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' A Newspaper with a Mission and without a Muzzle that is published in the Interest of Wageworkers Everywhere. ' " ' - 'lit'
" 'J-l
VOL. 3 LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, APRIL-13, 190 , 'NO; iff
" j ; ; ; ; : - ! ' 1 . ... --.
0
o
Does McCabe Speak
For All Methodists?
Does Bishop Charles C. McCabe, of
the Methodist Episcopal church, repre
sent the views of the great, body of
Methodists on the subject of labor
unions? The Wageworker refuses to
believe that he does, but If he does
represent the views of Methodism on
that question, then it is time for Meth
odism to rid itself of & lot of 'barnacles,
get nearer to God and step forward a
few centuries into the light of modern
intelligence. Last Sunday morning,
April 8, Bishop McCabe delivered a
sermon before the East New York con
ference at Brooklyn, and in that ser
mon declared that the Methodist
church was opposed to labor unions
end would use its Influence to wipo
them out or reform them. He said:
"We are opposed to having a small
percentage of labor men run the entire
laboring class in a high-handed anl
authoritative manner. As now consti
tuted, labor unions cannot long stand.
Either they must reform themselves or
they will cease to exist, as they are
now unfair and unjust, and the honest
workingman cannot long be subjected
to oppression without rising in revolt.
"I want every one of the 300 minis
ters here to accept this as his creed
and preach it. I am stating the posi
tion of the Methodist church today at
this conference, as the members of the
church do not seem to be disposed to
state it themselves. I want the state
ment to be published broadcast, so
there can be no doubt as to the attltudo
o Methodists toward Lonest labor. I
believe this should become part of the
creed of every rPotestant church."
We might retort upon Bishop Mc
Cabe that "the Methodist church a?
now constituted can not stand. Either
it must reform itself or It will cease
to exist." And again we might retort
that "honest Methodists cannot , long
be subjected to such tommyrot as
Bishop McCabe's." And we have just
ac much authority for our statements
as Bishop McCabe has for his. The
trades unions are older by several hun
dred years than the Methodist Episco
pal church. And again we might retort
that "we are opposed to having a small
per cent of Methodist preachers, ele
vated to the bishopric by political ma
nipulation, running the entire body of
MethodiBm in a high-handed and au
thoritative manner."
What's the matter with Bishop Mc
Cabe? Haven't union men as, much
tight to select authoritative leaders
like Mitchell and Gompers and Perkins,
as the Methodist church has to select
authoritative leaders like McCabe?
"1 am stating the position of, the
Methodist church!" declared Bishop
McCabe. Is he? Since when was
Bishop McCabe inspired? Since when
did he become greater than the scrip
tures or better than the Master whom
he pretends to serve? "I believe this
should become the creed of every Prot
estant church."
All right, Bishop McCabe; now 1st
ua see along what lines we can reform
the labor unions. ,
Firstly, shall the labor unions begin
teaching the doctrine of infant damna
tion? That was taught for centuries by
one or more great branches of the
Protestant church.
Secondly, shall the labor union3 be
gin advocating slavery as a divine in
stitution? That was taught by a ver?
large proportion of tbo ministry and
laymen of the Methodist Episcopal
church less than fifty years ago?
Thirdly, shall the labor unions be
gin advocating burning at the stake?
That wa3 practiced by a portion of the
Protestant church at one time, if hls-
, tory is not at fault.
Fourthly, shall the labor unions be
gin advocating fine salaries for ths
leaders and starvation wages for the
men In the ranks? If we mistake not
' Bishop McCabe's salary is something
like 1,200 per cent higher than the
average salary of Methodist preachers.
And there isn't a labor union leader in
America whose salary is . equal to
Bishop McCabe's.
In what respect are labor unions un
just? Bishop McCabe will answer that
they deny the right of the non-union
man to work. That i3 not true, but
suppose it were true. Doesn't Bishop
McCabe preach that non-Christians
cannot go to heaven? The fact is that
labor unions are not as unjust as the
average Protestant church. There isn't
a labor union in existence that denies
the right of the non-unionist to-woik.
