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VOL.5
lilNCOIiN, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 5, 1908
NO. 23
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Some Reflections
On thU Labor Day, 1903. we extend
fraternal and sincere greetings to
the toilers of our country.' Consider
ing the many Important happenings
In the Industrial world since last
Labor Day, we find much upon which
to ponder seriously and also much to
encourage all to still greater efforts
In behalf of the great principles upon
which the labor increment is based.
Important events have crowded so
fast that we may truly say that never
was there a time in the history of
the labor movement In which there
was greater Incentive to earnest, uni
ted and loyal action on behalf of the
toilers. We believe that never was
there among the workers so great a
desire, so high an aspiration to
achieve the highest ideals which our
movement contemplates. It may be
well at this time to briefly pass In re
view the most notable events since
last Labor Day,
Last October, when the tollers of
our country were keyed up to the
keenest energy, ready and willing, as
usual, to perform their great service
to society, a monstrous, unnecessary
and purely artificial panic was thrust
upon our people through the manipu
lations of the princes of finance.
Since then nearly . 2,000,000 of our
wealth producers have been thrown
upon the streets in Idleness.
In some manner or other .the
workers have managed to scurry
thror.gh these ten months of idleness.
The effectiveness of organization In
restating wage reductions has been
triumphantly demonstrated: but how
'describe the bitter sufferings and
deprivation caused by the closing
down of mill and mine and factory,
thus throwing hundreds of thousands
into absolute idleness for a long pe
riod? How will these men fare should
these conditions continue during the
coming winter? The stoutest heart
-row sad t --41m- contemplation
of the possible distress which will be
entailed, not only upon the workers,
but upon helpless wives and little
ones dependent upon their daily toll.
We, with all other sincere students
of affairs, not only deplore the exist
ing industrial .situation, but earnestly
hope that the tide will soon turn,
and that the workers may speedily
find the opportunity of employment.
. '. .
vuring the year we have seen the
supreme court Interpreting the Sher-
Ian, n m i L- (1 . onnlv!
UIMU MUll-l! HOfc ln IV uiaau
to thi voluntary associations of wage
earners a law passed at the demand
of the people to protect them from
aggression and outrage at the hands
of trusts and corporations.
Urder this Interpretation of the law
the labor unions are declared trusts,
conspiracies and unlawful combina
tions in restraint of trade. This su
preme court decision makes not only
every officer, but every member of
every organisation of labor liable to
prosecution by federal authority, and
to a fine of 15,000 or imprisonment
for one year, or both in the discretion
of the court; also liable for treble
damages in cases where they exer
cise their right of voluntary associated
effort to protect their personal rights
and liberties. , '
The far-reaching character of this
decision must constantly be kept In
mind. The tollers must spare no ef
fort to secure remedial legislation for
the restoration of their rights, which
have been so seriously Jeopardized by
tftsi decision.
We have also witnessed in the past
year most serious Judicial Invasion
and usurpation of individual liberty
aud human freedom by the abuse of
the writ of Injunction. An attempt
has been made by the abuse of the
writ of injunction to deny and pro
hibit the freedom of speech and the
freedom of the press, and men have
been cited to show cause why they
shall not be punished purely for the
exercise of the right of free press
and free speech, rights not only nat
ural itnd Inherent in themselves, but
guaranteed by the constitution of our
country, and which our forefathers
fought to establish, and which a free
people never dreamed would ever be
placed In Jeopardy.
And jet, despite these matters for
niwt serious consideration and action
"there is much cause for gratification.
for never before in the history of the
people of our country has there been
such r spirit or fraternity and
solidarity among the toilers, such a
On Labor Day
determination to stand by each other,
and by the organizations of labor,
which have done so much to bring
sunshine and hope Into the lives of
the toilers.
