I?
3
1
K TRADES Ii'arfiI COUNCILS)
1 1
ml
1 rSfitCOLN
1
VOL. 4
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 13, 1007
NO. 24
3
Temple Committee Gets
Ready to Start Something
Those who have succumbed to the
idea that the Labor Temple project
has "gone by the board" will be
shocked into life again. True, the
project has been allowed to lie dor
mant for the past couple of months,
but that was by design, not because
of any lack of interest. It was thought
best to let the matter rest until after
Labor Day, and then take it up in a
systematic manner.
Two months ago the secretary of
the- Central Labor Union was directed
t communicate with each Jocal union
in the city, asking each one to select
a representative to act upon a "Labor
T:mple Committee.' A number of
these lecals failed to receive any no
tification, with the result that less
than one-half of the unions are thus
far represented upon the committee.
Finally the committeemen already ap
pointed decided to go ahead and
"dart something." In the meanwhile
the rest of the locals will be notified
and asked to send representatives.
The first meeting of the committee
men already selected was held last
Monday evening at the home of Will
M. Maupin. The following commit
ter rue n were present:
. J. W. Dickson, Carpenters' Union.
Fred Ihrlnger, Typographical Union.
Alex Wekesser, Pressmen's Union.
T. C. Kelsey, Leatherworkers' Union.
T. W. Evans, Cigarmakers' Union.
Sam'l Chaplin, Barbers' Union.
A temporary organization was ef
fected by electing Mr. Dickson chair
man. Mr. Maupin was then honored
by being made & de facto member of
the committee and chosen to officiate
as secretary pending permanent or
ganization. It was decided not to select even a
temporary treasurer until "more
unions were represented. Neither was
it deemed wise to take any Immediate
action concerning plans of procedure.
Instead, informal talk was Indulged
In concerning the plan of organiza
tion. It was pretty generally agreed
that it would not be well to organize
ao open stock company. The plan
pursued by the local Masonic bodies
was discussed, and the secretary was
li.'struoted to secure. If possible, the
drawing up of articles of Incorporation
similar to those adopted by the Ma
sons when they built their temple. The
secretary was further instructed to
notify secretaries of all unrepresented
unions of the organization of the com
mittee, and ask them to send repre
sentatives. Letters from cities where labor tem
ples have been erected were read, and
various suggestions made for plans of
procedure. Evey member of the com
n.lttee was enthusiastic, and it was
unanimously conceded that it. would
be possible, by earnest work, to insure
the erection of a Labor Temple upon
a convenient site.
Just before the meeting adjourned
Mrs. Maupin Invited the committee
men into the dining-room, where a
' Dutch lunch" was spread and en
joyed to the fullest extent.
Every committeeman thus far se
- lected was present with two excep
tions, Mr. Warner of the Plumbers and
Al Walker of the Bartenders. Mr.
Warner was absent because his union
met that night, and Mr. Walker was
"on watch." They have promised to
bo present at the next meeting.
The committee will meet again next
Monday evening at the home of Mr.
Chaplin, 407 South Twenty-fifth street.
The following unions which have not
yet selected committeemen are re
quested to have representatives pres
ent. Pending the selection of a com
mitteeman by the locals, the secre
taries thereof are requested to act so
as to be able to keep the local fully
informed :
Bricklayers and Masons.
' Lathers.
Machinists.
Boilermakers.
. Electrical Workers.
Painters.
Stationary Engineers.
Bookbinders.
Stereolypers.
Brotherhood of Locomotive En
gineers.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men.
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen.
Brotherhood of Railway Conductors.
Commercial Telegraphers' Union.
Theatrical' Workers and Stage Em
ployes. Tailors.
The -organizations already repre
sented on the committee represent
about 750 union men, leaving prac
tically ,2,000 as yet unrepresented. It
is hoped to have all of these repre
sented upon the committee before the
end of September, thus providing a
full committee that can put in the
long winter months in framing up and
prosecuting a campaign that will se
cure for Lincoln a Labor Temple
worthy of the city and the trades
unions.
Remember the fact that the commit
tee meets again next Monday evening,
and that the meeting will be held at
the home of Samuel L. Chaplin, 407
South Twenty-fifth street Take Citi
zens' line cars. East S, North Twenty
fifth or Randolph street, and get off
at Twenty-fifth. Go two blocks south.
