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VOL. 5
liHSTCOIiN, NEBBASKA, NOVEMBEE 14, 1908
NO. 33
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The American
Federation of Labor
For the twenty-eighth time the
American Federation ol Labor is meet
ing in annual convention, this time in
the city of Denver. The twenty-eighth
annual session of the 1 Federation is
fraught with much interest, and upon
its deliberations hinge a great many
things that mean weal or woe to the
organlied voters of the nation. Fred
erick J. Haskin, the foremost writer
of the day on special topics, writes as
follows of matters relating to the
Federation:
lu the Washington headquarters of
the American Federation of Labor
there Is a big chart posted in the ves
tibule. It tells the story of the fed
eration so plainly and so succinctly
that he who runs may read. There is
a series of big red lines, the .length
of each line showing the numerical
strength of the organization each year.
It starts with a line that is little more
than a big square dot, representing a
membership of 60,000. That was in
1S81. The line gradually increases
each year until the one for 1893 is
over five times as long as the one for
1SS1. Then there is a standstill until
1899, when the gain for the year Is
about double the number of the orig
inal membership. From that time for
ward the line for each year has grown
longer, the anual growth being greater
than the entire growth during the 18
years of its existence.
There Is another chart which ap
peals to the eye with great force. It
is a big circle which represents the na
tional labor unions of the United
States. Considerable more than three
fourths of that circle is black. The
other little section is gray. The
black part represents the , organiza
tions affiliated with the federation
The gray portion represents the or
ganizations of labor not so affiliated
The Federation's Aims.
The federation has always been an
advocate of free schools, free text
books and compulsory education. It
has fought for the nation-wide estab:
lisbment of the eight-hour day. It has
put "forward labor's claim to the one
day of rest in seven enjoined by the
scriptures. It has fought the sweat
shop system until it is on its last legs
It haB demanded and secured employ
ers' liability legislation, which was
once deemed unfair to capital, but is
now regarded as but just to labor. It
has opposed child labor and advocat
ed the betterment of the condition of
working women. It has lent its sup
port to the movements for public
baths in all cities, and for the com
pulsory incorporation of bathing fa
cilities in all houses or compart
ments used for human habitation. It
has striven for the securing of proper
playgrounds for city children.
With such things in its platform
there is little wonder that the federa
tion has enlisted practically four-
fifths of the organized labor of Amer
ica under its banner. Its membership
comprises more than 2,000,000 wage
earners. There are aproximately 120
uational and international abor unions
affiliated with it, representing 27,000
local organizations. The federation
spends approximately a quarter-million
dollars a year in keeping up its
organization and promoting the
causes it advocates. Numerically and
financially the American Federation of
Labor has become the strongest orga
nization of its kind in the world.
It 1b only since the beginning of the
eighteenth century that labor has not
been in a condition of serfdom. After
that date began the movement of self
emancipation, which has been going
i on to this day.' Yet it is said that
there have been more strikes and lock
outs within the past 30 years than in
all the Christian era. The first record
d, American strike occurred among
the bakers of New York In 1741. There
was a series of strikes among the
boot and shoe-makers of Philadelphia,
beginning In 1796, and again in 179S
there was a "turnout," as a strike was
, then caljed, ordered by the journey
hien shoemakers of that city. Up to
tills time all strikes were for Increased
wages -and were at least partially suc-
cessfal.
The Sailors' 8trike.
The sailors' strike has been gener
ally considered the first important
strike in America. It happened in
New York in 1803. It was unsuccess
ful, the constabulary having arrested
the leaders of the strike. The next Im
portant one was in 1809, among the
cordwlnders. It was in .this labor bat
tle that the vocabulary of strikes had
its start. A strike itself had been
known as a general "turnout." The ex
pression "scab" was first applied to a
strike-breaker in this fight. In 1817 a
Massachusetts shipbuilder decided to
abolish the grog privilege at his estab
lishment, it having been customary in
those days to furnish workmen with
rum at certain hours. The strike was
continued for some time, but the em
ployer won.
