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fe TRADES Effigy COUNOLg
LCOLHj
VOL. 4
liiisrcoiiisr, Nebraska, march 7, too
unn
"o) H7T? fo)
" no. 4 ,
K.
Rev. Mr. Batten
Takes an Exception
Lincoln, Neb., March 4. To the Edi
tor of The Wageworker: With great
surprise and regret I learned, from
reading The Wageworker last week,
fl.at you have taken an adverse pes!
tion with reference to no-license in
Lincoln. I cannot avoid the feeling
that in this position yon have made a
great mistake as time will show.
And I cannot help the feeling that th-J
lt-RBOiiB you give for your position
are wide of the mark and miss th-;
real point at issue.
For one thing, with reference to my
own figures,' I utterly fall to see how
you can Infer from anything I "nave
ever said, that "we are going to de
mand a legislative enactment compel'
ing men to put, it up to divert (the
money spent for liquors in Lincoln)
ii to a fund for furnishing dress suits
and decollete gowns for. the naked
SFvagea of the Fiji Islands." I fail
lo see the relation of this to th;
question at issue; and I ask you to
lioint out one word in , anything i
have ever said that gives you the least
ground for this sentence.
In another editorial you seek to b"
I'.ttle this whole movement for tem
perance reform by legislative action,
bj carrying the principle to an absurd
length. Why utop with such thins;!
ii liquors, you ask? ' Why not go on
und seek to prohibit by , law every
other thing that may have some pos
sible injurious effect upon mankind?
The Safety of the People is the Su
pieme Law; it is the business of the
state to determine what are the things
tliat are manifestly Injurious to man;
and it is then the duty of the state
' t" enact laws against those , things
Sour bread, I can easily believe, has
bten the cause of much discomfort
find dyspepsia; I am ready to con
f sb that if I had to eat some people's
'bread that I should want ' to "drink
whisky or possibly something worse.
Now if it should appear that bad
biead is a cause of socio 1 demoraliza
tion, that it weakens men and unfits
them for the discharge of their, duties,
then the state ought to intervene and
declare that bad bread should not be
sold. The fact is the law does inter
vene and does seek to prohibit the
sale of adulterated flour and sour
bread. I am Btire that you are a firm
believer in the pure food laws.
Again, you say that every preacher
who ia beseeching the aid of man
r.iatle law Is confessing that the Gos
pel of Jesus Christ has failed. Now
that is one of the most surprising
statements I have seen in print for a
long time, and I can hardly believe
that it reflects your maturest judg
ment. You seem to suppose that the
Gospel of Christ Is a kind of weak
milk and water ' doctrine, a goody-
goody sentiment, a vague and indefi
nite influence that remains up in the
air and never gets down to real life,
Now I am sure you agree with me in
this, that such a doctrine as this is
unworthy of man and Impotent in the
world. Ant from what I have read
in The Wageworker you have nothing
but scorn for the preachers who deal
In that sort of stuff. You want a
Gospel that gets right dowu to earth
that means something and somebody,
that grips the conscience and is a
terror to evil doers.
Then there is another thing that
must be remembered: If Christianity
id to be a real thing In the world, it
must soon or late express and incar
nate Itself In human institutions, in
st cial customs and In civic laws.
Christianity Is hatred of the things
that are evil; it is a declaration of
warfare against the things that hurt
man and hinder society. Then Chris
tianity must maintain a warfare, in
, every legitimate and natural way,
against every custom and institution
that is destroying man and is demor
' alizlng the state. Instead of saying
that this demand for stringent laws
against the saloon Is a confession that
the Gospel of Christ has failed, it Is
the declaration that this Gospel Is
really becoming effective. It Is cre
ating a social conscience which 1b
feeling the woes of society and is mov
jing men to maintain a warfare against
them. This modern opposition to the
liquor business is the evidence that
at last we have a Christianity that is
active and miltnnt enough to be worth
ri. honest man's consideration. Jesu3
uf Nazareth, as you very well know
was no harmless dreamer and vision
ary recluse; the fact is, he was a
terror to evil doers and was killed
on that very account. The Bible
teaches most plainly that rulers are
the "servants of God unto men for
good;" and we are distinctly told that
the magistrate is "an avenger for
vrath on him that doeth evil.' (Ro
mans 13:1-10.)