In all parts of our country the
workers, the wealth producers, and
liberty-loving people are united in
heart and mind, determined that the
wrongs which the tollers have too
long borne shall be speedily righted,
and the rights to which they are Justly
entitled shall be established and safe
guarded. ' The Norfolk convention of the
American Federation of Labor last
November sounded, the keynote for
united action upon the part of the
toilers in every field of activity to se
cure Justice. The great Protest Con
ference held at Washington ; last
March, in which the responsible rep
resentatives of the American trade
unions participated and which was in
effect a special convention of the
American Federation of Labor Te
emphaslzed this determination and
directed the officers of our general
labor movement, and recommended to
the . great rank and file of the workers
of our country, to make every effort
to secure legislation at the hands of
congress, or upon failure of congress
to take such further action, lead wher
ever It might, which would safeguard
and advance the .rights and interests
of labor and secure Justice to all.
So general and intense an expres
sion of purpose by America's workers
was, in its very nature, a command.
The representatives of the labor move
ment earnestly urged and petitioned
congress to action. Its cold-blooded,
antagonistic answer is now history.
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At the convention of the republican
party at Chicago it is well known
what scant courtesy was accorded,
andthat . which was incorporated. .In
the platform was worse than if the
entire subject had been ignored. It
was an affirmation for a law, that
would give statutory authority for the
very worst abuses of the injunction
wrtl an authority ' which does not
now exist. .
0:i the other hand, the representa
tives of labor wore welcomed by the
representatives of the democratic
party. An entire evening was given to
Messrs. Duncan, Mitchell and Gompers
of the American Federation of Labor
executive council, and Mr. Fuller,
representing the railroad brother
hoods, to present and argue labor's
contentions. All members of the ex
ecutive council of the American Fed
eration of Labor present at Denver
being in attendance at the hearing.
Finally, the democratic party con
structed Its platform to conform to
labor's demands.
It Is true that other minor political
parties have declared more or less
plausibly In favor of labor's conten
tions With that subject we have
deal; elsewhere in this issue of the
American Federatlonist We , slmnly
repeat here that the American workers
are not "playing" politics. They are
engaged in sn earnest, serious, de
termined contest today to secure the
rights of the working people and all
our people; ! not in some future, dim,
distant day, but now. America's
workers can not afford to postpone
what Is their absolute interest and
duty now. . ' .',
'
We urge upon the toilers of the
country from now on to stand by their
unions, if possible, more earnestly
than ever before. We shall, require
our organizations more, even in the
future than we have in the past. Let
us go among the yet unorganized and
bring them within the beneficent fold
or our unions. Let us extend the
hand or fellowship to the non-uaion
men and bring them to understand
that it Is their highest duty and moral
obligation not only to reap the ad
vantages which associated effort
brings, but to bear in part the re
sponsibilities and obligations which it
imposes. .
Let all" on Labor Day preach the
gospel of the rights and the Just de
mands which organized labor present
to society. Let us stand by each
other from one end to the other of
pur country, bearing in mind that we
have one common goal to achieve.
We are associated not to tear down,
but to build up. We are associated
to help our fellows, the men and
(Continued To Page Four.)
LABOR DAY
Following is the official program for the Labor Day cele
bration in Lincoln, Nebr., Monday, September 7, under the
auspices of the Trades and. Labor Unions of Lincoln and Have
lock: "A .
Grand Industrial Parade
tions have been assigned places
assignment being made by lot
1 Brotherhood of Tailors
2 Lathers
3 Barbers
4 Carpenters.
5 Bricklayers
' 6 Allied Printing Trades
7 Electrical "Workers
8 Leatherworkers ,
9 Cigarmakers
10 Stage Employes
21 Railway
The organizations will meet at thf points designated below
and prepare to fall in line when the signal to march is given:
First Division Tailors, Lathers and Barbers, form on K
street west of Eleventh. Carpenters ftnd Bricklayers, form on
K street east of Eleventh. Headed by Nebraska State Band.
Second Division Typographical Pressmen, Stereotypers,
Bookbinders and Auxiliary to Typographical Union and Elec
trical "Workers, form on L street east of Eleventh.' Leather
workers and Cigarmakers on' L street west of Eleventh.
