WAGEWORKEE
WILL M. MAUPIN, EDITOR
Published Weekly at 137 No. 1-lth
St., Lincoln, Neb. One Dollar a Year.
Entered as second-class matter April
21, 1904, at the postofflce at Lincoln,
Neb., under the Act of Congress of
March 3rd, 1S79.
t3&
"Printers' Ink," the recog
nized authority oh advertis
ing, after a thorough Investi
gation on this subject, says:
"A labor paper Is a far bet
ter advertising medium than
an ordinary newspaper in
comparison with circulation.
A labor paper, for example,
having 2,000 subscribers is of
more value to the business
man who advertises In It
thn an ordinary paper with
12,000 subscribers."
to be taught at any one time, but they
provide that properly indentured ap
prentices shall be given a thorough
education in the trade selected. The
cliarga that the unions oppose the ap
prentice system is unfounded. On the
ccntrary they believe in it, advocate
it and practice it. They merely refuse
to permit the employers to use so
called apprentices in an effort to break
down the labor organizations.
The Union Times of Jacksonville,
Fla., is a new labor paper and a daisy.
But it makes the mistake of referring
to a lot of "knockers" who are trying
to discount its efforts. A few months
will convince the Union Times that a
labor paper that is not "knocked" on
isn't worth a tinker's dam.
Last Week
July
of Our Great
g Sale
Oearin
NOW GET BUSY.
The American Federation of Labor
has issued a ringing call to all union
men to get into the politisal game this
fall and endeavor not only to defeat
for public office men who are antagon
istic to organized labor, but to elect
to public office trades unionists of abil
ity and integrity. The call should be
heeded by all trades unionists every
where. Concerted political action is
the only method we have now of meet
ing labor's enemies in the halls of leg
islation. The enemies of labor are in
the saddle, and as long as we submit
to it they will ride us, booted and spur
red. The quickest remedy is at the
ballot box.
Do not wait for your, fellow unionists
to act in other fields. Begin right here
at home. Close your ears to the spe
cious arguments of the political "fix
ers" who will urge you to "stand by
Roosevelt," or "stand by the good old
democratic party," or emphasize the
plea that "we must elect the legisla
ture in order to elect a United States
senator." Let the senatorships take
care of themselves for a time while wc
take care of the legislatures and secure
the enactment of a few laws that
labor needs and nas never been able
to secure from the old party machines.
Right here in Lancaster count
trades unionists and their friends have
a golden opportunity. The republi
can "fixers" refused to recognize union
labor in the makeup of their county
and legislative tickets. Not only that,
but they endorsed an enemy of union
ism and permitted him to select the
delegation to the state convention in
order to advance his candidacy for rail
road commissioner. The republican
leaders say that we should have asked
them sooner so they could have made
up the "slate" with a couple of union
men on it." That sort of argument is
for the consumption of "suckers."
They should have recognized the union
labor vote without being beseeched tc
do so. If we will do our whole duty as
union men we will emphasize the fact
that it is the duty of the machine poli
ticians to come to us, not wait for us
to go to them and ask on bended knees
for recognition.
Personally The Wageworker doesn't
care a continental whoop who is elect
ed United States senator from Nebras
ka. There is no possibility of securing
the election of a union man, or even
an active friend of unionism. Of
course all the candidates will declare
their friendship, but that's what they
all do before election. We will get
just as much from a republican tool in
the senate as we can get from a demo
kratic tool and we'll get nothing but
husks from either. So let us not be de
ceived by the senatorship argument.
Let us get busy and elect a couple
of good union men to the legislature.
The only hope now is through the
minority party in Lancaster county.
Let us put a spoke in the Winnett
boom. Let us make our power felt at
the polls, and then we will be consid
ered always before conventions meet.
The way for union men to get into
politics is to bring about a state of af
fairs when the party bosse3 will come
to the unionists and ask what they
want instead of waiting for the union
ists to go to the bosses and beg for
something. '
THE APPRENTICE SY8TEM.
The Lincoln, Nebraska, Journal,
commenting on the increasing difficul
ty of securing boy help in any craft or
trade, enumerates what appears-to it
to be two or three of the leading reas
ons for this state of affairs. One rea
son given is "opposition to the appren
tice system on the part of workmen."
