The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, September 28, 1906, Image 1

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8 TRADES IHafSi I COUNCILS
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VOL. 3
LINCOLJiT, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 28, 190(
NO. 25
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The Golden Opportunity
For Lancaster Union, Men
On Tuesday, November 0, the peo-
jtlt" who are either not interested iu
labor organization, or are opposed to
ii, v.i'l have an opportunity to decide
whether the union men of Lancaster
oiinly are capable of getting together
In support of men of their own kind.
They will have an opportunity to de
cide whether partisanship has a
Htronjfer hold on men than their union
ism has.
limy V. Smith and George F.
Quick, two staunch union nien, are
candidates for the legislature. If or
ganized labor stands by them to n
man they will be elected. If the votes
of union rncn are divided on party
lines they will be defeated. The elec
tion of mere partisans will not benefit
the laboring men of this county and
stale one iota. The election of two
staunch union men will be a lasting
benefit. .
This newspaper is not in politics.
It is a union labor newspaper. It has
neither time nor space to waste iu
. urging the election of any democrat
or any republican to office as mere
partisans. With partisan politics this
newspaper has nothing whatever to
do. All politicians look alike to this
newspaper and none of them looks
good.
Smith and Quick are not running as
1 artisans. They are running as union
men. They deserve the votes of all
union men. If elected their chief pur
. pose will be to advance the interests
o'' those who toil by securing the en
actment of certain laws and the repeal
of certain other laws. With tariff, the
currency, with imperialism, with the
jinneation of Cuba, with our foreign
policy with such things they will
have absolutely nothing to do. With
the work of securing an adequate- eni
ployers' liability law, with abrogating
the present iniquitous prison contract
system, and with the enactment or a
law that will protect employes against
In? ked system of making a fellow
ecivunt lesponsible for damages
with these things which are of vital
interest to all wage earners they '-ill
chiflv concern themselves.
Tikm-b is nothing partisan about
their iti.didacy save their nomination.
Then- i in be nothing of parttsn.i poli
tico iu my union endorsing their can
. didacy. They should not- be and will
not 'e endorsed as partisans. They
should 'je endorsed in your unin as
union men. The cause they represent
is your cause.
Smith and Quick your fellow union
ists should be invited to appear be-
-fore your union and asked to state just
whore they stand. They should be
iisked to appear before you because
they are union men, engaged in a
cause which deserves your hearty
sympathy and support. Their candi
dacy affords the union men of Lan
caster county an opportunity to mako
their influence felt felt so much that
in future something more definite than
campaign promises will handed out.
to union men.
For heaven's sake, Mr. Union Man.
dou't let the little 2x4 pinheaded par
tisan whippersin make successful ap
peal to your partisanship. Take your
unionism to the polls with you next
election day. Use a little union en
thusiasm during the campaign in ad
vocacy of the election of two square
toed, upright union men to the legis
lature. Every union in Lincoln should adopt
resolutions endorsing the candidacy of
Smith and Quick.' If any man tries to
endorse them as partisans, throw him
ever the transom. If any man tries
to prevent their endorsement as union
men, labor with him, prayerfully anl
earnestly. He needs it.
A vote for Smith and Quick is a
vote Iu the interests of organized la
bor. A vote for Smith and Quick is a vote
ngiiinsl forcing you into competition
with convict lalKir.
A vote for Smith and Quick is a vot
-to Htil'eRuuvd your life and the welfare
of your wife and little ones.
Think it over. Ask Smith and
Quluk to address your union. Ask
your union to endorse their candidacy
because they are union men who are
makiiiK the race as union men.
Get into the game risht this fall, and
hereafter all political parties will ba
fhlltui,' over themselves to give or
ganized labor what Jt. asks for lu Lan
caster county.
If you are a true bluo union man
ou want to see that day dawn as?
Cit-ickly ns possible. If you vote right
you can hasten it along.
Keep politics out of your unions, b'lt
take your unionism into politics. Ha)
lots are better than strikes, better
than promises from ioliticians, bet
ter than petition. If you want to make
the machine bosses of all political
parties sit up and take notice of or
ganized labor, vote together a few
times.
Vote for Smith and Quick aud show
your unionism.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION.
