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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1908)
n - i 73 VOL. 4 XilNCOIiN, NEBRASKA, FBBBUABY 21, 1908 NO. 47 r - 'Jw i wv7 a rfcpw A View of Lincoln's 'Big Labor Temple A reinforced concrete structure, four stories and basement, with orna mentation plain yet elegant In its ap pearance that is the proposed Labor Temple for Lincoln. The perspective view of the proposed building has been complettd. and next Monday ev ening it will be on exhibition at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Labor Temple Building Association at 127 'North Twelfth street. All stockholders and others Interested are invited to call and see it. The completion of this perspective view means that the directors are now ready to 'begin the active campaign. Cuts of the building will be prepared and a prospectus will be printed ami distributed throughout the city. . Then the committee will get to work can vassing for stock subscriptions. To date nothing In -this line has been un dertaken because the directors want ed something to show to theme whom they approached for subscriptions. No one will be asked to donate a cent. Every dollar subscribed will be rep resented by a dollars worth of tangi ble property, and the subscriber will have a voice in the management of the property. 1 That the business men of Lincoln are wutcWng this project is evidenced by the fact that members of the board of directors are asked every day what Is being done, and are as sured that the questioner will sub scribe when the matter is under full headway. Lincoln citizens have been ap proached scores of times during the last few years and asked to '"donate" to this or that public enterprise. They have always ibeen liberal. But in this Labor Temple matter they will not be asked to donate a penny. They will bo offered a chance to make an Investment that will pay dividends In dollars as well as in moral and physical benefits. It is a business proposition having the added advan tages of healthy sentiment and civic improvement. The directors are desirous of se curing enough subscriptions by the first of April to purchase a site. That will be the main thing to accomplish this spring. Several sites have been offered, all of them advantageous, but the selection will be deferred until the money is In hand to pay for the one selected, and then the subscrib ers will be asked to select the site they want. Every stockholder, no matter how small his holding, will be allowed a voice in every question that arises. To many it may appear that the matter is dragging along. Such is not the case. The association has a comfortable balance in bank. It does not owe a penny. The board of di rectors Is meeting every week, and at each meeting plans are perfected for the great work in hand. Lincoln fc going to have one of the finest La bor Temples in the country, and the corner stone Is going to be laid next I a bor Day. Paste that in your union made hat! There is only one thing to prevent the fulfillment of that prediction, and that is the indifference of the men most interested the union men of Lincoln and vicinity. Here's a pointer: The Labor Tem ple at Toronto, Canada, is paying big dividends. The stock today la worth . a premium of 60 per cent and none for sale at even that figure. What , , has been done in Toronto can be done 1 In Lincoln. Every union man should have from five to fifty shares of stock In the Labor Temple. It will be equal to a savings bank account from the monetary standpoint, but from the un ion standpoint it will be even 'better. And if you simply will not boost, for heaven's sake be man enough not to knock! Now get ready to do your part when the real work of the association be gins. If you liave not already sub scribed, be prepared to do so when the canvasser comes around. Then after you have subscribed, go after your neighbor and get him to sub scribe. It will take the united effort of ev ery genuine unionist in the city to make this project a success. And in the Lexicon of Labor there Is no such word as "fail." PAINTERS AND DECORATORS. Annual Convention at New Orleans a Success in Every Way. The twenty-fourth annual conven tion of the International Association of Master House Painters and Decor ators met in New Orleans on Febru ary 18. President Stewart N. Highes of Toronto presided and responded to the address of welcome by the mayor. The report of Secretary William E. Wall of Somerville, Mass., was most encouraging. The convention was in session four days, and during that time several papers of interesting technical subjects were read nnd a vast amount of business transacted. The association is in flourishing shape, the membership increasing at a gratifying rate and the finances in a satisfactory condition. WOULDN'T THIS JAR YOU? One Secretary Who Refused Informa tion Concerning His Organization. During the past week a represen tative of The Wageworker has ibeen visiting among the various unions for the purpose of compiling a Union Di rectory for this humble little paper. In every instance save one this rep resentative was treated courteously. One secretary, who, by the way, is not working at his trade, absolutely refused to give the representatives HOW TO Workingmen Have the Power in Three years ago Mayor Brown, by the exercise of shrewd business in stinct and a desire to- do something that would benefit the city, bought the Sager tract of forty acres just norh and west of the Hutton light ing station, paying for it out of sur plus funds in the water department With this as a nucleus of a park sys tem Lincoln took the first step towards rectifying an error of long standing the failure to provide parks for the city. By popular subscription money was raised to purchase other and smaller tracts. Mr. Bryan gave ten acres to the city. The Perkins estate has given a valuable tract To day the city owns nearly eighty acres, exclusive of the F street park, which will make a handsome park providing money is provided to improve and maintain It The park lands extend from J street to Sumner, along the winding Antelope, and it will be pos sible to make this one of the hand somest parks in the country. Mayor Brown appointed a park com mission' of eleven men, all of them business men and busy men. They have given lots of their time to the park matter, serving without pay and going down into their own pockets for many little incidental expenses contingent upon their positions. With practically no funds with which to improve the park, the commissioners have performed wonders. Trees have been set out, trees have been trimmed shrubs and vines have been planted, walks have been made, rustic bridges and seats have been built swings have been erected and the boulevard has been vastly improved by setting out 2,000 trees along the sides. A respect able "zoo" has been started, and now contains bears, eagles, coyotes, porcu pines, monkeys and squirrels. But the park commission now finds itself at the end of Its string. The levy for park purposes is only $5,000 a year. This is about one-tenth of what it should be. THE PARK COMMISSION FINDS ITSELF TODAY WITH LESS THAN $2,500 WITH WHICH TO CARE FOR AND IMPROVE THE ANTELOPE AND F STREET PARKS DURING THE PRESENT YEAR. This is less than two cents per cap ita. Boston spends nearly one do lar per capita on parks. New York even more. Omaha spends a dollar the names of his local's officials, or any other information concerning it. "I don't give a d n for The Wageworker, nor for its editor. I won't give you any information. You can't have the names of my local's officers. We don't give a d n for the Central Labor Union. We with drew our delegates a long time ago, for the Central Labor Union never did anything for us, and it don't amount to a d n. anyhow. Unless my local instructs me to give this in formation you can't get it from me, and that's all there is to it." And when the representative of The Wageworker reported to the 'office the editor sat down and cried. It was simply awful. However, the informa tion was found elsewhere, and the local is represented in the directory, just the same. THE MUSICIANS' BALL. First Annual Event Was a Credit to This New Organization. The first annual ball of Lincoln Lo cal No. 463, Musicians' Protective Union, held at Fraternity hall Thurs day evening, was a credit to the or ganization and to the committees hav ing the event in charge. One of the most pleasing features of tbe occasion was the concert before the opening .of the dancing program. The orchestra was made up of twenty-five of the leading musicians of the city, and was directed by Mr. E. Walt. The numbers were a revelation to many people, showing as they did that Lin coln could furnish one of the largest and one of the best orchestras in the west and all union musicians, too. The attendance at the ball was even larger than expected, and the crowd ed condition of the floor testified to the fact that it was high time the GET A Use It to Their or more per capita. The money al lowed the Lincoln Park Commission yearly will not suffice to maintain the improvements already made, to say nothing of further improvements. LINCOLN OUGHT TO SPEND $50, 000 on parks during the next two years and the park commission should have not less than $30,000 at Its com mand this summer. It will be need ed for fences, roadways, band stands, trees, shrubs and all the various im provements that make a park attrac tive. THERE IS A WAY TO GET THIS MONEY, AND THE MEN WHO WILL PROFIT MOST BY THE EX PENDITURE OF THAT SUM ARE THE WORKINGMEN OF LINCOLN. The initiative and referendum is in operation in this city, and by means thereof the workingmen can force the submission of a proposition to issue park bonds in the sum of $30,000. When submitted the workingmen can give it a majority. There are many reasons why every man who works for wages in Lincoln should take an interest in this mat ter. Boast as we will, there is no deny ing the fact that times are "close," and there is evidence supported by experience that they will not be what we would have them until after the presidential election is over. THE EXPENDITURE OF THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ON PARKS THIS SUMMER AND FALL WILL GO A LONG WAYS TOWARDS SOLVING" THE FOOD PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF LINCOLN WORK INGMEN, FOR THE BULK OF THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT FOR LA BOR. This is a fact that demands the Twenty-Fifth Annual Ball Lincoln Typographical Union No. 209 FRATERNITY HALL Wednesday evening, February 26, '08 TICKETS $1.00 unionists of the city secured a hall large enough for their annual events. Such a hall is contemplated in the proposed Labor Temple building. It will be more than twice as large as any available dancing hall in Lincoln at the present time. The grand march was called at 9:15 and was participated in by more than 130 couples. There would have been more, but the hall was not large enough. From that time until the "owlcars" began running the merry making went on, and everybody pres ent had a splendid time. The first an nual ball of the Musicians' Union was an. unqualified success, and all be cause the membership as a whole got behind the committees and helped to push it which is the only way to make any union festivity a success. Following were the committees in charge of the ball: General W. T. Quick, S. .Telinek, X. A. Otis, L. Hagensick, L. E. Was son. Reception Fred Walt, A. J. Bruse, E. T, Phelps, N. A. Otis, Marion Bell, R. K. Newell, M. Thompson, L. V. Chi quet, G. P. Putnam, W. T. Pinney. Advertising H. J. Gildersleeve, W. C. Norton, L. V. Chiquet. Floor Manager H. J. Gildersleeve. Nothing was left undone that would make the guests welcome and lend to their enjoyment of the occasion. Novj. if this "baby union" can set such a-, mark for its first annual ball, what do you suppose it will do at its annual balls in the future? At Biddeford, Me.,the Pepperell Manufacturing company resumed full time in the local cotton mills. Th.a Imalgamated Sheet JJetal Workers' union invNew York City has withdrawn their demands for an. in crease of wages and signed a yearly agreement at the rate of $4.50 a day. PARK IN Their Own Hands and Should Own Advantage careful consideration of workingmen. Again, the workingmen of Lincoln the men whose toil and sweat have made the city what it Is deserve parks in which they and their famil ies can find rest and recreation, where they can "get next to the soil," and enjoy nature at its best. The men who have profited most by the toil of the wage earners are able to visit the mountains or go to the seashore during the hot summer months. The workingmen- must re main at home, and their wives and children must swelter and suffer. The workingmen have the remedy for this condition in their own hands. They are in the majority and they can compel the. issue of park bonds in sufficient amount to make parks a pos sibility in this splendid city. The Wageworker suggest that petitions be immediately circulated to the end that the proposition to issue park bonds in the sum of $30,000 be sub mediately circulated to the end that the proposition to issue park bonds in the sum of $30,000 be submitted to the voters of the city this spring. There is going to be a referendum proposition submitted that of "sa loon or no saloon" and the park fund proposition should be submitted at the same time. At the meeting of the Central La bor Union next Tuesday night the editor of The Wageworker will pre sent the matter, and will have; on hand a supply of blank petitions. The delegates and others will be asked to immediately circulate them for sig natures. This is a matter that concerns every workingman. It concerns his purse, because it means employment for many men. It concerns his family, for J EXTRA LADY 50c Among the Live The. Central Iabor Union will meet at Bruse's hall Tuesday night, and on that occasion the newly elected of ficers will be installed, and President Rudy will name the committees for the ensuing term. Every accredited delegate ought to be there on time. President Rudy and Secretary Kates announce that they are going to get after the unions that have not been represented. Appeal will first be made to the local, and if that has no effect the attention of the inter nationals and of the American Feder ation of Labor will be called thereto. Absent delegates will find that their neglect has been reported to their unions, and the fines provided for in the constitution and by-laws will be rigidly enforced. "The committees I appoint will be expected to do business," said Presi dent Rudy the other day. "We have a lot of work ahead of us and it must be done. It is to diir interests to do it" CIGARMAKERS WILL BUILD. Planning a Home For Members and Will Expend Quarter of Million. The Cigar-makers' International Union, at its last convention in Phil adelphia, voted to erect a home for its indigent and sick members, and the time is now arriving when the com mittee selected will visit those points that have propositions to make to se cure such a huge undertaking. 'Sin Antonio will probably be the city selected, as the proper exertions are madc;.as the site for the national it means enjoyment and health for them. It concerns bis own health be cause it will afford him ' a place in which to rest. The idea is to make these bonds run ten years, levying enough to raise a sinking fund of ten per cent each year, together with interest at four per cent and the city can bor row money at that rate. The levy would be so small as to be practically nothing on the workingman who owns his own home. On a property worth $2,000 the additional tax would be less than fifty cents a year. The Wageworker is willing to bear the expense of printing the petitions but the workingmen of the city must circulate them for signatures. It will be necessary to secure the signatures of about 1,200 voters, and they must be secured not later than March 5 or 6 the sooner the better. If you will agree to circulate a pe tition, call up The Wageworker and give your name and address. Copies of the petition will be mailed to you at once. Call Auto 2277 or Bell A3129. If you are out of work this will afford you an opportunity to guarantee yourself some work sometime during the summer. The money thus raised will be spent for labor,' and it will be paid to Lincoln wage earners, not to floaters. Don't wait for somebody else to take hold of this proposition. Get busy yourself, and urge your neighbor to get busy. One hundred men can secure the necessary signatures in a couple of days without any trouble. The small merchants especially ought to help out on this, for it means better trade for them. The big merchants can not in reason object on the score of taxes. It will add less than $25 a year to the taxes of the biggest merchants in the city, and they can well afford that if it will keep a small army of men from walking the streets in a vain search for work. Put thirty thousand dollars more in to circulation among the workingmen Build a park worthy of Lincoln. Now is the time to boost and boost hard. On Monday 2,000 men. were re-employed in the Bessemer department of the Cambria Steel company at Johnston, Pa. LINCOLN Ones in Lincoln home for the widows, orphans and invalid members of the Ci,i;'i makers' Union. The building, when construc ted, will cost about $400,000. A sub committee of the national executive committee is expected to" arrive in San Antonio on a tour of Investigation early in March. For many years a fund for this pur pose has been collected, and It was recently augmented by the gift of $75,000, willed to the union by a friend of the movement. Owing to the fact: that the percent age of deaths from pulmonary dis eases is extremely high, among the cigarmakers, It was decided to ibuild the home in a warm, dry climate. Philadelphia Trades Union News. UNION BARBER SHOPS. Information as to Where You Can Get Your Work Done Fairly. Following is a list of the union bar ber shops of Lincoln, the name and location being "given: ? Gus Petro, 1010 O street. W. A. Jackson, 1001 O street. . W. E. Myers, Capital Hotel. W. H. Barthelman, 134 South Elev enth. C. A. Green, 120 North Eleventh. Geo. Shaffer, Lincoln Hotel. J. B. Ramer, 1501 O Street: E. A. Snyder, 1206 O Street A. L. Stern, 116 South Thirteenth. 1 Charles Bowen, 101 South Eleventh. A. L. Kemmerer, Lindell Hotel. Chapman & Ryan, 127 North Twelfth. H. A. Larabee, 922 P Street' Knight and Parmenter, 122 South Twelfth. . . ' ; ; , H. C. Leopold, Fraternity Building. Frank Malone, Havelock. - E. A. Wood, Havelock. C. B. Ellis, Havelock. f Omaha local has raised its dues fronr seventy-five cents to $1. This was found necessary in order to pay Mhe sick benefit of $8 a week. , It Is reported that eight Omaha barbers are in the emergency hospital suffer ing fntp smallpox. The Bljrbers Union of Colorado Springs boffigtg. that it has an indoor base ball team thaPaajJPUt it onto anv Indoor baseball teanTVffesi oi the Mississippi river, with not barred. Sunday closing is winning out ail over the country. Allentown, Pa., fines any member $5 who is caught working on Sunday, and promises to prose cute under the Sunday law. , The Lincoln local has always been loyal to The Wageworker, and at the meeting Wednesday night it "came across" again. The union barbers are a loyal bunch, and The Wageworker Is under obligations to them: THE CARPENTERS. Making the Best of Conditions While Waiting for the Building Boom. The Carpenters are not doing much these days except waiting for the spring building season - to open up. Only a few inside jobs are under way, and as a result a majority of the mem bers are taking a vacation. The largest local in the brotherhood is No. 22 of San Franciso. The next largest is No. 122 of Washington, D. C. The Wageworker hopes that some of these days it can truthfully report that No. 1055 of Lincoln is the third largest. What? THE PLUMBERS. The loyal little bunch of unionists who form the Plumbers' local in Lin coln, came through for another year of The Wageworker- at the meeting last Monday night The plumbers have taken the lead in the Labor Temple, too, each member being in to the tune of $6, with more to come. If every other union would equal that record we'd start to building as soon as frost is out of the ground. BOXMAKERS WIN. The Boxmakers and Sawyers un ion of San Francisco (have won out in the contest which was precipitated the first of the year by an attempt on the part of their employers to reduce the wages from 10 to 20 per cent A solid union closely affiliated with the central body made this victory pos sible. The American Steel and Wire company at Salem resumed double burn operations. theeUS