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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (June 8, 1906)
WA6EW0RKER WILL M. MAUPIN, EDITOR Published Weekly at 137 No. 14th St., Lincoln, Neb. One Dollar a Tear. Entered as second-class matter April 21, 1904, at the postoffice at Lincoln, Neb., under the Act of Congress of March 3rd, 1879. , j "Printers' Ink," the recog- jt jt nized authority on ad vert Is- J jt ing, after a thorough investi- .a Jt gafion on this subject, says: J j "A labor paper is a far bet- J J ter advertising medium than J jt an ordinary newspaper in J jt comparison with circulation. jH j A labor paper, for example, J jt having 2,000 subscribers is of Jt 'j more value to the business jH Jt man who advertises in it Jt J than an ordinary paper with Jt J 12,000 subscribers." J fj$ J$ t t JS 3t THE EIGHT-HOUR BILL. The eight-hour bill in congress, which has been held up for nearly two years by the republican majority of the house committee on labor, has at last been favorably reported But the republican majority is not entitled to , any credit. On the contrary, the re publican majority is responsible for the long delay. It was only by a shrewd and quick-witted move on the part of Representative Hunt that the bill was reported. And thereby hangs a tale: The house committee on labor is composed of thirteen members, eight republicans and five democrats. For months President Gompers has been vainly trying to have the bill favor ably reported. But the majority re fused and delayed matters by con tinued "hearings." The other day an ex-congressman was making a speech against the bill, having been retained by the Manufacturers' Association to oppose its passage. Only three repub licans and three democrats were pres ent. While the ex-congressman was talking Representative William Ran dolph Hearst, who was thought to be in San Francisco, suddenly walked into the committee room. His pres ence made a quorum seven members being present, four democrats and three republicans. Representative Hunt, democrat, of Missouri, instantly cut into the ex-congressman's speech with a motion to go into executive ses sion. The republican members ob jected and sent out hurry-up calls to their fellow republican members. The four democrats saw their advantage and used it. The committee went into executive session, and a motion to re port the bill with the recommendation that it be passed was carried, one re publican voting with the four demo crats. . Perhaps the democrats turned the trick because it was a good political move. Perhaps they are not more in terested in the workingman than the republicans. Indeed, there is small difference between them. But whether it was because of friendship or be cause it was a good political dodge, the democratic members of the committee deserve the thanks of organized labor. TIME TO GET BUSY. The Lancaster county primaries and conventions will soon be called for the nomination of legislative candidates. What is being done by the union men to secure representation on the repub lican and democratic legislative tick ets? Are we going to let the machine politicians run in another bunch of grafters and fixers, or are we going to demand that the labor interests have some recognition? Are we going to sit quietly down and let the machine politilcans select legislators who will again ignore every just demand made by the toilers for protection? If the wage earners of Lancaster county fall to get recognition this year it will be because they haven't got energy enough, sand enough and sense enough to make a fight for them selves and for their families. The time to make this fight is right now, not after the nominations have been made. Let us try to get satisfactory candidates, and if we fail, let us get together and nominate our own men. It is high time that the workingmen of Lancaster county quit playing cats- paw for a lot of Jim-crow political fix ers. Let us get together and do a lit tle voting in our own behalf. The official journal of the Brother hood of Railway Trainmen recently carried a two-page advertisement for the American Tobacco Co. We are waiting for the official journal of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen to appear with full page ads for Stetson hats, Postum Cereal, Dave Parry's car riages, "Jones Brand Overalls." A union paper that would carry the ad vertisement of the American Tobacco Co. is a disgrace to the cause of unionism, and the Journal of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen can put that In its pipe and smoke it when its brand of "scab" tobacco gives out. James A. Reynolds of Cleveland, O., is a machinist. He was nominated for the legislature and his fellow unionists had sense enough to lay aside parti sanship and elect him. As a result he was put in a position where