The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, June 05, 1909, Image 1

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VOL,. G
IiESTCOL, XEBEASKA, JUXE 5, t909
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Printers Pay Tribute to
Memory f Their Dead
Seven years ago Lincoln Typograph
ical Union No. 209 inaugurated the
custom of observing the last Sunday
in May as Printers Memorial Day."
So tar as known the Lincoln union
was the first to establish the custom.
"Two years later the Lincoln dele
Kates to the international convention
succeeded in oaring the custom made
a part of the fundamental law, and
now typographical unions in Canada
and the United States observe the
day with regularity.
The memorial sermon was delivered
at the First Christian church by the
pastor. Rev. H. H. Harmon. The pul
pit was ' handsomely decorated with
cut flowers and potted plants, and a
handsome flag decorated the front of
the choir loft. The double quartette
chair of the church rendered several
selections especially rhearsed for the
occasion, and the pastor's sermon,
along the lines of "Brotherhood, was
a masterful plea for. a greater growth
of fraternity.
"Brotherhood a pledge or immor
tality" was Rev. Mt. Harmon's sub
ject, his test being from First John,
S: 14 "We know we have passed out
of death into life because we love
the brethren." After dwelling at
length upon he life eternal, the pas
tor said:
"All this abundant and eternal life
of which we have been speaking finds
Its issue here and now in good deeds
among men. Jesus gives expression
to the two-fold character of this life
when He says "Thou shalt love the
lxrd thy God. with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and, thou shalt live thy neigh
bor as thyself. On these two com
mandments hangs the whole law and
the prophetc.' His was the great pat
tern life and He was the world's true
and great brother-man. He taught
that the Father lovoed all His earthly
children and that it was His love for
the race that procpted the sending of
His son to the earth.
"No one can walk in the footsteps
of this great brother of the race and
have mean thoughts of any human
creature. He saw In every man a
child of God whom the Father would
have live in happiness here and en
joy the biiss of life eternal. His
whole career was one of blessed help
fulness, and the gracious benediction
of His council came to the rich and
the poor. Every man found in Htm a
friend to trust, every woman found
Him her benefactor, and little children
were pressed to His bosom.
"The light of brotherhood has
. been traveling out over the world since
His day, and it is the biggest word
of the twentieth century. The hu
manities that He came to teach are
being breathed into laws, govern
ments and civilisations, and one day
this earth is to see a race redeemed
and glorified.
"He who sees no more In his fe?ior
rean than a tool to be used in the
great machine which builds up his for
tune and serves his personals ends of
ambition, is mean of soul and has
not entered into this life. He does
not see God. he sees gold; its lusirej
blinds his eyes. . He has never wall;ol
on I-ove street his thoughts are on
Wall street or of the gold it repre
sents. The vision of the eternities are
as foreign to him as sunshine is to
darkness, as song Is to sorrow, as life
I to death. He lives most who loves
most, and he loves most who does
most to bring all men into the truth
and experience of the Fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of the race.
"To hasten the coming of this day,
Jesus, through the power of His Spirit,
founded His church on Pentecost, that
the Society of the Redeemed might
minister In love to the wants of man-
kind, and the leading of the world
from darkness up the stairway of
God's marvelous light to the realm
of truth, freedom and love, when all
shall know Him and love Him. from
the least unto the greatest, and the
knowledge of the Lord shall cover
land and sea.
"Jesus saw in this coming day a
time when all shackles shall be brok
en. shackles of human slavery and
chattels: shackles of intellectual blind
ness and superstition; shackles of
spiritual bondage because of sin.
"The Church composed of human be
ings has been strugling on towards the
fultUment of her glorious mission, but
ptany times the tread has been halt
. and lame; yet God has ever had pro
phets in her ranks who have sound
ed the slogan of loyalty to the princi
ples and mission for which She was
created, and as bride of the Iamb, her
mission in coming days shall yet be
so fulfilled that she will be worthy
to meet the Bridegroom when He
comes on this earth and again shall
stand and claim her as His own.
Entering into fellowships with the
church in the broadcast dissemination
of the Christ spirit, are the many fra
ternal organizations and trades un
ions, of which your own Typographical
Union is a worthy representative.
There is no disputing that these or
ganizations have been mighty factors
in the spread of Christ's kingdom of
truth among men. The cause in which
you have been fighting is a just one.
As in all human societies misjudgment
may sometimes lead into error, yet
withal your warfare has been holy.
You have taught brotherhood and lived
together in brotherly relations so long
that the world is beginning to under
stand you. In national and interna
tional spheres you have spoken in the
world parliament and your message in
word and deed has been so loud that
civilized nations know you are a force
to be reckoned, a worthy factor in the
building of a world society embodying
the elements of truth, freedom and
brotherhood. You have met the com
bined forces of selfishness and greed
with the plea of human rights, and
your victories in this righteous cause
are many.