If the Journal's other reasons are no
better than this they are worth noth
ing at all. Workmen do not oppose
the apprentice system. On the con
trary the leading trades unions recog
nize the apprentice system and pro
vide for it. . Workmen merely oppose
filling a shop with alleged apprentices
for the purpose of forcing down wages.
The trades unions in sheer self-defense,
limit the number of apprentices
Mr. Longprayer will soon begin his
annual stunt of saving a few souls, this
being a vacation from his regular task
of paying starvation wages to the own
ers of the souls.
Here's one way to help the labor
cause along nit: Just as soon as a
fellow unionist begins to command
public recognition, you begin to holler
"grafter!"
Political bosses never will recognize
the "labor vote" until the "labor vote"
quits being the willing slave of the
party boss.
The way to make the enemy feel the
weight of union displeasure is to pa
tronize the friends of unionism.
Get into the union game along the
line of politics not as partisans but
as loyal American citizens.
O n o FTi.ft.l-i; . Qff o n
Dress Goods, Silks, Dress Ginghams, Ribbons, Laces and Embroid
eries, Lace Hose, Corsets, Belts, White Goods and Ladies'
Neckwear, Ladies' and Children's Underwear, Baby,
Hoods, Under Muslins, Table Linen, Napkins
If you are not getting ready for
Labor Day you are not doing your duty
as a unionist.
Eat "Egg-O-See" and see Post throw
another fit.
If it is union made it will have the
label in evidence.
DO YOU KNOW?
That introducing an applicant Into
the union will do more good than all
the kicking you can do in ten years?
That nothing is easier than fault
finding, no talent, no self-denial, no
assurance, no care are required to set
up in a grumbling business?
That those who are moved by a
genuine desire to do good have little
time for murmuring- and complaint?
That a full attendance of members
at each regular meeting adds much to
the prosperity of the union?
That if the members would keep
posted in regard to the workings of
the union they would be better satis
fied? That the stability, usefulness and
growth of a union depends greatly
upon the proper management of its
affairs?
That a man is a fool who pays dues
into a union and then stands on a
street corner and denounces it?
That the member who assumes an
attitude of indifference and says that
"officers and business agents are paid
to do the work of the union, let them
do it," is destroying unconsciously tho
very foundation principle of the union,
co-operation?
That this attitude of don't care re
sults in forcing the employment of
more paid men, and therefore increas
es the cos,t of management, and he
helps to pay the bills?
That a union ;s first what its mem
bers make it, no more, nor less; if it
is lifeless, it is because the members
do not make it lively and interesting.
You are one of the union; what are
you doing to put life and interest into
its meetings?
That workingmen are in a great
measure responsible for the position
they occupy? Too many of them, to
their discredit b6 it said, would rather
pull an angel down than help a mortal
up. The Carpenter.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE STATE
JOURNAL.
To the State Journal, Lincoln, Ne
braska. In your issue of July 25 ap
pears an article under the headline,
"Lincoln's Labor Vote," and which
contains so many misstatements that
the wonder is how all of them could
have appeared In an article of such
short length. . The article in question
is as follows:
"Gossip is current in labor nnion cir
cles that W. M. Maupin is a candidate
for a democratic nomination to the
state legislature from this county. It
is reported that he and Mr. Greenlee,
both labor union workers and demo-
Trial of the Milwaukee.
The cruiser Milwaukee, in charge of
Capt. George Harvey, and with the
navy trial board on board, sailed July
23 for the Santa Barbara channel,
where she will be given her govern
ment trial.
If you have not yet stocked up with everything you need in Summer Goods "You'll have to hurry."
This week is the last opportunity to get a general discount throughout the store.
White Goods
Domestic Specials
Towels
Bed Spreads
Ladies' Belts
Union made Collars for Men
Union made Shoes
fRED SCHMIDT BRO.
Lincoln, Nebr.
Dress Goods
Wash Dress Goods
Ladies' Neckwear
Hand Bags
Shoes '
crats, engineered the scheme to make
a demand in the name of organized
labor on the republican county conven
tion, at a late date in the campaign)
for two candidates for the legislature.
These candidates were named by Mr.
