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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1909)
U fr unrr S3 o r1 J I I - 1 E TRADES Jjjgjffi COUNCiL) "tat u-f . VOL.. LIXCOLX, NEBRASKA, AUGUST 7, 1909 8 PAGES 2s O. 1H Among the Live Ones In This Good Town Emniett Flood is stirring up the ani mals down east. You remember Flood he is the organizer who performed such good work in Lincoln a few weeks ago. When he left here he went to Chicago to spend a couple of weeks with his family. From there he was ordered down into West Virgin ia to help the striking tin plate, iron and steel workers. He went to Mor gactown, W. Ya.. and the chief of po lice ordered hint out of town. No one charged Flood with being a vagrant. There was no charge against him at an. But he was a "labor agitator. He was try ins to help honest workers se cure a small share of justice, and of course that was awfully wicked. Couldn't stand for that kind of a man In Morgantown. And the "interests" their power to loot. But hear this splendid woman tell it. She will open your eyes. "The State." published in Omaha by the advocates of "personal liberty." and printed without the union label, says: "The next governor of Nebras ka will be elected upon the flat-footed declaration that he Is opposed to pro hibition." We have said time and again that the gentlemen interested in perpetu ating the distillery and brewery inter ests in this state were a set of chumps in their selection of men to handle the publicity end of their campaign. The above declaration proves it- "The State" is edited by a damphool who a beauty. It will be illustrated, con- and the thanks of the organization tain some historical sketches, some 'are. due Manager Gaatz of the com speciai articles of interest and the pany and Manager Zehrung of the news of the labor world. ' Oliver. thinks he is earning his money by higher a p. knowing that they had the j making such assertions. If his em- mayor, and that the mayor had a tool in the chief of police, gave the mayor the tip that Flood would have to go. The mayor gave the chief the tip. and the chief gave Flood the order to "move on!" You've got a photograph of that square-chinned Irishman "moving on." haven't you? He's stili in Morgan town. So is Frank Morrison, and sev eral other labor leaders. And they re standing on their rights, and they will stand there until some subservient judge sends them to jail for acting up on their rights as freemen. Fine situ ation, isn't it. when a man who is helping workingmen secure justice is ordered out of town? But that's what we've come to in this "land of the free." Secretary Frank Hart of the Nebras ka Federation of Labor. re;orts that the locals throughout the state are coming into the to'.d In a most gratify- plovers think so, it only proves how easily they can be separated from their money. The Wageworker is not an advocate of state-wide prohibition. It does not believe state-wide prohibition would be effective if adopted at this time. But the man who runs for gov ernor of Nebraska on an anti-prohibi tion platform in 1910 is defeated 50, 000 before the race starts. This does not mean that the successful candi date must advocate prohibition it simply means that a candidate on a platform specifically opposing prohi bition will stand about as much show as a yellow-legged chicken at a Meth odist camp meeting. The men who are backing "The State" are fooling away their money as long as they pursue their present policy. Will some advocate of "protection please answer: Bricklayers, working in an unpro tected industry, receive trom w m ing manner. Already some thirty I cents per hour. Barters working in unions hare affiliated, and more are J carpet factories and carpet manufao- reporting every day. sthin a couple ! turers enjoy the righest rate of "pro of weeks Secretary Hart will have printed copies ot the cjpas.Ututioa pt the Federation, and each local union will be supplied with copies. In the meanwhile, it ycur union has not yet affiliated. get busy! The indications are that Lincoln will be well represented on the visit ors'" list at the St. Joseph convention of the International Typographical Union. In addition to Delegates Lock er and Freeman, a dozen or more printers will be on the spot to add their voices to the general enthusiasm. and Mrs. Hebbard. the Auxiliary's del esate. will be accompanied by several members of that organization. When the Lincoln bunch reaches old Joe Ro bideaux's town it will make that sleepy burg sit up and take notice. Fred Murray, business agent of iiie Building Trades Council of Omaha, and Charles EL Rigby, representing the Structural Iron Workers of the same city, were in Lincoln on business last Tuesday and ELECTRICAL WORKERS. A Few Newsy Notes About the Boys Who