And now for a strong, steady and
sustained ptull for the Labor Temple.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION.
Extends Aid to Striking Telegraphers
and Selects Committees.
The Central Labor Union met at
Bruse's ball Tuesday night, with five
unions represented by eight delegates.
Scattered about in the big' hall the
delegates were so Inconspicuous as to
leave the Impression that the hall was
acant.
Only two bits of Important business
were transacted. A communication
was read from the striking telegra
phers asking aid for the local strikers.
The central body appointed a commit
tee consisting of Kelsey, Evans and
Chaplin to visit local unions and ask
for aid, the Central body leading off
with $10, -which was supplemented to
the amount of $2.50 by The Wage-
worker. The telegraphers are entitled
to the fullest possible support. There
are at present four men left on the
strike list in Lincoln. Three men have
left town for other situations, and
wo former members of the union
scabbed."
The next bit of important business
was the announcement of the following
committees:
Executive F. A. Kates, O. M.
Rudy, S. L. Chaplin.
Organization A. L. Compton, G. F.
Quick, W. M. Maupin.
Home Industry G. A. Walker, E.
. Betts, X. K. Howard.
Label T. W. Evans, J. C. Kirkman,
Louis Meassears.
Considerable discussion was in
dulged in concerning the Central
body's failure to accomplish any work
worthy of its existence. Finally it
was decided that the secretary should
immediately put in effect a plan of
notifying every union whose delegates
failed to attend, and to enforce the
laws governing the discipline of ab
sent members. It was determined to
inaugurate a new era of things from
this time forth make the central body,
if possible, a real force In the work
of building up the unions of the
city. The executive committee was in
structed to make the best arrange
ments possible for a hall for a per
manent meeting place. '.
THE CARPENTERS.
They Give Another Sample of What
Genuine Trades Unionism Mean.
The Union Carpenters of Lincoln
have just given another exhibition of
what trades unionism means, and it
is commended to the consideration of
those who are not acquainted with
genuine unionism.
Last spring a young Swede carpen
ter named Erickson came from the
old country and settled in Lincoln.
He Immediately joined the union, and
as soon aB he could he sent for his
wife and three children. He worked
faithfuily and was prospering until
seized with typhoid fever, which re
sulted fatally on September 5. Mr.
Erickson had not been a member long
enough to entitle him to a funeral
benefit, but this fact was not allowed
to cut any figure. The union carpen
ters Immediately toolt charge of the
funeral arrangements and will pay all
expenses. The funeral of Mr. Erick
son was held Sunday afternoon at the
chapel of Castle, Roper & Matthews,
and Interment was at Wyuka. The
widow and her three little children are
left practically destitute, but the
unionism which set aside the rule and
paid the funeral expenses may be de
pended upon to see to it that the
widow and the orphans will not suffer.
If this is not the "pure religion and
undefiled" that the union tentmaker,
Paul, referred to, we confess our ig
norance of what that kind of religion
means.
The local held a special meeting
Saturday night to arrange for the
Erickson funeral.- The carpenters
turned out in a body Sunday after
noon and accompanied the remains to
the cemetery.
The meeting Tuesday night was one
of the largest and best for many
moons. The enthusiasm continues to
grow.
Speier & Simon- expect to occupy the
building at the corner of Tenth and
O streets as soon as it can be properly
remodeled. They have inserted in the
plans and specifications a clause
which demands the employment of
union labor only in the work of recon
struction. -
At the meeting Tuesday night the
case of the striking telegraphers was
taken up, but owing to the lateness of
the hour and a seeming misunderstand
ing no action was taken. The matter
will doubtless be acted upon at the
next meeting. At any rate the car
penters may be depended upon to do
their share and a little more if nec
essary.
Parties who are in need of carpen
ter work need not go without. Nor
do they need to give it to non-union
men. All they need to do is to 'phone
headquarters, Bell F22S9 or Auto
matic 5601, and state their needs.
The man at the 'phone will see that
the carpenters needed are supplied.
This fact should be borne in mind by
all citizens interested in employing
carpenters who make their home in
Lincoln and who help to make the
city prosperous.
