WAGEWORKER
WILL M. MAUPIN, EDITOR
Published Weekly at 137 No. J 4th
St., Lincolr, Neb. One Dollar a Year.
Entered aa second-class matter April
21, 1904, at the postofflce at IJncoln,
Neb., under the Act of Congress of
March 3rd, 1879.
JUDGE MUNGER'S DECISION.
The Wageworker regrets that Judge
"Tom" Munger's decision in the guar
anty of deposits law was adverse,
holding that the law is unconstitu
tional. But the regrets are modified
by the fact that the decision is cal
culated to bring home to a lot of pro
fessional , men and farmers a few
truths that the union workers of the
country have been trying to promul
gate for several years. While the
unionists of the country were com
I -plaining of the arbitrary interference
of federal judges with American
right 8, the farmers and the profes
sional men gave little heed. The
farmer didn't care a rap about the
welfare of the union worker in fact,
the average farmer is antagonistic to
union labor. The professional men and
the business men merely smiled and
said a few words about "anarchists"
and "socialists" and let it go at that.
But now the farmer, the profes
sional men and the business men have
had driven home to them a realization
of the fact that the federal judiciary
has been slowly but surely usurping
powers that the czar of Russia would
not dare to exercise, powers that free
America is submitting to but which
our British cousins would fight to the
death, although they live under a king
and a hereditary house of lords.
What do you think of it, Mr.
Farmer? A sovereign state which
charters banks and exercises super
vision over them, is told by a federal
judge not noted for his knowledge of
law that the state cannot exercise
a supervisory power over the institu
tions which it charters. In other
words, a federal judge who owes his
position to political pull and respon
sible to no one, can set aside the laws
of a state, stop its machinery at his
sweet will, and thwart the expressed
will of the sovereign voters of the
state. Is is a power not wielded by
any king, czar or 'emperor 6t a civil
ized country. It puts a federal judge
above the legislative and executive
branches of the government, and
clothes him with autocratic powers.
This thing, this gigantic evil, is not
a matter of sudden growth; it is an
insidious growth that has been grow
ing slowly but surely while the people
slept upon their rights, until today it
is used to deprive free men of the
right of free speech and a free presB,
to deprive the sovereign people of
their power to legislate in their own
interests, and to make mere puppets
of men elected to enact the laws that
the people by their express vote de
clare they would have enacted.
So far as the killing of the guar
anty law is concerned the blow' is
not necessarily fatal, but it is hard
enough to make heretofore careless
and unobservant people sit up and
take notice. In that degree, at least.
Judge Munger's decision will be pro
ductive of good. It is a decision that
will hit farmers and business as hard
as some of the federal court decisions
against union men.
If It shall result in awakening the
people to a realizing sense of the dan-
ger that now confronts them in the
shape of usurpation of power by the
federal judiciary, we can easily stand
the blow of having the guaranty of
deposits law declared unconstitutional
by a federal judge. If it results in
arousing the people to such an extent
that they will proceed to deprive these
federal judges of their power, then all
will be well.
But if the people continue their
easy-going methods and continue to
let this usurpation grow and increase,
then liberty will soon be a byword,
and freedom will be only a memory.'
"THOSE PESTIFEROUS SOCIAL.
ISTS."
A number of the daily newspapers
are trying to make it appear that
the split in the Ohio Federation of
Labor was caused by the socialists.
Truly those "pestiferous socialists"
have much to answer for. Every time
the workingmen fall to agree, up
jumps some dally newspaper edited
from the business office and declares
that "socialism" caused the split. And
then a whole lot of workingmen who
ought to know better proceed to damn
the socialists and declare that their
own particular political party is the
cnly sure salvation of the workers.
The fact of the matter is that so
cialism bad absolutely nothing to do
with the Ohio situation. That is the
result of the fight between two rival
factions of the Brotherhood of Elec
trical Workers. But a little thing like
a fact does not deter the partisan
press from trying to make working
men believe that socialism is the one
thing that stands between them and
a recognition of their just claims?.