Short Meeting With Little Business of
Importance Transacted.
The meeting of the Central Labor
Union last Tuesday night was short
and to the point. Not much business
of Importance came before the meet
ing, and the routine business was
transacted without much delay. The
committee appointed to present to
Messrs. Zehrung and Fulton a little
token of the central body's friendship
and appreciation made its report au'l
paid that its work had been accom
plished. The report was accepted and
the committee discharged.
Delegate Kelsey reported that he
visited Omaha in the interest of the
local Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Hands and that he expected results
within a few days. Delegate Walker
of the home industry committee re
ported the results of his Investigations
into the Regent Shoe company mat
ter. The report was satisfactory and
was filed.
The secretary was Instructed to
write to President Gorupers and urge
the appointment ot an. organizer for
this district, and also invite hinv to
address the ieople of Lancaster coun
ty some time between now and the
day of election. The matter of holding
a "labor fair" was suggested and the
matter will be discussed during the
next couple of weeks and some defi
nite action taken at the next meeting.
The delegates present reported work
good. Less than one-fourth of the
unions in Lincoln were represented at
the meeting.
THE CARPENTERS.
Some Interesting News From Lincoln's
Largest Trade Union.
Kohn Bros, of Chicago, manufac
turers of union made clothes, are send
ing out letters and cards of Introduc
tion to Mayer Bros, by way of intro
ducing their goods and soliciting trade.
Labeled goods are what organized la
bor wants, . and we are indebted to
Kohn Bros, for their fairness to union
labor. They deserve our patronage.
Two members were admitted to
local No. 1055 by card, and applica
tions for membership are pending.
Local No. 1055 keeps growing.
The Sutter-Henry company is mak
ing extensive and substantial improve
ments in and about their place of bus
iness. They employ union labor.
Brother Jenkins pounded his thumb
the other day. He said something.
Representative Joe Burns does ' not
take state contracts. His son does
that part.
It is reported that the Builders' Ex
change has four members In good
Rtandlng. Isn't that killing?
The Carpenters' Union has nearly
three hundred members in good stand
ing and is steadily growing. Local
No. 1055 has never been as well
equipped in its history as it is today.
Those who contemplate building will
do well to call at Union Headquarters,
130 South Eleventh street, Bell 'phone
L-1154; Auto. 'phone 3824.
SOME FIGURES.
How You Can Help Make Lincoln a
Bigger and Better City.
There are fully 8,000 men in Lin
coln who smoke. Some smoke a pipe
most of the time, but a vast majority
of them are cigar smokers. Say there
are 7,000 confirmed cigar smokers, and
that they average two cigars each
daily. That is a very low estimate,
l'ut even two a day would mean 14,000
cigars. Suppose all of those cigars
were made in Lincoln. It would Re
quire not less than sixty cigarmaiers
to supply the demand. Add to.tijese
the cigars smoked by transients and
the cigars made in Lincoln and sold by
wholesale to country dealers. Tho
total would mean the employment of
about 125 cigarmakers in Lincoln. The
Commercial Club would rend its
nether garments to locate a factory
here that would employ 125 men. Yet
the Commercial Club, with all of its
1 l-etense of interest in "patronizing
home industry" and "building up Lin
coln's business," does not handle Lin
coln made cigars in its club rooms.
liuy Lincoln made cigars and help
boom Lincoln industry. When yon
buy Lincoln made cigars you are buy
ing union made cigars, and that's what
equals our interest in booming Lincoln.
UNION MINERS DEFEATED.
Joseph Lciter Has No Trouble Finding
Easy Judge.
Springfield, 111, Sept. 22. Joseph
Leiter, owner of coal mines at Zeigler,
is victor over the miners' union in the
contest which has been waged for
nearly two years in the United States
court for the southern district of Illi
nois over the question of whether the
miners' union and its officers should
be perpetually enjoined from interfer
ing with the operation of the mines at
Zeigler. Walter McClellan Allen, of
this city, master in chancery, to whom
was referred the question, with orders
to take testimony in the case and re
port to the court his findings, has filed
that report with James L. Jones, clerk
of the circuit court, and he finds that
William Morris, president of the sub
district of the miners' union, and a
number of other officers and members
of the locals In that section of the state
were guilty of violating the injunction
of Judge Humphrey restraining them
from interfering with the operation of
the mines at Zeigler, and that the In
junction against them should be made
perpetual, while in the case of a num
ber of other defendants he finds them
not guilty. The taking -of testimony
before Master in Chancery Allen oc
cupied considerable time and a large
number of witnesses were examined on
both sides. Joseph Leiter was here In
person to testify. The case has been
bitterly fought by the miners' union
and they have had able counsel here
to represent them.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION.
