-3 LJ
0
i
3
VrOL. 3
LIXCOKJs, JfEBKASICA, JULY 27, 190
20. 1G
1 7
I
V
FOR UNION PRINTERS.
Some Side Lights on the Management
' ' of the "Home."
The Wageworker la in receipt of the
following letter from a guest of the
Union Printers' Home at Colorado
Springs. It calls renewed attention to
the fact that it is time for a radical
change in the management of the
home. For obvious reasons the name
of the writer is suppressed. The Wage
worker knows the writer, and vouches
for his honesty and trtuhfulness. The
letter Is as follows:
Colorado Springs, Colo., July 22. To
the Editor of ,The Wageworker: To
show you the gross mismanagement of
our home I will relate a few facts that
the rank and file of our brethren are
ignorant of.
First, when an Inmate is on his death
bed a card goes up on his door, "No
one admitted." Not even his dearest
friend is allowed to see him or receive
any dying request or message, and as
soon as life is extinct the matron en
ters the chamber of death and takes all
of his effects. Now I do not charge her
with dishonesty, but there Is no wit
ness to deny or affirm any report she
chooses to make. This should be done
by a committee, and the dying man
should be allowed to see his friends.
Some time ago an old inmate was sit
ting in the assembly room quietly
smoking his pipe when the "kid"
climbed up on the table and pulled the
pipe out of the old man's mouth and
struck him in the face. When asked
by the old man why he had done so the
"kid" replied by saying: "My mamma
says I can do as I please." There are
other reasons why the home should not
be managed by a family. The matron
Is the boss, and what she says goes.
I recall another Instance. A mem
ber of No. 6 on a certain Saturday was
In a hurry to get to the barber shop,
and when the waitress brought him a
piece of steak he Jokingly said: "This
eteak is tough; bring me an ax." The
daughter heard this and reported it to
her mother. After being shaved and
coming out of the barber shop he was
first met by the "kid'who said:
"Mamma wants to see you." Then the
daughter made the same announce
ment. He entered the office and the
following dialogue took place:
He "You want to see me, madam?"
She "Yes, I want to see you about
that steak. You said it was tough."
He "Yes, I said it as a joke, not as
a kick. But It was tough."
She "I say It was tender."
He "You can say what you like,
madam."
She "O, you are Just like the rest
of the New Yorkers. As soon as you
get the wrinkles out of your stomachs
you commence to kick."
There is not a man In the home to
day, with the possible exception of a
few "qulllers," who would not hail
with Joy a change of management.
Better still, if the I. T. U. would pass a
pension act. If the pension act were
passed there would be very few In
mates at the home, and fewer still
under the present management. The
favored few can get clothes for the
asking, while others who really need
them are told that the funds are run
ning low and that they will have to
wait. One man who worked in the
laundry for the past year, and whose
health was growing worse, applied for
- a suit of clothes and was refused. He
returned home in the clothes he had
worn for a over a year. The home was
Intended as a place of comfort for old
and disabled members, but it has been
transformed into a show place for vis
itors. If an Inmate plucks a flower
without permission he is called down.
He is also denied the use of the par
lors. They are left for the use of the
superintendent's family, and the piano
for the daughter to practice upon. For
Ood's sake let ua have a change.
"HOME."
WE ENDORSE THIS.
Kennedy's Paper the Best Labor Paper
in the Country.
The Western Laborer, Omaha, is six-
teen years old. For twelve years
Frank Kennedy (Sadie MacGuire) has
been at the helm. The first four years
no less than twelve ambitious mould
ers of public opinion aspired to the
lime light and that lean and hungry
look that so rapidly becomes the habi
tual guise ' of the labor editor. The
Laborer under Kennedy's guidance to
day appears more prosperous than
ever before. Cedar Rapids Tribune.
William Gouldlng was arrested and
lined $10 for speaking to one of the
rodents operating at Donnelly's rattery
in Chicago.
Printer figures That
The Union Printers of the United States and Canada have been'
fighting for the eight hour day since the first of January of the pres
ent year. For nearly seven months every working -union printer has
been paying or is supposed to have paid 10 per cent weekly on his
earnings in order to finance the eight hour cause.
Every week our official journal is filled with glowing promises
and beautiful predictions. Figures gloriously compiled and beauti
fully mixed up are given from month to month, and nothing left un
done to make us believe that the assessment is being used to win a
great victory.
Is it not time for some results? Is it not time to let the men on
the "paying line" know a little bit about how the money is being
spent, what direct results are being achieved, and what has been done
in the months gone by ?