"Taking your own craft, that or the
Typographical Union, as an illustra
tion, the world has seldom witnessed
such a spectacle, of sacrifice and of
the strength of the fraternal tie as
when you met the National Typotho
tae that had raised $100,000 to op
pose your request for an eight-hour
rule, with the sum of $4,400,000 con
tributed voluntarily by the 3$ or 39
thousand members of your craft to
sustain those thrown out of employ
ment, and the furtherance of your bat
tle.
"The fight between, cold-hearted oi
ganized corporate wealth and human
rights will continue, but victories are
to be won today and tomorrow and
the morrow's morrow, and the victor
ies are to be announced by the car -11
ing laughter of children, so long
hushed because of man's inhumarity
to man; motherhood and wifehood are
to realize their queenly rights, and
man so long shackled and chained by
environs not of his own making is to
be free, and frm his lips ,vo ara to
hear a song, the song of emancipa
tion, for God :s Father atul man is
brother to every chi'd of God.
"This is Memorial day by govern
mental proclamation - for our soldier
dead, and of fraternal appointment for
their fallen members. all of which
declares the fact that love never dies.
(Continued on page 5.)
The Labor Movement in Europe
IV. LABOR'S TEMPERANCE FELLOWSHIP.
Who ever heard of a temperance society composed exclusive 'y
of "walking delegates' or business agents and other labor offi
cials? But that's precisely what I found in Great Britain. At the
last convention of the A. F. of L. Andrew Furuseth of the beameu,
who had gone over to England as the fraternal delegate represent
ing the American Federation of Labor, referred to this unusual
organization when he made his report, and I determined to in
vestigate it.
The "Trades Union and Labor Official Temperance Fellow
ship" was organized in 1903 at the Ilanley meeting bf the British
Trades Congress at a gathering of 300 delegates. Every year
siuce its organization the Fellowship has given a "tea" at the
time of the annual meetings of the British Trades Congress, and
in every case about one-half the dtlegates attending the Cougress
have been present. At the last meeting there were present 270
delegates, representative of a body of close upon one million work
ingmen. which comprises nearly one-half the trade unionists in
England.
The Fellowship has for its object "the personal practice and
promotion of total abstinence -and the removal of trades society
meetings from licensed premises." Every trade unionist .knows
how important the latter section is to the welfare of f ; labor
movement. It's a pity that the labor union must frequently be
come an aunex to the saloon, ofteu because .there is no meeting
place to be had aside from the room given by the saloonkeeper.
The result is that many of the men are unfit for business when
the meeting begins! It's all right to be a "good fellow." but the
labor movement will never succeed when its officials are "boozers."
The time will come in the labor movement when the union will
ARE WE T.TKE DUMB BEASTS? '
(By Henry George.)
Near the window by whieh I write a great bull is tethered by
a ring in his nose. Grazing round and round he has wound his
rope about the stake until now he stands a close prisoner, tantalized
by rich grass he cannot reach, unable even to toss his head to rid
himself of the flies that cluster on his shoulders. Now and again
he struggles vainly and then, after fitful bellowings, relapses into
silent misery. This bull, a very type of massive sfrength. who. be-j
cause he has not wit enough to see how he might be free, suffers
want iu sight of plenty, and is helplessly preyed upon by weaker
creatures, seems to me no unfit emblem of the working masses. In
all lands men whose toil creates abounding wealth are pinched with
poverty and, while advancing civilization opens wider vistas and
awakens new desires, are heid down to brutish levels by animal
needs. Bitterly conscious of injustice, feeling in their inmost souls
that they were made for more than so narrow a life, they, too.
spasmodically struggle and cry out. But until they trace effect to
cause, until they see how they are fettered and how they may be
freed, their struggles and outcries are as vain-as those of the bull.
Xay, they are vainer. I shall go out and drive the .bull in a way
that will untwist his hope. But who shall drive men into freedom?
Till they -use the reason with which they have been gifted nothing
can avail. For them there is no special providence. Under all forms
pf government the ultimate power
Kings or ansroeracies. nor lanu owners, nor capitalists, tuai. auy
where really enslave the people. It is their own ignorance. Most
clear is this where governments rest on universal suffrage. The
workingmen of the United States mold to their will legislatures,
courts and constitutions. Politicians strive for their favor, and
political parties bid against one another for their vote. But what
avails this? The little finger of aggregated capital must be thicker
than the loins of the working masses so long as they do not know
how to use their power. And how far from any agreement as to
practical reform are even those who must feel the injustice of
existing conditions may he seen in the labor organizations. Though
beginning to realize the wastefulness of strikes, and to feel the
necessity of acting on general conditions" through legislation, these
organizations, when they come to formulate political demands, seem
unable to unite upon any measures capable of large results.