The doctrine of Christ is here to
make a social conscience in men. As
ff.st and as far as this conscience is
made it will feel the woes and evils
of the world. But conscience that is
worth any respect and has any power
must manifest itself In all the spheres
and relations of life.' One of the most
Important spheres of life is what we
may call society. Civil law in Its
highest sense, according to the best
thinkers of the world, is the formu
lated and positive conscience of a
community. If Christianity is ever to
be anything more than an empty
dream, it must soon or late express
itself in social customs and civil in
stitutions. If it appears that the
liquor traffic is injurious to man and
demoralizing in society and that it
in you will readily admit then the
Christian conscience has but one
duty;- it must maintain a warfare
aeainst that traffic and must take up
that stumbling block out of the way
of the people.
I must not claim any - more ' space
in The Wageworker; but all of your
other comments about regulating
men's beliefs and forcing the gospel
on every creature, are both wide of
the mark and are beclouding the issue.
Believe me, yours most sincerely.
SAMUEL Z. BATTEN.
THE BARBERS.
Barber College Manager in ' Detroit
Charged With Fraud.
The "barber college" industry shows
ndications of nearing its end. This
'college" graft has been worked on
unsuspecting young men for several
years. The "college" advertises to
turn a student out an experienced
journeyman barber in six weeks, and
insures him a job. The country boy,
scenting easy work and good pay,
puts up $25 or $35 and is allowed to
work on bums and tramps for a few
weeks. Then he is turned loose and
told to hustle. He finds himself worth
less as a workman, out his tuition fee
and without hope of the promised job.
Now the postal authorities threaten
to get after the "colleges." Harry W.
Andrews, proprietor of the Detroit
Barber College at No. 277 Jefferson
avenue," Detroit, Mich., was arraigned
before United States Commissioner
Harsha recently, charged with using
the United States mail to defraud.
He was held in $1,000 bail for hearing.
The complaint is taken out by Postal
Inspector Larmon and two boyB, Chris
tian Densteadt and Oliver Herr, from
Acme, Mich., but other students will
ba called. , Andrews, seeing that other
cities had their "tonsorial colleges,"
branched out in Detroit several years
ago. He guaranleed to turn out ex
perts In six weeks and secure posi
tions for the graduates. The fee was
$25 and this also provided the neces
sary tools.
If the postal authorities are not too
busy they might also go after some
of the "plumbing colleges," brick
layers' colleges," etc.
THE MUSICIANS.
Watching the Bill to Prohibit Compe
tition From Government Musicians.
After a struggle of several years,
the Musicians' Union of the country
appear to have reached the point of
success in the matter of having mu
sicians in the employ of the govern
ment prohibited by law from compet
ing with civilian musicians.
The Congressional committee on
Labor, to which the matter was referred,-says
in the latter part of the
report:
"Simple justice demands that a cit
izen musician, as a citizen. Is entitled
to the same consideration as .men of
any other trade or vocation. The
government does not allow soldiers to
compete with citizens as bakers, brick
layers, masons, blacksmiths, doctors
or lawyers, and it does not dream of
ordering out the artisans of any par-
ticnlar craft in case of labor troubles
to take the place of ordinary work
men, and the same measure of pro
tection against government competi
tion should be extended to civilian
musicians."
The bill is now pending, and is
said to have good chances for fa
vorable action.
The Lincoln local has selected W. T.
Pinney, president, to represent it on
the Labor Temple directorate.
After a couple of sessions with an
amateur band the management of the
automobile show last week sent for
the business agent of the Musicians'
Union and made a contract, he re
mainder of the week was pleasrnt for
exhibitors and spectators.
A BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE.
Picture of Proposed Labor Temple
Now on Exhibition Daily.