There isn't ah orthodox Protestant
church in existence that admits the
non-Christian to fellowship or admits
his claim to a home in heaven. .
To te .sure, labor unions must re
form themselves. So must everything
else that is not perfect. Does Bishop
McCabe clai)-Uil hN-perfect? 'Does
he claim that the Methodist church is
perfect? If he does he is a fool. If
he does not, then he must admit that
he and the Methodist church must re
form or they can not long stand.
We sorrowfully admit that a reat
many excesses have been committed in
the name of labor unions. But the
murders, the assaults, the riots, the
barbarities committed in the name of
labor unionism is not a marker to the
murders, the. assaults, the riots and
the barbarities committed "for tho
glory of God," by those claiming to be
His servants and followers.
Too zealous labor unionists have sent:
many a non-unionist to the hospitals
which was all wrong. But for every
man thus sent to the hospital a thou
sand have been sent to the insane
asylums by overzeal in religion. Ani
if the labor unions are to be blamed
for the one, shall the church be held
blameless for the other? Labor unions
oppose child labor in the mills and fac
tories, while smug-faced Methodists
sit in cushioned pews ad drop into the
collection baskets golden eagles coined
from the tears and sweat of those of
whom the Master said, "Suffer the lit
tle ones to come unto Me, and forbid
them not, for of such is the kingdom
of heaven." Shall the labor unions re
form by ceasing their opposition to
child labor and begin coining the tears
of the innocents into gold?
In the la3t twenty jears the labor
unions of America have distributed up
wards of $50,000,000 in sick, death,
burial and other benefits. Shall the
labor unions reform by quitting their
work of loving Kindness, charity and
mutual help? ,
Bishop McCabe declares that the la
bor unions are now unfair and unjust.
But he fails to specify wherein they
are either unfair or unju3t. If he says
they are unjust because they deny the
right of the non-union man to work,
we will only reply by stating that
Bishop McCabe is criminally ignorant,
for in these enlightened days a man is
a criminal for making false charges
when the opportunities for learning
and telling the truth are so numerous.
Labor unions teach nothing of th;
kind. But they do teach that a man
who will enjoy the benefits of organi
zation while refusing to bear his share
of the expense is a knave, a human
sponge, and not entitled to any mor
consideratlon than any other hanger
on. The non-union man who benefits
by the improved conditions brought
about by labor unions and refuses to
help pay the expense, reminds us of
the man who expects to get to heaven
because his wife is a Christian.
If Bishop McCabe speaks for the
Methodist church, then Methodism
should hasten to change its mouth
piece. Let us sum up: Non-union men
have been assaulted and killed by
union men, therefore, according to
Bishop McCabe, labor unions teach and
defend murder. Latimer and Ridley
were burned at the stake by order of
Protestants. According to Bishop Mc
Cabe'3 logic the Protestant church
teaches and defends burning alleged
heretics at the stake. Non-union men
have been thrown out of employment
and rendered unable to earn a living
in their home communities because
of labor unions. Therefore, according
to Bishop McCabe, labor unions teach
banishment and should be suppressed.
Roger Williams was banished by
Protestants because he insisted on go
ing contrary to their wishes. Accord
ing to Bishop McCabe's logic the
Protestant church teaches banishment
and should therefore be suppressed.
We cheerfully admit that the Methodist
church would profit by Bishop Mo
Cabe's suppression.
Two Irishmen, working in a sewer
trench, began talKing about their hard
lot.
"H yez had yer choice, Pat, what
would yez like t' be?" queried Mike.
"Well, Molke," replied Pat, "fr a
rale, nice, aisy Job, O'ld lolke t" be a
bishop."
ASSOCIATED PRESS LIED.
Woman's Home Companion Is Still
Printed by "Rat" Printers.
Relying on a dispatch sent out by
the Associated Press; The Wageworker
last week reported that the Crowell
Publishing company, publishers of the
Woman's Home Companion and Farm
ar. djgA&fevbMwe&n ed UP with the
Springfield, O., Typogi
The Associated Prcl
The Crowell PubllshiJ
still printed by "rats.1
communication from
O.', Typographical ' Uni
planatory:
"Press dispatches h
i -
Vazaln.