A Chance to Get Into the Employ of
Uncle Sam.
The United States Civil Service Com
mission will hold an examination at
the potsofftce in Lincoln on November
21, 1906, for postoffice clerks and let
ter carriers in the Lincoln postoffice.
Any citizen of the United States,
male or female, between the ages of
18 and 45 years can take this examina
tion. Male applicants must be at least
5 feet 4 inches In height (in bare feet)
and weigh not less than 125 pounds.
and free from physical defects.
From the eligibles resulting from
this examination it is expected to fill
future vacancies in this service. .
For application blanks, full Instruc
tions to applicants, and any further
information apply to Mr. Charles W.
Pace, local secretary, (at postage due
window) Lincoln postoffice. No appli
cation will be accepted unless prop
erly executed and filed with J. M. Shoe
maker, Secretary Eighth Civil Service
District, St. Paul, Minn, prior to the
hour of closing business on October 15,
190G. EDWARD R. SIZER,
Postmaster.
"SCAB" STOVES.
Only a few more weeks and many
of our readers will be huddling around
the warmth-giving heating stove. You
h.-.ve heard of the "Round Oak" vari
ety they can be found In almost ev
ery town and city in the States. They
are made in Dowagiac, Mich, by poorly
paid, ill-treated molders, whose first
hint at remedying their pitiable condi
tions results in discharge. They re
cently formed a union and are now
locked out. No trouble to get a union
made stove, so taboo the "Round Oak"
sweat-shop product. Potters' Herald.
GOSPEL TRUTH.
And Every Word Should Sink Deep
Into Your Soul.
When union men buy goods and do
not ask for the label, they really de
nounce their principle. When they call
for the union label they Tielp unionism,
wages and conditions, too. You should
consider yourself an employer, as you
Indirectly employ the men who make
the goods you purchase. If you insist
on the label you are employing union
men. If you take goods without the
label yau are employing "scab" labor.
Unless you show that you have an in
terest in unionism by demanding the
label the business men will not go to
the trouble of keeping label goods and
the union idea will fall into disrepute
with the public. You should always
call for the label, whether it is possi
ble to get it or not, as it will at least
advertise unionism.- Streator Trades
and Labor Gazette.
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY.
Those Who Enjoy It Owe a Duty to
Those Who Do Not.
The eight-hour day seems to bo quite
thoroughly established among those
who labor with their hands. The
president's authoritative instructions
to subordinates that the eight-hour law
must be observed on all government
work, whether direct or by contract,
gives an official endorsement to the
short work day, and will lend weight
to the claims of those outside the' pale
of the government, who are striving
for eight hours. It has been a long
time since the principle was enuncia
ted that the proper division of time
was eight hours for work, eight hours
for recreation and eight hours for rest.
Just how far the principle can be made
to apply to every walk in life, it is
difficult to determine, though time will
probably' work out the solution of the
problem, as It has been working It out
In the past. In the meantime, a great
many people, who recognize the oppor
tunities confronting them, will contin
ue to work more than eight hours,
some with their bands and many with
their brains. And some of the men
who have been the most successful and
are the best fitted mentally and
physically for the duties of life have
worked ten, sixteen and occasionally
twenty-four hours out of the twenty
four. Work kills mighty few men.
Dissipation kills multitudes.
But? the eight-hour day is all right
provided I course, those who have se
cured the short work day known how
to use aright the other hours that are
to be devoted to rest and recreation.