The picture of the proposed Labor
Temple is completed and is now on
display in the windows of the Arm
strong Clothing company. It will re
main there for a few days, and will
then be exhibited elsewhere. Ever
SUBSTITUTES FOR THE SALOON.
"It is very doubtful whether a complete substitute
for the saloon will ever be found. There are so many
elements, both human and physical, which must be con
sidered, that no one organization or institution thus far
established completely meets the needs which seem to
be so strongly imperative. Merely to adopt the nega
tive policy of closing the saloons and prohibiting the sale
of intoxicants will never meet the case. This method
fails to recognize that many human cravings which the
saloon gratisfies " are perfectly legitimate, and men will
gratify them." From "Christianity's Storm Center, by
Rev, Charles Stelzle, page .127. '' - 1 : . ( '
since it was placed on exhibition it
has been-surrounded by admirers,
and great interest in the project has
been aroused.
The Labor Temple directors met in
regular session Monday evening and
completed the plans for the subscrip
tion campaign. Everything is now in
readiness, and the work will begin
next Tuesday morning and .will be
pushed with vigor. A neat prospec
tus has been printed and will be dis
tributed Monday, and on Tuesday the
solicitors will follow up. The pros
pectus shows a view of the proposed
building, gives pertinent facts con
cerning the project, and contains the
articles of incorporation. This , pros
pectus will be placed in the hands of
every business and professional man,
and distributed to every union.
- The city has been districted and
hustling solicitors will be put into
each district. No one will be asked
to donate a cent to this enterprise.
It is purely a business proposition
an investment that is as safe as real
estate can be. Organized labor and
its friends will be asked to invest in
the stock of the company, and every
stockholder is entitled to a voice in
the company's affairs. The Wage-
worker especially invites the business
men to read the prospectus and the
articles' of Incorporation.
At the meeting Monday evening,
W. T. Pinney- appeared with creden
tials from the Musicians' Union and
was warmly greeted. There are sev
eral unions that have as yet shown
no interest in the project, being will-
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
CAPITOL LODGE NO. 170
AL
x
FORM
. 31
Train ahead Uf I at March 16, 08 M
Yourself and ladies will run extra, regardless of all other en
gagements, to the New Fraternity Hall, Monday evening, March 16,
1906, where yon will meet tbe members of Capitol Lodge, No. 170.'
From 8 p. m. until 2 a. m., you will occupy the main line
and assist in station switching. After 2 a. m. you will run double
head to your ladies' residence, running extra to your home with the
best wishes of CAPITOL LODGE NO. 170. : ,
ing, apparently, to let others do' all
the hard work and then, when -things
are easy, come in and enjoy the ben
efits. 'The following unions now hold
stock in the Lincoln La'bor Temple
Building Association:
Electrical Workers.
Plumbers.
Bartenders. .'
Typographical.
Leatherworkers on Horse Goods. '
Painters and' Decorators.
Carpenters.
More than 1,200 shares have been
subscribed and paid for, and enough J
more subscribed for to make the
amount more than $2,000. All this
has been accomplished without solici
tation. The outlook is rosy with promise.
It looks like a certainty that the corner-stone
of the Labor Temple will
be laid on Labor Day. It will be a
certainty if union men will do a little
unselfish hustling and dig up one or
two day's wages as stock subscrip
tion.. Five dollars from each active
union man in Lincoln and Havelock
will (make the erection of a Labor
Temple what the sporting editor calls
"an Immortal cinch." ' V
Now get ready and do your part
and then some.
THE PRESSMEN.
Brief Bits About the Boys of Squeeze
and Color.
Walter Brown, foreman of the press
room at the Free Press, is building
a new double house on his lot on F
street between Thirteenth and Four
teenth. The contract specifies the em
ployment of organized labor. : The con
tract amounts to about $6,000.
Wednesday evening the pressmen
had a social time after attending' to
routine business. Good union-made
cigars were smoked, good talks were
made, and a few exhibitions of boxing
were given. The boys had a fine time.