Perhaps the men in charge of the eight hour campaign are doing
the best they can. Admit it. But is the best they can do commen
surate with the money that it is costing? Let the figures from the
official journal tell the story. In this table the reports printed in the
Typographical Journal are used, the June report, however, not being
obtainable, therefore the June reports are estimated on an average
with the other months.
The following table shows the number of journeymen, appren
tices and allied craftsmen carried on the strike benefit rolls for the
months named:
Month. Journeymen. Apprentices. Allied. Total.
February .... 4,977 327 642 5,946
March 5,079 341 488 5,908
April 5,059 342 488 5,889
May.. 4,872 - 401 601 5,748
June, (est.) ' 4,996 , 353 555 5,904
July 4,472 328 498 5,308
Now digest those figures. After six months of fighting there are
just 505 fewer journeymen on the strike benefit list than there were
according to the report printed in the February Journal. 'There are
11 fewer apprentices carried on the benefit list, and 144 fewer allied
tradesmen on the benefit list. In six months there has been a reduc
tion of 144 in the number drawing benefits.
In estimating the number working eight hours the editor of the
Journal figures without warrant. He takes the number working
eight hours under contract, then adds 40 per cent of the remainder,
and claims the total as working eight hours. He might as well claim
60 or 90 per cent. Common fairness demands that we take the num
ber working eight hours actually, and by contract. ' Here are the fig
ures from the Journal, the June figures being the average of the four
months preceding:
Month. Journal Est. Actual
February 37,741 . 34,674
March 38,988. 36,844
April 39,222 37,228
May 39,433 37,596
June (est.) 38,846 ' 36,585
July (No figures presented in the Journal.)
These figures show that at the end of five months of effort we had
gained the eight hour day for 2,922 men. What did it cost? Let the
Journal's figures tell the story:1
February, receipts, $144,547.03; March receipts, $155,974.47;
April receipts, $143,131.01 ; May receipts, $151,435.99 ; June receipts,
(average), $148,772.10; July receipts, $275,761.15. Total, $1,019,
621.75. (
But that does not cover the total expenses of the fight by any
means. The Journal affords the information that seven unions, with
a membership of 15,338, retain all of the 10 per cent assessment, and
finance their own case, except Chicago, which receives $1,000 a week
from the international. This represents a total of $22,338 per week.
Forty-eight unions with a membership of 8,152, retain all and in addi
tion receive constitutional benefits from the international, save Cleve
land. This represents a total of $9,600 per week. Six unions, with
a membership of 793, collect the assessment and retain half, or $600
LABOR'S
Washington, July 22. The executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor today made good its declaration
of several months ago to enter the
field of politics in the interest of the
trades union movement and to urge
all friends of organized labor to elect
to political office men known to be
favorable toi labor's cause. At the
headquarters of the federation the
council today issued its "campaign pro
gram," addressed 'to all organized la
bor and friends In the United States."
It setss out that' the trades union
movement has kept and proposes to
keep pace with the rapid change in in
dustrial affairs, and that the working
people cannot hope to maintain their
rights or a progressive position in the
varying phases or modern society un
less they organize and exercise all
those functions, which, as workmen
and citizens, it is their privilege and
their duty to exercise.
It Is declared that labor makes no
demand on government and society
which is not equally accorded to all
the people of this country, and that it
can and will be satisfied with nothing
less.
The proposed campaign is based
upon the allegation that little attention
has been paid to the enactment of laws
prepared by organized labor and pre
sented to congress, for the relief of
these wrongs and the attainment of
CALL
these rights to which labor and the
common people are Justly entitled and
which are essentially necessary, for
their welfare.
The council issues a word of caution
that the "movement must not degen
erate into a scramble for office, but it
should be a determined effort, free ab
solutely from all partisanship of every
name and character to secure the leg
islation we deem necessary and essen
tial to the welfare and happiness of
all our people." - '
It is expressly stated that where a
congressman or state legislator has
proved himself a true friend to the
rights of labor he should be supported
and no candidate nominated against
him.
The following is a text of the pro
gram: Campaign Program Outlined.
"To All Organized Labor and
Friends in the United States Dear Sirs
and Brothers: Events in the industrial
affairs of our people have rapidly
changed and are rapidly changing.
The trade union movement, as ex
pressed by the American Federation
of Labor, has kept and proposes to
keep pace therewith.
"The wheels of industry cannot be
halted or turned back, nor should
they be, even if that were possible.
Welcoming industrial progress, labor
must be ever alert to meet new condi-
Will Surprise You
per week. Two unions, with a membership of 531, retain all they
need, or $660 a week according to the Journal. .These sums are not
sent to the International and do not,
in twenty-six weeks these unions collected $860,860.00. The total
collected and disbursed by the international, added to the total col
lected and handled by the locals, aggregates the tremendous total of
$1,880,481.75.