Vny is
'I Xwing I
Veld.
.ex-
ri
pent
broadcast over the country stating
that the Crowell Publishing company,
publishers of 'Woman's Home Com
ipanion' and 'Farm and Fireside,' of
Springfield, Ohio, had granted the
eight-hour day to their employes,
thereby creating the impression ' that
ttis firm had unionized their plant.
"The Crowell company will give tho
eight-hour day to the imported scabs
and strike-breakers in their factory,
beginning April 9, 1906, and have is
Friendly List Edition for 1906
' On April 20th The Wageworker 's Friendly List Edition for 1906
will make its appearance, and it will be at once the largest and the
finest edition ever issued by any labor newspaper in the country. It
will be printed on good paper with heavy cover, and will be a valuable
reference book for all consumers who desire to patronize business and
professional men who are friendly to the cause of organized labor.
Fremont, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth and Beatrice union men
and union sympathizers will find very complete write-ups of their re
spective cities. The largest Omaha firms doing a state wide business .
and fair to organized labor will also be represented. Taken as a whole
the issue will be a remarkably complete roster of men, firms and cor- -porations
who are friendly to the cause of unionism. j
The total number of copies of The Friendly List Edition for 1906
to be issued will exceed 12,000, and all of them will be properly dis
tributed. ( j
The editor and publisher is under obligations to the many friends
who have so kindly assisted in making this issue a success, and he
hopes that its publication will be of assistance to the great cause which
The Wageworker seeks to represent.
AN OPEN LETTER TO
In your latest spasm of anger at the
labor editors of the country, Mr. Post.
you indulge in some very harsh lan
guage, and make some very severe
charges. We are inclined to overlook
them, Mr. Post, on account of the very
apparent nearness of your; complete
mental unbalancing on the subject of
organized labor. We do not blame you
for frothing at the mouth when a
labor newspaper is mentioned in your
presence. If we were a millionaire
manufacturer of edible sawdust who
had deserted a faithful wife and forced
her to secure a divorce on account of
cruelty, and all for the purpose of al
lowing us to marry the pink-cheeked
and buxom stenographer in our
palatial office, we, too, would wax
wroth if a lot of scurrilious labor edi
tors kept throwing our contemptible
littleness in our face.
But this is not what we started to
write about, Mr. Post. We want to
call a few of your little bluffs about
the " wonderful health-giving and
health-preserving properties of your
much vaunted "Postum" and "Grape
Nut3." You have toutea them so loud
ly as being muscle builders, brain
builders, body builders, and all that
sort of thing, that undoubtedly a lot
of silly students and a lot more of
hysterical women have-come to believe
all you say. That, of course, aids im
mensely to the amount of money the
ex-stenographer can spend on Paris
ir illinery. But we are anxious ' to
know if there is any truth in all your
claims, and in order that the exact
facts be known we desire to make you
the following proposition:
We propose that you select some
able bodied man upon whom to try this
experiment, the experiment to be tried
This Should be
In last week's issue of The Wage
worker the firm of Miller & Paine an
nounced that in future their big store
would close at 6 o'clock on Saturday
evenings hereafter, instead of at 7
o'clock as in the past It will be borne
in mind that Miller & Paine is the
only retail firm in the city that does
not keep open on Saturday evenings
until 10 or 10:30 o'clock. Organized
Jafcor everywhere i3 making a Con
certed demand for shorter, hours a de
mand founded on Justice and abstract
right. For this reason the action of
Miller & Paine should appeal especial
1;; to organized labor, he fact that
this big store observes the short hour
day six business days in the week, all
sued a statement to the effect that thev
are still opposed to organized labor
and will continue to Issue their maga
zines with imported non-union labor.