Headed by Capital City Band. f '..( '
Third. Division Stage Employes, Plumbers and Barbers,
form on M street east of Eleventh, i Havelock, Painters and
Musicians, form on M street west of Eleventh.
Fourth Division Switchmen, Engineers, Firemen, Car
men, Conductors and Railway Trainmen, form on M street
west of Eleventh. ,.: " . . r ; '
Line of March North on Eleventh to N, east on N to
Twelfth, north on Twelfth to O, east on O to Sixteenth, coun
termarch on O to Eleventh, north on .Eleventh to P, west" on P
to Ninth, south on Ninth to O, east on 0 to Eleventh, south on
Eleventh to M and disband. I :
AFTERNOON PROGRAM.
t
The afternoon will be spent at iCapital Beach, Lincoln's
popular resort. The afternoon will be devoted to sports of
various kinds, and in the evening al who can should eat a
picnic supper tm the grounds. --"WIfi this in. view- let- every
family come with a well-filled basket. The program of sports
is as follows :
1. Ball Game Havelock vs. Lincoln. First prizej box of
"Buds" cigars. Second prize, half-box "Buds"- cigars, do
nated by H. Pepperberg. ;
2. Dancing First prize,' pair lady 's dancing pumps, do
nated by Petty, exclusive shoe dealer. Second prize, pair of
gloves, donated by "W. E. Unland. . ,
3. Fat Men's Race, 75 Yards First prize, fine hat, do
nated by Speier & Simon. Second prize, box of "Senators,"
donated by G. R. "Wolfe. , ;
4. Sack Race First prize, pair of military hair brushes,
donated by Rector. Second prize, bottle of hair tonic, donated
by Green Medical Co. -
5. Shoe Lacing Contest First prize, postal card album,
donated by Bradshaw & Son. . Second prize, picture, donated
by Lincoln Book Store.
6. Boys' Race, 12 to 17 years, 50 yards First prize, pair
cuff buttons, donated by M. Polsky. Second prize, mouth harp,
donated by Prescott Music Co. , '
7. Married, Ladies' Race, 50 yards First prize, pair
union made shoes,' donated by Sutter & Henry. Second prize,
lady's hand mirror, donated by Kostka Glass and Paint Co.
8. Single Ladies' Race, 17 to 23, 50 yards First prize,
choice of young lady's shoes, donated by Sanderson. Second
prize," kodak, donated by Rhelander's Pharmacy. Third prize,
music roll, donated by Ed. J. "Walt.
9. Ladies' Base Ball Throw First prize, sewing rocker,
donated by A. D. Benway Co. Second prize, jewelry box, do
nated by C. AV. Fleming.
10. Novelty Race, 50 yards and return First prize, do
nated by Gas Co. Second prize, cut glass inkwell, donated by
E. Fleming.
11. "Watermelon Eating Contest First prize, $2.00 cap,
donated by O. A. Fulk. c
12. Boat Race, single, across lake and return First
prize, $5.00 toilet' set, donated by Riggs. Second prize, box
"Burlington" cigars, donated by N. II. Cinberg.
13. Double Boat Race, across lake and return First
prize, $5.00 vase, donated by Miller & Paine, and $5.00 bread
plate, donated by E. Hallett. , ! . - I
14. Yacht Race First prize, box of cigars, donated by
Knudsen & Lindholm. Second prize, umbrella, donated by
Magee & Deemer.
15. ' Swimming Race First prize, $3 rug, donated by
'Hardy Furniture Co. Second prize, bottle of hair tonic, do
nated by Joe Long. Third prize, massage, cream, donated by
Green Medical Co. ,
16. Tub Race First prize, shirt, donated by Mayer Bros.
Second prize, umbrella, donated by Fred Schmidt & Bro.
17. Ball Game, between ' picked nines from Lincoln
Unions First prize, box of V Queen of Hearts," donated by
Herminghaus & Helwig. Second prize, $1.50, donated by Law
lor Cycle Co.
