WAGEWORKER
WILL M. MAVPDi, EDITOR
Published Weekly at 137 No. 14th
Bt., Lincoln, Neb. One Dollar a Year.
Entered as second-class matter April
21, 1904, at the postoffice at Lincoln,
Neb., under the Act of Congress of
March 3rd, 1879.
think of anybody's label but their own.
"Gosh. I forgot to ask for the label!"
The editor has heard that excuse a
thousand times since he started this
label agitation. It's the poorest excuse
in the world. The man who makes it
would be the first to holler his head off
if a union man bought a "scab" article
made by his line of trade.
Yes, sir; The Wage worker is going
to keep right on singing the "Union
Label Song," and it expects the chorus
to grow louder and stronger every
week.
'
"Printer' Ink," the recofl
nlzed authority en advertis
ing, after a thorough Investi
gation on this subject, says:
"A labor paper la a far bet
ter advertising medium than .
an ordinary newspaper In
comparison with circulation.
A labor paper, for example,
having 2,000 subscriber Is of
more value to the business
man who advertise In It
than an ordinary paper vlth
12,000 subscribers."
J J
PUT THEM TO GUESSING.
The political bosses are now en
gaged in the task of selecting the can
didates that you and I are expected to
vote for. These candidates will not
be selected with a view to their fitness,
nor with an eye single' to the good of
the county, state and nation. Of course
a lot of people believe that selections
are made with these ends in view, but
that is because such people are suck
ers. The selections are being made
with a view to strengthening personal
pulls and the party machine.
Wouldn't it be a good joke if the
people the working people for in
stancetook it Into their heads to give
the political machines the go-by and
proceed to elect a lot- of men who
would owe their allegiance to the peo
ple instead of to the machine? Sup
pose, for Instance, the union men of
Lancaster county suddenly took it into
their heads to control some of the of
fices that have to do with the employ
ment of labor, like the commissioners
They would proceed to insist, first.
upon the nomination of a union car
penter or two, a union bricklayer or
two or a couple of union painters,
Then, if they were sensible, they
would caBt their votes solidly for the
labor candidates, and elect them, too,
Then, wten a bridge contract came up
instead of being made a political plum
It would be made a labor plum and
union bridge builders would get the
work and the profit instead of a "scab1
contractor. Wouldn't that be fine?
Or, suppose, for instance, we as
union men determined to have one of
our own number in congress. We
would first try to have the two great
political parties make satisfactory
nominations. Failing In that we would
proceed to make an independent nom
iiiatlon by petition. Of course we
would get licked out of our boots the
first time, but the next time the
minority party would be looking for
our votes and would let us select the
candidate. Then we could elect a man
who would go to Washington and rep
resent us instead of the corporations
and political manipulators who traffic
in the public offices. Wouldn't it be a
fine thing to have fifty or sixty able,
consistent, hustling labor congressmen
doing business for us at Washington?
Say, boys. Just for the fun .of the
thing let's put the political manipula
tors to guessing. Let's give ' them a
chance to nominate the right kind of
men for the legislature from Lancas
ter county, and if they don't do it let
us go right in and elect two or three
on our own hook. We can do it, and
after we do it once we'll have the man
agers of the two old parties kow-tow
ing and salaaming to us the next time
a campaign comes on. Wouldn't that
be a situation worth working for?
GOOD FOR MAYOR SCHMITZ.
Who is this man, Eugene Schmitz,
mayor of San Francisco, of whom all
the great daily newspapers are singing
praises because of his splendid course
of action during the dark days that
have befallen the city by the Golden
Gate?
God bless your soul, my brother;
that Is the very same man that these
very same daily papers were denounc
ing as an "anarchist," a "pothouse
politician," a "dangerous agitator," a
tool of an infamous labor trust," a
catspaw for dishonest villains who
were exploiting labor." Tt is the very
same Eugene Schmitz that was cursed
and reviled and denounced in the
fiercest language by every union hater,
sweat shopper and public exploiter in
the land. He was the candidate of
the union men of San Francisco, and
the first time he was elected he de
feated a republican and a democrat.
The next time the two old parties com
bined against him, and every daily
newspaper in San Francisco save one
bitterly opposed him. But he whipped
the combined opposition to a stand
still. All the vile names that his op
ponents could call him were applied to
him, but the working people knew him
and trusted him.
Today the papers that denounced
him most bitterly are praising him for
his ability, his courage, his executive
shrewdness and his knowledge of how
to handle a situation such as never be
fore confronted the mayor of an
American city.
Organized labor has a -right to be
proud of Eugene Schmitz.
ate and legislature. All mentioned for
the senate are lawyers, all . but one
mentioned-for governor are lawyers,
all mentioned for congress with a
single exception are lawyers: And
there hasn't been a union man men
tioned for office during the whole time.