And it does beat thunder how many
workingmen there are who, not know
ing the first thing about socialism,
are ready to believe that socialism
means anarchy, or even worse. Aid
yet every workingman is socialistic
at heart. So is every other man who
does not feed nd fatten on special
privilege.
Do you believe in municipal owner
ship , of waterworks and lighting
plants? If you do you are a socialist
to that extent.
Are you opposed to special privi
lege? If you are you are 'tinged
with socialism."
It is not necessary for a man to
believe everything that the socialist
organs and orators say in order to
be a socialist. Nor is it necessary to
believe as Aldrich believes in order
to be a republican, or as "Boss" Mur
phy believes in order to be a demo
crat. We know men who claim to be
republicans who are theoretical free
traders, and we know men who claim
to be democrats who believe in a pro
tective tariff. And there are men
who claim to be socialists who do
not know the difference between the
teachings of Karl Marx and the teach
ings of Johann Most.
But we are wandering far afield
from what 'we started out to say.
What we want to impress upon your
minds is that you will be foolish if
you let this daily newspaper talk
about "socialism" deceive you. When
the mouthpieces of privilege can not
think of anything else to frighten
workingmen away from the study of
economic questions they straightway
begin to yell "socialism!" And a
whole lot of men who ought to be
educating themselves by reading and
study fall for the game.
We seize upon this occasion to con
gratulate The Nebraska State Capital
on its splendid edition last week. It
was a beauty and it advertised Lin
coln to' splendid advantage without in
the least taking on the nature of a
"boom" edition. Now and then this
humble little' paper finds itself com
pelled to disagree with the esteemed
Capital, but it is In hearty accord
with it when it asserts that Lincoln
is a bully good town, growing nicely,
offering splendid advantages to people
who are looking for homes in a moral
community and educational facilities
that are unsurpassed. That is a plat
form that we can both stand on and
we do.
As we understand it the average
republican leader in Nebraska is un
willing to let the people benefit by
a law enacted by a democratic legis
lature, but quite willing to let a re
publican officeholder benefit by opera
tion of the same law enacted by the
same democratic legislature. If we
are wrong we are quite willing for
some esteemed republican contempo
rary to set us right.
A federal judge, appointed through
a political pull, says Nebraska cannot
demand security for deposits from
banks that are chartered by the star.e
itself. How does government by in
junction strike you, now, Mr. Farme
and Mr. Small Business Man?
The report that the street railway
strike in Omaha has been settled is
untrue. The fight is still on, and if
you do not believe it, ask President
Wattles. He knows.
When Governor Shallenberger takes
his trenchant pen in hand he can
write seething words about "govern
ment by injunction" that recall Uncle
Samuel Gompers at his best.
Well, The ; Wageworker arises to
suggest that we attach an enacting
clause to some federal judge and thus
save all the expense of future legis
lative sessions.
We are rapidly nearing the time
when legislatures ' and congress will
have to ask permission of every 2x4
federal ' judge before enacting a law.
President Taft says there never was
any chance for "Gompers' plank to be
adopted by the republican national
convention." Well?
When Mr. Roosevelt gets tired of
shedding blodd over in Africa he will
come home and shed a lot more ink.
Police Judge Risser makes a manly
appeal to the voters, standing upon
his record.'
Central Labor Union meets next
Tuesday evening. Big doings. Be
there! 1
The merchants of Lincoln are hav
ing their hat troubles glory be!
The Labor Temple is here. It is now
up to you to help keep it here.
Just about the time Mayor Love
You'll Be
i
i 1
mm-
Armstrong Clothing Co.
Good Clothes Merchants
thinks he has got an agreement out
of the Traction company he finds that
he has been talking to Mr. John Mc
Donald as a private individual. The
Traction company has Dr. Jekyl and
Mr. Hyde skinned both ways from the
middle.
John Weisman asks you to look into
his public and private record before
voting for register of deeds. He is a
member of the Order of Railway Con
ductors, and a unionist of the right
stamp. A vote for him is a vote for
a fellow unionist.