Manipulate "Juice." Everett E. Beta, former president cailed at Wageworker of the Lincoln local and now secretary- headquarters. The structural work on the new state fair building I trict. oofjuia jiuier, aaagaier 01 .u r. ana iron treasurer of the Xebraska-Iowa dis- was married . Sunday to Miss is being performed by non-union la bor working at very low wages. They came down to see about it, and gath ered a few pointers that should inter est the taxpayers of the great state of Nebraska the people who are pay ing out the money. Here's the best one we've heard lately, taken from the Bricklayer and Mason: "A brother of No. asked a non union bracklayer the other day if he would not join the union. The non union bricklayer replied that he would lose too much money. 'How is that?" asked the union bricklayer. Said the non-union bricklayer. 'If I had to stop on a rainy day I would lose $3.60. By not belonging to the union I would only lose $2.00 on a rainy day." Now that the theatrical season in Lincoln is closed with the exception of the Oliver, it is to be hoped that the Theatrical Workers Association will send representatives to the Central Labor Union. Their excuse hereto fore has been a good one, but what's to prevent them from getting in line now? TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION. August Meeting Was a Short One, But full of Lively Business. Lincoln Typographical Union met last Sunday and transacted a lot of business in record time. The heat was intense, which may acconnt for the temperature of some of the discus sions. A few instructions were given Delegates Locker and Freeman and some financial business transacted. A special committee was appointed to in vestigate certain matters of interest to the local. Mrs. Hoffmeister is almost wholly recovered from her recent severe ill ness. Mrs. Frank Coffey and youngest son are in Lincoln and will probably re main for several months. Mrs. Coffey has been confined to her room almost continuously since returning to Lin coln, but is now recovering. The convention meets in St. Joseph next Monday, and while there are no definite announcements as to who will Here's a little pointer for some who I e'na Iron uncoin tne indications may need it. and who could profit by are that tnere win lot of them Mrs. H. H. Miller. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's parents, 126 South Fifteenth street, Re. W. Z. Zenor, pastor of the East Side Christian church, officiating. Miss Winnifred Miller, sister of the bride, officiated as bridesmaid, and Mr. Har vey: Day. was groomsman. Miss Beu- lah Postal played the wedding march. The ceremony was witnessed by rela tives only. Mr. and Mrs. Betz de parted almost immediately for a wed ding journey which will include Ni agara Falls, the great lakes and other resorts. The trades unionists of Lin coln, among whom Mr. Betz has been active, extend their hearty congratula tions to the newly married pair and wish them a long and happy married life. The strike of the inside men con tinues at Omaha, but the men are gradually winning out. Word was re ceived early in the week that six firms had "come across" with signatures to an agreement, with indications of more to follow. Organizer Hamilton, to whom has been given the task of whipping the Reid faction back into the old regime. is now visiting central bodies and threatening them with the loss of their charters if they do not Immediately unseat the Reid delegates and make room for the faction recognized by the Denver convention. He will probably be in Lincoln in a short time, and ther-? will be some fun. tection" receive 1,4 cents per hour. Why.tbe diffeceae,t.-. - Linotype operators on daily news papers receive from 50 to 70 cents per hour, and there is no protective tariff on daily newspapers. The card ing machine tender In a cotton mill and the cotton manufacturers are pro tected to the limit receive 13 cents an hour. Why the difference? Taken as a whole the workmen in the unprotected industries receive from ITS to 230 per cent higher wages than the workers in the highly protect ed industries. Why the difference? The Wageworker will give space for reply. THE MUSICIANS. "Hours Too Long" Says Government Report The presence of Miss Mary McDow ell la Lincoln on Labor Day Is now as sured. The Labor Day committee has received definite assurance from Miss McDowell that she will be here on the Saturday before, and that if ar rangements are made she will speak la two churches in Lincoln on the Sunday preceding Labor's great holi day.. The Wageworker. acting for the committee, will W glad to receive of fers from the down-town churches. Miss McDowell will preach a gospel that Is as fully inspired as the gospel of the Naiarene, for it will be based upon the Nazarene's gospel. She will