What's the use? The union men will
continue to vote for their industrial
enemies unless they get wise.
One trouble with the union labor
movement is the slowness of union
men to educate themselves and study
industrial and political conditions.
Here's a proposition: We assert
that the 45,000 union printers in the
United States and Canada contributed
more per capita to the San Francisco
sufferers than any single church de
nomination. We assert that the union
carpenters of the United States con
tributed more per capita to the same
cause than any single church denomi
nation, we xurtner assert tnat eacn
and every trades union in the United
State contributed more per capita than
each and every church denomination.
And Bishop McCabe says he and his
church are opposed to institutions like
these.
Local men who control the supply
of ice get together and raise the price
arbitrarily. That's business. A few
skilled mechanics who control the sup
ply of work in their trade get together
and demand an increase of wages and
strike to enforce their demand. That's
anarchy.
Sam Parks, labor agitator, went to
jail for grafting. Any .millionaires
jailed for violating tbe law against
granting rebates? None that we have
heard of. One, however, was convict
ed and appointed to a cabinet position
by President Roosevelt.
There are more children under, fit
teen years of age working in mills,
mines, factories and sweat shops in
the United States than there are in
Germany, Italy and Great Britain com
bined. Yet we are sending mission
aries to China!
Wouldn't it be a fine thing if organ
ized labor had a few men in the senate
to put up as good a fight for organized
labor as Aldrich, Knox, Lodge and a
few other senators have put up for the
railroads during the freight rate fight?
SINGING THE SAME OLD SONG
Last week a man who carries i
union card said of Tbe Wageworker
"O, it is forever singing the same old
. song about 'the label. Will it never
get tired?"
Not while you, the editor or The
Wageworker lives, dear brother,
That's what this Glorious Banner of
Industrial Liberty was founded for
to boost for the label.
The man quoted above carries
union card. And when he was com
plaining about so much "label stuff"
In this little newspaper he was wear
ing a "scab" hat, and it's dollars to
doughnuts he also wore "scab" cloth
ing and "scab" shoes. If they were
labeled it was through no action on his
part He is just a member of his
union lie lacks a lot of being a union
man. And he Isn't the only one of the
species in Lincoln, either. If he was
the only one unionism in this town
would be wonderfully fortunate. The
trouble is that a lot of otherwise good
union men are careless. They never
Mr. Parry has written a book. It
is as poor as the wages he pays and
as interesting as his arguments in
favor of "free' and independent .work
ingmen." That means that Mr. Parry's
book is good for junk. We tried to
read it.
"American Industries," the Parry
organ, advises its readers to quit
speal inj; of "non-union men" and be
gin calling them "freemen." Wouldn't
that lengthen your working day?
- How much longer will worklngmen
allow themselevs to be hauled to the
polls by the nose by a lot of political
bosses who make a living by political
manipulation.
J
One trouble with the union labor
movement is that union men do not
exert themselves to interest their
wives in the movement.
Isn't it about time for Charles W.
Grapenuts to throw another fit or get
a divorce and marry a new steno
grapher?
Union hands cleansed with "scab"
soap soil every union task undertaken.
Look for the - label. Demand the
label. Do not take it without the label.
The mechanic without a union is as
helpless as a ship without a rudder.
Labor's influence in congress Is a
strong as Christianity in hell.
A little more unionism at the polls
will help things a lot. . '
Patronize the ice trust and look
pleasant.
PROPERLY LABELED.
Manufactured in The Wageworker Of
fice and Subject to All Shears.
Talk is a good dog, but Action is
a better one.
A label in the hat Is worth more
than union talk through "scab" smoke.
Do not take off your unionism when
jou leave the union hall.
The real union man tells it to his
wife.
A lot of people who shudder at chatr
te! slavery think nothing of soul slav
ery. ' ' '' '
The wife spends most of her hus
band's money. If the husband is a
good union man he will impress upon
his wife's mind the necessity of spend
ing the money with labor's friends.
A man without a union is a man
without industrial hope.
One loud demand for the label is
better than an hour of "hot air" union
ism on the street corner.
Limerick.
A good union man of Barnstable
Swore loudly, "As long as I'm able
To lift up my -voice
" In expression of choice
111 call for the old union label."
To Be Sure.
"I am heartily in favor of large fami
lies," exclaimed the well dressed gen
tleman. I rejoice when I see an
American father and mother walking
down the street followed by a numer
ous progeny, sturdy, healthy an-1
stiong."
Naturally we were interested in the
gentleman's remarks.
"Have you a large family?" , we
asked.
"No; I have only on child a daugh
ter. And she is the apple of my eye.
Nothing is too good for her."
Filled with rejoicing at such paren
tal devotion we presumed to ask one
more question:
"Why then, do you favor large fami
lies?"