When the trusted officer of a union
embezzles funds entrusted into his
hands by his fellow workers, he is
bad enough. But when in addition
to that he deliberately "scabs" on his
trusting fellows he has added insult
to injury.
Walk by the Labor Temple and hear
the sound of the hammer and the saw.
Then drop a few dollars in ' the slot
and watch the Labor Temple project
achieve success.
J
By the way, will the next step be
for a federal judge to enjoin a legis
lature from enacting legislation that
the "business interests" oppose?
A vote for Louis Faulhaber for sher
iff is a vote for a union man who is
not a chronic officeseeker. He is
competent, reliable and worthy.
With no lessening of our respect
for the courts we are free to admit
a lessening respect for some judges.
Go over to the Labor Temple and
see if it looks like business.
Look at the man, not at the party
label!
"The way of the transgressor is
hard."
Boost the Labor Temple!
HAVING HAT TROUBLES.
Local Furnishing Houses Worrying
Over Their Winter Stocks.
Local merchants who handle hats
are having their troubles. They have
trouble in getting hats with the union
label, and when the hats come minus
the label they are pretty sure to be
unsatisfactory in make and material.
Two years ago a certain union made
hat was a favorite in Lincoln, but the
With the new models we offer to union men in
the way of Union Label Garments. You may
rest assured that you will be well dressed if you
get into one of these artistic suits. You will be
agreeably surprised at the bargains we offer you
at $18.00
$20, $25
at $27.50
$30, $35
for the Critical Young Men---
who have a pretty well fixed idea as to just
what " they want we've studied your
wants, and have made a special point of
having it here. Come and see for yourself .
"Superior" Union Suits "Everwear" Hosiery
company "went wrong." It picked up
non-unionists and tried to go ahead,
but not less than six cases of the
"scab" hats have been returned by Lin
coln merchants because they were not
fit to sell. If this proportion holds
true over the country that concern
must be getting a raft of hats back.
"A half dozen brands that used to
be union made and worth the price
are absolutely no-good now," said a
local hat dealer. "We tried them but
we've had to send them back. It has
been almost impossible to get labeled
hats for the last six months, but now
that the manufacturers have gotten
away from that fool association thev
are getting the labels back in and
we are expecting shipments every
day ..Lots of these hats are union made
but they are minus the label on ac
count of the agreement. But what's
the use of telling the union men that?
They insist on the label, and I'm glad
of it. We'll have them here this week
or next."
In the meantime the United Hat
ters of North America are slowly put
ting the crimps into the association
of union hating employes. . Every day
sees some employer deserting the
open shop crowd and getting back
into the union label fold.
ELECTRICAL WORKERS' FIGHT.
(Continued from Page One.)
who proclaimed himself king of Israel.
The trees decided they wanted a king
and offered the crown to the cedars
of Lebanon. The cedars refused, as
did every other tree to which the
offer was made. Finally the bramble
said it was willing to take the job,
and assuming the crown invited the
big trees to come and rest beneath
its shade.
'T guess we'll not undertake to get
into the shade of the McNulty-Coliins
bunch for a while yet," remarked tha
scripturally informed brother.
Of course the Reid-Murphy faction
will not be allowed any delegates at
the Toronto convention, but it will be
represented by numerous proxies
delegates from other unions who are
in sympathy with them. The Lincoln
local hopes to have its side of the
case presented and fought for by a
Lincoln man who is thoroughly fa
miliar with the points at issue.
Lincoln electrical workers are show
ing signs of taking the lead in the
matter of boosting for the Labor Tem
ple. It already holds more stock than
any other local union, and it is tak
ing more every day. It decided to
Delighted
We crowd more value into these Gar
ments than you get anywhere else on
earth. These are American woolens,
in plain and fancy fabrics of the latest
models. Equal to most any custom
made garment. ...
