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UTDAnrc luni
COUNCILS)
ICOLH.
VOL. 4
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, MARCH 28, 1908
NO. 52
Brotherhoods Plan a
Co-operative Store
There was a huge mass meeting of
the members of the various railroad
brotherhoods of Lincoln at Bohannon's
hall last Sunday afternoon. The pur
pose was to discuss matters affecting
the welfare of the railroad employes,
and these matters were fully and free
ly discussed.
, The agitation in favor of a reduction
of freight rates received considerable
consideration, it being felt that any
further reduction In this line would re
sult in a reduction of wages. Indeed,
the reduction of freight rates has al
ready had that effect In other local
ities, although to date it has not af
fected the men In this section. It was
decided to appoint a committee to
wait on the state railroad commission
and secure a date whereon the rail
road employes could submit their ar
guments against further rate reduc
tion. Some idea of how this matter In
terests Lincoln may be gained by
grasping the idea that there are fully
8,000 people In Lincoln and vicinity
dependent wholly upon the railroads
for a. livelihood. This is fully twelve
per cent of the total population
twelve out of every one hundred. It Is
safe to say that the railroads pay to
I-ancaster county employes upwards
ot $1,500,000 a year in wages. The
prevailing rate of wages is none too
high as it is and a reduction would
Work a hardship. Knowing that the
first step in conomizing in railroad
management is the wages of the em
ployes,' the brotherhoods naturally feel
that their interests demand a cessa
tion of the demand for further reduc
tion of rates."
So far, no definite date has been set
fur the proposed hearing, but when it
takes place the brotherhoods will have
-representatives present, who are, amply
able to present the employes- side of
the case fully and fairly.
The matter of rates and wages was
not, however, the only thing discussed
The matter of founding a co-operative
store was talked over and steps taken
to investigate the matter fully were
taken, committees being appointed
for that purpose. ,
Concerning the plan to establish co
operative stores this statement has
been made by those interested in the
work of organization:
"The railway committee of union
railway employes which has been
meeting at the Elncoln hotel for some
time, used considerable - time . In
discussing the advisability of formu
lating a plan for the Incorporation of
a joint co-operative wholesale and re-
tall store of gigantic proportions. A
board of trustees was elected to carry
but the plans as authorized by the ex
ecutlve committee, The outlying dis
tricts seem enthusiastic and are con
- tlnually sending in inquiries as to pro-
gress.
"It is proposed to establish branch
stores at Wymore, Havelock, McCook
Alliance and Omaha, with a main store
at ClncoIn as a center. It 1b figured
that about twenty per cent can be
i made, and this profit the organization
thinks can be well used for the fur
therance of union work. The plans,
while not complete, were discussed at
length and board of trustees was
elected to carry out the plans outlined
by the executive committee. The
ground plan somewhat resembles that
of the plan used In the establishment
of the co-operation book store at the
state university, only of infinitely
greater proportions. 1 1 is planned
that in time the store can own its own
buildings and place halls at the dis
disposal of the various organizations
for the permanent homes and club
rooms, besides furnishing necessaries
for considerable less to the members
The executive committee in session
represents the order of railway conduc
tors, brotherhood of railway trainmen
brotherhood of locomotive firemen and
engineers, International brotherhood of
blacksmiths and helpers, International
association of machinists, internation
al brotherhood of bollermakers and
'blacksmiths and helpers."
; In this connection The Wageworker
begs leave to suggest to the promoters
of the co-operative plan that they care
fully study the opening chapters of
Charles Edward Russell's book, "The
Uprising of the Many." The story of
the "Toad Lane weavers," and their
little shop reatTs like a romance. These
weavers were the pioneers in the co
operative movement, and -Mr. Russell
tells the story in entertaining lan
guage. ' The first four chapters of the book
will furnish the promoters of the co
operative plan in Lincoln with a
wealth of valuable Information. These
chapters are as follows:
One The story of the Toad Lane
Weavers and their little shop.
Two The growth of a social revolu
tion and the obstacles its met
Three The man with the big head
and the big heart and what he accom
plished. Four Co-operative experiments in
America.
The Wageworker would be glad to
lend its copy of Mr. Russell's splendid
book to the committee that Is engaged
in investigating the matter and for
mulating plans.
THE BARBERS.
Pioneer Shop Surrenders Shop Card
to Union's Secretary.
Last Monday the Pioneer barbe'
shop, corner of Eleventh and O
streets, in the basement under th?
Rock Island office, surrendered 'is
shop card and Is now manned by
r.cn-unionists. Charles Bowen, the
proprietor, claims that under the 15-
cent rule of the union he was losing
money, and he surrendered the card
in order that he might return to the
1 -cent rate. It is reported that one
member of the union remained at
work when the card was taken out.
