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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (June 13, 1908)
V 3 cn 73; TRADES lgjj COUnClLl VOL.. 5 NEBRASKA, JUNE 13, 1908 2fO. 11 MethcdJist Church And Labs? Probles Several months ago. Just after Rev. T. M- Balch. pastor of Trinity M. K. church of tola city, had bee elected delegate to the Baltimore conference, Mr. Balch called upon the editor of The Wageworker and outlined a net of resolutions dealing with the labor problem which he purposed present ing to the conference. Mr. Balch is in thorough sympathy with the onion movement, and he keenly realise that the church has not given this phase of modern progress the consideration that It" deserve. That he made his presence felt at the Baltimore confer ence is evidenced by the tact that the resolution as outlined by him weie adopted almost seriatim by the con ference and Mr. Batch was a ber of the committee. a a .d nrxAw. A. W w- rm - - 1 i tn Baltimore conference are la part as follows: -We recognise the gravity of the social situation and the responsibility of the Church collectively, and of its members severally, for bringing about better conditions, through the prac tical application of the ethics of the New Testament. We hold it an Im perative obligation that the Church and all Christians interest themselves profoundly in such questions as those of the Iniquitous exploitation of child labor: the carelessness as to life and limb too often shown im factory, Ib 'mine, and on railroads; the down ward pressure sometimes brought up on wages by' the competitive system. the chronic phase of misunderstand las and Industrial warfare between employers and employed; the regret- able breach, caused by misconcep tion oa both sides of the spirit and purposes of each, which exists Be tween large numbers of artisans and Church of Christ. . We welcome evtfry Judication of a desire to end disputes and hostilities and to find a basis of reconciliation, fraternity, and permanent co-operation. We especially commend all those employers, whether individuals or corpora tiens, who. in the conduct of their business, have exhibited a fra ternal spirit and a disposition to deal justly and humanely with their em ployes particularly as to wages, profit ni"f and "welfare work. hours of labor, hygienic conditions of toil, protection against accidents, and willingness to submit differences to arbitration. We recognise the per plexities that arise In great industrial operations, and sympathise with those who. while carrying these burdens, are yet striving to fulfill consistently the law of Christ. We cordially de clare oar fraternal Interest la the aspirations of the laboring classes, and our desire to assist them in the righting of every wrong and the at tainment of their highest well-being. We recognise that the fundamental purposes of the labor movement are essentially ethical, and. therefore, should command the support of Chris tian men. We recognize further that the organisation of labor is not only the right of -the laborers and condu cive to their welfare but is Incident ally of great benefit to society ' at large in the securing of better condi tions of work and life in Its educa tional influence upon the great multi tudes concerned, and particularly in the Americanization of our immigrant population. While we cordially ap preciate the social senile rendered the community by captains of Indus try in maintaining large businesses, affording employment to hundreds. and by their products serving the needs of their feUowmen. yet our pri mary interest in the industrial prob lem Is with that great number who. by Ttheir conditions of toil. share adequately In the highest ben efits of our civilisation. Their efforts to Improve their conditions should re ceive our heartiest co-operation. must all similar effort oa the part of employers or disinterested organisa tions. "We are gratified by the growth of the spirit of conciliation and the prac tice of conference and arbitration adjusting trade disputes, and we trust that these methods may increasingly supplant those of strikes and lock outs, with attendant boycotts and blacklistings. We urge all our mem bers, both employers and employed. to the fullest possible promotion the principles of Industrial peace human brotherhood. We record our leaped through the air. caught with his -iimhing irons on the pole below Parker; and a moment later was lift ing his fellow workman from danger. A slip, or the breaking of his climbing irons, would have meant Instand death to Strieker. But he did not slip, and firm conviction that the Church of I the irons did not break: probably ne Jesus Christ, in so far as it is an. em-1 never thought of the matter till bis plover of labor, either locally orl friend was safe. through its general organisations. I Deeds like these are heroic deeds. ought to exemplify in practice the I They add to the proof, already abun- principles herein set forth. -" I dant, that war is an utterly unneces- The Methodist Episcopal Church I sary school for valor. They show that nerve and quick decision, and readi- Fbr equal rights and complete Jus- of the union, and President Bain, will deliver