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VrOL. S
LINCOLN, NEBEASKA, APKIL 17, 190J
NO. 2
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JNCILb
Electrical Workers Hold
Big District Council
The district council convention of
the Brotherhood or Electrical Work
ers, held in Lincoln during the first
five days of last week, was the most
successful in the history of the coun
cil. The district is composed of Iowa
aud Nebraska, and so successfully has
the management looked after affairs
tt Is now proposed to add three more
Mates to the district Wisconsin,
Michigan and South Dakota.
The work of the district couuc.1 1
began Monday afternoon, and from I
thence on until Friday evening busi-
less sessions were held. There were I
fourteen accredited delegates from as I
many locals in the two states, and
-?eral visitors. Among the latter!
was Vice-President Fitzgerald of the
International Brotherhood
But business was not the only thing I
r-rnsidered. The social side was not
overlooked, and the local members of
the Brotherhood spared no pains to
iake the stay of the delegates pleas-
ant. Trolley rides to suburban points
cf Interest and a couple of theatre I
art:, helped to entertain the guests. I
Ci Thursday evening and open meet-
ins wcs. held, and it proved to be one
of lle happiest meetings in the history
a. !r.cal unionism. Governor Shallen-1
bi-r;4r accepted an invitation to
iress the meeting and spoke for about I
twenty minutes, dwelling particularly
upon the great opportunities for ad-
vcnccmcnt that lay ahead of those I
engaged in the broad field of electric-1
Jiy. The goveruor was listened to I
wish dtep interest "and was warmly
applauded. Vice-President Fitxerala 1
and President Perrin of the council I
also spoke.
One interesting and pleasing feature
of the evening was the reception ac
corded Mark T. Castor when he took
the floor to address the meeting. He
received a welcome that -must have!
made his heart swell with pride. !
Mark Castor organized th? local
union, and he worked day and night
nutil he got it to going. He has
watched it from the day it was born,
attended it while it was learning to
walk, and has had the satisfaction
of seeing It grow Into one of thl
strongest locals in the entire west. He I
is no longer an active member, being
superintendent of the Lincoln Tele-
phone and Telegrarh Co., and there-1
fore deprived of the privilege of active I
membership, but he is as much a
union man as ever. That is why he I
atteuded as many sessions as posst-l
ble. And when he took the floor in I
response to vociferous calls he
ceived an ovation that would please
any man and an ovation that was!
thoroughly deserved. I
After the conclusion of the "talk-lg
est" a lunch was served, consisting I
of coffee, sandwiches, cake and cigars. I
and this feature of the evening was I
not overlooked by anybody. Just be-"of
tore the lunch was served a flashlight I
picture was w me crowa. wun
..ur oiiwuKiiirr uo:))iiis ur
post of honor and the officers of the
local and the district council sur
rounding him,
The reports of the delegates were
cheering. Work is unusually good
an about, especially in Iowa and
eastern Nebraska. It may not be
generally- known, but Iowa has more
miles of wire and more telephones
per capita than any other state in
the nulon.
The strike on the Des Moines A
Boone Internrban is still on, but from
low tt will receive full attention.
The Lincoln Telephone Co. has put
ou not less than twenty-five men
since the middle of March. They are
being used in th construction of toll
lines.
The trouble at Sioux City has been
amicably adjusted and everything is
moving smoothly in that bailiwick.
ice-President Fitzgerald reports
that the entire district is practicallv
solid for the Reed regime, and that
the McXulty facUon Is all but a mem-
ory. It is believed that a counle of
nr month, will see comnletel
recognition oT the Reed administration.
Work 5a unusually Rood in Omaha,
the Independent company of that city he original controversy. Justice
having been thoroughly reorganised Wright would have cited and wetghed
and supplied with ample funds to push tne evidence given by both sSdes in
tts big exchange projects to'comple- stead- he Kotes approvingly the testi
tlon. That means the employment of mon? ven tn Dehlf of tne Buck
a large number of men and the Stove acd RS Co.. and practically
agreement Is that they shall be mem- nothing from the defendants. Ap
bers of the Brotherhood of Electrical HinS his wn statement to our case
Workers. " Changing the name of the parties
The delegates left Lincoln full of concerned, we have it to read:
praise for the welcome extendi to I "'Anv reasonable person would
them, loudly declaring that the "Lin
coln bunch" was about the best ever.
The following district council offi-
cers were elected for the following
year:
President, R. E. Pen-in.
Vice-President. C. E. Dohl.
Secretary-Treasurer, E. E. Beta.
Executive Board. George Pulver, C.
J. Glas?r. C. E. Dohn. Y. L. Mayer.
The following delegates registered
during the progress of the council
convention:
S. E. Perrin. Sioux City, la.
C. J. Glaser, Burlington, la.
C. E. Dohn. Omaha, Xeb.
R. O. Dusk. Waterloo, la.
J. X. Krahl. Dubuque, la.
J. C. Mead, Davenport, la.
Robert Stanley. Des Moines. Ia.