If a laboring man spends his recrea
tion time in dissipation, it would be
much better for himself, his family
and the state if he were compelled to
work sixteen hours a day. The man
who works eight hours has a wonder
ful opportunity to improve his mental,
.moral and physical condition. If he
will spend his time acquiring knowl
edge, taking healthful exercise and en
joying clean sport, instead of wasting
his time hanging around booze joints
and denouncing those whose thrift and
common sense has enabled them to
get on In the world, he will prove the
wisdom of granting the eight-hour day
to those who toil. The workingman
has become the recipient of a golden
opportunity. It is up to him to improve
that opportunity. He cannot improve
it by guzzling booze and damning the
government and his more thrifty fel
lows between guzzles. Cedar Rapids
Gazette.
THE WRONG IDEA.
Buy VnWn Made Goods Because It Is
Your Union Duty.
The other day the editor was in a
cigar store when another union man
came in to get a cigar.
"What do you want?" queried the
clerk.
The union man named a union made
cigar and took It with the remark:
"Couldn't call for anything but a
union cigar with the editor of The
Wageworker standing by me. He'd
bawl me out."
That isn't the idea at all. Union
men ought to buy union made goods
because it is their duty to do so, not
because they are afraid of being
"bawled out" if they do not. Every
time you buy non-union goods you are
"scabbing" on your fellow unionists.
That's the whole thing in a nutshell.
MAY SKATE THIS WINTER.
The park commission promises the
boys and girls a skating place at the
new city park this winter. The effort
last winter was a failure for two rea
sons. There was not enough cold
weather and the man who had a lease
on the property refused to let the com
mission make the necessary arrange
ments. But there will be a fine skat
ing pond fixed up near the Mockett
station this winter.
The British admiralty is instituting
a universal forty-eiglit-hour week for
the employes in the government dock
yards.
Getting Results With
Trades Union Literature
"Give a little at a time; '
Give it warm-, give it often."
Scotch Shepherd's Saying.
Anybody can do it. Some can get
better results than others, but all can
get some results.
The Executive Council of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor has done ex
cellent things In this respect, its re
cent "Open Letter to Ministers of the
Gospel," which was sent to thousands
of ministers of all denominations
throughout the United States, having
been most effective.
There are several important advan
tages in using literature. The leaflet
that you give a man always sticks to
the point. We don't always do that.
Therefore, it never gets side-tracked
by a specious argument. It never loses
its temper. It never gets "rattled."
requently it will tell the story far bet
ter than you can put it.
You should be familiar with the ar.
guments or the appeals which you are
making in the printed page; first, be
cause you should know just which leaf
let is needed for a particular case;
second, because you should know just
what to use next in order to follow
up your previous effort.
It is helpful, sometimes, to under
score certain words or sentences. This
for two reasons. It will call attention
to the most important parts of the
leaflet, and it catches the eye of the
casual reader who may not care to
take time to read the entire leaflet.
These outstanding "catch-words" may
hold his attention, and possibly inter
est him to the extent that he may
want to study tne entire pamphlet.
You should have a system .In your
plan, in order to get the best results.
Mail regularly, to those who you think
should read them, such leaflets as vou
thick will be most effective. Plan to
get a series of leaflets which have a
cumulative value. A one-cent stamp
will carry (unsealed) two ounces of
such matter. If this is kept up for a
month, sending the leaflets weekly, so
that they will be received each Satur
day morning for instance, it is bound
to make an impression. There is value
in sending them at stated periods
rather than at irregular times. It is
the steady, rhythmic," repeated blow in
the same place that counts. If this
method is continued, you will hear of
something definite being accomplished.
Somebody should become directly re
sponsible for such a campaign.
If it is not possible to enter into so
thorough a system, the leaflet may be
placed in your ordinary letters, written
to those who need such help as they
may give.
Make arrangements with the news
paper carrier to have the leaflets
placed in the papers which he delivers
at the homes of workingmen, or which
he sells on the streets. No one will
mind receiving this extra reading Mat
ter, and it may do good. It- is true
that some of the leaflets may be
wasted by this method, but so are a
good many sermons wasted because
they are not heard. Enlist in your
cause a workingman in a particular
shop who will regularly distribute the
printed matter. Literature distributed
among men in the shop is passed from
man to man and is usually very thor
oughly discussed at the noon hour, as
their lunches are being eaten.
