. Bert O. Wilson, for many years foreman of the Western Newspaper Union in this city, left last Monday for Muskogee, I. T., where he will take charge of the new Western News paper Union branch as foreman and manager. I'ert Wilson is one of the old-t:me union print ers who has worked through about every branch of the trade. He has more friends to the acre than almost anybody, and while all of them regret to see him leave Lincoln they will rejoice in his promotion. Social circles will miss Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, the latter being an enthusiastic member of the Auxiliary. Mr. and Mrs. John Zurbriggen are rejoicing over the advent of a son, who made his initial appearance on Saturday, December 2U. Mrs. Bell, of Omaha, spent the holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Sayer, of this city. H. W. Smith and wife spent Christmas day in Kansas City. Louis Maupin is spending the holidays with relatives in Mindcn, Neb. It is about time to begin figuring on the an nual ball. The matter is recalled at this time for the reason that the union meets a week from next Sunday and should then take the matter up. Omaha Union meets next Sunday and sev eral Lincoln men are figuring on going up and making the Omaha boys a fraternal visit. Only encouraging reports come from Omaha. The fight up there is being conducted by strat egists who have been through more than one fight, and they are letting the Typothaete do all the talking. L'p to date over 300 unions ha've secured contracts for the eight hour day. - Warren C. Brown, ex-editor of the Union Printer and one of the best known men in printerdom, is now editing the Lithographer. That means that the Lithographer will rush right up to the leaders in the labor newspaper field. The Kansas City Labor Herald, edited by Charley Fear, a member of the Kansas City Typographical Union, came to the front with a handsome special .Christmas number that seemed to run into dollars at a most gratifying rate. In all the strike centers thete are fewer un ion men drawing benefits than there were a month ago, and also fewer "rats" at work in the struck shops. The glowing reports sent out by the Typothaete are manufactured out of phosphorus. Lincoln Typographical Union No. 209 meets a week from next Sunday. There will be something doing something warm. And don't forget to see that the label is in your shoes and hat. THE CENTRAL LABOR UNION. Getting Ready for a Rousing Open Meeting On ' Tuesday, January 9. , There seems to have been a misunderstand ing about the meeting of the Central Labor Union this week. Several delegates under stood that the meeting would be laid over on account of the holidays. This was not the case, however. The Ladies' Label League skipped its meeting because ic fell on Christ mas day, but the Central Labor Union met last Tuesday night as usual. Owing to the mis understanding the attendance was smaller than usual. President Caster announced that un less committees got out and hustled a little harder than heretofore there was going to be a shaking down. He also gave notice that dele gates who failed to attend the meetings would find themselves confronted by charges pre ferred against them in their own ilnions. The president was mad good naturedly mad and he gave a correct imitation of a man who was about to see that something was done. His re marks were. loudly applauded. The.-committee having in charge the open meeting to be held on January 9 reported pro gress and announced that it would have the program completed in time for publication in next week's issue of The Wageworker. The committee is planning to have "something dif ferent," and whatever it is will be, of interest and benefit to the unionists of the city. A brief but entertaining program is being framed up. and there will be the usual social features. Every unionist in town is cordially invited to be present. The only admission will be by working card. The Ladies' Label League and the Auxiliary to the Typographical Union will be asked to assist in making the meeting a success. In .the meantime every trades unionist in thc-ciiyshould talk up the open meeting and lend every assistance tojiiel worK oi maicmg it a glorious success. THREE MONTHS IN JAIL. Union Man Jailed for Daring to Gon Contrary to a Federal Judge's Dictum. In the federal court at Chicago on December 20, Daniel Carrigan, a fireman, was sent to jail for three months for violation of a federal in junction by interfering with the independent teamsters during the late strike. The charges against Carrigan were based on alleged parti cipation in a riot during the strike, in which the heads of several negroes suffered from bricks and stones, said to have been hurled by Carrigan. In addition, Carrigan is accused- of assaulting Frank Curry, the famous strike breaker. TIME TO WAKE UP. Retail Clerks in Sioux City Organized, But Lincoln Clerks Not. The retail clerks of Sioux City have a live organization. It is a comparatively new un ion, but already its members are beginning to realize the benefits of organization. Does it not seem time that the retail clerks of Lin coln wake up to a realizing sense of the fact that they should organize? The social feat ures alone would pay for all the time and ex penditure of money. And the profits accruing from a live organization would soon be real ized. The first big store to advance the cause of organization among its clerks is going to reap a big crop of business from the live unionists of Lincoln. On Tuesday evening, January 1, 1906, the Union Carpenters of Lincoln will . hold "open house" at their hall, and all union and non-union carpenters are cor- dially invited to call and make them- selves at home. An excellent program of more than passing interest has