WA6EW0RKER
WILL M. MAUPM, EDITOR
Published Weekly at 137 No. 14th
St., Lincolr. Neb. One Dollar a Year.
Entered aa second-class matter April
Zl. 1904. at the postofflce at Lincoln,
Neb., under the Act of Congress of
March 3rd. 1879.
ARE YOU DEALING WITH
THEM7 THE HOME MER-
CHANTS.
We want to call attention to
our advertisers. Are you deal-
Ing with them? They are the
ones who are making this pa-
per possible and are demon-
strating in the only way prac-
ticable that they want your
trade. They deserve it and
0 should get It. Are you trading
with merchants who refuse to
patronize these columns? If so,
you are defeating the purposes
of this paper, which is to aid
you in keeping fair living con-
ditions. If a merchant wants
your patronage we know of no
better way to demonstrate it
than for him to say so through
these columns. Please keep in
mind and watch the regular
change of advertisements. Our
advertisers are giving you the
best goods at the lowest rates.
We pride ourselves on the se-
lect quality of our advertisers.
, '
SSEAKING OF THE MILITIA.
' When a. company of National
Guardsmen of the District of Columbia
wanted to participate in the parade in
honor of President Samuel Gompers'
return from Europe, President ' Gom
pers vetoed the proposition. The Brick
layers and Masons and the Brick, Tile
and Terra Cotta Workers' Union
have announced withdrawals of sick
and death benefits from members who
are members of the militia. In brief,
organized labor has time and again set
its face against having any part or par
cel In the make-up of the militia.
This Is due to the well-known fact
that the militia is never used, save in
the case of actual war, except to be
turned out to protest the property of
employers never to protect the rights
of employeB.
But we have another thought on this
subject. Instead of standing aloof and
complaining because the militia is
used against them too often, why not
let the tradc3 unionists or the country
quietly fill up the ranks of the militia
regiments,, elect the officers and con
trol the whole system? It would be
splendid discipline, because It would
teach men to obey orders with
out question and that is something
that workers need to learn before they
can make their demands effective. And
when the big employers learn that the
militia Is composed of men who are
not the playthings of capital and of
politicians they will be awfully slow
in demanding that it be called out.
Before the Omaha street car strike
was forty-eight hours old, and before
there was even the faintest symtom of
violence, one of the men at the head
of the Omaha Business Men's Associa
tion was in Lincoln begging the gover
nor to send a couple of militia com
panies to Omaha "to protect proper
ty" that never was in danger. To "pro
tect property?" Not on your life! To
awe into submission workers who were
demanding decent conditions decent
working hours and living' wages.
The militia would have been the last
thought of the union busters if they
knew that the militia was made up of
union men and too independent to be
used for the selfish ends of men who
profit by grinding the faces of the
poor.
The more we think about it the
more we are of the opinion that we
have been overlooking a good bit in
this matter of the state militia.
' THE TRACTION AGREEMENT.
, After considerable maneuvering a
new management has the Traction Co.
Naturally the new management is very
profuse in its promises of what It is
going to do in the way of extensions
and betterments, and knowing many
of the men making up the new board
The Wageworker Is quite confident
that they mean what they say. Most
of the men connected with the new
management are progressive business
men who know from experience that
the business not going forward is the
business that is going backward
Knowing this they will naturally seek
to secure new business by supplying
constantly Increasing service. The
Wageworker heartily wishes them the
fullest measure of deserved success
But it would seize this occasion
call the attention of the new manage
ment to a few things that are quite
as much to be desired as extension of
lines, better equipment and increased
service and that is better pay and
better conditions for the men who man
the cars. If the new management
TV-ants to start in with the good will
and hearty support of every progres
sive and right-minded citizen, its first
act will be to increase the wage scale
of the car men to a living basis and
re-arrange the schedules so as to give
the men decent hours of service. Un
derpald and overworked men can not,
not matter how good the equipment,
give the patrons the service that they
deserve to have. The Wageworker be
lieves that if it were left to popular
vote a majority would favor an in
crease of wages for the men and a
diminution of working hours rather
than immediate extensions and bet
ter equipment.
