VOL.. 5
LINCOLN, NJEBUASKA; JANUARY 9, 1309
NO. 40
A
Among the Live Ones
Here arid Hereabouts
In Just about another week we'll
have to quit referring to the Labor
Temple association under this head
unless there are renewed signs of ani
mation. The directors have not had
meeting for months, and several at
tempts to get together of late have
tieen worse thau futile. With every
incentive to active effort the members
of tho board have been dallying along
.until all interest seems to have been
lost. It's time to wake up and get
l;ack Into the list of "Live Ones."
The plumbers are girding up their
lUns preparatory to doing things just
as soon as the organizer, appointed
for this territory shows up. When
here a lew weeks ago International
President Alpine promised the local
that he would have an organizer here
J.etweeu January 1 and 10, and the
time limit is drawing near. The union
, plumbers of Lincoln have been up
against a hard game for the past Caree
.ytars, but they have never lost cour-
- e. And if ever a faithful band of
unionists needed the aid and assist
ance of their international the union
.lumbers of Lincoln deserve it.
They have not heard directly from
President Alpine since he was hen
but they are assured that the organ
izer will show i: on schedule time.
""The" Bricklayers and Masons are
n joying a holkloy now, for with the
thermometer showing 'steen degrees
i)clow freezo, there is nothing doing
- in the. brick woi L. line. But the men
4 re not doing much complaining. Tho
unprecedented weather conditions pre
vailing up until the first of the year
keptjthom all busy as nailers.
. Tho Bricklayer and Mason, official
ui'gan of the craft, announces a change
f form. Hereafter it will appoar with
ntrrtici- pages and more of t'neni, and
will contain moie " information of
i special Interest to the craft. As u
craft paper tha Bricklayer and Mason
is already one of the best. . -
Once more The Wage worker would
all attention to the fact that it will
fitadly give- publicity to the annual
balls or the various trades unions of
Lincoln and lavelock, provided the.
managers of tuu balls will send in
ihe facts in duo time. The editor is
not a mind reader, and can not,
therefore, tell when these annual balla
me to be held unless first notified.
"Here is a story that may or may
not be true,, but It bears truth on
its face:
The story goes .that just before
, Judge Wright announced his decision
in the contempt case President Roose
velt got advance information as to
vhat the decision would be. Then he
t.cnt for John Mitchell and told him
that of course Gompers and Morrison
would appeal, but that if he (Mitchell)
would accept tho sentence without ap
peal ho would be immediately par
doned, and that Gompers and Morri
son would be left to serve out their
ceutence in case the superior court
ufnrmed the decision. Mitchell re
fused and said he would stand by
Gompers and Mitchell. The president
8 "sore" at Gompers for his attitude
Curing tho campaign, and those who
1 now the Strenuous One know that he
would stretch a point a long ways to
-get-even with anybody who offends
him. This is what gives the appear
ance of truth to the above story.
Here is a little one from tho Omaha
Western Laborer that is given The
Wageworker's official O. K. without
recourse:
"We suggest that organized labor
cf America dig up a trilling testl
monial to be presented to Gompers,
Morrison and Mitchell when they are
wleased from Jail and that the testl
monial be something like a $12,000
home tor 'the grand old man,' a $9,000
onn for John Mitchell and a little $6
000 bungaloo for Frank Morrison and
his bride."
The Toledo Union Leader printed
this editorial la3t week: "Some have
csltlslzed Gompers for not openly re
fusing to obey the injunction when
it was first issued. These men pre
dict results. Later developments
however, show that Gompers knows
the timidity of many International of
Ccers, and the dpnger of having sonu
'leader' denounce this act, thus di
viding a solid front and discredit him
with the press of the country baying
like a pack of hounds. This timidity
was shown at the Denver convention
when the committee on president's re
port endorsed Gomper's plnn to ig
nore Injunctions and take the conse
quences. The report was toned down,
despite the vigorous protests of old
time conservatives like Pete McArdle
vt the steel workers and Andy Fure
seth of the sailors. The well-fed, em
broidered vest-wearing boys didn't
like the prospects that Gompers held
out, and lest they be charged with
a contempt that every honest man has
difficult in concealing, the sugges
tions were sand-papered. These
'posers will now be forced to act, for
they may as well be 'hung for a sheep
as a lamb.'"
Gripe Nuts Post's chief plaint is
that a lot of daily newspapers are too
cowardly to print his diatribes against
organized labor, and he is forever yell
ing that the printers have the news
paper proprietors "buffaloed" in a lot
of instances. , Of course Post is a liar.
If there is anything that tickles a
union printer it ir. to get a '"take" of
one of Post's effusions. He knows
that Post Is paying a stiff rate to get
it inserted, and what goes into the pa
per's counting room comes back to
the composing room in the pay en
velope. Every time Post throws a fit
of a column or two he puts hundreds
of dollars into the pockets of the union
printers of the country. Recently
Post claimed that the printers of Chi
cago forced the Daily News and tho
Record-Herald to refuse to insert one
of his fierce attacks on unionism. This
was at a banquet in New York. Im
mediately Business Manager Noyes of
the News called him down. Post of
fered his dirty diatribe just when the
teamsters' strike was at its worst, and
it was' calculated to stir up' passion
and cause greater trouble. That was
liis intent for Post doesn't care how
much suffering he causes others, just
so he can parade: his own jackas3
personality . The News and Record
Herald refused to be a party to the
crime, and Post got awfully sore about
it. Some of these days Post will bite
himself when he is having one of his
anti-union fits, and then lie wil die of
hydrophobia. And then . the fluffy-
haired ex-stenographer will enjoy the
money without having to put up with
his company.
The Painters and Decorators of the
District of Columbia got a handsome
New Year's gift, and it was as unex
pected as it was handsome. For a
year or two the union has been up
against a stiff fight with the "boss
painters" of the District. On New
Year's day sixty-six "boss painters"
announced their withdrawal from the
open shop bunch, and immediately
Ftgned contracts with the union.
The United Garment Workers of
North America are getting wiser every
day. Recently they voted to increase
the per capita one cent a week for the
purpose of having their official journil
put into the hands of "every member
cf the organization. This means that
more interest will be taken in the or
ganization, and that the unions will
be greatly strengthened. This is the
course that should be adopted by
every organization. The policy of
sending the secretary of a local a
bunch of papers to be distributed by
him to the membership is unwise.
The men who are most in need of the
inspiration furnished by a live journal
are the very one who do not get it.
We wish we knew just whafs what
in the controversy between the W. L.
Douglas Shoe company and the Boot
and Shoe Workers. Things seem to
be badly mixed. The Boot and Shoe
Workers say they are right, and an
official of the American Federation of
of Labor says they are wrong. Doug
ins says he left it to arbitration and
won, and that the Boot and Shoe
Workers refused to stand by the arbi
tration agreement. This the Boot and
Shoe Workers deny. Then it is
claimed that the arbitration . board
found for the Boot and Shoe Workers
and awarded them several thousand
dollars back pay. Now what'n thun
der is a fellow 2,000 miles from the
.tat of controversy to bslieve? it
teems to be sadly mixed. The Wage
worker is getting enough circulars
.ibout the controversy to litter up the
office.
We'd like mighty well to writo some
thing about the Stereotypers and Elee
trotypers' Union of Lincoln under the
head of "Live Ones," but a due re
gard for the truth prevents. It's about
time this bunch of craftsmen got back
into the game. Just because they got
the eight-hour day as a result of the
fight put up by the printers Is no rea
son why they should lay down. Wake
tp!
"What'n thunder is a 'ranakaboo?' "
queried a union man who read about
the annual "ranakaboo" of the union
Painters and Decorators of Lincoln.
Why, that's an easy one! A "ranaka
boo" is just like a "mulligan," only it
is different. And a "mulligan" is ex
actly the same thing as a "burgoo,"
except that a "burgoo" is no more like
a "mulligan" than a "mulligan" is like
a "hand-out" at the back door. Now
if you don't know what a "ranakaboo"
ies, just ask one of the painters and
decorators. If he can keep his mouth
from watering like a sprinkling cart
he'll give you the official definition.
AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
. Since my appointment by Governor Shallenberger
to be deputy commissioner of the bureau of labor and
industrial statistics I have been repeatedly asked: "WilL,
you continue The Wageworker?"
I have no intention of either abandoning, selling or
leasing The Wageworker. I will continue its publica
tion, will edit it, and dbntinue to make it, as nearly as I
can, a representative of organized labor. I hava met
with so many expressions of satisfaction when personally
answering the above question as it is answered here, that
I feel encouraged to work harder to make The Wage
worker of real service to the cause of unionism. The
expressions of friendship and good will that have come
to me during the last month are, appreciated more than
I can tell. The support that- kas been accorded . The
Wageworker during the nearly five $-ears of its existence
has been gratifying, and to the loyal unions and union
men who have stood by it through thick and thin, giving
it their financial and moral support, I extend my grateful
thanks. With their continued support I hope to make
this humble little paper of more real service to the cause.
- WILL M. MAUPIN.
OUR LOVING FRIENDS.
Ross Hammond, "Scab" Employer,
Pays Respects to Maupin.
Ross L. Hammond, who oce
thought he would like to be a United
States senator, and wound up by
crawling on his hands and knees all
Ihe way from Fremont to Washing
ton to get an appointive job, does not
like The Wageworker or its editor.
This is because The Wageworker
1 unctured some of the Hammond pre
tenses during the fight the Typograph
ical Union made against the notori
ously labor-hating Fremont Tribune,
of which Ross L. Hammond is editor.
Concerning the appointment of The
Wageworker's editor to the position
of deputy commissioner of labor Ham
mond has the following to say through
the columns of the Fremont Tribune:
"Will M. Maupin has been appointed
labor commissioner labor commis
sioner, mind you. It's a superb ap
pointment and he needs the money.
It doesn't mean he'll have to work
not on your life; only that he'll
"work"- the state. Maupin will do
great t.iings as head of the labor
bureau. ' A broad conception of the in
dustrial magnitude and possibilities
cf Nebraska: a long identification
with great undertakings in this state
a transcendant genius for minute and
painstaking detail if he possessed
any one of these in the slightest de
gree it would seriously disfigure' him,
Wait for the Maupin bulls and bulle
tins. They will be what the people
have sought and mourned because
they found 'em not."
Some of these days, perhaps, The
Wageworker's editor may have a
brother who will d.evelop financial
genius and enable the editor to accu
mulate enough money to pose and
s-trut. If that time ever comes then
The Wageworker's editor may hope
to get Into the Ross Hammond class
if he is ever so foolish. In the
meanwhile, with those who know Ross
every knock for him is a boost for
the knockee. Hence we take great
pleasure in printing his comment.
MINING ACCIDENTS.
In the anthracite mines of Pennsyl-
-. auia the state' inspectors have found
that during ten years there have aver
sved annually 3.18 fatal accidents for
every 1,000 , men employed, and the
rate is even higher than this for cer
tain specific occupations in the mines.
This is excessive in comparison with
the death rate from accident of 1.29
per 1,000 in the British coal mines.
THE LEATHER WORKERS.
Are Enthused by Having President
" Baker Meet With Them.
The.Leatberworkers on Horse Goods
cf Lincoln had the pleasure of enter
taining their international president,
Edward J. Baker, this week. Presi
dent Baker, whose headquarters are
in Kansas City, came to Lincoln to
look over the local situation and ac
quaint himself with conditions. A
meeting of union and non-union was
held at the city hall Thursday even
ing and it was hot only largely at
tended but was undoubtedly produc
tive of good results.
President Baker made an address
that was full of practical advice and
it was listened to with every evi
dence of approval. The non-union
men present were given a lot of rea
sons why they should join the union,
and the-union men were given some
practical advice in the matter of show
ing their unionism. Members of the
local - spoke briefly and extended a
cordial invitation to the non-unionists
to get into the fold. The meeting
was thoroughly enjoyed by the large
number present. -.