A WORD WITH LINCOLN MERCHANTS
Mr. Merchant, even though you make a slightly better profit
cn the trust made cigars you handle than cn the Lincoln made
cigars, do you realize that in the long run you lose money?
Of course you want to know why we say this.
In the first place, the money you pay for the trust made cigars
goes out of Lincoln, never to return. Secondly, every time you
sell a trust made cigar you do that- much towards depriving some
Lincoln man of a job.
There are about thirty cigarmakers in Lincoln. If you pushed
Lincoln made cigars in preference to trust made cigars, it would
not - be long until there would be
coln. Two hundred cigarmakers working full time in Lincoln would
mean an increase of $3,000 a week in the pay roll, and that would
mean $2,000 a week more spent
man in the trust and tenement
penny's worth with you.
If 75 per cent of the cigars
Lincoln, every line of business would feel beneficial results. Why
Because it would put from $2,500
channels of the city.
Think this over. Exercise
ncss sense and your local pride
made cigars from under your counter and put them in the con
spicuous places in your cigar cases. Instead of making a local
patriot hunt for Lincoln made cigars, make the fancier of coolie-
made and sweat shop cigars do the
money in Lincoln as possible.
creasing the number of Lincoln
with you.
lies with the masses. It is not
150 to 200 cigarmakers in Lin
with you. The poorly paid work
factories of the east never trade a
consumed in Lincoln were made in
to $3,000 a week into the business
both your commonsense, your busi
and patriotism. Get those Lincoln
hunting. Keep as much Lincoln
Build up your own business by in
wage-earners who do business
demand that those who represent it in the transaction of "its im
portant business shall be total abstainers, for there is too much
at stake to leave in the hands of
economic welfare of our wives and children.
Evidently, the Englishmen have gotten to this point already.
It is no longer considered an honorable thing to put away three
bottles of porter, as the secretary of the General Federation of
Trades Unions put it.
The Fellowship has for its president Arthur Henderson. M. P..
who is also chairman of the labor party. Among the members of
the executive committee are John Burns. II. P., member of the
cabinet: AYill Steadman, M. P., secretary of the labor party; D.
J. Shackelton. M. P., chairman of the British Trades Union Con
gress indeed, there are twenty-six vice-presidents, every one of
whom is a member of parliament, and every one a trade unionist.
The secretary of the Fellowship is Harry Gosling, a labor member
of the London county council.
The Fellowship issues considerable literature and sends out
its manifestos through the various labor unions and through the
labor press. "When the "National Freedom Defense League," rep
resenting the liquor interests, sent out a statement purporting to
be in the interest of the workers, the entire executive committee
and all of the vice-presidents got out a counter petition, smash
ing to smithereens the statements issued by the pretended friends
of the workingiuan.
While not in direct affiliation with the British Trades Union
Congress, the Fellowship is in close touch with the entire labor
movement. There is no doubt that the organization is performing
a most valuable service in behalf of the great mass of toilers, to
sav nothinar about their wives and children.
Among the Live
Here, There
When the Musical Union meets Sun
day morning it will have the pleasure
of hearing JV. T. Pinney report on
his delegateship. Mr. Pinney was
delegate to the national convention at
Minneapolis recently, and he will have
an - interesting and instructive report.
to make. He was honored by being
made secretary of the credentials com
mittee.
"Of course we had a fine time so
cially," said Mr. Pinney to The Wage-
worker man, "and we transacted -a
lot of business. We heard nothing
in the convention about the dual or
ganization. I guess the danger of a
big bolt does not strike our head offi
cers as being very grave. Our head
quarters were at the West hotel, and
the local musicians lay awake nights
framing up schemes to show us a
good time. We took trolley rides to
all the parks. By the way, Lincoln
ought to take some lessons from Min
neapolis about parks and band con
certs. Minneapolis musicians gave us
a big banquet, and the St. Paul musi
cians gave us an elaborate luncheon
when we trollied over there. We had
a couple of theatre parties, too. A
number of the delegates had their
wives along, and the women were
well entertained by their Minneapolis
sisters. On the first day of the exm-
vention we had a parade. A little band
of just 500 pieces marched at the
head of the procession. It was a great
convention, but you'll have to wait
for my official report for something
about the business transactions.
At the recent convention of the
American Federation of Musicians,
held at Minneapolis. Minn., the follow
ing officers were elected Joseph X.