At an expense of $1,880,481.75 we have gained the eight hour day
for 2,922f men, an average of $647.94 per man gaining the eight hour
day. According to the July Journal there were 4,472 men on strike.
If the average is maintained, $647.94, it will cost $2,897,587.68 to gain
the eight hours for the present strikers, 'to say nothing of the 4,000 or
5,000 who are still working the nine hour day under contract or be
cause it is not wise to increase at this time the number of men on the
benefit list. "
"We claim, and defy contradiction, that no trades union the size
of the International Typographical Union ever gave such a magnifi
cent sum of money in the same length of time. We claim that no
trades union in the world's history
per man, and as cheerfully, as the union printers have during the past
six months. ,
But have results justified the enormous expenditure? Are the
printers not justly entitled to a better run for their money?
We have heard practically no complaints about the size of the
assessment, nor its long continuance, but there is an increasing com
plaint that the results are not what
enormous burden.
Study the expense accounts of
will see where a lot of it is going.
July Journal, first column, last item in column, will be found the f ol
lowing' item :
" J. C. Devereux, jr., expenses to Stillwater, Duluth and Superior,
and expenses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, $244.40."
There seems to be a colored gentleman in that woodpile. Why
should Organizer Devereux go to Stillwater at a heavy expense? The
union there has but eight members, and all of them have gained the
eight hour day. Why should he go to Duluth at heavy expense ? That
union has 78 members and all but five are working the eight hour
day. Why should he go to Superior at heavy expense ? That union
has only 24 members and all of them are working the eight hour day.
Why Superior? How about the Superior vote for trustee? Ah, the
colored gentleman appears to view. It was necessary to get the Su
peribr vote counted in order to elect Lou Shepard trustee of the home,
S&epardthe "big chief." - And the moneys of tmion printers is
being spent by organizers, who spend it like drunken sailors, and
spend it, too, to secure the election of "inside men." How do you
like it, you men on the 10 per cent a week assessment line ? '
In the February Journal, page 144 the first issue after the eight
hour strike was called appeared the following: 1
"We have won! The story of 'how it happened' is graphically
told in the. correspondence department. The rout of the Typothetae
has been practically complete!"
Have we won ? Has the Typothetae been routed ? v .
$1,880,481.75 to gain the eight hour day for $2,922 men, with
4,472 men still on strike, and not less than 6,000 men awaiting their
turns.
And in all this array of figures we have not said a word about the
thousands and thousands of dollars that the trustees of the Union
Printers' Home have spent with merchants belonging to the Citizens'
Alliance union money spent with union haters to feed and clothe
union men.
Who dare deny that the delegates to the Colorado Springs con
vention have a duty to perform that duty being to either get some
returns for the money spent, or put a stop to the awful drain.
We'll pay the 10 per cent a week to win. Yes, we'll spend 20
per cent if necessary. But is it necessary ? J
The time for action is now. Instruct your delegates.
Are you a delegate? Doubtless you have been flattered by one
of those charming "personal" letters from the president
"TO ARMS!
tions, recognizing that eternal vigl-
lance is the price of industrial as well
as political liberty.
"The working people cannot hope to in congress, reciting the failure or re
maintain their rights or a progressive fusal of the party in power to adopt or
position in the varyine phases of mod-
era society unless they organize and
exercise all those functions which, as
workmen and citizens, it is their privi
lege and their duty to exercise.
, "Labor makes no demand upon gov
ernment or society which is not
equally accorded to all the people of
our country. It can and will be satis
fied with nothing else.
Congress No Friend of Labor.
"Several presidents of the United
States have in their mesasges to con
gress, urged the passage of equitable
legislation in behalf of the working
people, but congress has been entirely
preoccupied looking after the interests
of vast corporations and predatory
wealth.
"Congressmen and senators in their
frenzied rush after the almighty dollar
have been indifferent or hostile to the
rights of man. They have had no time
and as little inclination to support the
reasonable labor measures, the enact
ment of which we have urged, and
which contained ' beneficent ! features
for all our people without an obnox
ious provision to anyone. ,
"Patience ceased to be a virtue, and
on March 21, 1906, the representatives
therefore, appear in the reports.
has ever put up as much money
they should be to justify such an
the organizers and perhaps you
For instance, on page 111 of the
of labor presented a bill of grievances
to the president and those responsible
for legislation or failure of legislation
enforce legislation in the interests of
the tolling millions of our country. Af
ter setting forth labor's grievances and
requests and urging early action,, we
closed that now famous document with
this statement:
" 'But if perchance you may not
heed us, we shall appeal to the con
science and support of our fellow citi
zens.' ' ' ,' -
Relief-Asked for Refused..