We are showing Suits and Overcoats
that can't fail to please the most par
ticular. Made of the best imported
woolens in distinctive styles tailor
ing best, fit perfect. These can't be
excelled by the best custom tailors.
invest $200 more at the meeting last
Thursday evening. In addition to pur
chasing the stock the electrical work
ers will contribute the wiring of the
Temple. C. E. Betz having removed
from the jurisdiction, W. L. Mayer is
acting as secretary-treasurer of : the
Iowa-Nebraska district organization.
The Lincoln local is going to make
a fight for the honor of being the first
local to pay its rent a year in ad
vance and hold a union meeting in
the Temple.
Work continues exceptionally good,
and if there are any idle men in the
electrical line they are idle from
choice. ' .
IN TORONTO.
Labor Temple Has Proved to be a
Profitable Investment.
'The annual statement of the di
rectors of the Toronto Labor Temple
shows that the year's business was a
profitable one. The receipts amounted
to $13,568,33, leaving a balance of $1,
856.18, The assets of the company are
the building, $35,888.34; furniture,
$7,500. The profits show an unde
clared dividend of over 13 per cent.
The excess of assets over liabilities Is
$17,309.87. The original allotment of
stock has been taken up, and the sin.
gle transaction of $5.00 for the year
closed the final allotment. At present
there is no stock on the market, and
the company will not issue any more,
as the stock as it now stands Is worth
(more than double what was paid for
it. ' t '
The Detroit plant of the American
Car & Foundry company has received
an order for 2,000 freight cars for the
Chicago Great Western railroad.
THE PUBLIC RIGHTS.
When Disputes Arise the State Should
' Then Step In.
The strike of the street car men
in Omaha brings with great force
to the minds of visitors and residents
there the fact that we need hetter
laws governing such matters. Each
party to the controversy has made
demands which the other refuses to
accept. Ordinarily, in the matter of
a fight between two parties the rest
of us can look on and say, "fight dog,
fight bear, my dog ain't there,", but
in this case our dog is there.. When
both parties to a strike of any public
service corporation cannot agree the
state should have the right to force
arbitration of the dispute, and pend
ing such settlement see that the rights
of the public are; maintained. Ne
braska City Press. . -
FAIR BARBER SHOPS.
You Will Find the Union Card in the
Following Places.
When you enter a barber shop, see
that the union shop card is in plain
sight before you get into the chair.
If the card is not to be seen, go else
where. The union shop ' card is a
guarantee of a cleanly shop, a smooth
shave or good hair-cut, and courteous
treatment The following barber
shops are entitled to the patronage of
union men: " ' '
George Petro, 1010 O.
J. J. Simmon. 1001 O.
George Shaffer, Lincoln Hotel.
C. B. Ellis, Windsor Hotel. ''..,
D. S. Crop, Capital Hotel.
M. J. Roberts, Royal Hotel.
A. L. Kimmerer, Lindell Hotel.
C. A. Green, 120 North Eleventh.
E. A. Wood, 1206 O.
Chaplin & Ryan, 129 North Twelfth.
E. C. Evans. 1121 P. :
Bert Sturm, 116 South Thirteenth.
J. B. Raynor, 1501 O.
Muck & Barthelman, 122 , South
Twelfth.
, J." J. Simpson, 922 P.
Frank Malone, Havelock. -.
C. A. Hughart, Havelock.
UNION PRINT 8HOPS.
Prlnteries That Are Entitled to Us
the Allied Trades Label.
Following is a list of the printing
offices in Lincoln that are entitled
to, the use of the Allied Printing
Trades label, together' with the num
ber of the label used by each shop:
- Jacob North & Co., No. 1. .
Chas. A. Simmons, No. 2. '
Freie Presse, No 3. .
Woodruff-Collins, No. 4. --
Graves & Payne, No, 5.
State Printing Co., No. 6.
Star Publishing Co., No. 7.
Western Newspaper Union, No. 8.
Wood Printing Co., No. 9. '
Searle Publishing Co., No.' 10.
Kuhl Printing Co., No. 25.'
George Brothers, No. 11.
McVey, No. 12.
Lincoln Herald, No. 14.
New Century Printers, No. 17.
Gillispie & Phillips, No. 18.
Herburger, The Printer, No. 20.