Sam Chaplin was under the weather
several days last week, and even now
Lie voice sounds like a fat man stumb-
ing over a row of glass fruit jars.
.President McBride Is now presiding
over a chair in the tr. & M. shop;
Fifteenth and O streets.
The barbers' -union raises both the
social and moral standing of its mem
bers, shortens hours of labor, In
creases wages and abolishes Sunday
slavery. If you are not a member get
Following is a synopsis of an
Thompson, label secretary of tbe
before the Central Labor Union
March 24:
" "It was my g-od fortune recently to be in , Washington upon a
committee whose object it was to devise ways and means to pro
mote the sale of union-labeled goods, and since that time have been
engaged in that Work.
"There has, however, come up the recent supreme court de
cisions ' effecting labor, which has somewhat detracted from the
label movement, and more i recently the prohibition question has
come forward in such a manner as to. call for the serious considera
tion of all workingmen on account of the manner in which it has
destroyed industries and thrown out of work thousands of our
fellow trades unionists in all those parts of the country where it
has been successful, and the fact that several of our unions have
been forced out of existence has caused me to study the prohibition
movement as it effects the working people only. We find that
to deprive a million workmen of their personal liberty and an 'op
portunity to earn a livelihood at their chosen trades, with all the
attendant suffering, will be the result of the prohibition movement
if the prohibitionists have their way.
"To destroy an industry providing employment for upwards
of a million workmen is the object of their campaign, and in their
policy of destruction they have nothing to offer as a solace to this
million and the families dependent upon them.
"FARMERS AFFECTED. They propose to destroy a market
for the farmers' grain that takes a territory equal to two statee
to grow, and all this land and the millions it cost may be laid
waste and the peopfe employed thereon may wander to the four
corners of the earth for all the prohibitionist cares. The prospect
of making deserts of farms and paupers of workingmen and their
families does not deter them in their work.
"WORKINGMEN SUFFER. The thousands of brewery work
men who have learned the trade will find themselves without an
occupation and will be thrown out on the world upon an already
panic-stricken labor market and will be "forced to secure work at
anything they can at wages anybody wants to pay. Their union
will be destroyed and all protection taken away from them and
the prohibitionists will wish them godspeed.
"GOVERNMENT HIT. A source of revenue of over $130,
000,000 to the national government and other hundreds of millions
to the local governments will be destroyed which the prohibitionists
makes no provision to secure. His mission is. ended when he has
completed the destruction. These millions will have to be made
up by the innocent public, which has not woke up to what the de
structive police of the prohibitionists means.
"The consummation of the prohibition movement will paralyze
the woodworking and carpentry industry for years,', and these
workers will be left without jobs. Glassblowing will be an ancient
industry and the Plate Glass Workers' ranks will be cut almost
i-. and help us help you. as we have
been doing for years.
Indianapolis Union. Barbers' union
v;ill hold a special meeting Sunday,
March 22, at 8 a. m. at Paper
Hangers' hall, which will be large
ly attended owning to the recent de
cision of the supreme court declaring
the Sunday closing law for barber
shops unconstitutional. New list of
union barber shops are in the hands
of the secretary for distribution and
the same can be obtained upon appli
cation. These lists will be printed on
the fifteenth of ' each month. Those
shops surrendering their cards will
bt dropped from the list and new ones
will be added. An open meeting will
likely be held in the near future and
Ell barbers, whether union or not,
will be invited to attend. It is the
general opinion of the barbers that
the only way to get short hours and
Sunday closing is through organiza
tion and not through the enforcement
of laws and the prospects for' local
247 are bright.
THE MUSICIANS.
Wondering If There Will Be Sunday
Park Concerts This Season.
The membership of the Musicians'
Union is wondering if there will be
Sunday band concerts in the new city
park this summer. The fact that the
park commission is wholly witfiout
funds for this purpose or for any
other, so far a3 that goes renders it
useless to . talk to the commission
about it. It seems now that it is up
to the street car companies to show
their enterprise and provide the band
and reap the reward in the shape of
numerous fares to and from the park.
Perhaps it would be a good idea for
the union to furnish a band for an
opening Sunday and thus demonstrate
to the street car companies that it
would pay to continue the concerts
through the summer.
The Elite , theater management is
beginning to realize the mistake made
in refusing to deal with the Musicians'
Union on a fair basis. The union is
not going to engage in anything so il
legal as a boycott, but it is calling the
attention of union men to the fact
address delivered by Jeorge J.
Cigarmakers' Union of Chicago,
of Lincoln on Tuesday evening,
that there is no law compelling them
to patronize an amusement resort that
fails to . treat the union musicians
fairly! '
Chicago musicians are the latest to
feel the effects of government by in
junction, for the branch appellate
court- of that city has upheld the de
cision of Judge Windes in fining local
No. i0 $300, and President Wehkler
and Secretary Dillon $50 for violating
one of his orders, which debarred any
one from calling attention to a theater
that employed the dual organization
known as the American - Musicians'
Union of North America.