he could be of service to wage earners, and he was true to the trust. What's the mat ter with electing seven like him to the legislature from Lancaster county? A vacant lot In the business district of Lincoln sold recently for $8,000 cash. It cost the original purchaser $1,000. Who added the $7,000 to Its value? The workingmen of Lincoln. But they didn't get any of it. Is it anarchistic" or "socialistic" to de mand that the value go to the men who made it? The Wageworker was mistaken last week in stating that Manager Eber sole of the Lincoln Telephone Co. res cued "Handy" Baker when he was burned by a "live" wire. Baker was rescued and cared for by his fellow employes of the Nebraska Teelphone Co. Landlordism is as much a curse ir this country as it is or ever was ir Ireland. The one item of rent take: 25 per cent of the workingman't wages. There were more evictions ir New York City in 1905 than there were in Ireland in any ten years ol that unfortunate country's history. The corporations and politicians arc just now very busy at the task of mak ing a United States senator for Ne braska. The men whose work makes the state prosperous will not be called upon to do anything but furnish the votes. The Wageworker arises to remark that the Machinists' Monthly Journal is one of the best craft papers printed, and if all union machinists read it and acted on what they read there would be a wonderful difference. We haven't noticed any paroxysms of rage on the part of Parry and Post over the fact that a union man in Chi cago was brutally assaulted by a couple of "free and independent" work men. Representative Hunt of Missouri de serves well at the hands of union men He turned the neat political trick that forced the favorable report on the eight-hour bill. Yes, you vote intelligently. You've studied political economy a whole lot. But how many of you can give an intelligent reason for your political faith? The man who always "votes his ticket straight" hasn't got sense enough, usually, to know when he Is getting the muddy end of the stick. What has become of the Stationary Engineers' union? Isn't it about time for the men who run the engines to wake up? If your political party will not recog nize the wage earners, for heaven's sake be a man and get into some party that will. It requires only leg muscle to march right on Labor day. It requires a little brains to vote right on election day. "Johnnle-Afraid-of-His-Job" is still fighting organization among the street railway employes. PROPERLY LABELLED. Manufactured in The Wageworker Of fice for Public Consumption. Unionism Is evolution, not revolu tion. Strong-heart unionism is better than strong-arm unionism. The best way to hammer labor's ene mies is to boost labor's friends. Union men should perform their hardest work on election day. Sufficient support of the labor press will compel the metropolitaon dailies to get into line. The economy of some wives enable their husbands to make a good front at the union meeting. , When you touch the heart of a gen uine union man he' immediately reaches for his pocket. The workingman who is not a church member has no right to criti cise the Christianity of the working- man who is. If organized workers were guilty of one-half the crimes that their oppon ents are guilty of, the jails would be crowded with union men. A Great Ad. The manufacturer of "scab" clothing laid down his paper and said to his partner: "That was an awful calamity in San Francisco. Let us get a good adver tisement out of it." "How can we do it?" queried the partner. "Why, we'll subscribe $5,000 .to the relief fund and give out the fact to all the daily papers." "But that will be a lot of money," protested the cautious partner. "Not a cent. We'll subscribe the money today and reduce the wages to morrow. The non-union help don't dare kick, and we can keep the daily papers from mentioning the reduc tions." Realizing that it was a good scheme the partner acquiesced. And this really happened. Discontent. "The men are growing discontented with prevailing conditions." "All right. We'll have to give them some new candidates to vote for. Send for the fixers and tell them to pick out men we can depend on to do as we say while making the workers believe they are being represented. ' Limerick. A fakir in far Battle Creek Wrote ads that were pretty and slick, But the grape nuts they sold Were so rotten and old That the victims were awfully sick. JOHN T. LAVINE KILLED. Well Known Labor Leader Murdered by Angry Member of His Union. John T. Lavine, well known among labor leaders throughout the United States, was shot and fatally injured in Chicago last Friday night by John T. Tobias, a fellow member of the Cigar- makers' Union. Tobias is a cripple and for some time has been supported by the union. At a meeting called for the