GOOD FOR TOLEDO!
Unionists Have Driven the Buck Prod
uct From the Market.
There is not a Buck stove sold in
ihe Toledo market.
For over two years Mr. VanCleave's
product has been missing from this
ity as a result cf the publicity given
ihe non-union tactics of the St. Louis
man.
Toledo can boast of a first-class
union made stove, manufactured by
the Toledo Stove & Range company.
Its manager, B. G. Taylor, is an ex
union molder, and takes pride in his
union shop, and tne absence of trouble.
During th'e Pope strike, Mr. Taylor
was the only business man in this
city who came out boldly for the
workers and against the policy of the
Metal Trades and the Citizens' Alli
ance, and this at a time' when public
sentiment was almost unanimous
against the unionists because of the
labor crushers' systematic campaign
of misrepresentation.
Workers are buying the Toledo
stove, and have succeeded in driving
the "scab" Bucks out of this market.
Toledo Union Leader.
GETTING SCARED. -
Fearing that the publication of tha
Chicago Federation of Labor proceed
ings may get him into danger of dam
age suits that may wipe out his busi
ness, George Hodge, of the Union
Labor Advocate, has consulted an at
torney as to his rights. Secretary
Homer D. Call, of the Butcher Work
men, has decided to discontinue that
official journal for fear of getting into
trouble.
CAPITAL AUXILIARY.
Capital Auxiliary No. 11 will meet
Wednesday, January 13, at 2:30 p. m.
with Mrs. E. A. King, 2135 South
Tenth-street,.
The Wierd Reasoning
Followed by Judg eWright
From the foregoing it ought to seem
apparent to thoughtful men that the
defendants to the hill, each and all of
them, have combined together for the
purpose of
"First Bringing about the breach ol
plaintiff's existing contracts with
others.
"Sficond Depriving plaintiff of prop
erty (the value of tne good will of its
business) without due process of law.
"Third Restraining trade among
the several states.
"Fourth Restraining . commerce
among the several states." '
The above is taken from Justice
Wright's decision, in sentencing Gom
pers, Morrison and Mitchell. It can
fairly be stated that these views,
stripped of his honor's abuse - and
tirade, constitute the real offense.
To better understand the workers'
position, let us become acquainted
with the views of our opponents, for
don't forget that it is not Gompers,
Morrison and Mitchell who stand con
victed, but the entire trade union
movement of America that is hit over
the shoulders of three men.
Special attention is called to th2
court's second leason, viz: "Depriv
ing plaintiff (Bucks Stove company)
of property the value of . the good
will of its business without due
process of law."
This is the milk in the cocoanut
for if workers were not charged with
this offense, there would be no breach
of contract, no restraining trade anJ
no restraining commerce, alleged in
the other reasons.
The court clearly says, in reason
No. Two, that a business man has 'a
monopoly on your good will, and he is
entitled to protection of the court. ,
Around this theory wages the en
tire battle of dollars versus men, and
property rights versus human rights.
This idea of classing good will as
property could be extended to mer
chants, who strive to capture each
other's customers, but just remember
that this is "good business, and there
fore legal." Only when workers ex
ercise the right, does the court get
busy. When the Bucks Stove com
pany's metal polishers were wronged
they told their fellows throughout the
country. Men were asked to not buy
the stove.
What was the result?
Naturally, less stoves were sold.
This meant a lessening of trade (rea
son No. 3), and "restraining com
merce among the several states" (rea
son No. 4). Merchants could not sell
Bucks stoves, and they were returned
(reason No. 1).
Now the court holds that the metal
polishers had no right to ask workers
to refrain from patronizing business
men who handled the scab stove. Be
cause that patronage belonged to that
business man.
The court says you can't withdraw
your trade in a body, even if your
fellows are injured.
Do you realize What this means? .
The court says the rrtetal polishers
must suffer in silence, for if they
make public their wrongs, their asso
ciates will cease buying the Bucks
stove.