been arranged, and the refreshment commit- tee has been doing good and successful work. The carpenters have made a rec-. ord for successful open meetings, but this one will set a, new mark that other committees will find hard to equal. The past year has been an excellent one, . both in point of work and in growth of the union, but it is the intention of the loyal union carpenters to make 1906 the banner union year in Lincoln. Let every member be present, and let every non-union carpenter be urged to attend and see what a good thing it is to be in close fellowship with his brethren of the craft. tf WHY THE PRINTERS SHOULD WIN. The' Eight Hour Day Cause Depends Upon the Fight They are Waging. The struggle now going on between the printers and their employers, to establish the eight-hour day in the book and job branches of trade, the hours for newspaper printers being that . or less, is attracting widespread atten tion, not only from union men, but from em ployers of all trades. ' It is well known that the major part of em ployers don't take kindly to the shorter work day, but through circumstances, mainly, have been compelled to grant the same many times, with the mental reservation to return to the longer day if opportunity presented. The last few years have not witnessed very many suc cessful strikes for a reduction of hours, change of conditions or increased wages, and employ ers of all kinds have combined, thus to be bet ter able to combat organized labor. In so doing they have been able to raise funds to fight with. They realize that if the printers are success ful in their demand at this time that all hope of anything else than an eight-hour day for all tradesmen will be but an idle dream, and hence their determination to a final struggle. As goes this battle, so will go the future. If by any possibility the printers should fail, or have a draw, then well may those unions now enjoy ing the eight-hour day gird on their armor, se cure the sinews of war and prepare for a ter rific conflict, for capital, thus tasting a partial or complete victory will move on the works of the most securely intrenched. It therefore behooves every labor organization, if it hopes to maintain itself in the advantage already se cured, to say nothing of hoping for anything better, to aid the printers morally, financially and every way possible. It may be your turn next. Denver Clarion-Advocate. THE REAL. OPEN SHOP. It is the Union Shop, Open to All Good Work in gmen Who Tote Fair. They call it an "open shop," and yet it is im possible for a union man to get a job in it un less he agrees to give up the union. The fact of the matter is, that the union shop is the real "open shop," for the union objects to no fair and honest workman coming into the union shop. There is but one closed shop and that is the non-union shop. It closes its doors against the union worker, besides closing the doors of hope and the desire of a brighter and better life to those who toil pehind its doors. gptters' neraui. . IT STARTS Local Carpenters' Union Will Start off the New Year by Giving a Social to Union and Non-Union Tradesmen Preparations Made for a Little the Best Time Ever Had by a Local Unicn. Local Carpenters' and Joiners' Union No. 103.) is preparing to have the greatest social time in its career next Tuesday evening as a fitting inaugural of the New Year. The socials that have been given by the carpenters in the past have all been successful to a high degree, but the one next Tuesday evening is going to eclipse all former efforts in this direction. The Wageworker has no hesitancyin making this statement because it knows. the carpenters of Lincoln, and is intimately acquainted with the gentlemen who have the social inj charge When they said that it was going to be a sev entimes winner and altogether good, The Wageworker was ready to bet tlfe limit on what they said. The Teamsters will have an important meet ing next Monday evening, that being regular election night. It is highly important that every member of the organization be present at this meeting. There will be much other business to transact. The new scale card has been approved by the international officers and will be ready for distribution next week. Only minor changes from the old scale , have been made, but there has been a better classification. An organizer from the international is expect ed here the first of the year, and it-is prom ised that he shall remain here until the neces sity for his presence no longer exists. A lot of men who have been benefited by the organiza tion have never given it any support, but have been selfish enough to profit by the work ancf sacrifices of the union men. An attempt will be made to reach this class, and if they will not respond some action will be taken that may make a few of them, "sit up and take notice." Mr. William Hardy's address on "Unionism," published in last week's issue of The Wage worker, attracted a lot of attention . in union circles and the editor has heard many compli ments thereon. All who read it agree that it was an able and fair presentation of labor's side of the case, and much . gratificsation was ex pressed that a business man should speak so strongly for organization. Last week's issue of the St. Joseph LInion contained a half page advertisement of the R. L. McDonald & Co. overall and shirt factory, which deserves more than passing notice. This factory, is union from top to bottom, and the company has just completed the erection of a new and larger factory building in South St. Joseph. The advertisement is headed "To the Workingmcn of Saint Joseph," and reads as follows : "We desire to express our sincere appre ciation of the greatly increased patronage which you have bestowed upon the Red Seal