"The assistance rendered Typograph
ical Union' by members of organized
labor is the cause of the Crowell com
pany granting the eight-hour day to
their cheap, scab labor and we request
each reader of this article to give us a
little assistance by calling their
friends' attention to the hostile atti
ia Lincoln under the supervision of
one reputable physician, one reputable
lawyer, one reputable grocer who han
dles your goods, and one member of
some one of the trades unions in Lin
coln. The Wageworker will furnish
the room, bedding and all articles con
ducive to the physical comfort of the
man you furnish for experimental pur
poses. The man you furnish is to be given
the free use of the room, and for a
period of sixty consecutive days of
twenty-four hours each is to drink
nothing but Postum Cereal and water,
and eat nothing but Grape Nuts, thre
meals a day to be the maximum, and
one pint of Postum Cereal and two
tsblespoonsful of Grape Nuts to con
stitute a meal. One pint of cream
per day shall be the maximum of
cream for use in your two productions.
The man you furnish is to be kept un
der surveillance, and if he shall be
detected in eating or drinking any
thing other than above specified, then
you lose. If he survives the sixty days
on the diet specified", The Wageworker
loses.
In order to make the test binding
upon both The Wageworker will, upon
your acceptance of this proposition,
deposit $150 in the Columbia National
bank of Lincoln, Nebr., Charles W.
Post to do the same. If The Wage
worker losses, the $150 deposited by it
shall be subject to the order of Charles
W. Post. If Charles W. Post loses,
the $150 deposited by Mm shall be sub
ject to the order of The Wageworker's
editor. . It is. further specified that if
the man furnished by Charles W. Post
dies under the ordeal, Charles W. Post
must pay all funeral expenses. Should
the man suffer in physical or mental
htalth The Wageworker shall not be
of Interest to Organised Lbo
other things being equal, should impel
the advocates of the shorter working
day to give it their support By doing
so they will prove that their demand
for the shorter day is sincere and noc
founded wholly on selfish motives. It
will prove that organized labor prac
tices what It preacher.
The firm of Miller & Paine is not a
large advertiser in The Wageworker,
although It -is a steady patron. If it
had never advertised one dollar's worth
in this paper it would be deserving of
this mention' , because of its demon
stration of interest in the welfare of
its employes. If it were The Wage
worker's largest advertiser that fact
would not have impelled this paper to
give the firm this noi ice. Miller &
tude of the Crowell Publishing com
pany, and by using your influence and
discrimination against 'Woman's
Home Companion' and 'Farm and
Fireside.' "
The Woman's Home Companion is
still "rat." It should be shunned by
union men and women everywhere.
Do not boycott, because that is illegal.
But there is no law in the land that
will compel you to patronize an
avowed enemy. -
C. W. POST
responsible for any damages, civil,
criminal or otherwise. ii
It is further specified that Charles
W. Post is to furnish the Postum
Cereal, Grape Nuts and Cream, and
that The Wageworker shall furnish the
room and ' all furniture, pay the gas
bill and furnish' plenty of good secular,
non-partisan and wholesome reading
matter for the victim. The cook who
prepares the Postum Cereal shall be a
stranger to both Charles W. Post and
The Wageworker's editor, and shall
be selected by the four representatives
chosen to conduct the experiment.
Charles W. Post may have a represen
tative on the 3pot to test the prepara
tion, but shall add nothing to nor take
nothing therefrom, and shall under no
circumstances be admitted to the room
nor approach the body of the' victim.
The aforesaid victim may have all the
outdoor exercise he wants, provided
he is always accompanied by not less
than two of the committee selected. -
In order to demonstrate The Wage
worker's sincerity, the editor, hereby
agrees that in case the victim of this
experiment survives and is not a men
tal wrecksaid condition to be passed
upon by a board of competent alienists
it will give Charles W. Post twenty
(20) inches of display advertising every
week for a period of one year. In case
the victim dies or 13 mentally unbal
anced as a result of the ordeal, Charles
W. Post is to pay to the editor of The
Wageworker the sum of $208, cash.
Mr. Charles W. Post, if your prep
arations are all you claim them to
be, you will accept this offer. If they
are the frauds we believe them to be,
your failure to accept this fair, propo
sition will be proof positive that our
belief is correct.
THE WAGEWORKER. .