Leaflets may be used at the close of
a public address on some phase of
trades unionism, or they may be used
as advertising matter before the ad
dress is given. Housekeepers may
give them to the men who call at their
back doors to deliver groceries, meat,
milk, ice, etc.
Sometimes leaflets which counteract
error may be handed to the audience
as it leaves a haH in which error has
been preached. Occasionally good,
crisp, up-to-date leaflets will be print
ed by your lal paper.
There is no reason why every trades
union in the land should not push
good literature. In some instances
men are spending fortunes for . the
solo purpose of sending broadcast the
printed matter which tells of some
thing in which they are interested,
livery political party uses it. Reform
ers employ it. The socialists regard
ic as their most valuable propaganda
method. General advertisers send out
tons of it. They do it because they
have found that it pays. If it pays
them, it will pay the labor union. It
is one of the cheapest ways of attract-
International associations could In
vest money in no better way than ty
supplying locals with such material as
will, meet the particular needs of their
crafts. -
Written in a fair, rational spirit, free
from bitterness andfrom slander of
every description such material will
bring in a rich , harvest of increased
membership and a more intelligent
conception on the part of the public
with regard to the aims and aspira
tions of organized labor.
STREET RAILWAY MEN.
Still Holding Back and Taking What
inc company vrrcrs.
"You certainly did hand some of the
street car men a package a week or
two ago," said a conductor who had
helped to organize the local union and
who had done his level best to keep it
going. "And .those it hit deserved all
they got, too."
Another member of the union. said
that a conductor who had refused to
join the union remarked that he was
"satisfied with his wages." As he was
drawing the magnificent wage of 15
cents an hour and working twelve
hours a day, It will be seen that he ie
easily satisfied..
The street car men of Omaha are
organized. The minimum wage for
first year men in Omaha is higher
than the maximum wage for fourth
year men in Lincoln. -The Seattle men
are organized. The first year men
there receive 2 cents an hour more
than the fourth year men in Lincoln.
Oh, no; the street railway men of
Lincoln are not needing an organiza
tion! "...'.",
A NEWSPAPER'S ANNIVERSARY.
The Evening News celebrated its
semi-centennial on September 26, and
issued a fao taimilo of the fir-of rti-
tioit. The anniversary number was
full of interesting reminiscences. The
editor of this humble little newspaper
was once upon a time a member of the
News staff, but that was so many
years ago that the exact number must
be guessed at. The News has grown
some since then, in size, in circulation
and in influence. Here's hoping that
we'll be here to see it celebrate its
centennial.
PURE FOOD SHOW. .j.
The "pure food" show at the audi
torium is drawing good crowds. Its
chief interest to union men and
women, however, is that it may serve
to give them a pointer or two on how
to successfully conduct a "labor fair."
It': there are any union made goods on
exhibition at the "pure food" show we
failed to find them. What's the mat
'er with a "labor fair" that will ex
hibit ibc 1'ioduct of union workmen?
RETURNING HOME.
A. W. Smith, auditor In the disburs
ing office of the department of agricul
ture, Washington, visited Wednesday
and Thursday with his cousin, H. W.
Smith, 1725 P street.. Mr. Smith has
been in the government's service for
several years, rising rapidly from a
clerkship to his present position. He
i3 on his way back to Washington
from a visit to California and Utah.
TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.
Lincoln Typographical Union, No.
209, meets next Sunday and some
thing of importance is coming up. The
matter of managing the internal af
fairs of the union will be discussed
and a possible change made. A littlo
jollification over the reduction of the
assessment Is also likely. At any
rate every member ought to be there.
CAPITAL AUXILIARY.
Capital Auxiliary No. 11, to Lincoln
Typographical Union No. 209, will
meet Friday at 2:30 p. m, October 5,
at the home of Mrs. C. E. Barngrover,
1330 North Twenty-fourth street
Miss Hazel Smith returned Tuesday
from a two weeks' visit in Omaha.
A GOOD ADVERTISEMENT.
The Armstrong Clothing company
has an advertisement in this issue
wliicn can not be overlooked. It will
I rpfit you to read this advertisement.
This company has earned the reputa
tion of advertising only what it has
and standing by all that it promises.