Maupin, and it was threatened that
unless they were nominated the labor
union vote of 'this county would go
bodily to the democratic candidates,
provided of course the democratic
party nominates labor union men on
their ticket. Members of labor unions
are beginning to demur. Some argue
that this was a scheme engineered by
interested parties to secure political
advantage, and that by this means
they hope to turn the entire labor vote
over to the democrats. In this they
will fail, it is argued, because there is
a wide difference of opinion among
members of unions as to how deep in
political matters of this kind labor
unions should become involved. ' Mr.
Maupin made an effort to secure the
congressional nomination two years
ago, but failed."
If there is any gossip in union labor
circles, or any other circles, that I am
a candidate for legislative honors, let
it cease at once, for under no circum
stances would I accept a nomination
for the legislature. Your insinuation
that I had anything to do with engin
eering a scheme to force the nomina
tion of two union men for the legisla
ture by the republican county conven
tion is without warrant. Your asser
tion that I selected the two candidates
who were considered by the republican
county convention is absolutely and
unqualifiedly false. Your further in
sinuation that I have made threats
that the labor vote will be taken into
the democratic camp in revenge for the
republican convention's ignoring of
the labor vote is another off the same
piece as previous assertions abso
lutely untrue. If there be those who
argue that it was a scheme to secure
political advantage lor the democratic
party, they are mistaken, know they
are mistaken, and repeat their mistake
with wilful intent to deceive.
I have told the union men of Lin
coln that I stand ready to support any
good, able, honest and earnest trades
unionist who is nominated for the leg
islature, or for any other office, regard
less of his party affiliations. I advised
the republican union men to secure if
possible the nomination of a couple of
union-labor republicans on the repub
lican legislative ticket. ( As a demo
crat I shall certainly strive to secure
the ' nomination of a couple of good
union democrats on the democratic
legislative ticket. If the democrats re
fuse I can at least support a couple of
trades unionists nominated by the so
cialists. The Wageworker la not a party or
gan. It is not a disgruntled corpora
tion organ that is kicking because it
has been crowded away from the feed
bin. As it has never had a job office
attachment in which was printed sur
reptitiously a lot of books copyrighted
by the state and sold for personal
profit contrary to law and morals; it
is not Impelled to pick out a senatorial
candidate In order to ease up a suit for
heavy damages. It has never found It
The
Greatest
Clothing:
Opportunity of the Sum
mer is now Here
ii you nave an eye to economy ana want a.
swell summer suit, you should'nt fail to
take advantage of the phenomenal values
we are offering.
Coat and trousers suits, single and dou
ble breasted styles, of distinctive cut, made
of worsjteds, cassimeres and flannels in hand
some patterns, that formerly sold up to $15,
now
36.50
Coat and trousers suits the "cream" of
our stock -in finest - quality flannels, wor
steds and cassimeres, single or double
breasted; also blue serges that were $18
and $20, now only
310.50
SEMI-ANNUAL SALE OF TROUSERS
All pants that sold up to $7.00 C)
All pants that sold up to $5.00
All pants that sold up to $4.00 95
All pants that sold up to $3.00 M QC
I M. U
The Lowest Prices and the Truth
now.
V-Hl Vj&l, lt 3L'Cf hit,
wS'h-kffm fail
m
iMmfn Giymwo CTV JZ-f
necessary to have a street stolen by
the passage of a midnight ordinance in
order to get a switch track to its office
door, therefore it has' no preferred
candidate for railroad commissioner in
the person of a so-called anti-corporation
mayor who sat up until 2 o'clock
in the morning in order to sign the
ordinance and permit a legalized steal
ing of the street before daylight. It is
merely a little labor paper that doesn't
care a rap what a man's politics are
just so he is honest, upright, indus
trious and a trades unionist. Neither
has It ever found it necessary to lie
about any man in order to advance a
partisan scheme conceived in iniquity
and born in sin. It has never found it
necessary ' to lie about any man in
order to further some political design.
It is going to support whomsoevet
it pleases, regardless of whether It
interferes with selfish political
schemes., It is not trying to lead any
body into any political camp. It is
one of the very few newspapers in this
section of the country that is abso- .
lutely owned and controlled by its edi
tor, and he has no political ambitions,
no political axes to grind and no pre
ferred candidates for which to organ
ize a press bureau. '
WILL M. MAUPIN.