addresses, and a quartette will sing. The program as arranged for two weeks ago, and postponed on ac count of the weather, will be carried out. Next-Wednesday the tie vote for president between Ingraham and Ford will he settled by another election. The polls will be open from 12 to 7 at Carpenters halL - The meeting last Sunday was pro ductive of considerable parliamentary tangling on this question of the presi dency, but it was finally decided to ties for all men in all stations of life. I "For the principle of conciliation and arbitration in industrial dissea-l siens. "For the protection of the worker! from dangerous machinery, ccupa-l tteoal diseases, injuries, and mor-l talitr. "For the abolition of child labor. Tor such regulation of the condi tions of labor for women as shaJ safeguard the physical and moral health of the community. "For the suppression of the "sweat ing system." "For the gradual and reasonable re duction of hours of labor to the lowest practical point, with work for all; and for that degree of leisure fori all which is the condition of the high-1 est human life. "For a release from employment I one r in seven. "For a living wage in every industry I "For the highest wage that each In-1 duscry can afford, and for the most equitable division of the products of industry that can ultimately be de-l vised. "For the recognition of the Golden Rule, and the mind of Christ as the supreme law of society and the sure remedy for all socisl Ills." - A lew years ago the Presbyterian church realised the greatness of the labor movement and was quick to I seize upon a great opportunity. That denomination organized a "depart-1 meat of clutrob. and labor." and i wonderfully fortunate in having at command a man fitted in every way to take charge of . it Rev. Charles Stelzle. One of the most learned and eloquent ministers of the denomina-l tion. Rev. Mr. Steisle was also ac quainted with the labor movement by reason of active participation therein. machinist by trade, a member of I the union of his craft, a victim in his I childhood of the sweat .shop system ana a beaeSeiary m his young man-1 hood of the help of his organisation. he knew what they toilers hoped for. what they need, and what they have I right to expect. He took up the crk with seal and has pursued it with untiring industry. He has wrought a great change is the rehv-j tknship between the organized church and organized labor. He Is bringing them closer together every day. He is laved by thousands of workingmea who trust him to the uttermost, know ing that he is of them and for them. The great organization known as the Methodist Episcopal church the largest protestant denomination in America would do well to follow the example of the Presbyterian church and establish a "department of I church and labor." and it could find no man better fitted than Rev. W. M. Batch of Lincoln to take charge of the department. Now let the Methodist church call its, publishing houses to account and compel them to deal fairly with or ganized labor. Let it bring Dr. Jen nings ' up with a round turn, and mate him feel the weight of displeas ure at his unwarranted assaults upon organized labor. "By their fruits ye shall know them." SEED A Ll"3CL DO TO GSjUuCI" I With a lag delegation of Tin coin ites in Denver doing the democratic national convention, to boost for the nomination of Lincoln's distinjrnished cit izen, it would be little lea then a burning; sham not to have a Lincoln bond along. ' Lincoln has a band that w31 rank with the best - I bands of the country. It should accompany the T-hmnTm boosters to -Denver, and Lincoln will be guilty of a neglect of duty if it fails to provide the ways and means. From the standpoint of civic pride alone, Lincoln ought to send the Nebraska, State Band to Denver. From an advertising standpoint it would be a winning proposition. What's the matter with a few public-spirited busi ness men taking hold of the matter and raising the necessary funds. ' This is not a question of politics. It is a question of loyalty to Lincoln and " " "... - " to Lincoln institutions. - 'A" '. v The money should be raised in a jiffy. Lincoln is going to be a center of attraction during the com zng campaign, and from the mercenary standpoint of dollars and cents, Tjncorn win be a winner. For this reason, if no other and there are better ones Lincoln ought to "get into the game right." The first thing to do is to raise the money and send Lincoln's magnificent band to Denver as a part of the Lincoln "Boosters." The time is short and quick action is necessary if results are obtained. What enterprising and public spirited business men will take off their coats for a couple of hours and see to it that the work is done? ness to stake all on the moment are qualities which peace can produce in quite as full measure as the tented field. Hurrah for John Strieker. Denver News. -. JEFFERSON DAVIS DAUGHTER. Mrs. Margaret Davis Hayes of Colo rado Springs will doubtless be one of Colorado's delegates to the demo cratic national convention at Denver. Mrs. Hayes Is a daughter of Jefferson Davis, and her friendship for organ ized labor Is evidenced by the fact that she furnished the "Jefferson Davis room at the Union Printers' Home at Colorado Springs. This room is one of the most attractive in that magnificent institution. HEROES OF INDUSTRY. Daada That Prone - War Unnecessary as School for Valor. John Strieker. lineman, has prob ably never served In any army; and The News hopes he will never be called on so to serve. But John Strieker is one of the heroes of to day; a hero of tea times the caliber of many who delight to rave in the halls of congress, and utter vain things to folks who cannot reply. The story was told In yesterday's News, and needs no long repetition here. Elijah Parker, working fifty feet in the air. touched a Hve wire. shocked aad lay. slowly burning to death, across the tangle of wires with which the poles oa Cherry Creek boulevard are decorated. Strieker was eight feet away oa another pole; but he DOLLAR SHIRTS, UNION MADE. If you want a union-made shirt, just send a dollar to the Model Shirt Co. Indianapolis. Ind. Give them your size and tell them about what style you prefer. You will he fitted and pleased. Kvery shirt guaranteed aad bears the label. TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION. cut tne iroraian knot by having a special election. This tangle has called renewed attention to the fact that the constitution and. by-laws are in unsatisfactory shape, and it is probable that a committee will be appointed at the July meeting "to re vise the whole business. John Marshall has located at Ber- uumiu. votoraaa. wnere he has pur chased the Bulletin, which he will edit and publish. The Bulletin is republican paper. It looks like a good proposition and at reh.i g the man who can make it a good newspaper and a paying investment. His host of friends in Lincoln Join in wishing him abundant prosperity. . THE PLUMBERS. Work a Little Slack at Present. But Everybody la Hopeful. numbers are not reaping a great harvest these days, work being un usually slack for this time of year. But the boys are keeping cheerful and expect things will brighten, np pretty Decoration Services Next Sunday, Election Next Wednesday. Next Sunday- afternoon at 3 o'clock Lincoln Typographical Union No. 209 aad Capital Auxiliary So. 11 will meet unconscious in a moment. I at the Fraternity building, and taks special cars to Wyuka cemetery to carry out the annual decoration serv ices. Every member of the union and auxiliary is expected to be on hand. L. D. "Woodruff, an honorary member Charley Burns has gone to Grand Island to work for his father, who has a big contract there. This made vacancy in the office of secretary, and George Chipman has been selected to fill it. ." . , "Well picnic some time in July," said a member the other day. "We are going to have a prize list that will make you sit up and take notice. too. And the fried chicken and fixin O. yum. yum!" Tuesday night the - Central Labor Union filed its earnest protest against a continuance of the prison labor eon- tract and urged a policy that would result in giving the convicts occupa tion that would not interfere with free labor's opportunities to earn a liveli hood. The following' set of resolu tions was adopted and sent to the state board: "Whereas. The policy of farming out to private contractors the labor of convicts In the state prison, whereby prison-made goods are put upon the market to be sold in competition with the product of free labor, has long been an injustice to honest mem en gaged in an effort to make a livelihood for themselves and their families, and "Whereas, A- continuation of this policy means a continuation of the in justice, the matter of "price per con vict per day cutting no figure in the results as they affect free labor, there fore be it .'.' "Resolved, By the Lincoln Central Labor "Union, representing the organ ized craftsmen of Lincoln, 2.000 in number, that we protest against be ing forced to compete with convict labor. - "Resolved, That we petition the board having this matter in charge to refuse to longer continue the policy of contract prison labor upon articles of merchandise which enter into ac tive competition with the products of free labor, and to confine the labor of said convicts to such channels as will not force free labor to resort to devious means to obtain a bare liveli hood. "Resolved, "That while we realize that some occupation must be pro vided for the convicts, we insis't that there are plenty of occupations that win answer every purpose, and at the sameflme "relieve free labor" of he burden of this unjust labor competi tion. -- ' ' - Resolved, That we endorse the proposition that the convicts be em ployed upon public road work, that relieving free labor of unjust compe tition and at the same time benefiting the general public. "Resolved, That a copy of these res olutions be submitted to the proper state board. The offer of the Auditorium manage ment to give a benefit for the central body was accepted and T. W. Evans appointed to arrange for the same at time satisfactory to the manage ment. The label exhibition commit tee reported porgress in settling the affairs. The donation of $5 towards the defraying of expenses by the Ma chinists' of the city was reported and the thanks of the central body