Jn 1835 there were' a number of
strikes, most of them for shorter hours
One was for a day "from 6 to 6," which
shows that progress has been made in
hours of wage earners. It was "from
sun to sun' 'against which they were
striking. Taking the whole period
from 1741 to 1880, the investigations
of Carroll D. Wright. show that there
were 1,491 strikes and lockouts, of
which 1,089 related to wages. Only
316 won outright, while 154 were com
promised.
Losses From Strikes.
The loss to employes and employers
from strikes and lockouts from 1880
to 1900 amounted to a half billion dol
lars, to say nothing of the vast eco
nomic losses sustained by the public.
Labor lost more than double as mucn
as capital as a result of these strug
gles. There were more than 23,000
strikes and lockouts, and nearly 128,-
000 establishments were involved,
Since 1900 there has been a decreas
ing percentage of strikes, but some of
'those which hav occurred have been
Berious. The great coal strike of 1902
cost over $100,000,000. The loss in
the amount of coal mined reached $46,
000,000, while the wage earners lost
$25,000,000 in wages. The losses to
the railroads in freight receipts, as a
result of the strike, are estimated to
have been $47,000,000.
' A pretty story is told of Abraham S
Hewitt in his relation to labor. He
was at one time running his establish
ment -at ft loss and was forced to re
duce wages ten per cent. His men
went to him and protested. He re
plied: "Boys, it is your right to come
here and make this demand; not only
that, but It is your right to know the
facts and -to know why we cannot meet
them. Therefore, if you'll send an ac
countant around here he shall - have
access to all our books and we will
abide, by his report."
The laborers accepted the proposi
tion and sent their accouutant to go
over the books. When they received
his report they waited on Mr. Hewitt
again and not only withdrew their re
quest, but asked that a further reduc
tion of ten per cent be made until such
time as the establishment got back on
a paying basis again. This was not ac
ceded to, and Mr. Hewitt always de
clares that it would be Impossible for
anyone to get up a strike in that es
tablishment.
LABOR LEGISLATION DINNER.
President Invites Prominent Leaders
to White House.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9. President
Roosevelt has Issued invitations for
notable "labor legislation" dinner to
be held at the White House, Tuesday
November 17. The guests will include
many national labor organization
chiefs and several prominent judge;
and executive officials, but it is under
stood that President Gompers, Secre
tary Morrison, Vice President O'Con-
nell and Treasurer Lennon of the
American Federation of Labor are not
included. Labor legislation will be
discussed.
The guests invited include John
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers
of America, now one of the vice presi
dents of the American Federation of
Labor; President Keefe of the Long
shoremen's Union, President Massey
of the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men; Vice President Duncan of the
Federation of Labor, Grand Chief En
gineer Stone of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers,' Secretary-
Treasurer Dolan of the International
Association of Steam Shovel and
Dredgeraen, President Faulkner of the
Amalgamated Window Glass Workers
of America, Terrence V. Powderly,
former head of the Knights of Labor,
and Edward J. Gavegan, attorney for
the Central Building Trades Associa
tion of New York.
ONE IN TENNE8SEE.
Mr. W. H. Johnson, a member of Ty
pographical Union No. 11, was elected
to the legislature from Shelby coun
ty last Tuesday by a good majority
in fact, he led the ticket. Mr. John
son was a member of the last legisla
ture, and did good service for his fel
low unionists, and will do so again.
He was endorsed by both tickets, and
has the honor of receiving more votes
than any candidate on either ticket.
Memphis Co-Operative Common
wealth.
SAME THING HERE.
This Applies to The Wageworker and
to Good Old Nebraska.
The election is over and Taft, the
father of injunctions, has been elected
president; not we believe by the hon
est convictions of a majority of the in
telligent wage earners of htis country,
but by various and divers methods
Homo Industries
A Series off Articles Relating to Lincoln
Business Enterprises that Should
Command Lincoln Support
Funny, isn't it? Some Lincoln people think they
mast go to Omaha if they' would purchase Something a i
little extra good. And some Omaha people go to Chi
cago with the same idea rattling around in their heads.