HARD TIMES PARTY.
Capital Auxiliary Will Duly Observe
. the Existing Conditions.
Capital Auxiliary No. 11 to Typo
graphical Union No. 209, recognizing
the eternal fitness of things, will give
a "hard times party" at Bohannon's
hall on Friday evening, April 3. Se
vere penalties will be exacted from all
who show up with anything bearing
the air of prosperity.; The Auxiliary
will provide a program of amusements
and Will also serve some good things
to eat. v
t The admission will be twenty-five
cents per couple, and five times that
amount of fun is promised every pur
chaser. Prizes will be given for the
most appropriate costumes. This ac
tive organization Is entitled to the co
operation of jthe union printers, and
every printer who is not compelled to
work on the evening ot the party
should make it a point to be on hand.
UNION SUES FOR MILLION.
St.' Louis, March 18. Alleging viola
tion of contract, with the Beer Drivers
and Stablemen's Union on the part of
eleven St. Louis and two East St
Louis breweries, suit was filed in the
circuit court this afternoon by William
Rapp, John Ninenaber and Louis Ebel.
trustees of the union," for $1,100,000
dp mages.
I : V y " . f
TUS Vincinnea Ind.) .Window Glass
company reopened March 5, employ-
ihg . hundred men. Natural gas ; re
cently piped from the, Illinois field at
10 cents per 1,000 feet will be used.
in two. Union cigarmakers will
their output destroyed and they
occupation to earn a livelihood for themselves and ' their children.
No prohibitionist will give them work; he is merely advancing
their moral welfare. Their material welfare does not concern(him.
"PROHIBITION PANIC The : thousands of bpxmakers and
coopers who make the millions of
destitute with no relief in sight,
engaged in hauling these products
tor the blight of prohibition is
"So widespread and far-reaching in its baneful effects upon
industry is prohibition that one
The millions of tons of coal that
seek to destroy gives" employment
would be thrown out of work if
"Bricltmakers, masons .and
plumbers, wagonmakers, waiters,
electricians, persons engaged in transportation, cash register makers,
and thousands of other workers will suffer sufficient to cause them
to conclude that the prohibition
far-reaching of all panics so far
it more than any other class
."MERCHANTS AND REAL ESTATE SUFFER. Anything
that destroys industry takes out of circulation the thousands of
dollars paid ' out in wages, which' reduces! the merchant's profits,
many of whom mistakenly support prohibition. ' .
"Real estate owners will be losers of rents and vacant ' build
ings and will be compelled to make up the deficit and loss of revenue
caused by the elimination of saloon licenses. : No matter what tbe
prohibitionist 's object may be, the result of his success will be to
throw out of work a million men, causing a widespread panic that
will result in wage reductions, starvation, misery, crime and de
moraliz'ation among the wage earners of America.
"Success of prohibition in- Lincoln will throw out of work 75
per cent of the cigarmakers,' all of the bartenders and waiters and
hundreds of others who are dependent upon these industries directly
and indirectly, which in addition to those already out of work will
cause widespread suffering and
able to pay rent to the owners of buildings, many would have' to
leave home in a fruitless effort to secure employment elsewhere,
and several hundred stores and houses would be left vacant, for the
prohibitionists substitute absolutely nothing for the things they have
destroyed, they offer neither bread, work, hope or opportunity to
the unfortunate workingmen whom they deprive of employment by
their agitation. - '
"In their campaign to save the drunkard they lose sight of the
welfare of our honest, hardworking, sober arid industrious working
men, and-r'Vpeal to you, the workingmen of Lincoln, to vote to
save your"5Jin the trades unions from misery and want
rather than to flfcadfe them, suffer for the gluttony and folly o
others."
Labor Demands
Justice at Once
Washington, D. C, March 21.
"While the supreme court or other in1
stitutions may be able to temporarily
retard and seriously embarrass tft8
growth and action . of our movement,
we boldly assert that no power on
earth can destroy, successfully outlaw
or disrupt the trade union movement."
These words were the key to an ad
dress issued tonight to organized labor
and farmers' association by the labor
workers who have been in session in
this city for the past four-days. The
meeting had been called by President
Gc.mpers of the American Federation
of Labor.' The address states that a
large part of the. discussion of tfie
conference was devoted to the' con
sideration of the supreme court's ac
tion in applying ; the Sherman antl
trust law to labor. ' ' ,;
"The proceedings," the address says,
''were marked by the utmost harmony.