"I need the children to work in my
cotton mills," replied the well dressed
gentleman. ' '
1 Then it dawned upon us that he
could well afford to dress his daugh
ter in the finest, because she wore tha
accumulated labor of underpaid chil
dren.""- -" " '
Needs a Change.
"I always stand up and speak for
the workingman!" exclaimed the pro
fessional politician.
"Well, we wish you'd sit down and
give us a chance to see over you,
replied the disgusted union man who
had been bilked at the polls ever since
he could remember. ."
You can accomplish more for union
Ism by walking a block to patronize a
friend than you can by standing on a
street corner and "knocking" your
enemies.
As long as organized labor patron
izes its enemies its friends will be few.
A number of Nebraskans have been
mentioned for governor, congress, sen-
Located.
"Is Blngerly a 'square man?' "
"He says he is, but he is always
hanging 'round complaining." '
First Labor Union Bank.
Chicago, 111., May 14. The Trade
Union Bank of Chicago, the first in
stitution of its kind in this country,
is to open its doors for business' to
morrow. The bank is to draw Its sup
port from the 671 labor unions of Chi -cugo
and their individual memberships
Savings, checking and loan depart
ments will be maintained. The bank
has a capital of $50,000, and was char
tered under the laws of Arizona.
The Store That Sells
Union-Made Shoes For Women
CO
CO s
3 cq
It is not necessary to be rich to dress well.
- Every man owes it to himself, his family and
his friends to be as well dressed as his condi-
: i i i
, - - ; ". '" . ; ' ': :
tion in life will permit :: :: :: :: :; :: -::
1 Mayer Bros.' Clothing
is not cheap where cheap is applied to quality,
nor are Mayer Bros.' Clothing high priced
Br 1 -i' -
o
CO
Do You Wear Mayer Bros.' Clothing
9
You ought to. Just think it over;
--? KTifT 'fa..' '"V V.'V
TOTS 1
(JEHU
HO
TRADES INSURANCE.
Movement to Form a Big Life Com
pany Composed of Unionists.
. That a movement is under way for
the organization of a life insurance
company, for the benefit, of union labor
developed during the discussion of the
subject in the convention of the Com
mercial Telegraphers' Union of Ameri
ca, at Cincinnati, Ohio. It has been
left to the members of the organization
to look into the matter and later re
port to President ' Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor. All
members of labor unions in America
will be asked to "withdraw from the
old line companies and give their sup
port exclusively to the labor company.
The subject has already been present
ed to a number of labor organizations
and favorably considered ' by them.
Streator Trades and Labor Gazette. -
A SUCCESSFUL RECEPTION.
Crockery Specials
Saturday Only
The dinner sets may be had in pink, - blue, gold and
green decorations with gold lines and ; traced knobs
and handles. The separate pieces are plain white.
Last Saturday, from 2 to 10:30 p. m.,
the Lincoln Gas & Electric Light Co.
kept "open house" for Its friends and
patrons., and a more successful func
tion was never witnessed in Lincoln.
Fully 3,000 -people attended, and the
ladles were given flowers and punch
while a demonstration of the use of
fuel gas was given. Music enlivened
the occasion and the courteous em
ployes were kept busy handling the
large crowds.
The management has every reason
to feel proud of the success of their
efforts to entertain and please their
patrons and prospective customers,
and those who( attended the reception
must certainly have been impressed
with the features of the occasion.
100-piece decorated Dinner Sets, regular price $9.50, special...
100-piece decorated Dinner Sets, regular price $ 12.00, special..
100-piece decorated Dinner Sets, regular price $12.50, special..
112-piece decorated Dinner Sets, regular 'price. $13.50, special..
100-piece decorated Dinner Sets, regular price $12.50, special.'.
100-piece decorated Dinner Sets, regular price $14.50, special..
112-piece decorated Dinner Sets, regular price $18.25, special..
Tea Cups and Saucers, a pair...... ..
. Fruit Saucers, each.
, Pie. Plates, each...........
Tea Plates, each
Breakfast Plates, each
Dinner Plates, each .......................
Soup Bowls, each ; .
Wash Bowl and Pitcher...... t.i.i.
Covered Chambers
Covered Slop Jars. ... ;
v (China Department, 3rd Floor.)
The store closes at Six O'clock Saturday Night
Miller & Paine
..$8.45
..$8.85
. .$9. SO
..$9.75
..$9.95
.$10.00
.$18.00
... . Se
... 3c
... 3c
... 4c
... 5c
... c
..; ' 5c
... 76c
... 35c
... 89c
The Dr. Benj. F. Baily Sanatorium
Lincoln, Nebraska 1 ,
TFor non-contagious chronic diseases. Largest,
, best equipped, most beautifully furnished.
.-V