"The relief asked for has not been
granted. Congress has turned a deaf
ear to the voices of the masses of our
people; and, true to our declaration,
we now appeal to the working people,
aye, to all the American people, unit
edly, to demonstrate their determina
tion . that this republic of ours shall
continue to be of, for and by the peo
ple, rather than of, for and by the al
mighty dollar.
"The toiling masses of our country
are as much, if not more, interested In
good government than, our fellow citi
zens in other walks of life. " In line
with the contention erein, stated, the
American Federation of Labor made
its declaration of political policy, as
already quo'ted stbove. A And in line
(Continued on Page 5.)
THE KIRKENDALL SCRAP.
After the "Scab" Shoe Workers in the
Big Omaha Factory; ;
Collis Lovely, vice president and gen
eral organizer--.of the Boot and Shoe
Workers' Union.;, was in Lincoln the
first of the week,' putting Lincoln '
unionists next to all bej facts connect
ed with the strike, in the Kirkendall
shoe factory in Omaha. It was merely
a case of where the management of the
Kirkendall factory sought to use the
union to boost that particular factory;
at the expense of other union factories.
Also, it was revealed that the manage-'
ment was using one member of the
union Illegitimately. . , i i
The workmen in the Kirkendall shop
led by a traitorous fellow named Mc
Gill, seceded from the union when
they found they could not control it.
Kirkendall told them to organize a
union of their own and he would help
them. Kirkendall then sent back his
union stamp. Now the Boot and Shoe
Workers are after Mr. Kirkendall. Mr.
Lovely is in Lincoln to see if he can
not exert some pressure that will in
duce Mr. Kirkendall to make peace
with the union. And we rather think
that Mr. Lovely administered a con
siderable "squeeze" during the last
few days.
A PARDONABLE ERROR.
People's Store Thought It Was Getting
the Printing Label.
Last week Gold & Co., proprietors
of the People's Store, got out a big
bill advertising a special sale. The
bill did not bear the allied printing
trades label, and as a result trades
unionists got busy with the "red stick
ers" and Gold & Co. received a large
number of the bills back with the "We
don't patronise" stamp.
In justice to Gold & Co. it Is hereby
stated that when the copy for the bills
was taken to the print shop that par
ticular shop did have the allied trades
label. This was one reason Tvhy Gold
& Co. patroni? tc .that particular shop..
The firm always insists upon the
label, and nat?ally supposed that It
would! be on tt" bill as heretofore. As
soon as the error was discovered Gold
& Co. recalled as many of the bills ad
possible and ordered a new supply.
"I called for the label on the Job,
and supposed that it would be put on
as it always had been In that shop. -Tou
may say for me that if I know it
none of Gold & Co.'s work goes to non
union houses," said Mr. Gold.
THE CENTRAL UNION'S BENEFIT.
A Big Audience Turns Out and a Great
, Success Was Scored. .
Thursday night at the Oliver waa i
the occasion of the second annual ben- .
eflt of the Central Labor Union, tend
ered by Mr. Jess Fulton and his very
able company and Manager Frank
Zehrung of the Oliver. - An audience
that filled the theatre was great.lv ca .
tevtalned by the drama, "The Wife,"
and the specialties presented betweaS
acts.
The thanks of the central body alt .
due to Messrs. Fulton and Zehrung
and to the members of the Fultos
Stock Co. ; for their liberality. T'M
benefit added a handsome sum to the
central body's treasury. The company
closes its engagement Saturday even
ing, and has enjoyed a most prosper
ous season. ' Jess Fulton and his com
pany are always assured of a hearty
welcome in Lincoln, especially from
the unionists.
MR. SAWYER'S GENEROSITY.
Offers to Donate Liberally to Erect
More' Drinking Fountains.
Mr. A. J. Sawyer, whose humane in
stincts are well known and who is an
official of the Humane Society, otters
to contribute $50 towards the erection
of two or three more drinking foun
tains in Lincoln. The need is a great
one, and it is little short of a crime
that they have not been provided ere
this . There should be not less than
eight or ten of these public watering
fountains, and each, of them should be
equipped so that our friends, the dogs.
couW slake their thirst. , The Wage
worker will contribute ?5 towards the
fund which Mr. Sawyer so generously
starts. It knows others who will con
tribute. Will you help? The team
owners, and especially the union team
stern of the city ought to be repre
sented. . The contract between the Grain
Scoopers' Union and the Lake Car
riers' associa tion covers the seasons of
1906 and 1907.
I:
