rui
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VOL. 5
lillfCOLiNY NEBRASKA, DECE3IBEE 19, 1908
NO. 38
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W7 a napy?
A TRAD fflj COUNCIL
N
MA
Conference Passes
Labor Resolutions
(By Rev. Charles Stelzle.)
Thirty denominations, representing
t'.ghteen million church members and
lit ty million adherents, spoke offi
cially with reference to labor in th
First Conference of the Federal Coun
cil ot the Churches of Christ in Amer
ica, just closed in Philadelphia. This
is the first time that the churches in
America have had an opportunity to
ixpress their attitude concerning the
labor question. The Rev. Frank Ma
ton North, D. U., of New York City,
reported for the committee on the
church and modern Industry, which
leport was unanimously and enthusi
astically adopted. The report follows.;:
Statement.
1. This federal council places upon
lecord its profound belief that the
complex problems of modern industry
can be interpreted and solved only
by the teachings of the New Testa
ment, and that Jesus Christ is final
authority in the social as in the indt
idual life. Undor this authority and
by application ot this teaching the
contribution to human welfare by the
church, whatever its lapses and its
delays, has been incalculable. Out
cf the sacrifice and fervor of the cen
turies has come a fund of altruism
which enriches today a thousand pur
poses for human betterment, some of
which do not know the origin of their
impulse. The interest of the church
in men is neither recent nor artificial.
No challenge of newly posted sentries
can exclude it from the ground where
lire struggle and privation and need
It has its credentials and knows the
watchword.
2. Christian practice has not always
harmonized with Christian principle
r.y the force o economic law and of
social custom individual life has
been, at times, swerved . from the
ti might course, and the organized
church has not always spoken when
:t should have borne witness, and its
plea for righteousness has not always
bten uttered with boldness. Chris
tianity has created both the opportun
ity and the principles of life. In th?
mighty task of putting conscience and
justice and love into a "Christian"
civilisation, the church with all Its
splendid achievements, has sometimes
faltered. But it has gone farther and
suffered more, a thousand fold, to ac
complish this end titan any other
organized force the world has ever
known.
3. The church now confronts the
most significant crisis and the great
est opportunity of its long career.
In part Its ideals and principles have
become the working basis of organiza
tions for social and Industrial beter-
ment which do not accept its spiritual
leadership and which have been es
tranged from its fellowship. We be
lieve, not for its own sake, but in the
interest of the kingdom ot God, the
church must not merely acquiesce in
the movements r.utside of it which
make for human welfare, but must
demonstrate not by proclamation but
by deeds its primacy among all the
forces which seek to lift the plane
and better the conditions of human
life.
This council, therefore, . welcomes
this first opportunity on behalf of the
churches of Christ In the United
States officially represented, to em
phasize convictions which have been
in fragmentary ways already ex
I.ressed. 4. We recognize the complex nature
of Industrial obligations affecting em
ployer and employe, society and gov
ernment, rich und poor, and most.
earnestly counsel tolerance, patience
and mutual confidence; we do not
defend o- excuse wrongdoing in high
places or in low, nor purpose to adapt
the ethical standards of the gospel
to the exigencies of commerce or the
codes of a confuted industrial system.
5. While we assert the natural right
of men capitalists and worklngmen
to organize for common ends, we
hold that the organization of capital
or the organization ot labor cannot
make wrong right, or right wrong;
that essential righteousness is not de
termined by numbers either of dol
- la is or of men; that the church must
meet social bewilderment by ethical
lucidity, and by gentle and resolute
testimony to the truth must assert for
the whole gospel its prerogative as
the test of the Tightness ot both Indi
vidual and collective conduct every
where. C. We regard with the greatest sat
isfaction the effort of those employers
individual and corporate, who have
thown in the conduct of their business
a fraternal spirit and a disposition to
deal justly and humanely with their
employes as to wages, profit-sharing,
welfare work, protection against acci
dents, sanitary conditions of toil, 'and
readiness to submit differences to ar
bitration. We record our admiration
for such labor organizations as have
under wise leadership throughout
many years, by patient cultivation of
just feelings and temperate views
among their members, raised the ef
ficiency of service, set the example
of calmness and self-restraint in con
ference with employers, and promoted
the welfare not only of the men of
their own craft, but of the entire body
of worklngmen.
7. In such organizations is the proof
that the fundamental purposes of the
labor movement are ethical. In them
great numbers of men of all nationali
ties and origins are being compacted
in fellowship, trained in mutual re
spect, and disciplined in virtues which
belong to right character and are at
the basis of good citizenship. By them
society at large is benefitted in the
security of better conditions of work.
in the Americanization of our immi
grant population, and in the educa
tional influence of the multitudes who
in the labor unions find their chief,
sometimes their only, intellectual stim
ulus. 8. We note as omens of industrial
peace and good will, the growth of a
spirit of conciliation, and of the prac
tice of conference and arbitration in
settling trade disputes. We trust pro
foundly that these methods may sup
plant those of the strike and the lock
out, the boycott and the black list.
Lawlessness and violence on either
side of labor controversies are an in
vasion of the rights of the people and
must be condemned and resisted. We
believe no better opportunity could be
afforded to Christian men, employers
and wage-earners alike, to rebuke the
superciliousness of power and the ob
stinacy of opinion, than by asserting
and illustrating before their fellows in
labor contests, the gospel which deals
with men as men and has for its basis
of fraternity the Golden Rule.
We commned most heartily the so
cieties and leagues in which employ
ers and worklngmen come together up
on a common platform to consider the
problems of each in the interest of
both and we urge Christian men more
freely to participate fn such move
ments of conciliation. We express
our gratitude for the evidences that
in ever widening circles the influence
of the agencies established by some
of the churches is distinctly modify
ing the attitude of the worklngmen
and the church toward each other.
9. We deem It the duty of all Chris
tian people to concern themselves di
rectly with certain practical indus
trial problems. To use it seems that
the churches must stand
For equal rights and complete jus
tice for ail men in all stations of life.
For the rights of all men to the op
portunity for self-maintenance, a right
ever to be wisely and strongly safe
guarded against encroachments of
every kind.
For the right of workers to some
protection against the hardships often
resulting from the swift crisis of in
dustrial change.
For the principle of conciliation and
arbitration in industrial dissensions.
For the protection of the worker
lrom dangerous machinery, occupa
tional disease, injuries and mortality.
For the abolition of child labor.
For such regulation of the condi
tions of toil for women as shall safe
guard the physical and moral health
of the community.
For the suppression of the "sweating
system."
For the gradual and reasonable re
duction of the hours of labor to the
lowest practicable point, and for that
degree of leisure for all which is a
condition of the highest human life.
For a release from employment one
day in seven.
For a living wage as a minimum in
every industry and for the highest
wage that each industry can ulti
mately be devised.
For suitable provision for the old
age of the workers and for those in
capacitated by injury.
For the abatement of poverty.
10. To the toilers of America and
to those who by organized effort are
seeking to life the crushing burdens
of the poor, and to reduce the hard
ships and uphold the dignity of labor,
this council sends the greeting of hu
man brotherhood and the pledge of
sympathy and of help in a cause which
belongs to all who follow Christ.
Recommendations.
To the seceral Christian bodies here
represented the council recommends:
(1.) That the churches more fully
recognize, through their pulpits, press
and public assemblies, the great work
of social reconstruction which is now
in progress, the character, extent and
tthical value of the labor movement,
tiier esponsibilities of Chritsian men
for the formation of social ideals, and
the obligation of the churches to
supply the spiritual motive and
standards for all movements which
aim to realize in , the modern social
order the fulfillment of the second
preat commandment, "Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as. thyself."