Paine could not have bought this
Space to advertise its goods. , But this
notice is cheerfully given because it3
action is in line with the demands of
unionism, and The VSfageworker's mis
sion is to advance the cause of union
ism, thereby advancing the interests of
those who work for' wage. Any other
retail firm in Lincoln that will follow
the example set by Miller & Paine
will deserve, and will have, equal pub
licity in The Wageworker.
The Wageworker trusts that Miller
& Paine wSU profit handsomely by
their shortening of the hours of labor,
and they will if organized labor does
.its duty and stands by those who
demonstrate their friendship for those
who toil.
Central Union
Wants to Knot?
x
The Central Labor Union met Tues
day evening and transacted what little
business came before it and made a
speedy "get-away." The chief business
was the matter of a local clothing firm
that had violated an agreement with
the Central Onion. On April 15, 1905,
the manager of this firm signed an
agreement not to handle a certain
"scab" hat, said agreement now being
in possession of the Central Union.
Early this spring the firm began ex
tensively advertising this same "scab"'
hat in violation, of said agreement.
A committee was appointed :to waij.
upon the manager, exhibit the agree
ment signed by his own hand and wait
an explanation. The result of the con
ference will be given in next week's
issue.
The Central Union also took cog
nizance of the fact that the firm of
Miller & Paine had voluntarily cut off
another hour from its Saturday busi
ness, now closing at 6 p. m. instead
of 7 p. m. Miller & Paine'3 store is
the only retail establishment in Lin
coln that observes the. early Saturday
closing. 1 The Central Union unani
THIS APPLIES IN LINCOLN.
Each Union Should Have a Press
Agent to Give Out Important News.
One thing wle notice about the Easton
unions is that they are extremely bash
ful. They hold enthusiastic meetings and
in many cases initiate several candi
dates, but are so bashful that they
never let anyone know they met at all.
Year in and year out, no report is
allowed to be made public that , they
ever existed at all.
Let each union appoint a press agent,
a member who can Judge what part
oi the proceedings are proper for thj
public to know, and let all reports be
given out through him. We believe
it to be for the good of organized labor
that regular reports of the meetings be
published, that the public be informed
o; our growth and progress, and our
side of public questions'. We do not
believe that all of a union's business
should be given to the ipublic, and the
only way to avoid leakage of private
matters is to have a responsible source
oi information to which the public
can apply a news or pres3 agqnt. 1
! It seems that in many cases bash-
fulness smothers whatever : unionism
some people ever had.
"The Journal" has repeatedly rer
quested several unions to send us news
that could be published with benefiicial
results, but the same old laggard fash
ion still prevails.
' The unions and many, individual
members in this City want to get a
"hump" on themselves or they will
awake some of , these fine mornings
wondering what struck them. Easton
(Pa.) Journal.
THE NEW LYRIC.
One of the.-Handsomest Little Theatres
in the Country.
The new Lyric theatre, now in course
course of construction, will be one. of
the' handsomest little theatres in the
country, and when completed will be
aii immense credit to Lincoln. Archi
tecturally there will te nothing pret
tier in the west, and from the stand
point of convenience it will be unex
celled. Manager Miller is spending ail
his waking hours watching it grow,
and the addition of each brick and bit
of terra cotta or cut stone adds an
other section to his gratified smile.
When completed the new Lyric wSU
have every convenience, known to mod
em amusement buildings, and . un
doubtedly will become even more popu
lar than the Lyric now i is which
seems almost an impossibility.
NOW FOR HIMSELF.
George Bush, for many years in the
employ of Buckstaff Bros. Manufactur
ing company, is now in business for
himself and has opened up a harness
repair shop at 1343 O street, where he
will repair, oil and wash harness and
guarantee- all work entrusted to his
care. Mr. Bush is a union leatherwork
er and has always been at the fore
front in union matters. k He is entitled
to the patronage of union men and
The Wageworker (.wishes him success
in his new venture. "
CAN'T MAKE MAIL BAGS.
The inmates of the New Jersey state
pjf ion have stopped making mail bags
because of the law prohibiting the use
of convict labor on government con
tracts. A Trenton factory employing
1C0 hands has taken ur work. '
mously adopted the following resolu
tion: r i ,t:
"Resolved, That the Central LaTor'
Union extends to the firm of Milter fc;
Paine the assurances , of this'' body's
appreciation of the . firm's action u
cutting off another hour on Saturday.
now closing at 6 p. m., which actio,
this body recognizes as a humane f
on the ipart of the firm and a jveoguir '
t:on of the shorter workday."
The labor temple committee askeS
for a little more time, owing--fo a v
misunderstanding as to the commit-'
tee's make-up. i The request Was grant-
ed. President Castor suggested that
au. attempt be made to organize a 2
trade or two and mentioned the sheet t
metal workers as being good ones to
start on. . . . ,
Under "state of trade" all lines re-";
ported good with the, exception ofJthe
cigarmakers, who reported "dull." "
This wouldn't be true of the cigar-
makers if a lot of eminent : business
men who are always yelling about
"patronizing home industry" would :
practice what they preach.
Hereafter. the law providing for fines
for non-attendance of delegates will '
bt rigidly enforced.
KANSAS CITY CARPENTERS.
Some Encouraging Reports from Good
i Old Kawville. 'f
The Carpenters of Kansas City have
asked for a new wage scale to take
effect on June 1st, 4906.s Carpenter
foremen ' are to receive 55 cental iper
hcur ,and journeymen carpenters 45
cents per hour. This is an increase of '
7 cents an hour for the foremen and " j
of 5 cents an hour for the journeymen.' : ' i
r The business agents of the Carpen-- -. j
ters who' have been working-vRloag-
this line haye pygw vWngpX? '
ing success. The. contractor are not W. -t
ptly. agreeable, .but some have nittB'ly -
offered to sign up. Mr. P. Martin, one
of the largest contractors of that city, s.
not only approves of the advance in' '
wages, but says , he will insist on" a ' -r
half holiday on Saturdays as well. ;'' f-,
POSTUM AND PASTE'EM. ,
If you fill a man up with "Postum"?
And send him out to his toil, ' -Or
his sysjtem is clogged with "Gripe
nuts," ' ' - 1
From Battle Creek, Michigan's, soil,
If you look for a fair day's labor .' : ;
You must have wonderful gall..'
For a scab must always cover a sore, .
And it's rotten, my friend, that's alt. .
.- . . . . .... .i
O course, Mr. Post, "there's a reason,", "
And there's sawdust, and glucose as 1
well, . : ' ;
And I've heard it said, you're as gooil 1
as dead, ' ' (
As to live on the stuff you selj. r l
For the "Road to Swillville" is rocky v
. No unionist takes that route; , , ,
They are fitting a slab for a misled '
; scab, . i " V '.- -r
When you will be down and out
Jo E. Evans, in Denver Advocate,.
CIGARMAKERS ELECT.' .
, The Cigarmakers' International
Union has just finished canvassing tha
referendum' vote for the election . of
officers. George W. Perkins is re-1
elected president, with 19,133 votes aa
against 9,636 for Peter Knickrehm and
3,393 scattering.
Samuel Gompers - is again chosea
first vice-president. For several of the
offices there wa3 no election, there be
ing several candidates and none- re
ceiving a majority of the votes cost. '
LIABILITY BILL IS PASSED.
Washington, April 4. Chief among
the measures passed by the house to
day was the so-called "personal- liabil
ity' 'bill, which has bf.en favored by
the army of railway employes through?
out the country, and which had prac-:
tically a unanimous report from the
committee. ' Members of the bouse
showed great interest in the measure, .
and had a division been called or the
biU would have had an alntdst unani
mous vote. ;
, LOOKS PROSPEROUS. "
, The April number of the Easton, Pa .
Journal, edited and published by Marr
quis DeLafayette Shrope,' was a
"friendl?li8t edition" and looked good
both typographically and financially..
The Journal oni gets -out' once a -month,
but-it-te'"aiwav3 packed full of
good stuff ana deserves the prosperity
that is eyldenKon every page." '
Eighty-five
members were ad-
mitted at one 'm
Car Men's Union
cently. ,
ting of the Street ,
New Orleans re-
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