preach the gospel of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man with especial emphasis on the broth erhood of man." Lincoln people who fail to hear this talented woman will miss something well worth while. Mary McDomell Is the head worker in the University of Chicago Settlement In Chicago. She it was who organized the packinghouse girls and led them in their fight for treatment just a little better than the average swine owner accords bis pigs. She told the world the awful horrors, the nastiness, the filth, the immorality of the stock yards and packing houses during that mem orable strike. The newspapers of Chicago closed their columns to her, but she spoke from the public plat form, and she aroused the sleeping conscience of Chicago. Mary McDowell Is a better citizen than any of the smug-faced financiers who are growing rich at the expense of human flesh and blood and posing as "leading citi zens." She can't vote, but the import ed slaves of the employers can, and do. That's the way the "business in terests" of Chicago manage to retain observing it: The time to strike is not when times are hard and business duIL W. C. Boyer, who is subbing for Frank A. Kennedy as editor of the Omaha Western Laborer, while "Sa die" homesteads a Dakota ranch, is an adept with the shears, but evident ly has not sufficient control of the pencil to write a credit line. Pueblo Industrial Review; Come on, now. Bill: We're awfully anxious to reprint what you say about this when you see it. The Wageworker desires to apolo gize to unionists in general and the Garment Workers in particular for the appearance in last week's issue of an advertisement of the "Skirt Store.' The editor was as bent when the paper was made up and the enterprising ad solicitor, forgetful of the facts turned in the copy. The "Skirt Store" is de serving of the patronage of those who are opposed to unions and desire to purchase the product of unorganized and underpaid labor. The Wagework er does not make it a point to accept .advertising from such concerns, how ever. Hence the apology. ere the convention adjourns. Mr. and Mrs. Will Bustard announce their in tention to be there. Mrs. Will Manpin will attend, and Mr. Maupin will try and get down a couple of days. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Coffey will try and put in a couple of days. H. C. Peate will probably register early in the week. Henry Devlin has taken his card and departed for other fields. Colonels Mulhall and Peterson came up from Beatrice Sunday to attend union meeting. The "subs" will probably have fat picking next week. St. Joseph con vention, you know. CENTRAL LABOR UNION. We have been asked to join in a news paper crusade against the "mail order houses." We beg to be ex cused. Business firms that advertise in The Wageworker need have no fear of the mail order grafters. Business firms that do not advertise in this great organ of industrial 'betterment have only themselves to blame if the mail order grafters get 'em. The Wageworker will, as usual, is sue a special "Labor Day Edition," and it goes without saying that it will be Important Meeting Scheduled to Be Held Next Tuesday Evening. The Central Labor Union will meet in regular ses n isnxtoeo. in regular session next Tuesday even ing and there is every reason why it should be well attended. There is a probability that the central body will be called to account by the American Federation of Labor for not unseating the dele gates from the Electrical Workers' Union. This is a matter that can not be staved off much longer, and when it comes up it means a lively fight. Treasurer Evans will probably have his report of the recent benefit ready to submit. The benefit, kindly ten dered by the Grace Hayward Stock company and Manager Zehrung of the Oliver was held last Friday night, and while not as largely patronized as at least one former benefit was financial ly successful. The house was well filled and the company gave a delight ful performance of "The Defaulter." The central body's treasury is consid erably richer by reason of the benefit. Sensational Reports That Are Calcu- ".. . lated to Mislead. The sensational reports in the daily papers concerning the meeting of the Musicians last Sunday are calculated to mislead the public There is really nothing to excite anyone. The Musi cians are amply able to handle their own affairs and to deal justly with all concerned in the present difficulty. The difficulty is not over the nse of non-union musicians in the band en gaged to give concerts in the park. Neither has it to do with the fact that the park concerts have operated to discontinue engagements at an other place.