18. Hundred Yard Dash, not less than six entries Prize,
suit of clothes made by Henry J. Brock & Co., with union label,
value $20, donated by Armstrong Clothing Co.
19. SPECIAL PRIZE The "Wageworker offers a cash
prize of $5 to the union making the best appearance in the
parade, regardless of numbers. Decision will be left to the
Parade Committee. .
UROGRAM
at 10 : 60 A. M.
The organiza-
in the parade as follows, the
1
11 Plumbers
12 Bartenders
13 4Havelock Unions
14 -Painters and Decorators
15 Musicians
16 rSwitchmen
17 f Locomotive Engineers
18 --Locomotive Firemen
19 (-Railway Carmen
20 rRailway Conductors
Traitimen ;
Frank P. Sargent,
The Prize Trimmer
Frank ' P. Sargent, commissioner of
immigration by appointment of Presi
dent Roosevelt, is " making speeches
advocating the election of William H.
Taft to the presidency.
Frank P. Sargent is earning his
money. .
But there are a lot of -men who
would refuse to earn money that way
under the circumstances.
Who is this Frank P. Sargent, com
missioner of Immigration? '
He is the same Frank P. Sargent
who was grand chief of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen in 1893
the same Frank P. Sargent who pro
tested so vociferously against the in
junction which divested him of his
authority as grand chief of the
brotherhood and overturned the
brotherhood toy making Its rules of
no effect. . . ' ,
"Who issued that injunction? '
William Howard' Taft, republican
candidate for president; who is now
being so loyally supported by that
same Frank P. Sargent, who is no
longer firing a locomotive, but occupy
ing a palatial office in Washington
and draws more money a week for It
than any fireman in American makes
in a month. ' "
This Is the same Frank P. Sargent
that was ordered to recall an order
Issued, by him to his brotherhood,
and to -send out in its stead one
framed up by the judge who issued
the Injunction that tied the hands of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men in the strike on the Toledo, Ann
Arbor & North Michigan Railroad.
And . the man Sargent -is supporting
Is the same William Howard Taft that
issued the Injunction. '
This famous strike occurred in the
spring of 1893. In the May,, 1893,
number of the North American1 Re
view this same Frank P. Sargent had
an article over his own signature in
which . he , discussed that v famous
strike, the ' equally famous injunction
and the even more famous judge who
issued the injunction. Among other
things Frank P. Sargent said:
"In the case of the strike on the
Toledo, Ann Arbor and North 'Mich
igan Railroad, which occurred on
March 8, every precaution was taken,
and every movement on the part of
the members of the order was de
liberate and unlawful. There was not
an instance of insubordination; noth
ing turbulent or seditious. Men had
appealed to their employers, like men,
to have serious and grievous wrongs
redressed in a manly way, as become
good and law-abiding citizens. They
had been over-worked and under-paid.
Their employers had violated con
tracts and had subjected them to out
rageous treatment and mocked at their
complaints. Their pleadings and pro
tests had availed not and when en
durance and patience had ceased to
be virtues, whe all efforts to find re
dress had utterly failed, then, and
only then, did they strike; only then
did they assert their manhood, their
rights as citizens and abandon their
their work, preferring Idleness and
the sacrifices which idleness entails
to the degradation which injustice
and insolence force upon the unresist
ing." ;;.
After thus stating the facts that
brought on the strike, and giving in
detail the grievances of the men he
represented, Frank P. Sargent went
on to pay his respects to the judges
who took official notice of the case,
and said:
"The strike on the Toledo, Ann
"Arbor and North Michigan Railroad
had no extraordinary features, but the
interferences of the United States
judges have given it national prom
inence, and if the dictum of these
judges is to stand as the law, the
dearest rights of the citizen are
swept away and an autocracy is estab
lished. This view of the situation is
not strained, but-is strictly In .con
sonance with the avowals of the press
throughout the country. The ques
tions of law involved are fundamental
and are commanding, as they should
command, the best thought of the na.
tlon. It has hitherto been conceded
,at railroad employes possessed all
th,' rights as citizens which attached
to the employers, that is to say, that
if employers possesed the right to
dicharge employes, when' it pleased
them to exercise such authority, ' the
employes also possessed the right,
unchallenged, to quit work when they
elected to exercise that right. If a
judge of the United States court may
abolish this right of an employ, ha
remands him, unequivocally, to a ser
vitude as degrading as the "Spartans
Imposed upon their helots, and it is -this
phase of the strike which has
aroused such Intense concern and
Alarm." - .