purpose of raising more money for Tobias the movement was opposed by Lavine. This displeased Tobias and when Lavine left the hall, Tobias, who was waiting on the street, shot Lavine three times. Tobias tried to escape on Lis crutches, but was overhauled and arrested. Mr. Lavine lived only a few hours after the assault. He was state organ izer of the Cigarmakers' Union and for many years one of the foremost mem bers of his craft. His death inflicts a severe loss upon the cause of organ ization. UNION LEADER SLUGGED. Organizer Brutally Beaten by a "Scab" Flagman in Chicago. Charles Fleming, organizer and member of the Chicago Elevated Rail way Employes' Union, was assaulted and badly beaten by a "scab" flagman m the employ of the Elevated. Flem ing was returning from a union meet ing when he was accosted by the flag man. Fleming stopped and the flag man jumped from the tracks to the platform and struck Fleming a stun ning blow in the face, knocking him down. Then the asailant jumped on the prostrate man and inflicted serious injuries, among them being a broken jaw. The asailant then fled. Fleming w.'.s taken to the hospital. Special po licemen employed by the road wit nessed the assault but made no at tempt to interfere. Fleming's union will take steps to make the railway company pay heavy damages. LABOR DAY. Time to Begin Consideration of Plans for Observing It. It is not too early to begin consid eration of plans for the proper ob servance of Labor Day. There are many reasons why the day should be celebrated with pomp . and circum stance this year. Labor is prosper ous, it is waking up to its duty politi cally and socially, and is making rapid strides in the matter of more thorough organization. There are unions in Beatrice, Ne braska City and Fremont, and it ought not be difficult to persuade the union ists of those cities to come to Lincoln and join with us in a monster demon stration. The Wageworker offers this as a suggestion to the Central Labor Union, and trusts that it will be con sidered at the meeting next Tuesday evening. THE ELECTRICAL WORKERS. Will Celebrate Their Fourth Anniver sary Next Wednesday Night. The Electrical Workers of Lincoln will celebrate the fourth anniversary of their union at Bruse's hall next Wednesday evening. It will be a so cial affair and great preparations are being made to celebrate the anniver sary In fitting style. Good music, re freshments and a program of unusual merit has been prepared. The Elec trical Workers have been very suc cessful in their work during the four years of their union, and they feel that KohnBros. Fine Union Made Clothing At A BARGAIN PRICE Suits made to sell at $18 to $25, on sale at HERE IS only one maker of HIGH GRADE Union Made Clothing in America . . . . . IHAT'S KOHN BROS, of Chicago, who employ the Highest Skilled Craftsmen obtainable. IHC CLOTHES they QUALITY, STYLE, FIT and TAILORING We purchased their surplus stock of Spring and Summer Suits at a low price which makes it possible to offer this EXTRAORDINARY BARGAIN. Come in and see. Fine Hand-tailored Suits of fine Worsteds and Chev iots in all the fashionable single and double-breasted models in patterns and colors that are new and handsome. Come and see these suits that are actually worth S18 to 925, here. . THE store that sells THE Store that sells Union Made Shoes for Union Made Hats and Men, Women, and Furnishings for Men Children. and Boys. 'ffotrte: HDr. ILeonhardt they have a right to. rejoice and make merry. Harvey Williams, a lineman in the employ of the Lincoln Telephone Co., connected with a live wire Monday and took a. tumble from a forty-foot pole. The injury from the wire was not much, but when he struck the ground he sustained a fractured ankle and a severe cut on his forehead. He was immediately taken to a hospital and his injuries dressed. He is in no danger, but he will be off duty for sev eral weeks. Two such accidents with in a week call attention to the dan gerous nature of the work engaged in by electrical workers. A NARROW ESCAPE. A Leg Pulling Experience That Was Not Very Agreeable. 'Gene Lyman had his leg pulled last Monday. Incidentally he lost a pair of trousers and came near losing the leg. Lyman, who is a machine opera tor at the Star, walked around behind his machine to start something and the screw on a pulley of a rapidly re volving shaft took hold of his trouser leg and began winding it up. Lyman grabbed the machine and held on, and very fortunately the material in the trousers gave way before the leg did. The damage was confined to the trous ers and . Lyman's feelings, but it was a narrow escape from what might have been a fatal accident. AVERT STREET CAR STRIKE. Detroit Employes Vote to Accept Offer of Railway Company. Detroit, Mich., June 3. The possi bility of a strike of street car employes was averted early today when the men voted to accept the offer of the Detroit United railway of 2 cents an hour for all men now in the employ of the com pany and 23 cents the first year of employment for men hired after June 1; 24 cents the second year, and 25 cents thereafter. The men several weeks ago made a demand for 30 cents. Cigarmakers' International Union is raising $23,000 for its San Francisco members by means of a special 50c assessment. , 475 build are Standards of FumfsHit0 Mats jtntt Shoes JHMfttitfrHit. 1726 N STREET LINCOLN, NEB. SITUATED ON SITE OF IMPOR TANT CIVIL WAS BATTLE. Defeat of Confederates at Pea Ridge, Ark., Saved St. Louis from Attack Historic Hostelry Burned, But Kebuilt. Fayetteville, Ark. Among the many Interesting places in northwest Arkan sas, there is probably none of more historical importance than the Pea Ridge battlefield in Benton county, which lies In the extreme northwest ern part of the state, bounded on the north by Missouri and on the west by Indian Territory. It was one of the first counties formed in the state, and was once in habited by Indians, the Osage tribe predominating. From this tribe the well-known Osage Springs are said to have derived their name, tradition having it that an Osage brave had gone to one of these springs for a drink when he was shot from above by a OLD ELKHORN TAVERN AT PEA RIDGE BATTLEFIED. member of the Delaware tribe, with whom the Osage Indians were at en mity. The battle of Pea Ridge was fought not a great distance from the present site of Bentonville, and was the most important engagement during the civil war. But two things now remain to call the attention of the visitor to the occurrence. One of these is the mon ument erected to the memory of the heroic confederate leaders and brave soldiers, who gave their lives that day; the other is the famous Elkhorn tavern, remembered for many reasons, and especially because it was within a few feet of this structure that Gem. McCulloch felL - The monument is a tall marble shaft erected in memory of Gens. McCulloch, Mcintosh and Slack, and of the hundreds of southern soldiers, who fell on that occasion. It was unveiled at a reunion held on Sep tember 1, 1887, more than 25 years after the battle of Pea Ridge took place. Here thousands of people. Including $14.75 -1 HUeart Snecialist many veterans, assembled to witness the ceremony.' The site of the camp ground was a beautiful spot, one mile south of Elkhorn taverns. From this place, in plain, view, lay the high point, where Sigel's battery once stood, and to the southeast of nis po sition was Big mountain, where th confederate battery was stationed. The monument is a plain, unpreten tious shaft A square pedestal rises from a base, on the north - side of which is inscribed: "General W. Y. Slack, of Missouri;" on the west, "General Benjamin McCulloch, of. Texas;" on the south, "General James Mcintosh, of Arkansas," and on tire east, "The brave Confederate dead, who fell on this field March 7 and 8, 1862." A few yards from the spot where the monument stands was Capt. Bled soe's battery, which included the fa mous cannon, "Old Sacramento," which had seen service in the Mexican war. At this unveiling in 1887, Judge C. A. De France delivered an address, and was followed by ex-Gov. Lubbock, nf ' T1rflH" - Sfnntnr Tlerrv nt Arlran- sas; Congressman S. W. Peel and Col. T. J. Patton. - . The history of Elkhorn tavern is scarcely less interesting than that of the battlefield. The site of this build ing was homesteaded in 1832 by James Hanover, of Illinois. Two years later he sold it to William Red dick, of the same state, who construct ed the building known as "Elkhorn , tavern." It was an ordinary two-story frame structure, with a porch in front and a tall brick chimney on the out side, at each end. On top of the building was a huge pair of elk horns, taken from an animal, killed by a Mr. Cassedy. - During the batle Mr. Cox, who then lived in the tavern, was forced to take ' refuge with his family in the cellar. The federals, when they had captured the building, took the! elk horns off and sent them to New York. In the latter part of the war the structure was burned, but. In 1886, Mr. Cox. who still owns the property, rebuilt the tavern on the same . site and ac cording to the original plan. Then, through assistance of CoL Hunt P. Wilson, who had seen service In the confederate army, be secured the re turn of the horns. They were again placed on the tavern, just as they had been before, and are still there. Its Importance to the union cause places the battle of Pea Ridge among the decisive battles of the war, although the loss of life was not very great. This disastrous defeat of the con federates kept Gen. Van Dora from carrying out his avowed purpose of taking St. Louis, and carrying the war Into Illinois.