- It is wholly regarding a very simple law of the union. Mr. Hagenow, who took an active part in raising the concert fund, was given charge of the concerts. The musicians employed are union men. Mr. Hagen ow, who directs the band, is not an ac tive member of the union. His atti tude towards the onion is not a se cret. At no time has he ever been fa vorably ineluned. Several years ago. which director of Hagenows band he succeeded in blocking an attempt to organize a union. When the musicians did organize they made a clean sweep and Mr. Hagenow came into the fold. Later he was placed on the honorary list, he having declared his withdrawal from the professional field. He is now asked to resume full membership, he being again acting in a professional capacity. That is the whole thing in nutshell, and noon that basis the matter will be settled. There is noth ing save a laugh in the declaration of a Hagenow partisan that Mr. Hagenow is the only man in Lincoln who can act as a band director. That Mr. Hag enow is a good director is beyond dis pute, bat if he were to suddenly drop out, if he should suddenly be removed from the scene of action, there is no doubt some one could be found who could direct a band in god style. There is no doubt that this contro- very will be amicably settled. Mr. Hagenow can not afford to refuse to comply with the rules and regulations of the organization. Nor can the or ganization afford to wink at violations of its rules and regulations. By the time the union meets again the difficulty will doubtless have been adjusted. INJUNCTION DENIED. The petition of the American Sheet and Tin Plate company for an injunc tion against Its striking employes at the Elwood plant, Goshen, Ind., was denied by Judge Baker in the United States circuit court. In an important report made by Pro fessor Irving Fisher of Yale University to the National Conservation Commis sion, and just issued by the govern ment printing office at Washington, it is expressly and unequivocally stated that the most careful investigations show that the eight-hour day re sults in a higher individual and gener al efficiency both as to quality and quantity of product. Professor Fisher says: The present working day is a strik ing example of the failure to conesrre national vitality. In order to keep la bor power unimpaired, the working day should be physiological L e., it should as would enable the average individual to completely recuperate over night. Otherwise, instead of a simple daily cycle, there is a progres sive deterioration. A reduction in the length of the work day would be a chief means of improving the vital ity of the workmen, as well as the worth of life to them. The fatigue of workmen is largely traceable to their lonk work day and serves to start a vicious circle. Fa tigue puts the workman in an abnor mal frame ofmind He seeks to dead en his fatigue by alcohol, tobacco, ex citing amusements, and excesses of all kinds. The momentary relief which he thereby purchased at the expense of an increasing susceptibility to fa tigue, resulting sooner or later in complete depletion of his vital ener gies and in the contraction of tuber culosis or other fatal disease. The de crease in the length of the working day has not dimished the total out put. "An instance in which the eight hour day superseded the nine-hoar day with entire success is the case of the Salford Iron Works, of Mather & Piatt, at Manchester, Eng., which changed to the eight-hour day in 1895. As. the firm's products were subject to keen competition in both home and foreign markets, it was obliged to lock care fully after the labor cost, and its con clusion that such cost did not increase in consequence of the reduction in working hours was reached after ex tremely accurate comparisons by ac countants, who of coarse took into consideration the saving in consum ables, wear and tear fuel, etc. The bureau of labor inquired of Messrs. Mather & Piatt if they were still on the eight-hour basis, and received a reply dated May 24, 1904. in which they stated that: " 'Our experience since the first year in which it (the eight-hour system) was tried has fully borne ont the con clusions then arrived at, and we are fully satisfied that as regards the com parison between eight and nine hoars per day, the balance of advantage is in favor of the shorter period. (a "In 1904, the hoars of labor of about 45.000 workmen in British government factories and workshops were re duced to forty-eight hoars per week. Of this number, 18,600 received a re duction of five and three-foarths hoars a week, and 24,300 had their time re duced two and one-half boars a week. With no change in piece rates the workmen were able to earn as much as formerly. Day workers received an increased hourly rate of pay to make their earnings per week of forty-eight hours eqnal to those per week of fifty hoars. It was not found necessary to