The Traction Co., will have favors
to ask of the people in the future, and
it would not be amiss for its managers
to give some thought to the idea that
one way to gain popular favor is to be
pointed out as an employer that pays
good wages, gives its employes decent
working hours and shows a never-fail
ing interest in the men who stand be
tween the company and the general
public. The Traction Co., is fortun
ate in having a splendid lot of men in
charge of its cars; men who are con
siderate of the public, faithful in the
discharge of their duties, conservative
in their acts and loyal to the best in
terests of their employer. The Wage-
worker believes that the progressive
business men who are soon to assume
control of the Traction Co., will rec
ognize these things and act accord
ingly.
One day last week the editor of The
Wageworker was called into a little
conference of union men. There were
present the president and vice-president
of an international union, the
general organizers of four unions, two
local labor leaders and the editor. The
party occupied a room in an Omaha
hotel from 1 o'clock in the afternoon
until long after dark. And during the
six hours of that conference the bell
boy responded to but one call and
then he brought a pitcher of icewater.
That would not have happened ten
years ago.
A whole lot of men who never be
fore cared a rap about having a case of
beer hauled to their homes are now
as mad as hornets because they can
not have them hauled out. It's human
nature, and we greatly fear some re
formers have overlooked that element
in man's make-up.
The editor of this little labor paper,
when asked to address a body of
workingmen, has never stopped to ask
either their religious creed or their po
litical affiliations. When he finds it
necessary to do that sort of thing he
will cease addressing bodies of workingmen.
Local coal dealers object to rais
ing the wages of teamsters on the
ground that it would necessitate an in
crease in the cost of coal to consum
ers. Don't it just beat thunder how
considerate those coal dealers are of
consumers?
There -will be plenty of men ready
to say, "It's a good thing," after the
Labor Temple is paid for. But what
is needed right now Is men who will
step to the front with dollars in their
hands.
The eastern wing of the democracy
is looking for a man who can win in
1912. They have a task that would
make Diogenes' stunt of looking for
an honest man seem like mere pastime.
Spaniards who dare speak Ferrer's
name aloud are thrust into prison.
Spain must have a lot of federal
judges working overtime to uphold the
"dignity of the courts."
It would seem ' to the unprejudiced
observer that If Uncle Joe Canon has
any czaring in mind he would better
get at it without further loss of time.
Of course the unions are losing out!
Have you noticed the woeful absence
of Buck stove advertising in Lincoln
this season? -
Perhaps Norman E. Mack would find
a democratic candidate to suit him by
merely looking in his hall mirror.
The Wageworker is contemplating
some radical improvements in size,
form, make-up and contents.
Everybody is In favor of the Labor
Temple, but is everybody willing to
put up for it? , ,
If Mexico is a republic, then Russia
is a land of liberty and equality be
fore the law.
"There's no place like home!"
Boost for the Labor Temple.
Just because the striking street car
Bo Yoni
mow
All About Armstrong's Clothes, have you had the
pleasure and satisfaction of wearing one of our
good suits and overcoats? Do you know how
much we can save you, and how much more real '.
clothes you can get here than elsewhere?
No Matter whether you know all this or not it will
be of great benefit to you if you will come in and
see what we have to offer you in new Fall Suits
and Overcoats.
You'll See the reason for our leadership in Men's and
Boys' Clothing. 1$ Measure the price you pay
here by what you get for it and you can readily
see the advantage of buying you clothes at Armstrng's.
Prices Range From
10 to
$40
Wiif
Armstrong Cloth log Co.
Good Clothes Merchants
men in Omaha have not scored a big
victory a lot of union haters are re
peating the cry that the unions are
losing out. They forget that the street
car men in the last twelve months
have won victories in Philadelphia,
Cleveland, Pittsburg, Pa., Pittsburg,
Kas., Saginaw, Mich, and Eau Claire.
The spectacle of a great country
like this quietly submitting to the blus
tering and bullying of a Joe Cannon
is not calculated to make other peo
ples look kindly upon the suggestion
to switch from a constitutional mon
archy to a Cannonized republic.