This injures business, which the
court insists is illegal, and to stop this
"illegal" action, the court orders work
ers, under penalty of fines and im
prisonment, not to mention the Bucks
stove in their official journal, or to
"write, print, in any. manner whatso
ever, or to even mention" the non
union product.
Does this filter through your dull
brain, and have you awakened to its
significance? '
Remember, please, that it is perfect
ly legal for John Smith, grocer, to at
tack John Doe, his competitor, in any
manner this side of . violence. That's
fcuslness both are scrambling for cus
tomers for trade. There is no prop
erty right in "good will" then.
No one ever dreams of enjoining a
fraternal society or a religious sect
from withdrawing their business from
a ' firm because of a real or fancied
wrong, but when workers exercise this
right, a howl is heard about "property
rights," "restraining trade," etc., etc,
It will do no good to abuse Justice
Wright. r
His views are accepted by the gov-
erning class in America today a class
s cruel and as ruthless as ever de
spoiled an ancient empire.
We must either accept the cojrt's
dictum, and acknowledge we have no
right to withdraw our patronage from
a firm, no matter how grlevlous our
complaint, because it hurts business,
or we must boldly announce to the
world that when workers are wronged
we will rush to their aid, regardless
of dollars and gold.
Only one of these principles can
prevail. ' .
They can't be mixed by any fine
spun reasoning or law-school logic of
corporation side shows called federal
or district judges. ' -
They are the oil and water of bur
industrial life ne represents divi.
dends, no matter how acquired, and
the other represents the widest liberty
we are now supposed to enjoy. To
ledo. Union Leader.
SOME PRINTERMEN.
Men Who Know the Trade in Evidence
at Nebraska's State House.
You'll find a lot of men In office
at the state house these days who
know the printer game. The secre
tary to Governor Shallenberger, Harry
J. Furse, is a printer by trade and is
an ex-member of the Typographical
Union. He formerly held membership
in Denver No: 49. He has not worked
at the trade for a number of years.
He has been a court reporter for sev
eral years, and prior to that was the
poprietor of a ' newspaper at Alma.
Secretary of the Senate Smith is an
other printer,, although he has never
carried a card. He learned the trade
in a country shop and for years has
been running a country newspaper, the
reward Independent-Democrat. First
Assistant . Secretary - of the - Senate
Davis is another" country newspaper
manwho knows the printer's trade.
and Secohd Assistant Secretary Wat
rath is another newspaper man who
has served his time at the case. J.
G. P. 'Hildebrand, clerk of the senate
committee of the whole, is an ex
newspaper man, and in the old days
could print with the best of them.
Over in the house Speaker Charley
Pool is a country newspaper man who
knows the printer's trade from the
ground up, having worked at It for a
quarter of a century. The secretary
of the state ininting board is, and will
he; a printer. There are a half-dozen
or more senators and representatives
v. ho are printers, among them Sen
ato John M. Tanner of South Omaha, '
who is ' an ex-member of the union.
The newly appointed deputy commis
sioner of labor is a printer by trade,
and has carried a card more than two
decades." .. .
The printermen and newspapermen
have little reason to complain of the
recognition accorded them of late.
ADAMS IS MANAGER.
Benjamin C. Adams has been made
manager of the Lincoln Gas & Elec
tric Light Co., ' succeeding Homer
Honeywell, resigned. Mr. Adams, who
is a graduate of the Nebraska State
University and an electrical engineer
of more than local reputation, has
been in the employ of the company for
the past two years, and is in every
way qualified for his new position.
The best that The Wageworker can
wish Mr. Adams is that he will be as
successful as the man whom he suc
ceeds. CARPENTERS CHANGE NIGHT.
The Carpenters' Union, after meet
ing on Tuesday nights for several
years, have made a change and in
future will meet every Monday night.
They have also changed , meeting
place, and in future will meet at
Bohanon's hall, Tenth and M streets.
The new hall is a much more pleas
ant meeting place than the former
hall. - . , -
HAROLD GEORGE BACK:
i Harold George, one of the . best
known printers in this section of the
country, is now connected with the
Commoner. ' . Mr. George will have
charge of the advertising department
of the paper and will superintend the
mechanical work. ;. .