increase the number of day work ers, (by "In 1899 the owners of the great Leiss optical goods factory at Jena, Germany, introduced the eight hour day and then made careful records of the results. In 1903 it was announced that although the aggregate number of hours worked had decreased 15 per cent the output per hour had increased 16.2 per cent, (c) "At Liege it was found in a sulphur ic acid establishment similar to a foundry Id) that shortening the work ing day from eleven hours to ten, from ten to nine, and so on gradually down to seven and one-half, resulted, in each case. In an increase of the out put. "The Solvay Process Company, of Syracuse, installed in 1892, a system of three eight-hour shifts in place of the two previous shifts of eleven and thirteen hours, respectively. It was stated by the assistant general man ager in 1905 that the change had con- caned on to do their best work at their highest state of efficiency which hail not been possible ca the two-shift ba sis. President Hazard of the com pany writes: "In general. I can say that the re sults of the change from a twelve hour shift to an eight-hoar shift were very satisfactory and have rowtinoett to be so. While the immediate re sult was to considerably increase the cost per nnit of prod'c. the efficiency of the men gradually Increased, so that at the end of a boot one year to first increase has been overcome aad the cost per nnit of product fell to a point even lower than had been ob tained under the twelve-hour shift, aad farther, the time consumed per wait of product has since bees so reduced that we are today and for some time have been operating with a mmaXUsr number of ooars per anit of product than we J ad under the twelve-hour shift. "Further proof of the benefits of the change to the three-shift day is furnished by the records of toe Sol way Mntnal Benefit As social low or and The days lost per mas ay- sickness each year fen from sevea aad one-half days in 1331 to five aad oae half days in 1904. "It is not maintained that in ail cases productivity win be as great la eight hoars as in nine. Cases to the contrary could also be cited. The point to be insisted apoa is not tiaT it is profitable to aa employer ta make the' work day shorter, for eftea it is not. but to show thai it is proSt able to the nation and the race. Con tinnal fatigue is mimical to national vitality, and however it may affect the commercial proSt of the fruD vidtial. it will in the end deplete the vital resources oo waich national ef ficiency depends. "In the interests of this efficiency a longer time at noon for teach is asa ally necessary. Tie.jxystst economy of lunch time Is "sborwisitedl leads to food bolting, indlgesiioa, a drowsy and tired afternoon, and inferior work. This has beea shows by artaal experi ence. (e "The accident baBetiaa of the In terstate Commerce Commission con tain frequent records of disasters caused by the long hoars of railway employes. In a recent buHetia. So. 27. two collisions are attributed to the mistakes of employes who have been oa duty much longer than the instinct of safety should allow. Col lision No. 3 (O. which killed two aad injured thirteen, was due to the mis take of the station operator, who- had been on doty from 7 a. m. to S:3 p. m, and who had returned to duty at $ p. m The collision took place at 12:30 a. m.. the next morning." So. (a) New York Labor Bulletin 25. June. 1935. p. 2W. (b) Board. of Trade Labor Gazette. July. 1905. reported in New (Tork La bor Bulletin. No. 23. March. 13. fc New York Labor BuSetia. No. 25. June. 1905. p. 244. (dl See L. G. Fromoat. Tne Exoeri ence Indastrielle de Red action de la Jooruel de Travail " Brussels. Solvay Institute. 1906. (e) See especially description of a French experiment cited by Hubert Higgins iu "HamanicuUsre." w York (Stokes). 190. (O Accident Bulletin. Not 27. Jasa ary to March. 190. PRESS FEEDERS AND ASSISTANTS. Will Withdraw From Union and Organize Themselves. At the last meeting of Pressmen's Union No. 166. the feeders aad assis tants decided to withdraw aad re-organize as a local of their own. Their intention is to obtain the charter of No. 4S, which was held in Lincoln sev eral years ago. and then proceed along authorized lines. There is no division in the ranks, the pressmen being in favor of the move and wishing the assistants asd feeders all manner of success. The new local will begin active work as soon as possible, and The Wageworker confidently expects It to give a good, report of itself. The local's delegate to the interna tional convention submitted an inter esting report at the last meeting of the anion. A full report of the eonven- siderably lessened the wear and tear 1 tion will appear in the current issue of on the men,, and that they could be I the American Pressman.