And some Chicago people go to New York with the same
foolish idea, only to learn that some silly and senseless
New Yorkers think they must go to London or Paris if
they would get the very best of just what they want.
A few years ago a rich Chicago man learned that he was
suffering from a peculiar ailment. Being possessed of
the very , common notion that a foreign country would
have to produce the surgeon who -could attend to' his
case, the Chicago man rushed off to Berlin to consult a
noted surgeon of that cityp The German surgeon ex- ,
nminedthe man thoroughly-and then said: - ;
. ; -'I Van do nothing for 'jim, su'- Ton? case baffles
my skill. But I know a surgeon Avho ean perform the ,
needed operation and who can, if anybody can. restore
you to health."
"Where may I find him?" queried the Chicago' man.
"In Rochester, Minnesota." was the astonishing reply.
The best part of this story is that it is absolutely
true, and it proves the contention of The Wageworker
that the best of everything may be found right at home
if it can be found anywhere in all this wide world.
There is the little matter of flour little insofar as
one family's consumption may be concerned, but im
mense in the aggregate. Why should Lincoln people buy
flour made in Minneapolis, when a flour as well made from
wheat that is at good, or better, as the wheat ground
by the Minneapolis mills, is made right here, in Lincoln
and sold under guarantee? But there are a lot of people
in Lincoln who prefer buying a sack with a Minneapolis
brand to buying a better flour bearing the name of a
Lincoln milling concern. They are as foolish as the man
who buys a cigar because of the pretty gilt band around
it, or the woman who buys a silk dress pattern in Chi
cago because it sounds bigger to say she got it in
Chicago than to say she got it in Lincoln
"Liberty Flour," made right here in Lincoln by II.
O. Barber & Son, is equal to "the best flour made in Min
neapolis or anywhere else on the face of the earth.
The money paid for the wheat is paid to Nebraska farmers
and thus finds its way back into Nebraska business chan
nels. The wages paid to the millmen is spent with Lin
coln merchants, and thus adds to the volume of Lincoln
trade. The money paid for the flour is kept in Nebraska,
thus adding to the supply of money in circulation locally.
And the cook : who can not get results -from ''Liberty
Flour" equal to the results from Minneapolis flour stands
sorely in need of further instruction in the culinary art.
' Yet, despite the manifold and readily apparent ad
vantages that would accrue to Lincoln and Nebraska by
an increased consumption of "Liberty Flour," there are
merchants in Lincoln who refuse to help push its sale,
and citizens who refuse to purchase it, although they
spend a lot of time talking about "building up Lincoln
industries" and "standing up for. Nebraska."
H. O. Barber & Son have built up a big milling in
dustry in Lincoln, and have built it up on sheer merit.
But the industry is not as big as it should be, nor as big
as its merits warrant. Not until every family in JLincoln
. is using "Liberty Flour", v ill Lincoln be doing the right
thing towards this great and growing industry.
The Wageworker knows of the merits of "Liberty
Flour" through experience. For Ave years no other flour
has been used in The Wageworker household, nor will
any other be used in future as long as "Liberty Flour"
maintains its present high standard of merit or no other
Lincoln milling industry is established and turns out a "
product equally good.
Not only because it is a Lincoln industry, but be
cause the product is the acme of perfection, "Liberty
Flour" should be found in every Lincoln household.
used partly along coercive lines. We
have no regrets or apologies to make
for our actions during this remarkable
campaign. From the first. The Labor
Herald declared itself in support of
the policies outlined by President Gom
pers and the American Federation of
Labor, and never wavered from them
for a moment. We have cause for con
gratulation, however, in the fact that
Kansas City and Jackson county gave
Mr. Bryan a splendid majority, due, in
a great measure we believe to the fact
that the members of organized labor
here, with but very few exceptions
voted against the candidate who was
so obnoxious to the officials of the A.
F of L., and for this they are to be
commended. If trades unionists
throughout the country nad stood as
loyally as they did here, there would
have been another story to tell. Kan
sas City Labor Herald. "
1
Worth Fostoring
A
How Organized Labor
Stood Up to the Rack
Notwithstanding , the fact that the
socialist and independence parties
divided organized labor, the effect of
the Labor vote is conclusively shown
by the results in practically every
state in the union. The Republican
vote in every state except Massachu
setts, New York, and Rhode Island,
was materially reduced.
In New York state the fight made by
Mr. Hearst was of inestimable value
to the Republican party. His newspa
pers drove many thousands of inde
pendent voters away from Bryan who
otherwise would have voted for him,
and the fact that Taft carried Greater
New York is attributable to the Hearst
crvisade. This also is true with re
spect to Massachusetts.
There are but 2,000,000 members of
organized labor in the ;United States
affiliated with the American Federa
tion of Labor, and a considerable per
centage of that number are not voters.
That the great majority stood loyally
by labor's cause in this campaign is
positively proved by the returns.
Roosevelt carried Pennsylvania four
years ago by 505,000 votes; This year
Taft carried the state-by less tnan 150,-
000. In this state alone there was Re
publican loss, therefore, of at least
355,000 votes. Republican managers
in Pennsylvania agree that this was
due to organized labor. ; ' ;
When Roosevelt ran four years ago
his popular plurality was 2,500,000.
The" indications are that Taft's plur
ality will be considerably less than
1,000,000. This astonishing decrease
in the Republican vote can be account
ed for only by the fact that the great
majority of the members of organized
labor stood loyally by the cause.
The following shows the tremendous
reduction in the Republican vote:
Maine . . . . . .
Utah
, 9,000
.. .V 25,000
43,000
..... 75,000
. . j 2,500
.V. 20,000
Washington .
California ;. . .
New Hampshire.
New Jersey, i...
Arkansas .' ".T. . 15,000
Alabama '. . 10,000
Virginia 20,000
Kentucky ..... .'. . . : . . .'. ...... 30,000
Georgia ...... .7: ........... ... 10,000
Texas .... ... '. 31,000
Missouri 60,000
Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . ..... .'. .355,000
West Virginia. , . .V.J 30,000
Wisconsin ...... ... ....... .... 96,000
Minnesota ........... '. . . 'J. ! 100,000
Kansas , ... . .... ..... ....... . 90,000
Nebraska v . . . ..... .-. . 95,000
Connecticut : '. ,'. 26,000
; These are not all of the states in
which there was a big falling off in the
Republican vote, but they" are sufficient
to show the wonderful effect which the
organized labor had on this election. -When
it is considered that this is
the first time in its history that or
ganized labor has taken a political
stand, the outcome is truely astonish
ing.- . ' ;..
In the city of Buffalo, as everybody
knows, the Democratic organization
made a campaign for Chanler only
and did not hesitate to sacrifice Bryan
whenever there was a chance, to gain
a vote for Chanler. ..V.; i ; .
Mayor Adam who was elected as a
Democrat, refused even to preside at a
Democratic meeting during the cam
paign and openly favored the election
of Taft. ' ' -. - : . ,
In Krie county the Republican or
ganization ticket was Taft and Chan
ler while the Democratic organization
ticket was Chanler and Taft. Buffalo,
N. Y , Republic. ' ' '
The Wageworker is mighty proud of
the way organized labor stood up in
.Nebraska for tb.e political program of
the American Federation of Labor. The
vote in Douglas and Lancaster coun
ties tell the tale. These two coun
lie practically the unly counties !n
the state that nre organized. Bryan
carried Lancaster county oy upwards
of 1,200, and he is the first democratic
candidate for the presidency that ever
came out of Lancaster with a majority.
The county is normally republican by
about 3,000. There is no doubt thai.
95 per cent of Lancaster county's 2,009
union men voted for Bryan.
Douglas county came to the ftont
with a handsome majority for - Bryan,
although the county has a habit of go
ing republican on the presidency
Roosevelt carried it four years ana by
an enormous majority. This time the
majority for Bryan is as large, almost, .
as Roosevelt's four years ago ' ,
"Four1 years ago Roosevelt . had' 86,
000 plurality over Parker in Nebraska.
This year Bryan had about 7,000 plural
ity over Taft and that's something of
a change. The 15,000 union men of,
the state helped to make it, too.
If organized labor had stood up in
New York, Ohio, Indiana and Massa
chusetts like it did in good old Nebras
ka, the result would have been vastly
more pleasing. '
A MASQUE PARTY.
Cap'.tal Auxiliary Will Entertain Its
Friends Next Monday Evening.
Capital Auxiliary No. 11 to Typo
graphical Union. No. 209 will inaugu
rate its series of winter socials with
a. masquerade party at A. O. U. W.
hall, Tenth and O streets, next Mon
day evening. This will be something
out of the ordinary i that it . will
not be confined to "printers""and their
families, but will include all friends
of the craft. , There will be refresh
ments and dancing, and prizes for the
best male and female costumes will
be awarded. Of course good union
made music will be provided for those
who want to dance. Those who have
been fortunate enough to ' be 'the ;
guests of Capital Auxiliary at any of
its socials need no encouragement to
attend the one dated for next Mon- -day
night., The Auxiliary has niade
a reputation for properly entertaining
its guests. The admission on this oc
casion will be 15 cents a head,chil
dren under twelve free. Children be-'
tweett twelve and sixteen will' be ad
mitted at. the rate' of "two" for " ' a
quarter,",.;-, -i.--.--.vv--.-.- -v ;- '
The Auxiliary met . last Wednesday s
afternoon . with Mrs.. Orville ' Young,
3226 W Street, and after the b'ttsMesB
session an enjoyable time was in
dulged in. The local will not ' meet
again until December 9, owing to' the
near , approach of Thanksgiving."
It has been decided not to hold a meet
ing on the fourth Wednesday in No
vember and December, as both days
come so near Thanksgiving, rani
Christmas day, . The next meeting
will be on Wednesday, December 9,
with Mrs. ' George Freeman,: 2361
Lynn street (Vine car - passes . the
house), at which time' the semi-annual
election of officers for Capital' Auxil
iary will take place. A large attend
ance is requested. .
Mrs. E. P. Thompson will leave
Saturday for' a short visit to Iowa.
Mrs. Jesse Mickel.i a former mem
ber of Capital Auxiliary, visited in
Lincoln a few , days last weei with
her little son, Harold, who Is being
treated at the Orthopedic "' Hospital,
and with Mrs. Fred Mickel, 2525 Vine
street. .
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Worley have
joined the ranks in Printerville by
buying a home at TwentyVfirst' and
Sheldon streets. - : ' '
Mrs. C. E. Barngrover arrived , in
Lincoln Thursday after an extended
visit with, relatives in Omaha and
Humboldt, Nebr., and expecta to visit
Lincoln friends a few days before go
ing to Colorado.
HERE'S HOPING HE COMES.
Samuel Gomper Invited to. Stop in ,
Lincoln Returning From Denver.
An invitation has been extended to
Samuel Gompers to make , a visit in
Lincoln as he returns to Washington
from Denver. If the "grand old man"
of the labor movement -consents, of
course arrangements will be made to
have an address from him., There is
every reason to believe that President
Gompers will accept the invitation.
He has never made an address in Lin
coln, nor has he ever had an oppor
tunity to visit among the union men
of Lincoln. j - i
It is probable that if President
Gompers stops in Lincoln he will be
accompanied by several other leaders
in the movement. -. , .-. ..
SADIE STILL LOYAL.
God hates a quitter for president
in 1912, William J". Bryan.
Laborer. -Western