(2.) That the study of existing con
ditions in the industrial world, their
origin and outcome, be more definitely
enforced as an immediate Christian
duty;
. That to this end, in all theological
seminaries, and, so far as practicable,
in other schools and colleges, there
b2 established, wherever they do not
now exist, courses in economics, soci
ology and the social teachings of
Jesus, supplemented, wherever possi
ble, by investigation of concrete so
cial facts, and
That study classes and reading
Trade Unions Illegal
(Chicago Public.)
Another milestone has been -passed in the judicial
march toward the extirpation of labor unions. The court
in this case Wilcutt against Boston Bricklayers is the
Supreme Court of Massachusetts. It holds that a labor
union cannot fine a member under its rules for refusing
to join strikes provided for in its rules. This decision
comes pretty close to holding that trades unions are
illegal. For how can any court hold that a legal body
must not fine a member in accordance with its rules and
for violating its rules? The right of legal organizations
to do this is so firmly established, that its abrogation by
the courts can hardly find any other logical resting place
'than that the organization seeking to impose the fine is
unlawful. No matter what reasons may be given in the
court's opinion, there can be no other substantial reason
for the decision. Denial of the right to fine members for
breach of rules is inconsistent with the right to organize
for purposes which the fine is intended to promote. With
this Massachusetts decision holding that unions cannot
enforce upon their own membership their decisions to
strike, and a Federal decision holding that labor unions
are criminal conspiracies in restraint of trade, little re
mains to complete the outlawry of labor organization.
courses on social questions be insti
tuted in connection with the churches
and their societies to foster an intelli
gent appreciation of existing condi
tions, and to create a public sentiment
through which relief, and reform may
be more effectively secured.
(3.) That the churches with quick
ened zeal and keener appreciation,
through their pastors, lay leaders and
members, wherever possible, enter
into sympathetic and fraternal rela
tions with worklngmen, by candid
public discussion of the problems
which especially concern them, by ad
vocating their cnuse when just, by
finding the neighborly community of
interest and by welcoming them and
their families to the uses and priv
ileges of the local churches;
That the proper general authorities
of the denominations endeavor by spe
cial bureau or department to collate
facts and mold opinion in the interest
of a better understanding between the
church and workingmen, and par
ticularly to obtain a more accurate
and general knowledge of the mean
ing of trades unionism, and especially
That all church members who,
cither as employers or as members of
trades unions, fcre more specifically
involved in the practical problems of
icdustry, be urged to accept their un
paralleled opportunity for serving the
cause of Christ and humanity by act-
inc. in His spirit, as mediators be-
tween' opposing forces in our modern
world of work.
(4.) That the church in general not
only aim to socialize its message, to
understand the forces which now dis
pute its supremacy, to stay by the
people in the effort to eolve with them
their problems, but also modify its
own equipment and procedure in the
interest of more democratic adminis
tration and larger social activity;
That more generally in its buildings
provision be made for the service of
the community as well as for the pub
lic v.orship of God;
That in its councils of direction
worklngmen be welcomed and the
wisdom of the poor be more freely
recognized;
That in its assemblies artificial dis
tinctions be rebuked and removed;
That in its financial management
the commercial method, if it exist, be
replaced by the principles of the
Gospel as set forth in the.Bpistle of
James, to the end that the workers
and the poor, vastly in the majority
in the United States, may ever find
the church as homelike as the union
hall, more attractive than the saloon,
more tolerant of their aspirations than
the political club, more significant of
the best which in heart and life they
seek than any other organization or
institution which claims to open to
them opportunities or ventures ' to
offer them incentives to the better life.
(5) That the church fail not to em
phasize its own relation, throughout
the centuries and in the life of the
world today, to the mighty movements
which make for the betterment of so
cial and industrial conditions;
That the attention of workingmen
and the churches alike be called to
these facts;
That the institution of a day of rest
secured for the toilers of Christendom
by the very charter of the church has
been defended on their behalf by it
throughout the centuries;
That the streams of philanthropy
which supply a thousand needs have
their springs, for the most part, in
Christian devotion;
That the fundamental rights of man
upon which rest the pillars of this
mighty group of commonwealths are
a heritage from the conscience and
consecration of men who acknowledge
Jesus Christ as Master;
That the free ministrations to the
community on the part of tens of thou
sands of churches attest the purpose
of the followers of Christ;
That the church, while it may not
have accepted the task of announcing
an industrial program, is at heart
eager with the impulses of service and
is more than ever ready to express the
spirit of its Lord;
That in the quest for the forces by
which the larger hopes of the working-
men of America may be most speedily
and fully realized, the leaders of the
industrial world can better afford to
lose all others than those which are
today and have been for nearly two
thousand years at work in the faith,
the motive and the devotion of the
church of Jesus Christ.
(Continued on Page 2.)
With Live Ones In
Good Old Lincoln
Manager Guy Green of the "Green
1 lackers" has given ample evidence
of his friendliness towards union
labor not by shooting off his mouth
und telling what a heliifa good fellow
he is, accompanying it with a volume
of obscenity and abuse hut by quiet
ly "delivering the goods." At tho
meeting of the directorate of the
Western Association in Chicago re
cently a resolution was adopted pledg
ing the managers of the association
teams to have the allied printing
trades label on all team and league
printing. Mr. Green heartily sec
onded the resolution and it was unan
imously adopted. Last season the
Libel appeared on the score cards and
on the general admission tickets, but
through a misunderstanding of the
facts the label did not appear on the
roll tickets. During the coming sea
son these tickets, like, all other
printed matter, will come from a
union shop. '
Manager Green is willing to go
more than half way in the matter of
handling union made cigars on the
grounds. But when big wholesale
cigar firms take advertising space of
him and local manufacturers do not,
he feels that he is in duty bound to
exercise a little reciprocity. But he
lias always had union made cigars on
sale, his "Greenbacker" being an es
pecial favorite. Manager Green :s
i:ot farming out the concessions at
the ball park, but will handle the
whole thing himself.
What's the matter with the Allied
Printing Trades Council taking a
space at the ball park and advertis
ing the "Little Joker" where every
body can see it and become ac
quainted with it? And why don't the
Cigarmakers' Union double teams
with their employers and advertise
union made and Lincoln made cigars
in connection with the famous "Blue
Label?" It looks like a good stunt
to pull off.
Mrs. G. A. Walker will have charge
of the cigar stand at the state house
during the coming session of tiu-
lecislature. This will mean that
every state house visitor who wants
m union made smoke will have no
difficulty in obtaining it. The con
cession is considered a valuable one,
and everybody la Lincoln who knows
Mrs. Walker will wish for her a prof
itable return for her work.
The editor of The Wageworker at
tended a meeting in Omaha last Tues
day, at which time a number of peo
ple interested in social questions dis
cussed the child labor law and other
legislation in the interests of the
wage-earners. Among those present
were Mrs. F. A. Cole, president of
the Nebraska Federation of Woman's
clubs; Mrs. Hal leek F. Rose, chair
man of the Federation's legislative
committee; Mrs Draper Smith, a
member of the committee; Mrs.
Keefe, member of the national execu
tive board for Nebraska; Judge Ken
nedy; Professor Graham of the South
Omaha schools, and the truant officers
of both Omaha and South Omaha.
It was the general opinion of the
conferees taht it would be unwise
for the friends of the law to propose
any amendments, as it would give
some known opponents of the law an
opportunity to emasculate it by
amendment. One weak spot in the
law is the section relating to "child
actors," who are not mentionel spe
cifically. The law seeks to punish
the employer, but a test case in Lin
coln last winter revealed the fact
that it was easy to shift the employ
ment to theatrical agents in the east,
thus releasing the manager of the
company and the manager of the
theatre. An effort will be made to
remedy this defect by the enactment
of a separate law. thus avoiding the
tianger of trying to amend the child
labor law.
The interest shown by the cluli
women is very gratifying. They have
seen to it that employers of labor la
Omaha obey the law, and have threat
ened prosecution in a number of
cases. The threats, too, have been
effective. The greatest difficulty met
Is in the enforcement of the cigarette
and tobacco law. The other day the
South Omaha truant officer prosecuted
a tobacco dealer for selling tobacco
to minors. He had enough direct evi
dence to convict a dozen times over,
and Judge Day f o declared. But the
jury returned a verdict of "not guilty."
Labor Commissioner Ryder is
working- to secure the abolition of
the Saturday night store business.
He suggests that one of the best
starts would be to abolish the Satur
day pay day. His attention was called
to the evil for evil it is by reason
cf what seems to be a violation of
the law prohibiting women from
working more than ten hours a day
in factory or store. Stores that open
at 8 a. m. and remain open until 10:39
or 11 p. m. Saturday must work from
fourteen to fifteen hours. A shift at
evading the law is to let the women
have an occasional hour oft during
the week and then "make up lost
time" by working late Saturday night.
Commissioner Ryder called the atten
tion of employers to the facf that this
was a violation of both the letter and
the spirit of the law and several of
the employers promised not to of
fend again. Future violations will be
prosecuted.
Two of Nebraska's largest stores
close on Saturday night at the usual
6 o'clock time Miller & Paine of Lin
coln, and Thompson & Belden in
Omaha. And tho proprietors of thes
stores seem to be doing as much busi
ness a-3 the stores that think they
must keep open late on Saturday
night.
Early this week it was rumored that
the retail clerks would try to get an
extra- Christmas week holiday by
asking ihe employers to close Thurs
day night Christmas eve and re
main closed until the following Mon
day morning. The clerks based their
request on the ground that one day
didn't give them a chance to visit the
home folks. Of course the movement
didn't, riogress very far. - And why
should it? There was no organized
effort behind it. The clerks haven't
got "sand" enough to organize and
make a concerted effort to secure
some relief. Thoy did muster up cour
age enough a year or so ago to ask
the ministers of the city to help
them get relief, but they didn't have
courage enough to ask for It them
selves. Funny theydidn't pull off the
street railway employes' stunt and fly
to the city council for relief. The
retail clerks will not get very many
concessions until they- organize.
The recent visit of President Alpine
of the Plumbers' International put a
lot of ginger into the local "bunch,"
and they have been doing some lively
hustling. President Alpine gave the
local situation thorough investigation,
and about the first of the year an
organizer will be In this territory to
help things along. Incidentally The
Wageworker wants to Temark that
the Plumbers' Union of Lincoln, .
though small in numbers, is among
the "live ones." The boys have had
many discouraging things happen, but
they have never lost courage nor quit
fighting for a minute.
When Jerry Howard comes down
to Lincoln next month to assume hi3
duties as a member of the legisla
ture from Dojuglas county, the union
men are going to find him a "live
one" who will stand by them from
post to finish. Jerry knows all the
kinks of the labor game, and he may
be depended upon to stand up for
organized labor all the way. And
it is going to be a pleasure to hear ,
Mm talk. He has a delightful Irish
brogue that is the next best thing
to visiting the Ould Sod.
Emmet Flood, general organizer of
the American Federation of Labor, is
now in Omaha, and he is getting
things started off at a lively rate.
He will have plenty to do in Omaha
and South Omaha for a while, but
he expects to do a lot of work in all
the surrounding territory. He will be
in Lincoln in a short time to iook the
ground over, and when he comes he
is going to receive a warm welcome
also a lot of hard luck stories . No
li raska has needed the services of an
organizer for several years, but has
tever had them save now and then
(Continued on Page 2.)