George Pulver. Boone, Ia.
S. J. Conrad. Cedar Rapids, la.
V. C. Goold. Omaha. Xeb.
F. P. O'Brien. Sioux City. la.
W. L. Mayer, Lincoln. Xeb.
James Fitzgerald, grand vice-presi-
dent of the Brotherhood, of
Des
Moines, was also registered
A committee composed of Messrs.
Mead, Stanley and Dusk presented
resolutions thanking the Lincoln
membership for the splendid enter-
ad-taiument afforded
The following ringing protest Tela-;
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District Council No. 6, International Brotherhood of Electrical H orkers
Governor Shallenberger in Center of Group
re-jtive to the action of the American
I Federation of v Labor was adopted
without a dissenting vote:
"Resolved. That while we deplore
condition that exists in our Inter
national organization, we recognize
eacii and every organizaUon
jUbl be governed by majority rule
its own members. Therefore, be
t resolved
wo --, r acton of
,. rM-i ...,,, r th Inter.
national Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers held at St. Louis. Mo, Sep
tember 13. 190S, that we recognize the
lagality of said convention, that we
recognize and are governed by the
laws enacted at said convention, and
further, that we recognize the general
officers elected at this convention and
accepted by referendum vote of the
members of our International organ
ization, as legal and bona fide officers
of the L B. E. W and pledge them
our undivided support; and be M
further resolved
"That we condemn the action of
President Gompers and the executive
council or the A. F. of L. in render
ing their unjust decision against the
majority of "and in favor of. the ma
jority of the I. B. E. W. be it fur
ther resolved
"That we ask President Gompers
!s cutive council to accord
to us tne s42 Partial fairness that
he asked for in his d'rial on Jus
Uc Wright's decision which reads:
'Any reasonable person would sup-
that ln order to arrlve at a sood
understanding of the nature and cause
suppose that in order to arrive at a
good understanding of the nature and
cause of the original eontroversy
Samuel Gompers would have cited
and weighed the evidence given by
both sides instead, he quotes approv
ingly, the testimony given in behalf'
of McXulty and Collins and prac
tically nothing from thr reply made
by General President Reid and Gen
eral Secretary Murphy. f
"Be it further resolved. That we re
quest President Gompers and the ex
ecutive council to take immediate
steps to relieve us from the burden
of the unjust decision and to place
the rank and file of the L B. E. W.
in good fellowship with the A. F. of
L. and that we demand that the A.
F. of L. and all affiliated organiza
tions recognize the constitution of the
I. B. E. W. as adopted at the St.
Louis convention September 13, 190S,
and adopted by referendum vote of
our entire membership. And be it
further resolved
."That copies of these resolutions
be sent to Samuel Gompers. J. J
Reid. tha Electrical Worker, and all
the district councils throughout the
United States and Canada."
- The following from the Cleveland
(Ohio) Citizen will be interesting
reading to the Electrical Workers of
District Xo. 6:
"Xow the Pacific Coast district,
comprising all the Pacific states and
British Columbia, have swung into
line for the new administration, and
against McXultv and Collins. In a
0
district convention just held resolu
tions were adopted demanding that
Samuel Gompers, president A. F. of
L, insist that a referendum vote be
taken to settle the controversy in the
L B. E. W. Xo. 114. or Toronto, and
Xo. 153. Marion. Ind.. are locals that
have just cut loose from McXulty and
Collins and sent their reports to Sec
retary Murphy. McXulty is making
a desperate effort to stem the tide
and make federation officers believe
that his repudiated administration is
still in favor. Under date of March
8. McXulty sent out another 'confi
dential letter to some of his adher
ents requesting them to get locals and
individuals to send letters to the A.
F. of L. executive council commending
that body for endorsing McXulty and
Collins. There has been such a gen
eral protest against the executive
council's . action in this respect all
over the country that McXulty is try
ing to neutralize the effect- He is
great on the 'confidential business."
IN HOOSIERDOM.
Indiana has the headquarters for
ten International organizations: Bar
bers. Bricklayers, Carpenters, Loco
motive Firemen. Miners, Painters and
Decorators. Reed and Rattan Work
ers, Saw smiths. Teamsters and Typo
graphical Unions. Of these organiza
tions, three the Reed and Rattan
Workers, Locomotive Firemen and
Bricklayers Unions are not affiliated
with the American Federation of
Labor.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION.'
Demands a High School That Will Be
Worthy of the City.