Weber, Xew York City, president;
George Bope, Columbus, Ohio, vice
president; Owen Miller, St- Louis, Mo.,
secretary; O. Ostendorff, St. Louis.
Mo., treasurer. Cincinnati captured
the convention . for 1910.
Secretary Owen Miller of the Musi
cians makes the following report of
the organization in the current fcsus
of the American Federationist: "We
continue to hold our own as regards
conditions. Most of our troubles are
with the moving picture companies
which refuse to employ union musi-
cians. because they can secure young
students very cheaply. However, we
are gradually getting a foothold with
this class of work. Trade conditions
are improving. One injunction re
cently issued against our members in
Chicago prevents them from talking
too. looking at or interfering in any
manner whatsoever with non-unionists.
We recently chartered new unions in
DeWitt. 111., and Mason City, la. We
have about forty thousand members
in our organization at this time."
Rev. Charles
Stelzle
befuddled-minded men the future
Workers
and Elsewhere
The current issue of the Americas
Federationlst contains the foiZowia
resume of the work of organization
now being carried forward In Ne
braska: 'Organized labor of Soma
Omaha, enjoys improved conditions a
result of organization. In general,
working conditions have Improved,
wages have increased, and boars have
been shortened by unionism, bat far
the unorganized workers, toa&ilaa
are still deplorable. Employ meat fc
steady among organized industries. Is
the unorganized packing nooses it
often happens that the men are called
and give two hoars work at I7 cents
per hoar and then laid off until the
boss sends for them again. As result
of agitation and work of A. F. of L.
organizer here, the unskilled laborers
in the packing plants obtained in
crease in wages front cents to
cents per hour. Federal anion
and bartender were organized last
month. Have retail clerks a 3d teast
sters" anions under way."
The above is a reminder that Lis
coin was promised the services of as
organizer many months ago tat with
the same old result. Xo organizer has
shown op as yet Perhaps it Is Jos
as wen to let Sooth Omaha be
"cleaned np first. Bat there Is s lot
of work that cocld be attended to
right here in Lincoln sad it ought
to be attended to without farther e-
Of course 3!r. Scadder has bees
seen.' The old men wQI be allowed
to pick their runs. The company
really can not afford to increase
wages until the occupation tax matter
13 settled. Ton know the Traction
company owes the city f i.MA back
taxes. Don't that sound famCiar? And
it is protesting payment. Same otd
familiar sound! And if it has to pay
it all of course it can not increase
wages and at the same time par divi
dends on that 12,000.00 of water. Of
course the motormen and conductors
would not think of insisting upon de
cent wages as long as there is any
likelihood that the company will have
to pay its taxes like ordinary corpor
ations and private citizens. la time,
perhaps, the company can get abowt
seven-eighths of its just taxes re
mitted like it did once before- By t fee
that time this sadden spell of employe
activity wEEI probably have died oat,
and then the company will not be
bothered by this insulting demand for
decent wages. We really beg the par
don of the "Real Live Ones" for men
tioning this matter under this head.
George Locker, editor, publisher and
foreman of the Nonpareil Poultry
Fann, called at The Wageworfcer
printery Wednesday to exhibit some
thin-spaced egg shells and panhandle
a few labor exchanges. "Some of my
friends. he said, "have arged ns to
denounce roar recent stovepipe story.
They say the writer had hit something
besides a stovepipe, bat I do not agree
with them. The story is probably
true, and it has me skinned at that.
Speaking of being skinned see these
scars? My Small Pics pallets keep
pecking the backs of my hands, thisk
ing they are covered with bras. A
Mediterranean hen came oft" this week,
having hatched a small pics table
with brevier box heads. That's a sad
tinder of the old hand-set days,
during the activity of the late cam
paign my hennery feot full of type See.
and the brooder was ratted. Some of
the forms had to be cleaned with lye.
My colleague. Freeman, Is also s bird
fancier, bat his settings are all leaded
and therefore easy to make no and
lift. However he may know enough
about the business to explain this phe
nomena: A 11-point hen at the Non
pareil yards has laid n case of 72
point light face. This I mm prepared
to prove. I am jnst now experiment
ing on an invention is the teesba&or
line. If successful I shall be alne to
make an onion set. A great many
of the eggs laid for setting ran into
mostly costard. Most of my typ
of poultry are two-nick, though I have
one apparently from Iowa." Having
thus delivered himself Locker 'appro
priated a pipeful of onion smoking to
bacco, grabbed a handful of exchanges
and pulled out for the rhickesery.
Charley Fear has been elected dele
gate from the Joplto. lio Typographi-
f Con tinned on page 5.)