ex tended to that local. The label com mittee reported progress and was given more time to complete its "fair list" It was reported that the The atrical Stage Mechanics were weary of the delay in their case and were talking of taking it before the inter national convention. " They have been waiting' for two, years, '. and their money has been paid over fully that They feel that some' definite action should be taken, and in justice to them they be either granted a charter cr their money refunded. Report was made of the progress to wards a Labor Temple and some sug gestions as to finance were offered. Owing to the rain the attendance was smaller than usual. The repre sentatives present reported the state of trade from "good" to "fair." A committee will wait on a couple of amusement resorts and protest against the use of tickets coming from the "rat" Rees printing house at Omaha and long neglect of this terri tory by- the American Federation of Labor 'was talked over, and another effort will be made to secure the ser vices of an organizer. For years Lin coln has been sending in its "per capita" and has never received any attention from headquarters save when some extra money was asked for. There is a disposition to retain this money in future and devote it to organisation work, which Is sadly needed. An organiser of the Federa tion appeared in Lincoln a tew months ago, took a couple of trips oa the street cars to talk with the motormen and conductors about organizing, and then proceeded on to some other city. That is the extent of the work of or ganization done in Lincoln by the Federation, during the past years. The nrionists of Liueoia are growing Just a bit tired of this sort of treatment. The secretary was" ft'M'lltd to col lect fines from anions whose dele gates neglected to attend the meet ings. . THE TEMPLE COMMITTEE. Appoints t Whole Tim to From now on the ti Jn Labor Temple Bonding association win be pushed by a representative who wQI devote- his full time to the work. After carefully considering the matter in all its bearings the directors de cided that this should be done, and that J.-W. Dickson, the chairman of the board, was the porper man for the work. It will be Mr. Dickson's work to secure subscriptions to the stock, and to arouse the Interest of wage earners and business men in the pro ject. , - A building committee consisting of Dickson, .Rudy and Manpin was elected, and this committee win pro ceed at once to prepare plans and estimates of a temple building aad present the same to the directors. This Is in accord with the tmajSMlhrna -made by" the business men recently. It was also decided that the money now on hand be, as soon as possible. Invested in a site. The board will act -upon this matter soon and submit the selections made to a vote of the stock holders. . The .board feels that the project will remain practically at a . standstill ants the matter of a site Is settled. , By paying down the money on hand It will then be an to the unionists to come to the front aad pay out, or see the money invested lost becanseof their TnactionT Thebolft-' ing committee hopes to have its rought plans and approximate esti- . mates ready inside of two weeks. It is probable, too, that another meeting with the business men. win he ar ranged soon. Mr. Kelsey reported that Manager Buck staff of Capital Beach had. offered a benefit' day to the Temple project. and after thanking Mr. BnekstaaT for his offer the board decided to take the matter up at an early date. - . Xow that the . project is to be boosted by a hustler who has his whole heart in the work, it is beCevad that things win move lively from now on. Mr. Dickson has! shown his de votion to the enterprise in many ways, and when it was decided to em ploy a regular representative his was the only name considered. THE BARTENDERS. Reduced Numbers Work Than Under Old Regime. Those who imagine that the 7 to 7" rule makes work easier for the bartenders who retaia employment have another guess coming. The new rule not only threw a lot of bartend ers out of work, bat it forced hours upon those who letained ployment. An average of eight was the rule under the old order of htwg while the present average is in excess of ten. About twenty-five bartenders have been forced out of employment by the new" rule. ""'"" At its last meeting the League initiated two nee one of them from Fremont. The Fre mont man returned to his home the next . day with the avowed intent of organising a League in that piugms sive little dry. The bartenders of Fremont, seeing how well other Bnes of employment were organized, re solved to get into Bee at once. They will receive the cordial support of the Lincoln mcmbeia. Mark Wither calls the attention of the excise board to the fact that it has granted but twenty-four licenses, while the limit is twenty-five, and he asks that the twenty-fifth be granted to him. FOURTEEN DOLLARS A MINUTE. - The convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, at its last session at Columbus, Ohio, decided to allow Its delegates 17 per day. with out expenses, while in attendance. The convention cost the Brotherhood $7,000 per day. or SI per minute, for every working day.