The Central Labor Union has gone
on record as opposed to the proposed
site of the new high school, claiming
that it is so low as to be unsanitary,
subject to floods, without adequate
street railway facilities and not lo
cated in a sightly place. The body at
i. 5 . Ir
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ihe same time elected a committee of
which George Quick is chairman to
act with others on the advisory com
mittee. The central body's represen
tatives will insist upon a building
that will in itself be educational be
cause of its architectural beauty.
Delegates Locker. Chase and Kelsey
were appointed fraternal delegates to
the Ministerial Union and Instructed
to attend the meetings of the clerical
organization as often as possible.
Rev. Mr. Batten was present as the
fraternal delegate of the Ministerial
Union and made a short talk.
A small contribution was made to
the striking hatters and the matter
of an educational secretary and a
labor exchange were discussed at con
siderable length.
FEELING BETTER ALREADY.
Omaha's Hysterics Gradually Subsid
ing as the Days Go By.
The liquor quest ion is one of con
science and not a trade union prin
ciple. Therefore, the Central Labor
Union has no more right tocommit
the labor movement against temper
ance reform than the temperance re
formers would have to commit it to
prohibition, if the followers of that
belief should happen to have a ma
jority of the delegates present at a
meeting. Every union man is free
to knock or hurrah for the daylight
saloon law, and that is just exacily
what they are doing. Omaha gener
ally comes out of her difficulties all
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right and the excitement of the past
week will be no exception. Cheer up!
It is still the best town in the world
bar none.. Omaha Western Laborer.
BARRED OUT.
Omaha Electrical Workers Not Al
lowed in Central Labor Union.
The . two Omaha locals cf the
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in
Omaha have been denied representa
tion in the Central Labor Union of
that city because they belong to the
Reed faction of the Brotherhood. This
is called the '-"seceding body," the Mc
Xulty faction having been recognized
by the American Federation of Labor
convention at Denver.
There is some talk or organizing a
"McXulty local" in Omaha in order
to secure representation in the cen
tral body. The barred out Electrical
Workers do no, seem to be worrying
about it The Reed faction is the
whole thing in this western country.
CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE.
State Organization Will Meet at Lin
coln Saturday Afternoon.
Secretary John J. Ryder has sent
out notices for a meeting or the Xe
braska child labor committee to be
held at Lincoln, Saturday, April 17.
at 2 p. m." The special matter to be
considered is a constitution and
better general organization lor the
work in the state and to aid the work
or the rational committee. The meet
ing on Saturday will be held in room
304, Administration building, state
nniversiry
ANOTHER "DAYLIGHT" STORE.
Sanderson's shoe store has been
taken over by the Miller & Paine Co.,
and like the big . store will hereafter
close on Saturday evening at six o'
clock.. This fact should not be over
looked by workers who insist upon the
short hour day for themselves.
Among the Live
Here,, There
The earnest members of Capital
Auxiliary Xo. 11 have decided to take
hold of the "Labor Temple Day"
pledge business, which means that
very few nnion men will miss an
opportunity to subscribe one day's
wages to the stock of the Lincoln
Labor Temple Building association.
Just as soon as the proper pledges
can be secured from the printer the
members of Capital Auxiliary will be
gin hustling for signatures. They will
not confine themselves to union men,
either, but wfll give every man they
can meet an opportunity to assist in
erecting a handsome Labor Temple
in Lincoln. The Auxiliary met last
Wednesday at the home of Mrs.
George Locker at Normal, and when
the proposition was submitted they
accepted it eagerly.
Division Xo. 93, Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, has earned a
reputation for making "reunions"" of
the craft in Lincoln events to be re
membered. But the reunion to be
held the latter part of June promises
to eclipse all former records, both in
the welcome extended and the number
of visitors. The committee in charge
is working night and day to get every
possible arrangement completed. En
gineers are coming from all parts of
the country to participate in the
social and educational features, and
many of them will bring their pilots
along with them which means that
the women will be numerous. "
Iabor Commissioner Maupin will
issue a formal call next week for a
meeting to effect a permanent organ
ization of a Xebraska Federation of
Labor. He now has a complete list
of secretaries of local unions and !
brotherhoods in Xebraska with the
exception of the Order of Railway
Conductors. The conductors refuse
to have anything to do with the pro
ject, being convinced that they are
strong enough to go it alone, and
fearing that they might incur "en
tangling alliances."
If the managers of the Lincoln
Traction Co. are wise they wui im
mediately see to it that their con
ductors pay a little more attention to
the safety and comfort of the pas
sengers. There has been a marked
decline in politeness since the merger.
The people of Lincoln were taught
by the Citizens Railway Co. what
polite attention and careful service
really meant, and they will not stand
for the old order of things again.
The city park was never in better
shape than now. It will be a beautiful
resort during the summer. But there
should be some other attractions than
green grass and shade. There should
be band concerts at least three times
a week, including Sunday afternoon.