Lincoln Overall & RAY ROLL ACCOUNT. TOWNAti'o. Ban. LIKE FATHER LIKE SON. Were Always Friendly to Unionism and Ex pect Always to Be. : , The Woodward & Tiernan Printing Co. of St. Louis is one of the largest print shops in the west. It is union from cellar to garret. E. H. Woodward, a practical printer, is manager of this great concern. He is a member of the Typothaete, but when the eight hour question came up in a meeting of that body Mr. Wood ward said : " "During the forty years my father was in business he never had any trouble with the Typographical union, and T shall not do any thing now to antagonize my own interests. The Woodward Printing company and the Typo graphical Union are friends and will remain so for all time as far as I am concerned." WE ARE FOR MISS WILSON. Our Preferred Candidate for Trustee of the Union Printers Home. The Wageworker unhesitatingly declares in favor of Miss :Anna C. Wilson of Washington City Typographical Union for trustee of the llnion Printers' Home at Colorado Springs. .The Typographical Union numbers many-women among its members, and clearly they are" entitled to recognition in the management of the home which they help to maintain. Miss .Wilson, represented Washington at the St. Louis convention and is a thorough unionist. She has not announced herself as a Candidate, but she has friends who would be gad to sup port her for the position, and p.mongi them The Wageworker wants to be enumerated and doij t you forget it. OUT WELL Some Gefierai-News Concerning Things Right Here in Lincoln, and All Having a Bearing More or Less on the. Welfare of the M Who Toil Many Compliments for Mr. Hardy's Address. I working clothes during the past year. At last, the prophet seems not to be without honor in his own country ! Now our appeal is along Tfcrther lines. We feel sure of your patronage once thvRed Seal merits are known. We now want your asialnsein securing more help. As you know, our newfatarvjn South St, Jos eph, a perfect model,, will be'ridv to operate January 2. All we need to enableuSNtjjexpand into an institution oi national importance 'a greater supply of intelligent union operatives? At each factory we can accommodate two hundred more women and girls, highest wage scale, most comfortable surroundings, Union conditions from top to bottom. Can't you as sist us in building up this great home industry by passing along this request for help? Again thanking you for your many evidences of favor and assuring you that the character and indi viduality of Red Seal overclothes and shirts will always be maintained on the highest plans, we are respectfully yours R. L; McDonald & Co." , V ' ;. That sounds good to union mR'Sird women, and The Wageworker gladly givfes the R. Lj McDonald Co. the benefit of this little adver-' tisement. The man who buys SdSeal over-,-alls and shirts is patronizing a JtnS&n factory whose owners are "square" aW as friendly as any one could wish. The John S. Brittain Dry Goods Co. also has a whole page ad in the St. ' Joseph Union extolling the merits of the 'Pow ell Brand" of union made overalls and shirts., It's a whole lot different in Lincoln, isn't it And The Wageworker respectfully submits that the difference is very much in St. Joseph's favor financially. In this connection The .Wage worker desires to give the Lincoln Overall & Shirt Co. a little more free advertising.- The following advertisement is now running in a Lincoln daily newspaper: '' "WANTED Girls to make overalls; experi ence unnecessary; steady work; good wages. Lincoln Overall and hirt Coi Uth-aa4 Pv'Oc v The Wageworker again presents evidence of the "good wages" paid by this company. Look at the fac simile of a check issued to, a working girl for fifty-nine hours work at "good wages" in this eminently philanthropic concern. The woman to whom this check was issued was discharged the week after the fac simile was published in The Wageworker. She had no knowledge of its publication, but that didn't help her any. She was called into the office and told that her services were no longer needed. The original check is still in the pos session of the editor and may be seen by any and all applicants. "Keep your eye on the squirrel." Shirf Co. .46 ,'C?TirYWt rt-r A SPLENDID TRIBUTE. The Man True to His Union Will Be True to His Employer. That was a splendid tribute paid to the un-. ion printer by one of the leading Typothaete members down town : "I am satisfied that the printers 'who remain true to their union in this eight-hour struggle will be faithful to me when the struggle is over." It's a safe bet that those are the sentiments of nine-tenths of the employers arrayed against us under the leadership of men who are not so much inter--ested in the eight-hour question as they are in the effort to crush out Use spirit of trades un ionism. May the fight soon be over and leave no hard feelings on either side. John J. Ottin ger in Washington Trades Unionist. ' v 'FREE AND INDEPENDENT.' In Philadelphia last week a non-union print er in an unfair shop was given some work which had been sent in from one of the struck houses. He refused to handle it, saying that while he was not a union man, neither was he a strike breaker. The work was passed from man to man and each in turn refused to handle it. The entire force was then discharged and walked out because as. a matter of principle they would not be used as strikebreakers. . If these men had been of the genuine brand of "free and independent" scabs the -Eliot., breed of heroes they would have willingly i obeyed the orders of their masters. But they ' must have beeii tainted with "that principle of unidnism which, according, to 'Pany et al, de prives a iriah'jbf hW liberty .--Streator Trades and Labor Gazette. " . ' s : ' ryanu J h