At Richmond, Mo., carpenters re-.
ceive 30 cents per hour for nine hours
and in Lexington, Mo., where before
Tips About the
The striking teleraph ' operators of
Lincoln, though few in numbers, are
still putting up a fight, and a good
one. several ot the men wno walKea
out have struck broker jobs else
where, leaving only four on the strike
list at present. Two of these are As
sociated Press men. Two members of
the local union "scabbed" and are
now to be classed among President
Eliot's "heroes." These are a fellow
named Johnson and another fellow
named Carson.
Twenty-four years ago the Western
Union telegraphers struck against al
most intolerable conditions. Owing to
insufficient organization the strike was
soon broken by the company. Robert
C. Clowry, now president of the com
pany, was general superintendent of
the western division at Chicago at that
time, and then, as now, he fought the
strikers with bitter energy. He prom
ised those who remained "loyal" to
the company that he would amply re
ward them for their "bravery." This
promise was kept' just like Clowry
kept his promise to the telegraphers
this year of 1907. He lied. In 1883
he wrote those who remained at work
a letter In which he said: "This com
pany will liberally reward you and
all employes who remain loyal to it
during the crisis."
For twenty-four years the men who
remained "loyal" have been waiting
for that "reward." What Clowry
really handed to them was longer
hours and two reductions in wages.
By resorting to the most extreme
measures the two telegraph companies
have been able to keep enough wires
going to carry a portion of the Asso
ciated Press stuff enough at any
rate to daily inform the public that
the strike is broken. But the claim
that the companies are now working
a full quota of operators is so absurd
that only a man with a "bug" would
make it and expect the public to be
lieve the claim. All told, 22,000 oper
ators quit the key. To claim that
these 22,000 operators have been re
placed in two months is so palpably
false as to be really absurd. The
companies are loaded down with
trouble that only operators can real
ize. The Union Leader explains some
of this trouble, and it makes a story
so interesting that it is here given:
The layman has no idea of the handi
cap under which "scab" telegraph oper
ators work during strike times. With
the craft was organized, the wages
were $1.75 and $2, the maximum scale
is 35 cents per hour.
The mill owners of Memphis, Tenn.,
recently posted notices that their
places would be run as open shops.
This was due to a disagreement with
the Carpenters' Union regarding the
construction of the scale especially
that part relating to the Saturday half
holiday. The firms insinuated that
free and independent workmen, who
would be content to work any number
of hours at any wages desired, would
be about the proper thing. The union
meni however, thought otherwise, and
a strike resulted. Four firms were in
volved. Within two days one firm
asked that its old men be returned
to itL In another day one other firm
capitulated and the next day the other
firms signified that they had plenty.
Under the terms entered into the firms
conceed the union shop and the Satur
day half holiday.
THE PLUMBERS.
Some Notes About the Knights of the
Fi repot and Wrench.
Bert Chipman is back in Lincoln
once more, but he is minus the rheu
matism he took with him when he
went away. Bert's many friends re
joice at -his recovery, and the local
union is almighty glad to get an en
thusiastic member back again.
Nearly every union plumber In Lin
coln, went to Omaha on Labor Day
and paraded with the Omaha "bunch."
They report having had a magnificent
time.
The plumbers' international now
claims a membership approximating
18,000. Strikes affecting 600 men are
now on.
Beat Cutters and Butcher Work
men's Union in Cincinnati has gained
an Increase of about $2 for each man.
The cities of Tacoma, Seattle and
Spokane are overrun with carpenters,
anih 'teaselers .are earnestly . urged tp
stay away from the coast until further
notice.
Telegraphers
the assistance of chief clerks and divi
sion superintendents a line of com
munication is opened between two
large cities. Sometimes it is neces
sary to go hundreds of miles out of
the way. Instantly every union oper
ator in smaller towns through which
the message passes knows who Is "on
the other end," and the line is
"broken" with: "Get off the wire, you
scab." The unionist only opens his
key for a second. He is unknown in
the stretch of a thousand miles, but
he is sure other unionists can be de
pended upon to keep the line "broke."