The park commission has no" funds
at its command wherewith to pay tor
music, but it might be possible for
the city council to appropriate some
thing, and whatever it did give could
be supplemented by individual dona
tions. Why wouldn't it be a good
move for local unions to donate about
10 cents per capita, and then ask busi
ness and professional men to come
across? Certainly the Traction Co.
would subscribe liberally, as band
concerts would mean greatly in
creased collections of fares. The
Wageworker "will subscribe 95 towarft.;
a fund to maintain band concerts at
the city park daring the months of
June, July and August. Who will be
the next to subscribe?
Do not forget "Labor Temple Day."
You will soon be approached and
asked to subscribe to the stock of the
Lincoln Labor Temple association to
the amount of the wages earned by
you on May 12 or any other day yon
may designate In case yon "lay off
on that date. Remember, this is not
to be a donation it will be a sub
scription for which yon will receive
non-assessible stock in an association
that is certain to pay dividends In
good time. If the sum of $3,000 can
be realized on "Labor Temple Day,"
the board of directors of the associa
tion sees its way clear to immediately
begin negotiations for a building site,
and a site once secured means the
speedy erection of a splendid Temple
building. Come on, now. and don't
rear back against the " breeching.
Put aside your little hammer until
the time comes to drive nails in the
Workers
and Elsewhere
Temple. Boost a little bit aa4
how nice it is to a booster.
The retail clerks of Cofamoos. wr
successful in their effort to seevrr
S o'clock closing every e-reniaic ia
th- week except Saturday. TSey w0!
now perfect their organization ac4f
ask for a charter from the' Retail
Clerks International Unioo
From now on the Sanderso shoe
store win be a constituent prt of
the Miller tz Patne store. Am a re
sult more clerks get the abort week.
This store will in future close Satur
day evenl-ngs just the sane ai
other evening in the week.
The old brick building oa the north
west corner of Twelfth and O street
has been demolished. Ia Its place will
be erected a modern foor-storr brick
and stone office bnilding, TTse Castle,
Roper & Matthews buiidiog oa 3C
street. Just east of the Fraternity
building, is being poshed rapidly, ft
will have a white brick front, and wHl
be one of the prettiest boildisgs ia
Lincoln. Building operations are ia
full swing, and as a result the build
ing trades are rejoicing.
TWO VICTORIES FOR "PRmTl"
Large Offices in Los Angeles, Cat, and
Quincy. I1L, Unionized.
The International Typograpbfral
Union made two notabl? vietorfe
during March.
During the month the Los Aeeles
Printing company, which had beea
non-unicn for twenty years, was
signed up. The victory was txmt
plete. not oBe of the old employes
being taken into the nnion.
After rnnning on a non-onion basis
f.r three years, the MeMeia Printiaz
company, one of the largest book and
job plants in Quiacy. II L, bas agreed
to pay the wage scale of Typograph
ical Union Xo. 59 and will bereafter
operate under nnion conditional Tai
company publishes the Reliable Pool
try Journal, and in consequence that
publication is now oa the fair Est.
Minnesota Union Advocate.
THE PLUMBERS.
Brief Bits About the Boys Who Hit
the Pipe Regularly.
Organizer Fay did not remain ia
this vicinity long enoagb to accom
plish much of benefit to the local
nnion. Just as he got things to go
ing nicely he was called elsewhere-,
and as a resnlt the local nnioa has
not been much the gainer. Bat the
boys are still pluggfns aloes; and are
more than holding their own. Work
is better than usual and the oatlook
is considered brighter thaa for av
long time past.
Bert Chl-pman has resigned bis post
tion as inspector in the water de
partment and gone to Kansas to ac
cept a better one at bis trade.
Ed. English Is working seme where
in Kansas, the exact wixereahowts no
being known to the writer. He might
drop a few lines to The Wageworker
and tefl his pals how be Is getting
along.
H. J. Pickard felt pretty badly
bunged np the first of the week bat
managed to keep out of a side bed.
MEMBERSHIP IN LABOR UNIONS..
Here is an estimate of the saescat
membership of labor naioos t&rosgb
out the world;
North America ZJMJtm
Great Britain ..
Germany . . ... 29.s
France Le.9e
Austria T
Russia . ................. 25.tn4
Spain - SJ
Italy 1S.8
Belginta 13M
Holland .
Australia 2jW
Scandinavia .
Total of organized labor. . Il.iTS.ft-i
HOW ABOUT XT. LEE?
L. Lv Ingraham, formerly presides
of Lincoln fXeb.) Typograpbieal
Union Xo. has parrbased a raarb
at King HqL Idaho, where be wiD
make bis future home. We hope soc
cess will be bis. as the soil ai uuad
him is a good investment, aad it win
probably not be loss watil bo wi3 be
a bloated landowner. April Typo
graphical JonrnaL