What tickles us is to see a New
York democratic newspaper that
sneezes when "Fingy" Connors or Boss
Murphy takes snuff, chiding republi
cans for not unloading Cannon.
Following the actions of the type
writer combine in supplanting men
with women in their 'shops at about
one-third the wages, the big packing
house bosses in Greater New York,
notably Swifts and Armours, are turn
ing an honest penny, as women are.
to a large extent, taking the places
of men in the sausage industry get
ting from $5 to $7 a week for work
which is identical with that done by
the men at a wage averaging from
$12 to $18 a week.
A FACT BEYOND CAVIL.
If the labor unions did nothing else
than call attention to the misery that
abounds, their existence would be jus
tifiable; but they have done more,
they have not only called attention to
the effects, they hp.ve shown the
causes. They have done more still;
they have produced remedies, upon
the merits and demerits of which pro
fessors, editors and ministers now dis
cuss and advocate. Labor unions have
produced thinkers and educators from
cut their own ranks, and have drawn
students and teachers from the
wealthy and professional. And more
yet; while doing this, they have bet
tered the condition . of thousands of
families, by securing higher wages,
shorter hours and greater Indepen
dencer individually and collectively.
The result is something to be proud
of. The carpenter, the printer, cigar
maker, clerk, shoemaker, tailor, work
ing long hours on short rations have
stepped boldly to the front and worked
revolution in American thought. It is
NO TIME TO KNOCK.
There is always a surplus of "knockers" in this
world. What we need now is "boosters." And es
pecially are "boosters" needed right now in Lin
coln's union labor circles. There is a need for men
who will "boost' 'the Labor Temple project, and
"boost" hard. .
Are you a "booster," or are you a "knocker?"
By your actions are you judged.
The men who have been handling the Temple pro
ject have sacrificed their time and money. They
have worked patiently and well, and they have
accomplished a good work. But they can. not car
ry the whole burden. They must have help not
"hot air," but the good old dollars, and the union
men of this community to furnish the dollars.
A dollar from each of you right now will serve a'
better purpose than two dollars a year from now.
Upon the "now" depends the whole future of the
project. Come across.
a fact beyond cavil.-Crosby.
-Ernest Howard
SPEAKING OF PENSIONS.
Corporation Pensions Contrasted With
Union Pension- Plan.
' Much ado is made in the newspapers
about a proposed pension system
which the Rock Island railroad is
about to establish for the benefit of
its old employes. Those who have been
in for twenty-five years in the employ
of that railroad will be entitled to a
pension equal to twenty-five per cent
of the average annual pay drawn by
the pensioner. While we are not dis
posed to criticise the Rock Island's
plan, yet' we don't see why there is
so much fuss made over it by wouldbe
philanthropists. And surely the men
have to earn it before they can get it,
because the railroad has no income ex
cept what is produced by those work
ing for the concern. Besides, it is not
so much of. a pension as that paid by
a well-known American labor organi
zation the International Typographi
cal Union. This organization pays its
aged members at the rate of $20 a'
month flat, and no average about it
And in addition to that it pays a fun
eral benefit of $75. And if a printer
desires neither the pension nor death,
then he is entitled to spend his last
remaining days at the Union Printers'
Home at Colorado Springs, where
every possible care is taken of him
without costing him' one cent. - This
throws the Rock Island's pension plan
completely in the shade. The Miners'
Gazette.
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 storCc as it now stands is worth
more than 'double what was paid for
it.
.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 tp the patronage of
union men:
George Petro, 1010 O. .'
J. J. Simpson, 1001 O.
George Shaffer,' Lincoln Hotel.
C. B. Ellis, Windsor Hotel.
D. S. Crop, Capital Hotel. - .
M. J". Roberts, Royal Hotel. ;
A. Li. Kimmerer, Lindell Hotel.. '
C. A. Green, 120 North Eleventh.
C. A. Green, 1132 O. y
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 M alone, Havelock.
C. A. Hughart, Havelock.
UNION PRINT SHOPS.
Printeries 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 Dum
ber of the label used by each Bhop:
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.
San Diego, Cal., carpenters have ar
ranged with a physician of that city
to address the union on the methods
of combatting tuberculosis. ' -