Another enemy the non-union oper
ator is called upon to meet is the
organized railway operator. Prac
tically all of the Western Union's
wires run along railway tracks, and
when the railway operator hears a
message passing through his station
he knows when the sender is "wrong,"
and it's only the work of an instant
to pull the plug, thus putting the wire
out of commission. It's only for a few
seconds, but the unionist knows some
one else will take up tne worK ot
harrass and delay.
But this is not the only trouble of
scab operators union linemen on the
outside are his secret enemies. The
linemen are members of the Electrical
Workers' union. They have a chart
of every wire running into a city, and
know its ipurposes. They know the
wires of non-union operators, and
when they cling to a pole, high in the
air. to repair cables, they don't assist
in making the strike-breaker's life a
bed of roses.
Another powerful aid to telegraphers
is the strictly union Hearst and United
Press wires, and those in the broker
age offices. With a "true blue" on
each end, valuable information is in
stantly forwarded, with a secret code,
to all parts of the country. Messages
are never "delayed in transit" for the
union telegraphers' official, and he
don't have to depend upon newspa
pers or rumors for valuable tips.
And while Western Union and Pos
tal officials will tell of the number of
men employed, they don't add that
they are mostly graduates from
schools that learn the "trade" in six
months. And they don't tell of the
numberless influences the strikers use
to harass and annoy the companies
But the latter are fully alive to them,
despite a -bold front that makes the
"foxy" union telegrapher smile.
Cigarmakers Set Mr.
Whitten, Secretary, Right
Office of the Secretary, Cigarmak
ers' Union, No. 143, Lincoln, Neb. To
Secretary Whitten, of the Lincoln
Commercial Club. Dear Sir: It has
come to the notice of this organiza
tion that for some time past you have
seen fit td charge us, the union cigar
makers of Lincoln, with having pre
vented you from securing for Lincoln
another cigar factory that would em
ploy from twenty to thirty or more
men. It is further understood that
ycu have, directly or indirectly.
charged that our organization was
acting on the behest of the local man
ufacturers, who are quoted as .being
opposed to bringing any more cigar
factories here to compete against
them.
We desire to state the exact facts
to the public, and Having stated them,
wc court the fullest investigation and
are willing to abide by the results.
The factory to which you refer is
the Pepperburg factory at Platts-
mouth. Instead of employing from
twenty to thirty men the year around,
as you report, Pepperburg bad three
men at work the day he conferred
with a committee from this local, to
gether with yourself, at the Commer
cial Club. We venture the assertion
that Pepperburg does not employ an
average of seven men the year around.
But that is neither "here nor there,
lou charge that because we would
not make Pepperburg a concession we
thereby prevented him from locating
in Lincoln, and you declare that this
refusal was at the instigation of the
employers, and that we acted in an
arbitrary, and selfish1 manner.
We deny both your assertions, and
we cheerfully submit the proof that
you have been, and still are, doing us
an injustice, by your false assertions
and reports.
The leading cigar made by Pepper
burg is the "Bud." This cigar is an
odd size, being 4 inches long. He
insisted that our local consent to a
change in our scale that would per
mit him to have this cigar' made for
$10 a thousand. Lincoln employers
are now paying us $11 for a clear seed
mouidwork cigar of the same length.
if we gave Pepperburg the concession
it would simply mean that we would
have to consent to a reduction of $1
a thousand for making cigars of all
classes contemplated in our schedule,
and below the 4-inch limit. In other
words, we were expected to be pa
triotic enough to consent to a practical
reduction of $1.50 a week in our wages
in order to secure another cigar fac
tory for Lincoln. And because we de
clined to carry our civic pride and
our local patriotism to that extent-
$75 a year for each man the secre
tary of the Commercial Club criticizes
us most severely.
we insist that according to our
wages and our opportunities we are
doing just as much for the upbuilding
of Lincoln as the secretary of the
Commercial Club, or any member
thereof. If the Commercial Club is
in earnest i nits desire to increase
in earnest in its desire to increase
in Lincoln It can do-so without going
to the trouble of trying to induce an
other manufacturer to locate here. It
can accomplish the object by indulg
ing a little more in "standing up for
Lincoln" and "patronizing home in
dustry," and doing a whole lot less of
preaching about it. The Commercial
Club, which is always crying for
"home industries," should set an ex
ample to us cigarmakers. The Com
mercial Club sells cigars for the ac
commodation of its members, all of
whom are supposed to be boosters for
home industries. And yet, among the
twelve or fifteen brands of. cigars sold
at the Commercial Club only one Is
manufactured in Lincoln. The others
are all manufactured in the east,
either by the tobacco trust or by
sweat shop employers who have their
perfumed and doctored cigars made
in filthy -tenements.