Alex Weckesser is getting along as
well as could be expected of a fellow
who has a broken ankle. The injury
is very painful and will keep him
laid up for several weeks.
CNE OPINION OF ROOSEVELT.
Philadelphia, March 1. William D
Haywood, secretary of the Western
Federation of Miners, who was re
cently acquitted on the charge of
being implicated in the murder of Gov
ernor Stunenberg, was the principal
speaker' here today - at a socialistic
ltbor meeting held under the auspices
of the Moyer-Haywood-Pettibone con
ference. In paying his respects to
President Roosevelt, : he said: ;
"To say the least, he is ' peculiar.
When we were shackeled in prison
he stabbed us In the back "with his
lt-tters. ;' I say that this was not the
act of a brave man."
Opr
A Memory of the
Engineers' Strike
"Cyclone" Thompson, one of the
oldest and best known engineers on
the Union Pacific, was killed at Elm
Creek the last Tuesday in February.
In trying to start an extra heavy
ft eight train, one of the cylinder
hc-ads blew out. He had got down
and disconnected that side of the en
gine, and in trying to get the other
side off center, it had gathered steam,
throwing the reverse lever back with
such force as to crush his right side
in a frightful manner. He was as
sisted from his engine and taken to
the depot, where medical assistance
was given. He expressed himself as
confident his injuries would ' prove
fatal, as he realized his intestines
were ruptured or he was bleeding in
ternally. " When the accident hap
pened they were carrying two hun
ched and fifty pounds' of steam,! and
the lever came back with fearful force,
catching him diagonally across ' the
lower part of the bowels, on the right
side. , He suffered great- pain, but was
able, with assistance, to walk to his
train, which he took to Omaha, due
at 1:40 a. m. Thompson died' before
the train reached Omaha. ' ""'
J. J. Kurtz, a Burlington engineer
living at 814 North Thirteenth street.
Lincoln, died at his home about mid
night of February 23 from drinking
cresolene' Mr. Kurtz, came in from
Ravenna that night : and not feeling
noli, when he returned home he went
into his bedroom to take a dose of
medicine. Mrs. Kurtz had been burn
ing cresolent to fumigate the house,
and by mistake her husband got hold
of the bottle containing the highly
poisonous mixture. Medical aid was
summoned but nothing would avail to
save his life. , There can be no doubt
that death was due to a mistake. Mr.
Kurtz's home life was hap"py, and hs
had no cares nor worries save those
iucident to a man who is the head of
a family. He left a wife and two chil
dren. ' Mr. Kurtz was born In 1872
and was for many years in the em
ploy of the Burlington. He was a
favorite among his ; fellow employes
and his untimely death is deeply
mourned. 1
' Henry McCarn is expecting a visit
from his brother "Lum"-McCarn who
lives , at Joplin, Mo. "Lum" McCarn
was formerly a Nebraska newspaper
man. ; He went to Joplin, about the
time the zinc industry of that section
began booming and invested what lit
tle money he had in the Joplin
Globe. ' He put about thirty, years'
work into it in seven or eight years
aid made the Globe one of the beat
daily 'newspapers in the southwest,
bar none. Then his health failed and
he sold out. ' He has a lot of friends
in newspaper circles in Nebraska, and
they'll show him a good time if tie
gives them a chance.
A little item In the "Thirty Years
Ago Today" column of - the ', State
Journal Monday morning 'recalled to
mind that twenty years ago this
month the Burlington engineers were
en strike, and there were warm tims
in this - Burlington territory.; -The
Journal's item calls a little memory
of that . famous struggle. Twenty
years ago the editor of The Wage
worker was foreman of a weekly pa
per published in a Nebraska town on
the 'Burlington lines. Shortly after
the road had started trains to mov
ing with threshing machine engineers
and firemen of gasoline engines.
a freight train pulled into the writer's
town and "died" oa the 'scabby's
hands because he couldn't work the
injector. He was used to the old
fashioned pump of a- stationary en
gine. The station agent wanted to
help out so he tried both the town
elevators in an effort to find an en
gineer who could start an injector.
But both elevators had pumps. Final-1;.-
some one told the agent that tbe
office where the writer worked had
ar engine with an injector, so up he
came, r The writer, who knew just
enough about an engine to start and
stop it did happen to know how the
injector worked. - But the "boss"; was
gone, so the writer professed ignor
ance. But there was a' "tourist
printer" in the shop who had drilled
iu the day before. He heard the con
versation and interrupted with the re
mark: "Why, I can start the injector. I
used to knock around engines a whole , '
lot."
The writer tried to' head the "tour
ist oft" but" he donned his coat and -disappeared
with the remark that it
was "easy money." An hour later he
came back and began taking off bis
coat preparatory to resuming work at
the case. Then the writer made a
few red-hot remarks about any man
claiming to be a union man who would
help a blankety-blank and double-
dashed "scab" out of a- hole, an 1
wound up by ordering the "tourist",
out of the shop, r
"Aw, keep your shirt on, young
fellow," growled the "tourist," as he
mounted a stool." ."That dashed old
Injector ain't started yet and I guess
it neveri will. . Something was wrong :,
with a few nuts on the engine, and
by mistake' I pulled the Wrench the
wrong way., The injector ain't the
only thing about that '"scab's' engine :
that ain't working now." ,
The engine was hauled back, to the -.
division point by another engine. -
By the way, there's a heap o' dif- '
fc-rerice between the , engines the
brotherhood men stepped down from
twenty years ago, and the ones they
are running today. Those engines cf
twenty years ago look like family tea- i
pots alongside the huge machines of ,
today. '
: Again referring to the Journal's
item do you remember those big bill ,
board . sheets depicting a ouple - of ,
engines in collision, and the words,
"Prepare to meet thy God" over them? ,
Those were strenuous times, for fair. '.
THE BRICKLAYERS'. ' 1
Work - .of : Organization Flourishing '
. Throughout the Scuth. , '
The Bricklayers are getting busy in ;s
the south in the matter of organiza
tion. ; Twenty-eight new locals have
been " established In North Carolina, -
during the last four months. - Iu addi
tion five suspended locals have been,
reinstated. - New locals are being or-,
ganized in other states. .--i - -
Locally, the Bricklayers are look
ing for a busy season. There are
some big jobs in; sight, among' them
a hew $45,000 structure for the con- ,'
gregation V of the 1 First Christian
church, the ' completion ' of the First v
Church of Christ, Scientists, and aer-;
eral new buildings in the wholesale
district, i The outlook is exceedingly
good, and the feeling of depression
evident during the financial flurry
has given way to great and hopeful
expectations. .1 . -
' The proposition to erect a new high
school building ' meets . with f favor ' -among
, the a Bricklayers of course.
That would mean a big contract. '
"Waiting at the church" la a fa- -miliar
song. . But one young member
or the Lincoln local sings it a little
different. A strict watch on South ',
Twelfth street about 5:01 p. m. would -explain
all. ' '. ' .
A LABOR PARTY.
New York Unionists Declare That the-
Need is Imperative.
That the trades unionists of New
York City will force the consideration '
of forming an independent labor party
at once is predicted by leaders of the
movement to bring workingmen into
political organization. ., -
' Encouraged by the knowledge that,
many of the most influential union of
ficials in the city favor the plan ad
vocated in the, resolution presented to
the Central Federation union appeal
ing to the American Federation of
Labor to call a - meeting to organize
a labor party, several of them are
exerting every ' energy to secure its
Adoption. ; The vote will be taken
March 1, and backers of tbe resolu
tion predict they . will win. Detroit
Union Advocate. V.i
THE BOOKBINDERS.
The Lincoln local, No. 120, Brother
hood of Bookbinders, has but' seven
male members. ' They are enjoying
the eighh-hour day. That it is a
little bunch of live ones is evidenced
by the fact that in regular and special
assessments it has put. up $143.80 dur
ing the last six months. That's go
ing some. . .
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