There was, indeed, the intensity of
feeling which so grave a situation
must evoke. There was also vta
bounded enthusiasm, a grim earnest
ness of purpose and a firm determina
tion that work initiated by this con
ference should not cease until the
vTongs from which the workers suf
fer shall be righted and their liberty,
which has been imperiled, shall be
r&stored and forever safeguarded."
Demand Prompt Action.
The further statement is made that
K was the unanimous feeling of the
conference that some steps should be
taken to impress upon congress the
necessity for prompt action toward
amending the Sherman anti-trust law
sc that it shall be - inapplicable to ,"or,
ganizations or associations not for
profit and without capital stock, nor
to. .members of such organization or
associations,, or to any arrangements,
agreements or combinations among
persons engaged in agriculture or hor
ticulture made with a view of on-
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find a market for 70 'per cent of
wlil liave to look to some other
boxes and barrels will, be left
and the thousands of . teamsters
will find their occupation gone,
permanent on the workingman
illustration will suffice to. convince.
are consumed in the industry they
to 10,000 miners, all of whom
prohibition succeeds.
builders, machinists, steamntters,
bartenders, advertisers, printers
panic is the most permanent , arid
experienced. The unions will. feel
misery. These men would be un
hancing' the price tof their own agri
cultural or horticultural products." .
The conference pledged i itself to
use its influence toward securing the
enactment of a bill to regulate and
limit the issuance of an injunction
and also of an . employers' liability
bill. The address, continuing, says
that it is the belief that congress ap
preciates the gravity of the situation; "
and It is declared that "labor is in
no mood to be trifled with." (
Every ' legitimate pressure, .. it Is
stated, must be brought to bear upon
congress "in the effort to secure the .
passage for pur amendment to the
Sherman law."
It is. declared that a resolution or
resolutions should be adopted urging
congress to amend tho Sherman law
and warning congress that it will be
held responsible for failure to enact
such legislation, ' and it is stated
upon the record of this congress will
be based the workers' decision as to
candidates' future - desirability " as
members of congress." '
Should Question Candidates.. '
In stating It to be the duty of la
boring men. to question candidates for
congress as to their attitude toward
labor legislation,' the I address calls
upon the labor workers "to stand
faithfully by our friends and organize
to defeat our enemies, whether they
be candidates for president, for con
gress or other offices,' whether legis
lative, Executive or judicial." y
Continuing the address says:: )-.
I "We call upon all labor to use every .
possible legitimate effort to secure for ;
the workers their inalienable liberties
and their proper recognition as a vital
portion of the fabric of our civilization.
Hold mass' meetings," says the ad
dress, "n every city and town of the
United States in the evening of the
thirdj Sunday or Monday in April, 19 '
or ' 20, and at those meetings voica ,
fully and unmistakably labor's protest
against ; the supreme court decision "
which has stripped labor of the rights
and liberties which -we had' supposed
were guaranteed by the constitution.
Each candidate, - continues the ad
dress, should be questioned and
pledged . as to his attitude upon all
subjects of importance to' the toilers,
whether in factory, farm; field, ship '
or mine." . v.-
A foot-note to the address states
that "this address ,is signed by the
same names as were appended to
labor's protest to congress."
WORKING UP DOUGLAS BOOM.
Former Governor Suggested as
Bryan's Running Mate.
Washington, March 2L As it. is
generally admitted that Mr. Bryan will
be the democratic candidate, more and
more there is talk heard among lead
ing democrats at the capital of ex
Governor ; William L. Douglas ' o
Massachusetts being his running mate.
If . Mr. Douglas should be nominated
it-is the opinion of some democrats
that it would make Massachusetts the
fighting ground. In this connection
there is an interesting story current
to the. effect that should the demo
crats nominate Mr. Douglas the labor
vote will be . cast for that party. In
addition to his reputation as a friend
of labor, Mr. Douglas possesses other ;
qualities calculated to make 'him a
suitable candidate , for the vice-presi- f
dency. He is looked upon as a typical
American, and what is fully as much
to the point; he has the "barrel of ),
money" which it is customary to asso
ciate with the second place on a presi
dential ticket. '. . ; "
i The life story of Mr. , Douglas is a '
story possible nowhere but in American
Yesterday he was poverty-stricken;
today he is a multi-millioaire. Yes
terday he worked from daylight until
dark for five doVars a month at. the '.
shoemakers' bench,' toiled in a cotton,
mill for : thirty-three cents ' a day,
tramped , sturdily , behind a four-ox .
team and prairie schoontr acioss the
plains of the great west, tctled as a
common laborer about a lime kiln; to
day he manages a business employing
3,000 men . and ' women,; with several
large factories and upwards of one
hundred retail stores, is a bank presi- '
Sent and as director in otbor large
eulerp rises. '.
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