Here are the prices we charge for
making "clear seed, hand mould"
olgars, the kind Pepperburg wants to
make in Lincoln:
iY inches or less, per M., $ 8.00
4 inches or less, per M 9.00
4 inches or less, per M 10.00
5 inches or less, per M 11.00
Mr. Pepperburg wants to make his
cigar over the 4-inch. limit without
paying for the extra length or its odd
shape. To grant -11101 that extra length
and shape would mean that our pres
ent employers would demand a reduc
tion equal to the concession granted
Pepperburg; which would be a reduc
tion of our present scale, which is by
no means exorbitant. There is noth
ing to keep Mr. Pepperburg from
bringing his factory to Lincoln. We
will make his cigars any length or
shape he desires providing he pays us
the scale, just as the present employ
ers pay it. We will make them three
feet long if he will pay for it
We would like to see a thousand
union cigarmakers at work in Lincoln.
But as it is, we have about twenty.
We would not have even twenty if all
of the demand for' our product came
from members of a commercial club
which loves to preach "home indus
tries,'' but loves still more to omit the
practice. If the sales of cigars at the
Commercial Club rooms are any cri
terion, one cigarmaker working a
week could keep the club supplied
with all the Lincoln made cigars it
consumes in three months. If' ever
membef of the Commercial Club will
practice "patronize home industry" as
well as we cigarmakers do it, a year
from now will see a hundred more
cigarmakers at work at the bench in
Lincoln. We will gladly welcome Mr.
Pepperburg, or any other manufactur
er of cigars, to Lincoln if they will
pay us the scale we demand and re
ceive from the fair employers now
here. We insist that we be not put
in a false light before the public by
your misleading statements of this
case. And we further insist that it
comes with poor grace from an or
ganization which all but boycotts local '
cigar factories and local cigarmakers,
to criticize us because we have failed,
in your opinion, to assist in "building
up Lincoln industries."
We offer these facts to an intelli
gent and fair-minded public, confident
that our position will be commended.
THOMAS W. EVANS, Pres.
JOHN STEINER, Sec. '
Cigarmakers' Union, No. 143, Lin
coln, Nebraska.
BEATRICE BRIEFS.
Work of Organization Looking Up In
That Bustling Burg.
The work of organization has been
progressing at a lively rate in Bea
trice recently. Organizer Ireland
of the Electrical Workers spent a
couple of weeks in that little city re
cently, with the result that the electri
cal workers have organized with seven
pen members all but two working at
the craft in the city. ,' The two men
still on the outside are expected in be
fore long.
The painters and paperhangers,
catching the spirit, have also organ
ized in Beatrice, and the local starts
off with a goodly membership and
bright prospects for the future.
Then the plasterers caught the in
fection and organized with a goodly
number of men on the charter roll.
All in all, organization is looking up
In "Beatrice on the Blue." But the
Dempster people still oppose organiza
tion. They are the largest employers
of labor in Beatrice, and organiza
tion would mean that the Dempsters
would have to quit hiring boys, and
would have to pay fair wages to the
men. This the Dempsters think is very
wrong and anarchistic. For this rea
son they oppose unions and have suc
ceeded so far in hampering the work
of organization. The head man of the
firm, Robert Dempster, has a political
bee in his bonnet. He yearns to be
gcvernor of Nebraska, and when he
is nominated by the republicans, or
ganized labor will gladly take a hand
iu the campaign. But the results are
calculated to be disastrous to Robert
Dempster.
SHOULD FOLLOW IT HIMSELF.
One of the most popular of Presi
dent Roosevelt's sayings is, "Don't
flinch, don't foul, and hit the line
hsrd." To this he might add, as a
hint to some of his followers, "Eschew
hot air and don't bluff." Washington
Trades Unionist.