Now, who were the judges who
took . cognizance of this particular
case? One of them was Judge Rick.
THE OTHER ONE WAS WIL
LIAM HOWARD TAFT, AND TAFT
WROTE THE OPINION AND IS
SUED THE ORDER.
Yes, the same Taft that is now sup- ;
ported fcy Sargent, the same Sargent
who so bitterly denounced this same
Taft. , '
-, But that was before Frank P. Sar
gent landed a soft federal job, mind
you.. :-,v :" ':!':. : '
But this is not all that- Frank P.
Sargent -said of William Howard Taft
before the said Sargent landed the
soft political job. SaTgent,' in his
North American Review article, said
further concerning Taft and his de
cision: . '
"In handing down such a judicial
opinion, the judge seeks to bury out
of sight the inalienable right of a
railroad employe to liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. If an engineer,
he is welded to the throttle of his
engine; if a fireman, he can lay down
his pick and scoop only when his
master gives him permission. The In
terstate commerce law, is invoked, it
is true, and the whys and wherefores
of the boycott are involved, but the
judge, disdaining to be exact, gives
employes to understand that once be
coming engineers or firemen, they
part with their rights as citizens and
are links in a chain gang of railroad
employes, because they are in some
sense public servants, and the exer
cise of the prerogative to quit work
is productive of inconvenience., But
It will be observed that no reference j
is made' to public needs or inconven
ience, when an official, without notice
or warning, ait his own sweet pleas
ure, discharges an employe."
It's ' different now! "H Sargent isn't
looking after the interests of locomo
tive firemen. He has a soft job at
Washington, and he sees In the elec
tion of Taft his opportunity to hold
on to-it." .
"THE OX KNOWETH HIS OWN
ER, AND THE ASS HIS MASTER'S
CRIB." '
That's, scripture and its truth is
demonstrated in the case of Frank
P. Sargent, trimmer and quitter.
CAPITAL AUXILIARY.
Capital Auxiliary met Friday, Aug
ust 28, with Mrs. O. C. Jones.
The meeting day having been,
changed to Wednesday, the next meet
ing will be with Mrs. A. Radebach, at
1701' P street, on Wednesday, Septem-1
ber 9, at 2:30 p. m.
Mrs. Barngrover, having resigned
as treasurer, Mrs. Sayer was elected
to take her place. ' .'
The plans have not been completed,
but it Is probable that there will be
carriages waiting at Twelfth and L
streets on Monday at 9:20 a. m., for the
wish to ride In the Labor Day parade.
A number are planning to go out to
the Beach and have a picnic supper.
All members ; of Capital Auxiliary
No. 11, are requested to meet at Fra
ternity hall Sunday afternoon at 3
o'clock sharp, to consider Labor Day
plans and transact other very import
ant business. .
CLERKS WILL AFFILIATE.
Men In Railroad Offices Get Wiseer to
the Union Game.
Houston, Tex. The Railroad Clerks
of America who are a carefully organ-'
ized body, voted the other day on the
proposition . of affiliating themselves
with the American Federation of La
bor, and organization which they have
fought shy of in the past. . :
Word was received here at the labor
headquarters that the proposition was
carried by a large majority, the only
state In the Union voting against It
being Ohio, and even in that state the
vote against It was carried by a small
majority. . At the next national meet
ing of the American Federation of La
bor .there will be delegates from the
railroad clerks that will greatly swell
the organization. Dallas News.
Seventeen million pairs of shoes
were produced in Bjrockton, Mass.,
factories last year.
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